About Us
Our Story
After graduating from college and realizing that the entities making decisions impacting Black families and communities historically avoid hiring Black people and funding Black-led ideas, Esi and Peter decided to create an organization that would equip young Black people with awareness of this problem and the tools and skills necessary to build grassroots solutions that will provide Black job seekers and entrepreneurs with more access to Black-led, Black-benefitting economic opportunities.
– Co-Founders of DIFFvelopment
We envision a world where Black people know their history and view themselves as part of a collective global community that is empowered and responsible for identifying, defining and solving its own socioeconomic issues through visionary entrepreneurship, wealth building and philanthropy.
Through our mission of re-empowering the global Black community through historically centered re-education that empowers aspiring Black visionaries to develop their world differently, we give ambitious young Black people the wake-up call they need to put their love for their family and community into transformative action that disrupts negative historical patterns and creates sustainable solutions to longstanding problems.
Meet the
executives
Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo is a forward-thinking Ghanaian and Ugandan American with a diverse academic and international, nonprofit and corporate background. She has over 15 years of volunteer, administrative, programmatic and executive-level nonprofit experience, focused on connecting and uplifting Black communities around the world and providing youth with educational services that advance them psychologically, spiritually and socioeconomically. As the CEO & Co-Founder of DIFFvelopment, Esi re-empowers the global Black community by holistically empowering aspiring Black visionaries to disrupt negative patterns of history through personal development and entrepreneurship, and manages a diverse team of employees, contractors and board members, and all aspects of strategic planning and implementation, and beneficiary and prospective and existing funder relationship building. Esi holds an MSc in African Studies from the University of Oxford, UK, a BA in Afro-American Studies and Psychology from Smith College, and has studied in Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana. Esi was recognized by Education 2.0 as an Outstanding Leader, and is the author of Understanding How to Build Black Generational Wealth: A Historically and Culturally Centered Self-Help Book, recognized by Investopedia as the Best Primer on Building Black Wealth.
Peter Markeeo Gillo
Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder
Peter Markeeo Gillo is the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of DIFFvelopment, where he leads the organization’s creative strategy, brand identity, and visual storytelling. Peter’s multidisciplinary background spans political science, sociology, marketing, and community development—shaped by studies at Clark Atlanta University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he focused on regional planning with a concentration in social policy and community development.
Peter’s creative work is grounded in a deep commitment to re-education, cultural restoration, and economic empowerment for people of African descent. As the son of Ugandan and African American parents and someone who grew up navigating both hearing and Deaf worlds, he brings a nuanced, lived understanding of identity, resilience, and the power of representation.
Across DIFFvelopment’s global initiatives, Peter develops visual systems and narratives that honor Black historical context, affirm agency, and inspire visionary leadership. His Afrocentric, impact-driven creative direction has strengthened DIFFvelopment’s brand integrity, expanded audience engagement, and supported the organization’s international growth.
Peter is driven by the belief that reclaiming our stories is foundational to reclaiming our power—and that creativity, when rooted in truth, can catalyze generational transformation.
Wanjiku wa Gitau
Chief Programs Officer
With a background that bridges hospitality, project management, and social impact, Wanjiku brings a distinctive blend of strategic structure and people-centered creativity to DIFFvelopment. As Chief Program Officer, she has led international teams of researchers and student consultants across multiple countries, producing original research on global Black development and delivering strategic solutions for social enterprises across Africa and the diaspora.
Wanjiku has played a key role in strengthening DIFFvelopment’s organizational capacity by introducing structure and sustainability through standard operating procedures and streamlined process systems. Her work has supported the organization’s evolution into a globally connected entity, while enhanced cross-team collaboration has deepened program impact and improved implementation outcomes for partner organizations. Grounded in her hospitality foundation, she approaches leadership and operations with a focus on excellence, empathy, and intentional experience design.
She is deeply passionate about building systems that nurture wealth, purpose, and global connectivity within the Black community. Wanjiku believes that historical knowledge, visionary leadership, and economic empowerment must work in harmony to create lasting, transformative change.
