Impact Investment & Strategic Advisory
Emi is the youngest member of the Grand Challenges Canada Investment Committee (standing committee of the Board), among the largest impact-first Venture Capital funds. In her role, Emi guides the deployment of transformative capital toward innovative, locally-led health, education, humanitarian, and technology solutions, ensuring high-impact and through strategic investments. Emi analyzes and authorizes deals in the millions across multiple sectors. In her role, Emi provides leadership and guidance to advance powerful locally-led development solutions as she steers tens of millions in investments toward LMICs and the Diaspora.
Emi leverages her decade of policy and grassroots experience—from acting as an independent advisor to the Juba Peace Talks (2020) to serving as a Civilian Observer to the Geneva Humanitarian Talks (2024) to engaging key stakeholders at UNGA & UN Security Council members on localization, increasing investment and last-mile aid delivery to alleviate the effects of war (2025)—to provide proprietary risk assessment that de-risks investment in complex environments. She currently serves as Strategic Director of the IDP Humanitarian Network, translating the operational resilience of thousands of indigenous-led volunteers into a scalable model that feeds, treats, and sustains thousands of families daily in Darfur.
A dynamic strategist and expert in women, peace and security Emi draws on her decade of field experience to inform and bolster humanitarian interventions and business solutions on a global scale– bringing to light the reality on the frontlines and the possibilities that arise when we innovate with power and purpose.
With over a decade of experience in community organizing, grassroots mobilization, and humanitarian crisis intervention as well as nearly a decade of experience in advocacy and public private partnership building, Emi focuses her efforts toward creating and championing transformative solutions in the private sector, health sector, public sector, and media.
Peace, Conflict Resolution, & Last-mile Care
The world-renowned artist and keynote speaker founded an international Sickle Cell Research initiative at age 19. Emi graduated from Yale in 2016. In 2017, at only 23 years of age, Emi hosted the first fully inclusive civilian peace talks across Sudan; Emi then, in 2018, walked 1000km for peace in 30 days (from Darfur to Khartoum), mobilizing thousands across the way through her One Girl Walk and Dreams for Peace Initiatives ahead of the revolution. In 2020 she served as the youngest advisor to the peace talks in Juba, South Sudan. In 2024, as a Civilian Observer to the humanitarian talks in Geneva, Emi worked closely with other Sudanese Women to inform the peace talks; her Sudanese-led initiative reached 12,000 people in 10 days on the ground and delivered the preliminary Civilian Recommendations for Peace to the negotiation table throughout the process. Emi continues to build bridges and break glass ceilings globally.
As Strategic Director & Community Organizer for the IDP Humanitarian Network, a Sudanese indigenous-led humanitarian crisis intervention network, Emi works daily to mobilize and coordinate lifesaving resources serving thousands of families in Sudan. The IDP Humanitarian Network (IDPHN) is the largest indigenous-led, decentralized crisis response network in Sudan. In her role, Emi provides unparalleled political risk insight and coordinates last-mile humanitarian intervention delivery—acting as a strategic & reliable implementation partner for key funders in complex, volatile areas. As her native El Fasher enters nearly 2 years of famine and siege, Emi converts lived experience into operational resilience.
From the frontlines to key policy circles, amidst the devastating war in her native Sudan, Emi founded Taharuk, a Sudanese youth-led advocacy and aid campaign that boosts civilian efforts for Sudan and inspires a collective responsibility for peace. Taharuk brings together a community of civilian-led NGOs on the frontlines of activism and aid in Sudan who serve millions with lifesaving aid. Together they work tirelessly with countless Sudanese civilians to mitigate the effects of the war and uncover and forge pathways toward sustainable peace.
Art as a Catalyst for Change
Named one of BBC's 100 Most Inspirational Women, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and World Champion Poet, Emtithal (Emi) Mahmoud co-founded a Sickle Cell research initiative at age 19. She’s since worked with President Obama, the Dalai Lama, The World Bank, Google Zeitgeist, Aspen Ideas Festival, and more. The young TED Speaker and Author has moved audiences at the UNGA, The World Economic Forum, Forbes 30 Under 30, COP 26-COP28 and countless high-level events to tears, and to their feet one heartfelt verse at a time.
Through her poetry, Emi exemplifies the power of art as a catalyst for change. Emi has performed at the Louvre, the MoMa, Art Basel, the MET, New York Fashion Week, The Inaugural Time 100 Women's Leadership Forum, The Women's Pavillion Inauguration, Sziget Music Festival, and more; her largest audience numbered 50,000 people. Having spoken in 44 countries to date and on countless high-level stages alongside the likes of the late, great Nikki Giovanni, Dame Jane Goodall, Florence & the Machine, Madame Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Wyclef Jean and other renowned artists, global leaders, and poets—Emi has solidified herself as one of the foremost artists and speakers of her generation.
A 2025 Aspen Ideas Fellow and Expo Osaka 2025 Cartier Women's Pavilion Contributing Artist & Protagonist, Emi transforms every stage she touches, moving people to act for the greater good, one collaboration at a time.
Resilience at Scale
A survivor of genocide, former refugee, and indigenous African woman herself, Emi became a public speaker and activist at age 10 and spoke at Capitol Building by age 11. By age 22, Emi was at the White House. Soon after at 23, she became the youngest writer to be named a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR alongside Neil Gaiman and Khaled Hosseini.
A world-renowned poet and author with a background in biology, anthropology, and global health, Emi sits at the intersection of the humanities and sciences. Through entrepreneurship and advocacy, Emi is committed to identifying, developing, and scaling powerful, ethical, intersectional solutions that foster and facilitate the inclusion of marginalized voices, prioritizing resilient community-centered and owned innovations.
From the frontlines to world stages, Emi has long been and continues to remain at the forefront of change. She looks forward to bringing her voice, expertise, and creativity to the table one meaningful collaboration at a time.
A selection of Emi's High-Level Clients, Global Conferences, and Speaking Engagements
