Gwen Young

For this alliance that supports 60+ women’s businesses, I develop and execute strategies that increase membership and revenue for the organization. I have been successful in doubling our fundraising efforts to over $2 million by offering unique programming and events such as a two-day virtual summit for over 5000 business leaders. I have presented at international and national events on women's leadership.

In this role, I directed the expansion of the initiative index on women’s leadership in public service globally, including aligning women’s leadership to gender equity in international affairs curriculum and analysis.

I served as the first Managing Director to lead this initiative to increase awareness and resources for humanitarian crises. This entailed working closely with senior leaders, executive committees, and fundraising staff of eight of the largest US based international aid NGOs. Through these efforts, $7 million was raised annually for emergency response activities.

I was initially hired as the Director – Global Women’s Leadership Initiatives and was promoted in 2019. I led this initiative, including overseeing domestic and international advocacy efforts and directing events, such as a conference for senior women government leaders. I also created the first data repository, index and report that analyzes what policy and political leadership positions women hold and the career paths they took to get there.

Managing a 111-person team in seven offices and a $3 million budget, I oversaw all community health, microfinance, and agriculture programs for the Senegal, West Africa region. I also served as President of the Organization of International NGOs in Senegal. I created a local board tasked with increasing fundraising with private sector partners, resulting in fundraising increasing to $5 million.

I designed fundraising strategy and framework for the start-up of a university–based center for global health. I also authored a white paper on the role of women in agriculture with gender mainstreaming guidelines to USAID Feed the Future Projects.

I created advocacy strategies, for the Agricultural Development initiatives including its main grantee: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). I also oversaw the launch of the $400 million Alliance and managed its Board with Chairman (Former UN SG Kofi A. Annan).

Maintained overall responsibility for analyzing procedures that insured the protection of front line volunteer staff, and developed strategies to guide advocacy for an eight-country portfolio, including West Africa, Chad, Darfur, Sudan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. • Wrote and published report on the link between regions in conflict and sexually transmitted infections. • Developed a sexual and gender based strategy response to violence and guidelines and training manual that addressed exploitation for MSF OCA sections.

Worked in Business Litigation and Real Estate and Environmental Litigation departments. Provided legal analysis for defendant indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Designed and implemented training in international human rights issues.

Analyzed and studied the inauguration of the ICC and signatures to the Rome Statue