Hi, I’m Akinyi.

I’m a strategist, advisor, and operator guided by a belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. I work to build the capital, partnerships, and institutional pathways that allow strong ideas to take hold.

Having lived and worked across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, I bring a cross-cultural lens to complex challenges, helping organizations translate ambition into durable systems. Over the course of my career, I have partnered with mission-driven organizations to identify, grow, and scale solutions that strengthen institutions and expand access to opportunity. I currently lead strategic planning and operations at the Autodesk Foundation, which invests in nonprofits and startups using design and engineering to address pressing social and environmental challenges. I also serve as Board Chair of SOS Sahel USA, a Trustee of Operation Fistula, a Board Member of Princeton in Africa, and on the New York Advisory Board of The Conduit.

I hold a BA from Yale University and an MSc from the London School of Economics, where my research focused on environmental, social, and corporate governance in emerging markets. I have also studied philanthropy and social impact at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cambridge, with an emphasis on how impact scales across markets and cultures. In 2015, I was awarded a Princeton in Africa Fellowship focused on economic development and supply chain sustainability in the shea sector.

My writing has appeared in the World Economic Forum, NPR, Quartz, Fast Company, Slate, Forbes, Project Syndicate, and OkayAfrica. I have spoken at Google, Yale, Georgetown, Expo 2020, Latitude59, and NEXUS Global on business, culture, and policy. Earlier media ventures, including the Afro-Catalyst podcast and Ayiba Magazine, amplified stories of African changemakers and emerging leaders. I have been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in media and culture for championing African leadership and innovation.

Outside of my work in the impact sector, I collect contemporary art with a focus on artists of the African diaspora whose work engages memory, history, and identity. Collecting is a long-term commitment that supports artists and ideas shaping how we understand the past and imagine what comes next. I also serve on the jury of the Bolster Arts Residency.

When not at work, you’ll usually find me cooking, visiting farmers’ markets, or exploring new restaurants. Food is another form of curiosity and connection—an everyday practice that mirrors how I approach work and life. This site also includes recipes inspired by travel and time spent in the kitchen, alongside my professional writing.