FounderLocalizeED
Ronit Avni is the founder of LocalizED, a new social enterprise that makes it easy for expat professionals from countries facing brain drains to give back without moving back. LocalizED enables diaspora professionals to mentor, train and teach remotely in their language-of-origin, turning the brain drain into a brain gain.
A serial entrepreneur, human rights advocate and Peabody Award-winning media producer with 15 years of leadership experience, Ronit’s work has been featured in dozens of international news outlets.
Prior to LocalizED, she founded and led Just Vision, which creates digital media, award-winning films (Budrus, My Neighborhood, Encounter Point), news analysis and public education campaigns in multiple languages to raise awareness and support for Palestinian and Israeli civilians working for freedom, dignity, equality and human security. As Executive Director, Ms. Avni managed a diverse team based in North America and the Middle East, raising over $10 million and ensuring Just Vision’s relevance, credibility and success. Ronit has presented her work to President Obama, World Economic Forum participants and numerous government officials worldwide.
She co-edited the book, “Video for Change - A Guide for Advocacy and Activism” with the human rights organization, WITNESS, and now chairs the Program Committee on the WITNESS Board.
Ronit has been recognized with a variety of honors, including Search for Common Ground’s Common Ground Award, Auburn Seminary’s Lives of Commitment Award and the Trailblazer Award from the National Council for Research on Women. She was named a Young Global Leader (2009) through the World Economic Forum and a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations (2010).
As a side passion, Ronit has trained hundreds of business leaders, MBA students, nonprofit leaders and public officials to speak persuasively to the media and on stage with KNP Communications.