Founder and President/CEO

Desta graduated from Mekelle Institute of Technology with a B.Sc. in Electronics and Communication Engineering. To further his interest in IT, Desta spent five years working for the Information Network Security Agency, where he gained experience in network installations, equipment inspection, and online platforms like UI, UX, and both front-end and back-end web development services.

Desta, who has six years of managerial experience with Crowdion, worked relentlessly to enhance the business’s brand recognition in the city’s software, IT, and website development sectors. Desta oversaw Crowdion’s growth in revenue as well as the addition of printing and graphic design projects to its portfolio.

In 2019, he was recognized as Mandella Washington fellow by the US’s state department of State Young African Leader Initiative award.

Born from a family of four sisters and three brothers, Desta is heavily involved in his community through his Back2scool and School Sanitation4All projects. He speaks Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, and English.

He loves playing football, hitting the gym, and chatting with people about feasible business Ideas over a drink. While his engagements might take him around the world, Desta is proud to call Tigray, Ethiopia home.

Here are some of the responsibilities pertaining to Desta.

• Ensuring the organization’s activities are compliant and in furtherance of its mission
• Leading, managing, and developing the organization’s employees, volunteers, and organizational culture
• Developing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing the organization’s programs (including their impact)
• Partnering with the Chair of the Board to help ensure the Board’s directives, policies, and resolutions are carried out
• Working with the development staff and Chair of the Board in cultivating and soliciting major foundation grants and individual gifts
• Developing and maintaining beneficial relationships with donors, funders, supporters, collaborators, allies, vendors, and other stakeholders
• Ensuring effective external communications about the organization and its mission, priorities, importance, programs, and activities
• Championing the organization and advocating its mission to internal and external stakeholders
• Keeping informed and the organization’s leadership informed of significant developments and changes in the internal and external environment
• Leading the organization’s planning processes