Amsha Africa Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Leonie Williams, MBA, PhD, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Strategic Partnerships Lead.
Leonie is not new to Amsha. She has served as part of the Amsha Africa Foundation board and has been involved in several of our projects, bringing thoughtful leadership, trusted counsel, and a deep commitment to community-centered impact. Her appointment reflects an expanded leadership role as Amsha continues to strengthen its operations, grow strategic partnerships, and scale programs across Africa and the Global South.
Williams brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across strategy execution, operational leadership, executive advisory, organizational development, and global partnership building. A former Chief of Staff and strategic business operations leader at Intel, she has supported executive leadership across complex global environments, helping translate strategy into execution across operations, organizational initiatives, and cross-functional teams.
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and fluent in French, Williams combines global leadership experience with a strong personal commitment to Africa’s future. Throughout her career, she has focused on helping organizations and communities grow with clarity, alignment, and sustainable impact.
Beyond her corporate leadership background, Williams is also an author, executive coach, and board-certified wellness practitioner whose work reflects a commitment to human-centered leadership, resilience, and sustainable performance.
In her expanded role, Williams will help lead strategic operations, organizational growth, stakeholder engagement, fundraising support, and partnership development efforts that advance Amsha’s mission across Africa. Her leadership will also support initiatives focused on education, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology access, and long-term community impact.
“Leonie has already been a trusted part of the Amsha family through her board service and involvement in our work. This appointment is a natural next step as we continue to grow our mission, strengthen our operations, and build deeper partnerships,” said Tony Abuta, Founder of Amsha Africa Foundation. “Leonie brings a rare combination of executive leadership, operational excellence, strategic thinking, and genuine passion for community impact. Her experience and values align strongly with the future vision of Amsha and the communities we serve.”
Reflecting on the appointment, Williams shared:
“I am honored to continue serving Amsha Africa Foundation in this expanded leadership role. Amsha’s mission is deeply aligned with my personal commitment to opportunity, empowerment, and sustainable impact across Africa. I look forward to helping strengthen partnerships, support organizational growth, and expand initiatives that create meaningful long-term impact for communities and future generations.”
About Amsha Africa Foundation
Amsha Africa Foundation is a community-centered nonprofit organization focused on expanding opportunity through education, innovation, technology access, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and grassroots partnerships across Africa and the Global South.
