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'''Ms. Sophia Bekele''' is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.aitecafrica.com/user/view/Sophia+Bekele Aitec Africa]</ref>  She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]]<ref>[http://cbsegroup.com/main.html?src=%2F85001%2F88022.html#1,0 CBS International]</ref> and [[DotConnectAfrica]]<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, DotConnectAfrica]</ref>  

'''Ms. Sophia Bekele''' is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.aitecafrica.com/user/view/Sophia+Bekele Aitec Africa]</ref>  She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

==ICANN Work==

==ICANN Work==

Ms. Bekele was nominated to serve on [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO]] policy board from 2005-2007, under the Chairmanship of [[Dr. Vinton Cerf]]. Elected by the [[NomCom]], Sophia was the first African to serve and hold a seat the GNSO. During her tenure, Sophia was instrumental in initiating policy dialogue over [[IDN]]s as well as the formation of an [[IDN]] working group. She was later credited for championing the inclusion of the global [[IDN]] community within this policy dialogue.<ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives]</ref><ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/35142308/ICANN-IDN-Language-Group-Recommendation-IDN-1#fullscreen:on, IDN Language group Recommendation]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/44715292/IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA#fullscreen:on, IDRU Endorsement]</ref> As a result, Ms. Bekele was also nominated to chair ICANN's [[IDN Working Group]]. She was one of the co-authors of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines.  

Ms. Bekele was nominated to serve on [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO]] policy board from 2005-2007, under the Chairmanship of [[Dr. Vinton Cerf]]. Elected by the [[NomCom]], Sophia was the first African to serve and hold a seat the GNSO. During her tenure, Sophia was instrumental in initiating policy dialogue over [[IDN]]s as well as the formation of an [[IDN]] working group. She was later credited for championing the inclusion of the global [[IDN]] community within this policy dialogue.<ref>[http://ictcreatives.com/component/k2/item/50-sophia-bekele-ethiopian-champion-of-the-dot-africa-initiative Enterprise Technology ICT Creatives]</ref><ref> [http://www.scribd.com/doc/35142308/ICANN-IDN-Language-Group-Recommendation-IDN-1#fullscreen:on, IDN Language group Recommendation]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/44715292/IDRU-Endorsement-of-Dotafrica-for-DotConnectAfrica-DCA#fullscreen:on, IDRU Endorsement]</ref> As a result, Ms. Bekele was also nominated to chair ICANN's [[IDN Working Group]]. She was one of the co-authors of ICANN's IDN policy guidelines.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

Ms. Bekele initiated the formation of the [[AfriICANN]] grouping within [[ICANN]].  

Ms. Bekele initiated the formation of the [[AfriICANN]] grouping within [[ICANN]].<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

Sophia also initiated the first African-run bid for a [[.africa]] TLD, and is currently championing it across Africa under the non-profit, public-private partnership organization [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, DotConnectAfrica]</ref> Her organization has been endorsed by various prominent Pan-African organizations and African governments.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-endorsements, DCA Endorsements]</ref>

Sophia also initiated the first African-run bid for a [[.africa]] TLD, and is currently championing it across Africa under the non-profit, public-private partnership organization [[DotConnectAfrica]].<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org, DotConnectAfrica]</ref> Her organization has been endorsed by various prominent Pan-African organizations and African governments.<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-endorsements, DCA Endorsements]</ref>

   

   

===CBS International===

===CBS International===

Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of supporting technology in organizations working in emerging markets. The company's self-described mission is to: "Utilize our experience in consulting services in sales, software training, and provide our clients with a total systems solutions to help lower their cost and maximize efficiency in the delivery of quality products and services." CBS also consults on Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance & Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives. It is based near Silicon Valley, California.

Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of supporting technology in organizations working in emerging markets. The company's self-described mission is to: "Utilize our experience in consulting services in sales, software training, and provide our clients with a total systems solutions to help lower their cost and maximize efficiency in the delivery of quality products and services." CBS also consults on Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance & Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives. It is based near Silicon Valley, California.

