Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network
North America
We are the North America Alumni Chapter, a network of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program participants based in North America. Whether you’ve just graduated, are pursuing further studies, navigating a career transition, or are finding your feet in a new city, this chapter is your support system. We uplift one another through engaging activities, mentorship, and meaningful connections, helping each other thrive both personally and professionally while navigating life abroad.
Shaped by stories of resilience, success, and purpose, we are rooted in giving back supporting the Foundation’s mission to advance education and financial inclusion.
Our community is made up of Mastercard Foundation Alumni who are students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders across a wide range of fields.
Our Goals
- Support one another and grow together by fostering well-being and mutual care within the community.
- Offer mentorship to current Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni, providing guidance and practical support for give-back projects.
- Build a strong sense of belonging through engaging events that create a welcoming and inclusive community.
- Develop a powerful network of Mastercard Foundation Alumni and professionals across North America to create opportunities and collaboration.
- Collaborate on impact-driven projects that highlight the give-back work Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni are doing globally, particularly in their communities back home.
Our Mission
As the North American Alumni Chapter of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, our mission is to foster a strong, inclusive network that supports personal and professional growth. We unite Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni through mentorship, engaging events, and collaboration, enabling them to thrive in new environments. Together, we celebrate and amplify the impact of our members’ give-back initiatives, creating lasting connections and driving positive change for communities both locally and in our home countries.
How the North America chapter supports the Mastercard Foundation in driving change
We help scale the Foundation’s impact by building a strong Alumni network that drives personal growth and community transformation. We guide aspiring Mastercard Foundation Scholars and fellow Alumni through mentorship, Ask Me Anything sessions on the Baobab platform, and peer support. We share our stories to inspire others and lead give-back initiatives on education, employment, and opportunity creation. These collective efforts help drive change across communities and advance the Foundation’s mission and vision.
Who Can Join Our Community
Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni who are currently based in North America (USA and Canada). However, for virtual events and engagements, all Mastercard Foundation Alumni are welcome to participate.
Join Us
Interested in joining our vibrant community? Just fill out this form and a member of our team will reach out to you!
Contact us on northamericaalumninetwork@mastercardfdn.org.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
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"While searching for an internship, I reached out to Ngoni, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar working at a company I hoped to join. He became a generous mentor, offering insights into (the company’s) culture, guidance on coursework and skills, and encouragement when I needed it most. His support showed me the power of mentorship and inspired me to pay it forward."
Alpha Ngwenya
Arizona State University 2019 Mastercard Foundation Alumni -
"In 2021, I received an email from the Mastercard Foundation inviting Alumni to mentor current Mastercard Foundation Scholars. I signed up right away.
With my mentee, I shared how I transitioned from economics into banking, navigated housing challenges, and even walked them through my salary journey—a conversation that genuinely surprised them. We've stayed in touch, and when they began exploring a pivot into tech, I connected them with my husband, a senior software engineer. The two now meet regularly (they’ve even played ping pong at my mentee’s office!).
Looking back, I’m glad I said yes. Mentorship gave me a chance to give back in a small but meaningful way—just as others have done for me."
Lynnet Hamblin
University of British Columbia Class of 2018 (UBC) Mastercard Foundation Alumni
To learn more about the Alumni Network, click here to complete the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Interest form.
Joyeuse Senga Joyeuse Senga
Joyeuse Senga holds a Master of Science in Public Health from McGill University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Public Health from Samford University. She is currently a Research Associate at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, where she focuses on advancing equitable access to diabetes care for individuals living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Friends Career Center, a non-profit organization empowering low-income youth in Rwanda and Canada through mentorship, career development, and art-based mental health interventions. In addition to her non-profit work, Joyeuse is the Founder of MentorHub, an ed-tech startup that provides a digital platform for mentorship and career readiness, equipping youth with the tools, guidance, and networks needed to thrive in their academic and professional journeys.
Joyeuse has led community-based research initiatives across Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a strong focus on improving healthcare access for underserved populations. A Mastercard Foundation Alumna, she is deeply committed to youth empowerment and leadership development. Her work bridges research, mentorship, and technology to drive sustainable and inclusive social change.