Meet the
team
Shafra Ndegemo
Operations and Programs Coordinator
Shafra Ndegemo’s academic path—beginning with a Diploma in Hospitality Management and progressing toward a BBA in Finance and Accounting—reflects her intentional pursuit of expertise in both people-centered service and the economic systems that shape opportunity. Her role as a receptionist at Kabira Country Club has strengthened her skills in operational excellence and client engagement, while also giving her a clear view of the structural inequities that persist within her community.
This lived awareness is what draws Shafra to DIFFvelopment’s mission. She is passionate about shifting from facilitating hospitality experiences to advancing historical and economic literacy, which she believes form the foundation for self-determined development. Her strategic decision to pivot her education toward finance stands as a defining milestone in this commitment, equipping her with the analytical tools needed not only to navigate financial systems but also to contribute to transforming them.
Shafra believes that empowering Black visionaries requires an integration of cultural re-education and practical financial expertise. She is dedicated to bringing this unique blend of skills to help her community imagine, build, and sustain a future rooted in independence, innovation, and collective progress.
Abubakar Abdullahi
Africa Programs Administrator
Abubakar Sani Abdullahi is a passionate social entrepreneur and development professional committed to youth empowerment and sustainable development. He holds an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and brings strong experience in social entrepreneurship, climate action, and youth-focused programming.
Abubakar currently serves as the Africa Program Administrator at DIFFvelopment, a role that has been deeply transformative. Through this work, he has helped empower more than 1,600 young people, connected with inspiring leaders, and cultivated meaningful networks across the continent and beyond. His experience at DIFFvelopment has strengthened his belief in the power of mentorship, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and cultural reempowerment.
Abubakar’s goals align closely with DIFFvelopment’s mission to reempower Black youth and equip them with the tools necessary to achieve financial independence, support their families, and uplift their communities. He remains committed to expanding opportunities for young people to innovate, grow, and build lasting generational wealth.
Opoku Bonsu
Ghana Program Facilitator
Opoku Kuttin is a Ghanaian nursing student, barber, and the Ghana Facilitator for DIFFvelopment. Balancing clinical studies with community engagement, he leads workshops across Ghana that equip students with knowledge of Black history, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. He is driven by the transformative impact of helping young people connect their historical identity to practical money management skills—an alignment that he believes can change the trajectory of their futures.
Opoku is committed to expanding DIFFvelopment’s reach across Africa by strengthening local facilitator networks and providing youth with the practical tools they need to achieve economic independence.
Nafeza Kingston
Consultrepreneurship Program Advisor
Rakibul Hasan
Bookeeper
Anton Esaulov
Website Developer
Meet the
Board
DuWayne D. Harrison
Chair
DuWayne is a leader in PwC’s Cloud and Digital practice with over 27 years of int’l technology and cross functional leadership experience that spans management, IT, and operations for financial services, healthcare, enterprise solutions, pharmaceutical, government, nonprofit, and education clients. He has played a key role in helping senior business and technology executives understand the best ways to use existing and emerging technologies to run their enterprises, accelerate growth, and ultimately deliver greater business value to their customers. DuWayne has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences & world forums and won numerous awards.
- Director, PricewaterhouseCooper LLP
Michele Adwoa Akuffo
Secretary
Michele Adwoa Akuffo is a Ghanaian legal practitioner with ten years of experience in litigation, commercial law practice, and law firm management. She currently serves as the Managing Partner of Merton & Everett LLP, a law firm and policy consultancy dedicated to advancing justice, equity, and sound public policy.
Michele holds a first degree in Biological Sciences from KNUST, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ghana, and a professional qualifying certificate from the Ghana School of Law.
She is drawn to DIFFvelopment because of its commitment to helping the Black community realise and manifest its fullest potential. Michele is particularly aligned with the organisation’s focus on protecting and nurturing fundamental human rights—an approach that empowers the community to effect meaningful and lasting change.
This mission resonates deeply with her work at Merton & Everett LLP, where she is committed to safeguarding the rights of all individuals, especially minorities, and contributing to the development of policies that guide, protect, and reform systems impacting vulnerable groups.
