Jessica joined Girl Effect as CEO in 2019 and is an internationally recognised social entrepreneur and thought-leader. In 2009 she co-founded Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). Based in Kenya, SHOFCO catalyses large-scale transformation in urban slums by providing critical services, community advocacy platforms, education and leadership development for girls and women. In August 2018, SHOFCO received the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize – the world’s largest annual humanitarian award presented to non-profit organisations judged to have made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering.

Jessica is a New York Times best selling author and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue Magazine, on CNN, and by TED. She was awarded the prestigious David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award in May 2016.