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Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is an entrepreneur, business 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>

Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is an entrepreneur, business executive, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise. She is the founder and CEO of [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]].

CBS International<ref>[http://www.cbsegroup.com/ CBS International]</ref>, is a private California-based firm engaged in technology transfer to emerging economies, which also set up [[SbCommunications]] Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament.<ref>[http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ethiopian-people-books-llc/1103147818 Sophia Bekele]</ref>  She has served on United Nations-sponsored committees, such as the [[UNECA]]-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa  Bekele was then elected member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization)<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/council/soi/bekele-statement.htm Sophia Bekele - Nominating Committee appointee to the GNSO Council]</ref>, which advises on global internet policy. During her term, she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Bekele also initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/ DotConnectAfrica]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica African Union AU Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>

CBS International, is a private California-based firm engaged in technology transfer to emerging economies, which also set up [[SbCommunications]] Network, an Ethiopian IT company. In 2002 SbCNet was known for being successfully awarded a highly controversial bid for a government contract to build an integrated information network infrastructure for the Ethiopian Parliament.<ref>[http://theibca.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cbs-wins-oaus-largest-it-project-p1.jpg Sophia Bekele]</ref>  She has served on United Nations-sponsored committees, such as the UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI), where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa  Bekele was then elected member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization)<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/council/soi/bekele-statement.htm Sophia Bekele - Nominating Committee appointee to the GNSO Council]</ref>, which advises on global internet policy. During her term, she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Bekele also initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD<ref>[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/ DotConnectAfrica]</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/31565131/African-Union-AU-Endorsement-of-DotConnectAfrica African Union AU Endorsement of DotConnectAfrica]</ref>

In 2013, Bekele was named Top “50 Trailblazers” – A future made in Africa, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, a “Collector’s Edition” which coincide with the continent’s 50th anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals “who are realizing significant achievements in their specific field of endeavor” and who are “breaking ground, making Africa proud and propelling it into a future of great hope.”<ref>[http://www.equities.com/news/industrial/2013-05-12/1392076/a-future-made-in-africa50-trailblazers-under-50-made-in.story,Sophia Bekele, A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African]</ref>  

In 2013, Bekele was named Top “50 Trailblazers” – A future made in Africa, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, a “Collector’s Edition” which coincide with the continent’s 50th anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals “who are realizing significant achievements in their specific field of endeavor” and who are “breaking ground, making Africa proud and propelling it into a future of great hope.”<ref>[http://www.equities.com/news/industrial/2013-05-12/1392076/a-future-made-in-africa50-trailblazers-under-50-made-in.story,Sophia Bekele, A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African]</ref>