Kwawuvi Joshua Elorm Kwawuvi Joshua Elorm
A Physician Assistant and Global Health professional with over five years of experience driving systemic change through data, research, program design, policy, and advocacy. A recent MSc in Global Health graduate from Duke University, he currently serves as a Senior Associate for Monitoring and Evaluation at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), where he champions equity in health, climate resilience, and sustainable urban access for underserved communities worldwide.
Elorm’s work sits at the powerful intersection of clinical practice, implementation science, and strategic leadership. Drawing from his experience across low- and middle-income countries, he designs and evaluates culturally responsive programs that inform policy and deliver lasting impact.
Deeply passionate about equity, innovation, and community-driven solutions, he collaborates with grassroots actors, national stakeholders, and global institutions to accelerate progress toward health justice and inclusive development.
As a Mastercard Foundation Alumni Committee member, Elorm is dedicated to building meaningful connections across country chapters and advancing a vibrant, solutions-driven alumni network committed to shaping Africa’s future.
Lynnet Hamblin
A financial services professional based in Vancouver, Canada, originally from Kenya. With over six years of experience in client advisory, community engagement, and team mentorship, she is passionate about building inclusive spaces where individuals feel empowered to thrive.
In 2014, Lynnet was awarded the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to study at the University of British Columbia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Commerce. Since graduating, she has remained actively engaged with the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network, contributing to events and initiatives that foster connection, mentorship, and impact.
She joins the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Committee to help strengthen the North America Chapter by creating meaningful opportunities for Alumni to engage, collaborate, and lead positive change in their communities.
(Peter) Odero Otieno (Peter) Odero Otieno
A Kenyan-born software engineer, entrepreneur, and technology executive based in New York City. He has steered large-scale cloud, data, and AI platform initiatives at global enterprises including Microsoft and Humana. As Principal Software Engineer and Director at Microsoft, Odero led full-stack Azure cloud, data, and AI engineering programs in partnership with Fortune 500 organizations on digital transformation and innovation. As Director of Software Engineering at Humana, he architected and deployed the enterprise-grade data and AI infrastructure impacting tens of millions of members across complex, regulated and mission-critical environments.
Today, Odero is the Founder & CEO/CTO of Dipp AI Technologies, the company behind Orcher, the cloud-native, distributed orchestration engine designed to power the next generation of enterprise AI systems, and TannrSpace, the world’s first AI-native professional networking and workforce platform. With Dipp AI, Peter translates deep enterprise engineering expertise into a trusted product stack that enables safe, auditable, and coordinated agentic workflows across people, systems, and industries.
A Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alum, Odero’s education background includes a Master of Engineering in Applied Artificial Intelligence from McGill University, alongside several bachelor’s degrees in Computer Engineering, Management, and Technological Entrepreneurship. He is also a graduate of Stanford University’s Global Innovation Catalyst Program, and the Next Canada Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Toronto.
Odero is driven by the belief that the future of scalable, trustworthy AI requires engineering excellence, transparent governance, and purposeful collaboration between humans and intelligent systems.
Precious Gozwa
A seasoned marketing specialist with over five years of experience, widely recognized for her expertise in above-the-line strategies, digital marketing, and brand management. Her strategic insight and execution have consistently delivered impactful results across diverse campaigns and sectors.
She is the visionary founder of Intellectual Property Hub Zambia, a pioneering non-governmental organization dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for intellectual property rights across Zambia. Through this platform, she champions the protection and promotion of creativity and innovation in the region.
A proud Mastercard Foundation Scholar and 2025 MBA graduate from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, Precious exemplifies a strong commitment to leadership, continuous learning, and purpose-driven impact. While at ASU, she served as the Scholar Council Representative, representing fellow Mastercard Foundation Scholars and amplifying their voices within the university community.
Her influence extends beyond national borders. She actively contributes to global conversations on intellectual property through her work with international organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Driven by a profound passion for intellectual property, Precious believes deeply in its power to unlock human potential - enabling individuals everywhere to realize their creative and innovative aspirations.
Nicholas Kofi Adegbe Nicholas Kofi Adegbe
A two-time Mastercard Foundation Scholar with a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master’s degree in Financial Insurance from the University of Toronto.
Currently, I serve as a Community Engagement Associate at the Mastercard Foundation Baobab Platform, where I foster connections among Scholars and Alumni by creating opportunities for networking, professional development, and the exchange of ideas. I also manage the Baobab Ambassadors Program, equipping ambassadors with the resources and support they need to champion the Foundation’s mission and vision across partner universities.
I am the co-founder of Brown Technology, a social venture dedicated to reducing post-harvest losses in rural Ghana through affordable, indigenous cooling technologies.
I am passionate about finance, risk management, and responsible investing. I have professional experience in insurance and health technology, leveraging technological tools to quantify risk and applying regulatory measures for mitigation. I enjoy using data to uncover insights, make inform decision, and to drive business growth.
Ruth Som Ruth Som
An Alumna of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program. I hold a master's degree in food science from McGill University and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where I served as a teaching and research assistant.
I served as a science tutor at St Louis Senior High School from 2018-2023 where I volunteered as a peer counsellor. Here, I advised the girls on academic, career and life choices.
With a strong passion to empower the youth through entrepreneurship, I created several business streams including Modish Fashion Hub® that won a recognition at the Global Ace Awards in 2023.
I believe we are only limited by our thoughts for whatever we put our minds to, is achievable.
Alpha Ngwenya Alpha Ngwenya
A Software Engineering Associate at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, Utah. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Science and Quantitative Methods from Austin Peay State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Data Analytics and Economics from Arizona State University, where he was a Mastercard Foundation Scholar.
Beyond his technical role, Alpha co-founded Strong Women Strong Love, a nonprofit that empowers women in Uganda by teaching them to create reusable sanitary products, promoting both health and entrepreneurship. He also co-founded the Baobab Rural Sustainable Farm in Baobab Village, Lupinyu, Zimbabwe, providing jobs and enhancing food security for the local community.
Fluent in multiple African languages, Alpha combines his technical expertise with a passion for social equity, striving to create innovative solutions that address both technological and societal challenges. He is also a member of the JCT4Education board of directors and a passionate supporter of FC Barcelona.
Adedoyin Adewunmi Adedoyin Adewunmi
A Licensed Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist who provides trauma-informed and culturally responsive care to youth and families navigating complex mental health and addiction challenges.
A proud Mastercard Foundation Alumnus and graduate of McGill University’s Master of Social Work program, Adedoyin is passionate about advancing mental health equity and supporting underserved communities.
Currently working with Recovery Alberta, she offers individual, family, and group therapy, drawing on evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
In addition to her professional work, Adedoyin is deeply committed to volunteerism, enjoys cooking, makeup, and loves binge-watching Netflix series. She is also a loving wife to the best man on earth and a proud mother to the sweetest baby boy.
Driven by compassion, resilience, and a strong belief in collective impact, she is honored to contribute to the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network by giving back through mentorship, relationship building, networking, and service.
Meet the Alumni from past years
Meet the Leadership Committee
Sandra Ohemeng Sandra Ohemeng
Sandra Ohemeng is a dedicated member of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network Committee. She holds a degree in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics from Wellesley College. She currently works as a Developer Experience Product Manager at Avalara where she combines her technical expertise with her passion for fostering community connections.
With a deep commitment to community building, Sandra is thrilled to contribute to the Alumni Network’s mission of bringing Alums together. She understands the importance of nurturing relationships and creating a strong sense of belonging among fellow Alumni. Through her enthusiastic engagement, Sandra aims to foster an inclusive and supportive environment within the Alumni Network, where Mastercard Foundation Alums can connect, collaborate, and thrive tog
Maxwin Ojwang Maxwin Ojwang
Maxwin Ojwang is a Mastercard Foundation alum with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Sciences, Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto. He is a Project Engineer at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Maxwin has extensive professional engineering and project management experience focused on the municipal, private, and industrial infrastructure. He is passionate about the design and implementation of engineering solutions to safeguard public health and the environment.
As a member of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network committee, he hopes to enhance alumni relationships by advocating for programs that boost engagement among fellow Alumni. With a passion for strengthening connections, he actively seeks opportunities to foster meaningful interactions within the Alumni community
Nkiru Ani Nkiru Ani
Nkiru Ani is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alum, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of British Columbia (UBC), as well as a Master of Science degree in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Originally from Nigeria, Nkiru proudly considers herself a global citizen. Throughout her undergraduate years and beyond, she was highly involved in student leadership, utilizing her voice and skills to advocate for Africa’s increased inclusion inUBC and the wider community. Nkiru enjoys engaging in collaborative opportunities that foster dialogueand inclusivity, often contributing to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion boards and other community-building initiatives.
Nkiru’s passions lie in communication, design, and planning. She is driven by curiosity, authenticity, and bravery, which fuel both her personal and professional endeavors. Recognizing the transformative power of storytelling, Nkiru firmly believes in its ability to forge connections between people and their diverse experience.
Bior Leek Ajak Bior Leek Ajak
Bior Leek Ajak is a Mastercard Foundation Alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Development Studies, with a Minor concentration in Arabic Language, from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Bior currently works as a Commercial Banker in Montreal. During his free time, he is involved with local community organizations in Canada, supporting new immigrants, students, and refugees. He is also actively involved with refugee supporting organizations based in East Africa that aim to create educational and economic pathways for refugees to attain self-reliance and financial freedom.
Bior strongly believes in the power of community and co-creation and believes that the Mastercard Foundation North America Alumni can find ways to co-create solutions that can directly impact lives on the African continent. This is what he hopes to inspire during his time on the committee.
Neema Rimber Neema Rimber
Neema Rimber is a Mastercard Foundation Alum with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a minor in International Relations from the University of British Columbia. At UBC, she was recognized with the International Community Achievement Award for demonstrating leadership in community service, international engagement, intercultural understanding and promotion of diversity.
Today, she likes to think of herself as an amalgam! Her academic background and values for support and engagement feed a keen interest in social impact and financial inclusion ventures, especially with underserved and equity-seeking communities. Her experiences in the past include roles in operations and logistics, impact measurement and competition policy. She currently utilizes these intersectional experiences as a Program Manager at Spring Activator, a global advisory firm that runs entrepreneur, incubator, accelerator and funding programs for aspiring and early-stage impact entrepreneurs and impact investors. In her free time, you may find Neema spotting continuity errors and other “cinema sins” on your everyday tv shows and films.
Rufaro Nyoni Rufaro Nyoni
Rufaro Nyoni is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the United States International University-Africa. Currently pursuing an MBA at Arizona State University, Rufaro is also a Baobab Digital Innovation Scholar. With a strong business background, she has actively contributed to the development of nonprofit organizations. Rufaro has worked for Education Matters, founded Parantaa Africa Foundation, and served as a trustee for Amaani Foundation.
Passionate about community service and problem-solving, Rufaro focuses on areas such as Education, Technology, Finance, and Sustainability. Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, she finds joy in singing, meditating, and exploring different parts of the world.
Micheal Omeka Micheal Omeka
Micheal Omeka is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a degree in International Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. He actively campaigned for access to opportunities for marginalized students as a member of the Black Students Union. At Berkeley’s International House, he focused on fostering thriving communities and recognizing the importance of social capital.
With professional experience in marketing, sales, and freelance photojournalism, Micheal brings a diverse skill set to his career. Currently, he works as a fitness trainer in the luxury fitness space and serves as an inspirational speaker and fitness specialist. As a mentor in Berkeley’s alumni mentorship program, he supports first-generation students in navigating college and planning for success.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Micheal enjoys football, biking, ping pong, meeting new people, and exploring the outdoors. He is dedicated to helping individuals optimize their mental and physical health for increased happiness and overall well-being.
Meet the Leadership Committee
Daniel Damilare Adeleke Daniel Damilare Adeleke
Daniel Damilare Adeleke is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a Masters Degree (Distinction) in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. He is a researcher with four publications to his name and is currently a doctoral researcher at the Villanova University, USA.
Besides his academic adventures and experience in engineering consulting, Daniel has been actively involved with various youth-oriented programs such as Lagos Business School Young Talent Program (YTP), Africa Careers Network (ACN), and Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking aimed at his general professional development and networking.
Daniel is impacted driven and is passionate about infrastructural development, education and seeks for platforms to grow, learn, share as well as contribute to local and global sustainable developments.
Yassmin Lawzi Yassmin Lawzi
Yassmin Lawzi is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health from the American University of Beirut. During her time at the American University of Beirut, she was an active member of the Lebanese Red Cross and launched the Trip2poli initiative where she hosted 500 tourists and promoted tourism in her home city of Tripoli.
After graduation, Yassmin joined the Center for Public Health Practice, at the Faculty of Health Sciences – American University of Beirut as a Project Coordinator where she worked on the “Sin el Fil: a safer city, a healthier population” project that utilized comprehensive environmental and physical assessment in 10 schools of a total of over 2600 pupils in Lebanon.
Currently Yassmin is pursing graduate studies in the area of environmental science in USA and serves as an environmental consultant focusing on environmental site assessments for various types of facilities
Mercy Wanalo Mercy Wanalo
Mercy Wanalo is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Nutrition and Health from the University of British Columbia. She is currently enrolled in a Masters program in Global Food Security and Nutrition at the University of Edinburgh through their Online Distance Learning Program.
Mercy is passionate about Global Health and Nutrition and hopes to use her knowledge and experiences to improve health outcomes by informing effective evidence-based policy, particularly in the developing world. Her interest in health policy was sparked through an internship with PATH (an international health organization) where she co-authored the very first Human Milk Banking guidelines for Kenya.
Mercy also has vast experience in program coordination and project management that will benefit the alumni network greatly.
Alton Mpungu Alton Mpungu
Alton Mpungu is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar alum with a Master of Development Practice Degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Alton is a changemaker and development professional who works to inspire impact driven local African organizations and institutions to build on their strengths, design new innovative strategies and implement transformative programs that widens their reach and extends their impact.
Currently, Alton serves as a Technical Advisor and Deputy Director of the World Education Inc/John Snow Inc – Center for Capacity Development, where he leads the implementation of organizational capacity building activities in World Education’s HIV/AIDS work.
He is an active volunteer and mentor to younger peers, supporting them with career advice and venture implementation advice. Alton enjoys the outdoors and playing tennis.
Peter Kironji Peter Kironji
Peter Kironji is a Mastercard Foundation alum with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto.
He has extensive experience as a Cybersecurity engineer having worked at organizations such as Bank of Montreal (BMO), TC Energy, SickKids Hospital, Stantec, Air Canada, and Industrial Alliance.
Peter is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Twiva; an influencer marketing startup that gives Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa; affordable, efficient, and digital access to market by pushing their brands, products and services through social media influencers and digital content.
Christopher Chinaza Oleh Christopher Chinaza Oleh
Christopher Chinaza Oleh is a Mastercard Foundation alum with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Labour Relations and Economics from McGill University. Currently, his research interest lies in analyzing the impact of Artificial Intelligence and job hopping on employment discrimination.
Chris’s goal is to help organizations design policies that will create a more inclusive workplace for ethnic minorities.
Agnes Ouko Agnes Ouko
Agnes Ouko is a Mastercard Foundation alum with a degree in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia.
Agnes is also a Junior Technical Project Manager whose interest lies in product design and management, data analysis and interpretation, and the development and implementation of user experience research tools.
She is a driven, conscientious, diligent individual who maintains a positive, proactive attitude when faced with adversity.
As part of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Committee – North America Chapter, she hopes to take a stab at coming up with solutions to better help African students transitioning from university to settle, thrive and find their place in the North American society.