Deborah Ann Grant
Treasurer
Deborah Grant, a proud Barbadian, is a 2017 Certified International Tour Director and a 2018 Certified International Tour Guide, both earned through the International Guide Academy, Inc. She also holds a Certificate in Introduction to Interpretive Guiding from the International Association of Tour Directors and Guides, as well as a Certificate of Completion in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Florida Atlantic University.
Known as the “Master Chatter” at Chattel House Audio Tours Inc., Deborah serves as the lead tour guide and is committed to expanding the company’s heritage-themed tours across the world. In 2024, she was appointed Site Manager of the Arlington House Museum, a Barbados National Trust property located in Speightstown, St. Peter—a role she held until October 2025.
After a 30-year career in the corporate world as an accountant, Deborah transitioned fully into Barbados’ tourism industry in January 2019. She is also an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, where she was appointed Pastor in March 2024.
Deborah previously served as President of the Barbados Entrepreneurship and Tourism Association (BETA), an organization representing the home-sharing accommodation sector. In 2021, she became a published author as part of the anthology Mindset, Identity & Relationships, curated by Claudine Reid MBE.
These accomplishments represent only a portion of Deborah’s diverse interests, roles, and activities. She is deeply passionate about people—especially youth—along with history and creativity, all of which shape her dynamic contributions to her community and her craft.
Council of
Advisors
Arinze Onugha
Arinze’s practice focuses on forming and advising private investment funds, as well as representing regulated fund of funds, family offices and other institutional investors in connection with their primary and secondary investments in domestic and offshore buyout, real estate, venture capital, structured equity and other private investment funds
- Partner at Fried Frank
Imani Missouri
Imani aims to inspire social impact leaders and communities to dream bigger for a brighter future in the areas of personal and leadership development, community development and equity, diversity and inclusion. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development and education sector. She delivers leadership development trainings to Fortune 100 organizations as a certified facilitator through the Center for Creative Leadership. More recently, she served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment. Professionally, she led program strategy and development at Faith & Prejudice and was previously Program Officer, Knowledge Management & Strategy at Local Initiatives Support Corporation, where she engaged in multi-sector thought leadership and partnerships to advance capacity-building across urban and rural communities in America, spearheaded an internal and external racial equity strategy and collaborated on talent development initiatives. She has obtained a BA in Social Psychology from Smith College, MS in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School, graduate certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from SUNY Empire State, Entrepreneurial Achievement by BE NYC Startup Intensive powered by FastTrac® and certificates in Women’s Entrepreneurship & Financial Management through Cornell University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and looks forward to extending her expertise in support of DIFFvelopment’s vision.
Vanessa Cooksey
Envisioning a full creative life for every St. Louisan, Vanessa Cooksey leads the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RACSTL). RAC is the largest public funder of the arts. It has been pivotal in nurturing a vibrant arts and culture sector throughout the region, awarding over $100million since its inception in 1985.
Vanessa has more than 30 years of business and civic leadership experience. She’s held marketing, communications, and philanthropy leadership positions with various companies, including Mary Kay Cosmetics, The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office, Cartoon Network, Anheuser Busch, Wells Fargo, Spire Energy, and Washington University in St. Louis. Vanessa is known for her ability to build results-driven partnerships, facilitate dynamic collaborations, create high-performing teams, and effectively convene diverse stakeholders.
Vanessa is a serious change-maker and has led innovative arts, education, technology, and health & wellness initiatives, reaching over 20 million children and adults throughout her career. Always willing to serve in her community, Vanessa’s humanitarian efforts over the last three decades have helped promote and advance human welfare and social reform across the US. Highly sought-after for her expertise in board governance, organizational culture, talent development, DEI, and reputation risk management, she has served on 150+ local and national non-profit boards, including the SIFMA Foundation for Investor Education, Harris-Stowe State University, Vote Run Lead, and Mercy Hospitals.
Vanessa earned her bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University. She has studied and traveled extensively in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Vanessa has received over 50 awards for her industry and community work, including the 2016 Eisenhower Fellowship, the 2018 St. Louis American Corporate Executive of the Year, and the 2023 LEAD STL Freedom Fighter Lifetime Achievement Award. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Jack & Jill of America and enjoys cycling, cooking, and spending quality time with her family and friends.