Leadership
Teresa H. Clarke
Chair & CEO, Africa.com
Harvard-educated economist, lawyer and investment banker. Goldman Sachs' first African-American woman Managing Director. Co-founder of SSP (2000). Producer of “Africa Straight Up.” A leading voice on US-Africa relations, human rights and African development for more than two decades.
Leadership and Vision
Teresa H. Clarke is the Chair and CEO of Africa.com, the premier digital media platform for Africa and the global African diaspora. Under her leadership, Africa.com has grown into one of the world's most authoritative sources of news, analysis and information on the African continent, reaching millions of readers across more than 190 countries. Teresa founded the platform with a clear vision: to ensure that Africa's story is told accurately, comprehensively and with the authority and credibility that the continent and its 1.4 billion people deserve.
Investment and Business Leadership
Teresa's career in finance and investment began at Goldman Sachs where she became the firm's first African-American woman Managing Director — a landmark achievement in the history of one of the world's most prestigious financial institutions. She has served on the boards of major Fortune 500 companies including American Tower Corporation (AMT) and Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG), bringing her expertise in finance, governance and African markets to their strategic deliberations. Teresa co-founded SSP in 2000, a pioneering initiative connecting the American business community with investment opportunities across the African continent.
Policy and Public Service
Teresa has been a trusted advisor to the highest levels of the United States government on Africa policy and investment. She served on the Obama Administration's President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, helping to shape American trade and investment policy towards the continent during a critical period of economic transformation. She chairs the Friends of the Library of Congress Research Center and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Harvard Center for African Studies Advisory Board and the Harvard D3 Institute Advisory Board. Teresa also serves on the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art advisory council.
Education and Advocacy
Teresa earned her undergraduate degree in economics cum laude from Harvard University followed by both a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from Harvard as well. This rare triple-Harvard credential reflects the intellectual rigour and breadth of expertise that she brings to every dimension of her leadership work. She is the producer of Africa Straight Up, a widely acclaimed documentary film about African innovation and entrepreneurship, and has delivered a TED Talk titled Bridging the African Diaspora Divide that has reached audiences worldwide. Teresa also serves on the Human Rights Watch Africa Advisory Committee, reflecting her commitment to human rights and accountability across the continent.
Key affiliations