Akosua Ali
Akosua Ali is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the President at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In this role, Ali drives the execution of strategic priorities and internal initiatives, aimed at strengthening operations through managing human and capital resources to deliver measurable, timely and cost-effective results for UNCF.
Akosua Ali brings over 18 years of leadership expertise in the federal government, non-profit and private sector organizations with a record of delivering mission-driven results in organizational transformation, while advancing civil rights, racial justice and Black excellence.
As a Director at the U.S. Department of Homeland, Ali delivered innovative performance management, financial management, contract management, human resource management and workforce engagement solutions, supporting mission-critical business operations. She managed a $7.8 billion IT acquisition portfolio and $603 million budget supporting mission-critical DHS services supporting 240,000 employees across 22 DHS component agencies, including FEMA, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Secret Service. At DHS, Akosua Ali managed 688 active contracts, 200 new contract awards, 1,200 purchasing requisitions, 120 interagency agreements and 800 contract closeouts annually, through project management, budget formulation, spend plan development, budget execution, acquisition planning, contract management and performance management. Akosua Ali yielded over $41 million in cost-savings, over four years, by leading innovative acquisitions, financial analysis and contract closeout de-obligation actions.
At the U.S. Census Bureau, Ali implemented the $319 million communications campaign developing television, radio, and print advertisement, 300 promotional products and road tour advertisements targeting audiences including African American, LatinX, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Asian and Asian Pacific Islander audiences in 28 different languages.
Between 2007 and 2009, Ali supported at the Federal Aviation Administration where she managed financial and contract actions for the FAA Contract Weather Observation $40 million program budget and the FAA Contract Tower $112 million program budget. She maximized operational efficiency through providing project management, contract management, budget management, quality assurance and programmatic support for weather observation and air traffic control contracts.
Over the past 13 years, Akosua Ali served as the President of the NAACP Washington, DC, Branch and on the NAACP National Board of Directors since 2016. As a nationally recognized champion for racial justice and equality, Ali has led the strategic implementation of diversity, equity and civil rights advocacy in health, education, climate, environment, housing, criminal justice and economic development. As president, Ali led transformative solutions to eliminate racial discrimination and drive operational efficiency and mission success across 17 NAACP program areas covering the economy, education, the environment, finance, climate justice, criminal justice, health, housing, LGTBQIA+, international affairs, labor, legal redress, membership, political action, public relations, religious affairs and veteran affairs. Ali navigated the NAACP in processing over 823 discrimination complaints in the areas of education, housing, police misconduct, employment and consumer rights. She has managed legislative and public policy advocacy and testified on over 43 key bills. In 2017, Akosua Ali pioneered the launch of the Next Generation Leadership Training Program in partnership with two phenomenal brother leaders, successfully training over 600 students across 33 states encompassing 16 core-competency curriculum areas including leadership fundamentals, political action, economic empowerment, criminal justice, environmental justice, health advocacy and racial justice.
Akosua Ali has received numerous professional awards. In 2018, she received the Homeland Security, OCIO, I AM IT! Acquisition Program Manager Award, and in 2015, she received the Rising Star Government Innovation Award. In 2012, Ali was named, the DMVs “Top 30 Under 30.”
Akosua Ali is a native of Washington, DC, and a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, where she received a bachelor’s degree and MBA degree in Global Business and Organizational Leadership. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Akosua Ali serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations, including the NAACP, DC Open Government Coalition, Kofi Tyus Art Institute and Next Generational Leadership Training Institute. Akosua Ali was a chartering member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blacks In Government (BIG) Chapter.