Cynthia joined EMpower in 2005, bringing her expertise and insights to the issues that women and girls face around the globe. She initiated and led its strategic focus on marginalised youth in emerging market countries, and her inclusive, thoughtful leadership style helped give wings to the organisation’s powerful mission.

Early on, she was with EngenderHealth, ultimately leading innovation and scaling programmes as Vice President, Programme Initiatives, and later as Vice President of Resource Development. Subsequently, as Vice President of Programmes at the International Women’s Health Coalition, she oversaw grantmaking and international policy and implemented its first institutional monitoring and evaluation system.

Cynthia attended the Senior Executive Programme at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and holds a Masters in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts from Denison University. She chairs the Board of Directors for Girls for Gender Equity.