Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
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United Kingdom Isha Sesay is an award-winning journalist, author, and media executive known for her comprehensive coverage of global events and her advocacy for women and girls.
Serves as the CEO of OkayMedia, the mass media parent company of Okayplayer and OkayAfrica, dedicated to covering global Black culture and uplifting Black voices. This role makes her the first female CEO of the organization.
Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for women's and girls' rights, universal access to reproductive healthcare, and freedom from gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Partnered for a five-day series titled “#ENDSARS: The Struggle to Save Nigeria,” investigating the youth-led movement and stories related to the fight for Nigeria’s future.
Collaborated on fundraising initiatives for W.E. Can Lead, including auctioning a date and running a tombola to win a McLaren 720S Coupé.
Hosted a public discussion titled 'Becoming: an intimate conversation with Michelle Obama' in Paris and Amsterdam.
Published her book 'Beneath the Tamarind Tree — A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram'.
Featured in an interview to discuss her book, 'Beneath the Tamarind Tree', highlighting the victims of Boko Haram.
Participated in a discussion titled 'In Conversation - Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A discussion on Nigeria and the resilience of the Chibok girls'.
Provided a Keynote and Q&A session about her book, 'Beneath the Tamarind Tree'.
Isha Isatu Sesay was born in London, England, in 1976 to Sierra Leonean parents. At the age of seven, she moved to Sierra Leone, where she spent much of her childhood and attended Fourah Bay College School in Freetown and St. Joseph’s Secondary School. She later returned to the UK at 16 for further education. Sesay pursued her higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge, where she earned a BA honors degree in English. Her early career in television began as a researcher for the BBC’s talk show ‘Kilroy’ before she moved to Glasgow to work for BBC Scotland. Her first on-screen role was as a TV announcer for BBC Choice, leading to diverse presenting opportunities across BBC, CNN, and TWI, and a three-year tenure as an anchor for ‘Good Morning Sports Fans’ on Sky Sports News.
In November 2005, Sesay joined CNN International as a news anchor and correspondent, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Over her 13 years with CNN, she covered significant global events, including the 2007 Nigerian presidential election and the launch of the Global Elders. A notable achievement includes leading CNN’s team in covering the abduction of 276 girls from their school in Chibok, Nigeria, in 2014. Sesay was the sole journalist to accompany 21 of the girls when they returned home in 2016. Her reporting was instrumental in the global #BringBackOurGirls movement, earning CNN a Peabody Award and herself a Gracie Award for Outstanding Anchor. She hosted programs such as ‘International Desk,’ ‘BackStory,’ and ‘CNN NewsCenter,’ and contributed to ‘Anderson Cooper 360°’ with the ‘360 Bulletin.’ Sesay also co-anchored ‘Evening Express’ on HLN. She departed CNN in 2018 to focus on other projects, including writing a book and supporting girls’ education in Africa.
Since leaving CNN, Sesay has continued her advocacy and media work. She is the founder and president of W.E. (Women Everywhere) Can Lead, an NGO established in 2014 in Sierra Leone that empowers, educates, and supports adolescent girls. She also serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In 2019, Sesay published her book, ‘Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram,’ detailing her experiences covering the Chibok abductions. In March 2021, she became the first female CEO of OkayMedia, a multimedia publisher focused on global Black culture, where she continues to amplify diverse voices and narratives. Sesay is a frequent speaker and moderator at international events, discussing topics such as women’s empowerment, global events, and the role of race and gender in media.
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