Founder/CEO

Ms. Younge has over two decades of experience as a cross-sector senior executive in philanthropy, for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her professional experience encompasses entrepreneurship, leadership development, poverty alleviation and economic development, practiced through venture philanthropy and impact investing business models. 

With a career dedicated to designing, launching and scaling programs specifically impacting entrepreneurs, she has led high-performing teams globally, working with cross-sector stakeholders including corporate partners, government entities, and diverse funders, from angel and impact investors and venture capital firms to family foundations. Désirée has served as a board member for non-profit organizations in the United States, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana, and as advisory board member to several start-up enterprises worldwide.

Désirée has held high-ranking roles at several prestigious organizations such as Amazon, Tory Burch Foundation, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Robin Hood Foundation, Synergos Institute, and Oatly Group AB.

Désirée’s education accolades include a TRIUM Global Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), awarded by London School of Economics & Political Science, NYU Stern School of Business, and HEC Paris School of Management.  She also holds a Master of Arts (MA), International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration.