A clear, actionable career strategy and step-by-step plan
Guidance on crafting your story for employers at every touch-point
Coffee chats with Ethiopians in top organizations in all 3 sessions
A global community of like-minded Ethiopians
Senior Talent Acquisition & Strategic HR Advisor at World Vision
What distinguishes Yosias is his ability to connect strategy with people. He brings a unique blend of business development and HR expertise, enabling him to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable pathways, whether advancing institutional partnerships or helping individuals design intentional careers. His work increasingly sits at the intersection of innovation and impact, including developing AI-driven tools that enhance decision-making, strengthen value propositions, and improve how opportunities are identified and pursued.
Beyond his professional work, Yosias is an active thought partner and mentor, known for his writing and reflections on career growth, strategic clarity, and leadership. He emphasizes that success, whether in organizations or individual careers, is rarely limited by ambition, but more often by clarity, alignment, and access to the right relationships. His approach encourages emerging professionals to move with intention by building self-awareness, taking ownership, and seeking environments that accelerate growth.
As a mentor within the Ethiopian community, both at home and abroad, and beyond, Yosias is passionate about helping the next generation approach their careers with confidence, purpose, and a growth mindset. He believes that meaningful careers are not accidental or reactive, but intentionally designed through clarity of direction, continuous learning, and trust-based connections.
His guiding principle is simple: when strategy, relationships, and purpose are aligned, sustainable impact follows.
Senior Vice President and Executive Director at Universal Music Group and Adjunct Professor at University of Michigan
Dr. Menna Demessie is a nationally recognized and published scholar, strategist, and educator whose career has been defined by one core mission: ensuring communities have the tools and strategies to empower themselves whether in the workforce, in the classroom, or on Capitol Hill. With more than 15 years of experience across academia, government, music and entertainment, corporate leadership and professional development, she brings both rigorous scholarship and real-world insight to the work of building successful careers.
Dr. Demessie holds a joint PhD in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of Michigan and a certificate from Harvard Business School in the Business of Sports, Entertainment, and Media. Her academic is grounded in how power and equity influence opportunity, how decisions are made, and how individuals can position themselves to influence outcomes.
Her policy career reflects that same focus on preparation and access. At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dr. Demessie founded the organization’s inaugural research and policy analysis center, launched a national undergraduate research and policy internship program that operated for over a decade, servicing thousands of African and African American students across the country and 5 established a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed academic journal – The Journal of the Center for Policy Analysis and Research. These initiatives were designed to make careers in policy and leadership more attainable, especially for first-generation and immigrant students. Her own scholarship further underscores the power of voice, leverage, and strategy when it comes to influence. Dr. Demessie conducted the first empirical congressional study of African congressional caucuses in the U.S. Congress and their effects on U.S. foreign policy and African immigrant political representation in the United States, a project awarded U.S. Senate funding. The study highlighted how first- and second-generation immigrants can be represented in Congress and use their voice strategically to shape policy—another lesson and skillset she also applies to professional development more broadly. As an educator, Dr. Demessie taught as an adjunct professor for the University of California and continues her long-standing appointment teaching at the University of Michigan, where her most popular undergraduate course, “Political Advocacy and Public Opinion in a Digital Age,” equips students with both an in-depth understanding of political behavior and practical tools in public speaking, persuasion, and strategic influence. Students leave her classroom smarter on how Congress works—but also how to successfully influence public opinion and take these skills on their job journey and impact! Dr. Demessie currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Executive Director at Universal Music Group, is serving her second term on the Board of Trustees of Oberlin College, and sits on the Board of the American Political Science Association where she advises on career strategies for political scientists in applied fields. She is also the founder of LevelUp, her career and professional development company, through which she advises with undergraduate and graduate students and emerging and established professionals.
Her message to the Ethiopian community is clear: the playbook for career success is not someone else’s, it’s YOURS, so SHOW UP, SHOW OUT, SHOW YOU!
Director, MBA Career Advising at UCLA Anderson School of Management
Meftehe (Mef) Shebi, is a leadership and career coach and Director of MBA Career Coaching at UCLA Anderson School of Management. A Harvard graduate who rose from humble beginnings, Mef has built a dynamic career spanning engineering, management consulting, and policy advising across industries including technology, energy, healthcare, government and education. This cross-industry experience gives him a unique perspective on career transitions, leadership, and strategic decision-making.
For over a decade, Mef has coached and empowered future leaders at top business schools, including Chicago Booth and UVA Darden, helping thousands gain clarity, make bold career moves, and build lives aligned with their values.
Mef also leads his private practice, MC2 Career Coaching, where he draws on his cross-industry experience to offer dynamic, thoughtful, and values-driven career coaching. Whether someone is navigating a pivot, building leadership skills, or seeking clarity in their career, Mef’s coaching blends strategic insight with practical actionable guidance. He recently published a book titled “How’s Work?” - drawing from years of experience and his own unique personal journey, Mef distills proven coaching principles and transformative frameworks into powerful, practical guide. The book is designed to help readers navigate career challenges with greater clarity, confidence, and meaning.
Mef’s mission is simple to help individuals unlock their full potential, craft careers that matter, and lead lives of fulfillment, meaning and purpose.
Client Solutions Manager at Meta (Ex- Google)
Zeru Feki is a technology leader with experience at some of the world’s most influential companies, including Meta and Google, where he has worked at the intersection of product, strategy, and innovation.
With a background spanning large-scale platforms and high-growth environments, Zeru has contributed to building and scaling products that impact millions of users globally. His work focuses on leveraging data, emerging technologies, and cross-functional collaboration to drive business outcomes and create meaningful user experiences.
At Meta, Zeru plays a key role in shaping product and strategic initiatives, bringing a strong ability to translate complex technical challenges into actionable solutions. Prior to this, at Google, he developed a foundation in product thinking, operations, and innovation within one of the most dynamic ecosystems in tech.
Known for his analytical mindset and executional rigor, Zeru combines strategic vision with a hands-on approach to building and scaling products. He is particularly passionate about the role of technology in driving global connectivity, opportunity, and impact.
Program Manager, AI Community at Microsoft (Ex- Meta)
Bethel Zelalem is a Bay Area–based organizational development practitioner focused on driving change at the intersection of people, culture, and systems. She currently works within the Customer Service & Support organization at Microsoft, where she focuses on AI transformation as part of the Employee Experience and Culture team—helping teams adopt new technologies and ways of working.
Her background spans organizational development and human capital consulting, beginning at the NeuroLeadership Institute and extending across roles at Microsoft, Workday, and Meta. She has worked across global and cross-functional environments, designing initiatives focused on leadership development, community education, and organizational effectiveness.
She is passionate about creating spaces where innovation and learning meet, and about shaping a future of work that is both technologically advanced and deeply human.
Transition & Worklife Coach Randstad-Risesmart (Ex- CocaCola & Ethiojobs.net)
Dagi Dawit is a global talent acquisition leader, employer branding strategist, and certified career coach with over a decade of experience shaping workforce strategies across Africa and the United States. Known for building high-impact talent ecosystems, he has led recruitment, employer branding, and talent transformation initiatives for multinational corporations, high-growth startups, and leading talent platforms.
Most recently, Dagi served as Country Lead for Employer Branding & Talent Acquisition at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (Ethiopia), where he spearheaded strategic hiring and employer brand visibility for one of the continent’s most recognized brands. In this role, he focused on building strong talent pipelines aligned with business priorities, elevating candidate experience, and positioning the organization as an employer of choice in a competitive market.
Prior to this, he held multiple leadership roles at Ethiojobs.net, Ethiopia’s pioneering e-recruitment platform. Over six years, Dagi progressed from recruiter to Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner, leading full-cycle recruitment, managing key client relationships, and advising organizations on hiring strategy and workforce planning. His work helped transform how companies across Ethiopia attract, assess, and hire talent at scale.
Dagi’s broader experience includes serving as Regional Head of Talent Acquisition at Inkomoko, where he led multi-country recruiting strategy across East Africa, and Technical Recruiting Manager at Dunyasi Ventures, supporting Silicon Valley startups in hiring top-tier engineering talent. Earlier in his career, he built and scaled talent operations for emerging companies, including leading over 140+ hires for a startup at launch.
In parallel, Dagi is a Randstad RiseSmart-certified Transition & Worklife Coach with Randstad Enterprise, where he has coached over 1,000 professionals—from mid-level to executives—across 10+ industries. His coaching focuses on career transitions, leadership development, and helping individuals accelerate job searches, increase compensation outcomes, and navigate complex career decisions.
Passionate about the future of work, Dagi operates at the intersection of talent, strategy, and coaching—helping organizations scale effectively while empowering individuals to unlock their full career potential.
Limited spots available.
