Directors
Let me introduce Naledi’s core team. These are the founders, the believers, the workers who get things done.
Priya Mathew
Priya’s childhood growing up in Tanzania and Cameroon rooted Africa firmly in her heart and created an intimate understanding of the socio-economic forces which kept so many of the children around her from reaching their full potential. It is deeply gratifying with Naledi to be in a position where she can help today’s children access the education which has been the foundation of her own success. She brings business experience from IBM in India and the US to the running of Naledi as well as a deep commitment to education. Her philanthropy has focussed on educational programs for young children, and she has years of hands-on teaching at risk children and refugees in her own community. Priya is Naledi’s board treasurer.
Odette Harris
Odette knows first-hand how education can transform a life. As the first, Black, full professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, she has been enriched by the opportunity to mentor students of the African diaspora and has a long history of supporting educational programs for at-risk and low-income communities. In her native Jamaica, she has provided scholarships and spent decades building up local libraries. In the US, she is a dedicated board member of the Boys and Girls Club and supports homeless youth through providing a library and study center for a local shelter. Her commitment to education and social change is further expressed by her position on the Board of a local secondary school and her alma matter, Dartmouth College as well as her position as fellow at the Aspen Institute which drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges our time.
Amit Pandey
Naledi is Amit’s dream. Coming from a family of professors, the value of helping people achieve their potential through education was instilled in him since birth. Amit spent his early childhood in Addis Ababa and later moved to Gaborone where his father was Chair of the department of Education at the University of Botswana. Perhaps surprisingly, Amit did not go to formal school until he was nine. His father believed in a Rousseauian education to produce a well-balanced, freethinking child. It could be why innovation has been a natural part of his life. Amit was one of only a handful of students in his class at Gaborone Secondary School to go abroad for college. Early in his career he worked as a management consultant focusing on modernizing companies and government institutions in India. He has spent the last 25 years focusing on technology innovation as an executive at a number of successful startups in Silicon Valley. Amit is Naledi’s board chairperson.
Directors
Let me introduce Naledi’s core team. These are the founders, the believers, the workers who get things done.
Priya Mathew
Priya’s childhood growing up in Tanzania and Cameroon rooted Africa firmly in her heart and created an intimate understanding of the socio-economic forces which kept so many of the children around her from reaching their full potential. It is deeply gratifying with Naledi to be in a position where she can help today’s children access the education which has been the foundation of her own success. She brings business experience from IBM in India and the US to the running of Naledi as well as a deep commitment to education. Her philanthropy has focussed on educational programs for young children, and she has years of hands-on teaching at risk children and refugees in her own community. Priya is Naledi’s board treasurer.
Odette Harris
Odette knows first-hand how education can transform a life. As the first, Black, full professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, she has been enriched by the opportunity to mentor students of the African diaspora and has a long history of supporting educational programs for at-risk and low-income communities. In her native Jamaica, she has provided scholarships and spent decades building up local libraries. In the US, she is a dedicated board member of the Boys and Girls Club and supports homeless youth through providing a library and study center for a local shelter. Her commitment to education and social change is further expressed by her position on the Board of a local secondary school and her alma matter, Dartmouth College as well as her position as fellow at the Aspen Institute which drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the greatest challenges our time.
Amit Pandey
Naledi is Amit’s dream. Coming from a family of professors, the value of helping people achieve their potential through education was instilled in him since birth. Amit spent his early childhood in Addis Ababa and later moved to Gaborone where his father was Chair of the department of Education at the University of Botswana. Perhaps surprisingly, Amit did not go to formal school until he was nine. His father believed in a Rousseauian education to produce a well-balanced, freethinking child. It could be why innovation has been a natural part of his life. Amit was one of only a handful of students in his class at Gaborone Secondary School to go abroad for college. Early in his career he worked as a management consultant focusing on modernizing companies and government institutions in India. He has spent the last 25 years focusing on technology innovation as an executive at a number of successful startups in Silicon Valley. Amit is Naledi’s board chairperson.
Ezra Makaza
Country-Director, Zimbabwe
Ezra was born into a family of teachers. Naledi’s mission speaks to his vision of building better communities through education. He went on to attain a bachelor’s Degree in Publishing from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. There a new interest was discovered, making education more accessible using technology. He brings to Naledi, his operational experience from leading the introduction of digital education solutions to schools in Zimbabwe. Ezra’s community work has focused on mentoring and supporting young people to get educated and become the best versions of themselves. Ezra is Naledi’s Zimbabwe Projects Coordinator.
Dave Dioli
Finance Advisor
David serves as Managing Partner for Ravix Group. He has over 20 years of financial leadership experience in organization such as the New York Stock Exchange and Ernst & Young. During his career, David has been responsible for a broad range of financial and accounting operations including accounting systems, budgeting, forecasting, financing, and investor relations. David has been a key contributor to organizations ranging from technology startups to large not-for-profits such as Avi Networks, Awake Security, Bugsang, imgIX, NASA, Twitter, and the World Food Programme of the United Nations.
Amehlo amabili ayabonisana.
Two eyes help each other. (Siswati Proverb) With the help of others, you can make informed decisions.
Naledi * 69 Vista Verde Way * Portola Valley, California 94028 * USA * Email:info@naledi.ngo