Tsegahiwot 'Tsega' Tadesse

segahiwot 'Tsega' Tadesse is a catalyst for change, dedicated to empowering diverse individuals to reach their full potential and lead impactful innovations. With a dynamic background spanning global development, academia, social entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and entrepreneurship education, Tadesse serves as Director of Venture Development and Adjunct Professor at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship in the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business where she oversees a team implementing educational programs for entrepreneurial youth. As an independent consultant and as co-chair of the Society for International Development’s Youth in Development Working Group, Tadesse amplifies her commitment to inclusive global impact.

Tadesse's journey includes thought leadership roles at IREX, where she led research and pilot programs on various emerging societal issues: supporting young people in navigating the future of learning and work, power sharing within partnerships, and digital inclusion. Notably, she played a pivotal role in designing and launching Youth Excel: Our Knowledge, Leading Change, a $30 million global program empowering young social innovators to drive impact and policy change through youth-led research.

Tadesse was part of the startup founding team that launched the pan-African African Leadership University (ALU) which has since been dubbed by TIME, the “Harvard of Africa”. As an intrapreneur at Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, Tadesse supported over 3000 system-changing social entrepreneurs around the world to grow their impact. Tadesse has founded or co-founded initiatives that elevate African diasporan creativity and storytelling through digital tools and with an event series in Washington D.C. Tadesse has a Bachelor of Science in International Studies and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Richmond.