Teresa has spent decades advancing Africa’s global narrative and expanding opportunities for the continent’s youth. She co-founded the Student Sponsorship Programme of South Africa (SSP) in 2000, an initiative that has transformed the lives of hundreds of academically talented students from low-income families by placing them in top-tier South African schools. Her vision: quality education should not be a privilege but a right — and a powerful lever for equity and progress.

Her dedication to human rights and justice in Africa is reflected in her role as Chair of the Friends of the Legal Resources Centre of South Africa, a U.S.-based nonprofit that supports one of South Africa’s most prominent public interest law firms. She also chairs the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and serves on the Africa Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch, helping to amplify African voices in global policy and advocacy.

Appointed by the Obama Administration, Teresa was one of 15 private-sector leaders selected for the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, advising U.S. policy to promote sustainable economic partnerships on the continent. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Center for African Studies, and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

She serves on the advisory board of the Digital, Data, Design Institute at Harvard Business School – a scaled think tank involving over 30 faculty from across the university at the intersection of AI & business. 

Teresa’s deep connection to Africa is also creative. She directed and produced the documentary Africa Straight Up, and delivered a TED Talk titled Bridging the African Diaspora Divide, which explores the powerful ties between Africans and the global diaspora. 

Before founding Africa.com, Teresa made history at Goldman Sachs, becoming the first African-American woman promoted to Managing Director in the investment banking division. She led corporate finance and M&A transactions across sectors including real estate and industrials.

She currently serves on the boards of two Fortune 500 companies — American Tower (NYSE: AMT) and Gallagher (NYSE: AJG) — both with operations across Africa and other emerging markets.

Teresa earned an A.B. in economics, cum laude, from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.