Currently, Ms. Bekele and her company assist various clients in public/private markets, primarily in corporate risk governance, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley , GAAP & PCAOB and IT governance. Internationally, Sophia also consults on Milennium Challenge issues including anti-corruption, democratic governance, free market economics, and the development of internet and ICT infrastruture and regulatory policy.<ref>[http://cbsegroup.com/main.html?src=%2F85001%2F88022.html#1,0 CBS International]</ref>

Currently, Ms. Bekele and her company assist various clients in public/private markets, primarily in corporate risk governance, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley , GAAP & PCAOB and IT governance. Internationally, Sophia also consults on Milennium Challenge issues including anti-corruption, democratic governance, free market economics, and the development of internet and ICT infrastruture and regulatory policy.<ref>[http://cbsegroup.com/main.html?src=%2F85001%2F88022.html#1,0 CBS International]</ref>

Ms. Bekele also founded [[DotConnectAfrica]]. She is responsible for creating the foundations for running a viable non-profit with public/private partnership model, that is going to have a sustainable future with the project initiatives that it undertakes. The flagship projects which invoked the initialization of the organization is the "dotafrica" (.africa) Top Level Domain Name, which is to be the Continental Domain name to register Africa's businesses and other entities that are of concern to Africa.   

Ms. Bekele also founded [[DotConnectAfrica]]. She is responsible for creating the foundations for running a viable non-profit with public/private partnership model, that is going to have a sustainable future with the project initiatives that it undertakes. The flagship projects which invoked the initialization of the organization is the "dotafrica" (.africa) Top Level Domain Name, which is to be the Continental Domain name to register Africa's businesses and other entities that are of concern to Africa.   

Currently, Ms. Bekele's responsibilities include identifying opportunities and risks for delivering the company’s services as a web-based business, including identification of competitive services, opportunities for innovation, and assessment of marketplace obstacles and technical hurdles to the business success; Identify technology trends and evolving social behavior that may support or impede the success of the business; and Evaluate and identify appropriate technology platforms (including web application frameworks and the deployment stack) for delivering the company’s services.

Currently, Ms. Bekele's responsibilities include identifying opportunities and risks for delivering the company’s services as a web-based business, including identification of competitive services, opportunities for innovation, and assessment of marketplace obstacles and technical hurdles to the business success; Identify technology trends and evolving social behavior that may support or impede the success of the business; and Evaluate and identify appropriate technology platforms (including web application frameworks and the deployment stack) for delivering the company’s services.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

===Other Endeavors ===

===Other Endeavors ===

She is a Alumni Board Member of the Golden Gate University, Founder and Board Member of [[ISOC]] San Francisco Bay, a former board member of Information Systems  and Control Association ([[ISACA]]-SF), advisory member to the World Affairs Council of Contra Costa County, and adviser to United Nation Agencies, where she serves as expert advisor on ICT policy for various UN Agencies Boards and committees, including UNECA (Economic commission for Africa), UNPAN, UNGAID.

She is a Alumni Board Member of the Golden Gate University, Founder and Board Member of [[ISOC]] San Francisco Bay, a former board member of Information Systems  and Control Association ([[ISACA]]-SF), advisory member to the World Affairs Council of Contra Costa County, and adviser to United Nation Agencies, where she serves as expert advisor on ICT policy for various UN Agencies Boards and committees, including UNECA (Economic commission for Africa), UNPAN, UNGAID.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

==Education==

==Education==

Ms. Bekele holds an MBA in Management Information Systems (MIS) from Golden Gate University, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Systems from San Francisco State University. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).

Ms. Bekele holds an MBA in Management Information Systems (MIS) from Golden Gate University, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Systems from San Francisco State University. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiabekele LinkedIn]</ref>

==External Links==

==External Links==