Amy Brakeman

Biography

Amy M. Brakeman
President, Umsizi Fund

Since 2005, Amy has partnered with emerging African leaders to enhance human capacity, increase access to opportunities, and strengthen organizations. Amy worked closely with the African Leadership Academy which develops entrepreneurial leaders from 46 countries. Umsizi is part of an emerging coalition of funders working to increase the direct funding and support of promising proximal leaders in Africa.
To address the enormous gap in employment for youth on the continent, Amy catalyzed a Peer Learning Network of leading youth employment accelerators.
Umsizi leaders work alongside impact investing experts and to shift assets to be aligned with ESG objectives and the mission of the Umsizi Fund.
Amy’s first career was with McKinsey & Company as a consultant and leader of professional development. She also led a global community of 2,000 McKinsey alumni involved in bridging the social and business sectors. Amy worked with public school reform initiatives in the U.S. primarily with charter schools in Massachusetts.
Amy has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.