Changes

Bekele is also a co-founder and Executive Board Member of Internet Society Chapter (ISOC) San Francisco Bay<ref>[http://www.sfbayisoc.org/founding-members/, Founding Members ISOC San Francisco Bay]</ref> and was elected and served for two tenures as Alumni Board member of Golden Gate University.<ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref> Bekele has served as an Ambassador to various Rotary Clubs, where she has earned recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions.

Bekele is also a co-founder and Executive Board Member of Internet Society Chapter (ISOC) San Francisco Bay<ref>[http://www.sfbayisoc.org/founding-members/, Founding Members ISOC San Francisco Bay]</ref> and was elected and served for two tenures as Alumni Board member of Golden Gate University.<ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref> Bekele has served as an Ambassador to various Rotary Clubs, where she has earned recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions.

In 2013, Bekele was named Top <b><i>“50 Trailblazers – A future made in Africa”</i></b>, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, an IC Publications group, <i>“Collector’s Edition”</i> which coincides with the continent’s 50th anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals <i>“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.”  </i><ref>[http://techmoran.com/juliana-rotich-jason-njoku-alex-okosi-sophia-bekele-barrack-obama-named-top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-newafrican-magazine/,Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s NewAfrican Magazine]</ref><ref>[http://aptantech.com/2013/07/dcas-sophia-bekele-named-among-50-african-trailblazers-by-newafrican-magazine/ DCA’s Sophia Bekele named among “50 African Trailblazers” by NewAfrican Magazine]</ref> <ref>[http://www.undpegov.org/node/6431 Africa: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers]</ref> <ref>[http://issuu.com/icpubs/docs/na0513_combinedissue_lowres?e=6326645/2549184,A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African page 59]</ref> Bekele was also named as one of the <i><b>“two leading ladies in Africa’s ICT sector”</b></i> by “Bloomberg TV”<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20131129_african_women_to_watch_sophia_bekele_on_bloomberg_tv/ "African Women to Watch" - Sophia Bekele on Bloomberg TV]</ref> and enumerated in “African Women to Watch” a  prime TV program,  that <i>“celebrates the most fearless, competitive and visionary African women of our time” </i>,  and explores <i><b>“the women working hard to close the gender gap and  shaping the continent’s social, political and economic landscape”</b></i>.   

In 2013, Bekele was named Top <b><i>“50 Trailblazers – A future made in Africa”</i></b>, by the influential UK’s NewAfrican Magazine, an IC Publications group, <i>“Collector’s Edition”</i> which coincides with the continent’s 50th anniversary celebrations of the African Union, and featured individuals <i>“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.”  </i><ref>[http://techmoran.com/juliana-rotich-jason-njoku-alex-okosi-sophia-bekele-barrack-obama-named-top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-newafrican-magazine/,Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s NewAfrican Magazine]</ref><ref>[http://aptantech.com/2013/07/dcas-sophia-bekele-named-among-50-african-trailblazers-by-newafrican-magazine/ DCA’s Sophia Bekele named among “50 African Trailblazers” by NewAfrican Magazine]</ref> <ref>[http://www.undpegov.org/node/6431 Africa: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers]</ref><ref>[ http://naijacelebritynews.blogspot.com/2013/08/top-50-african-trailblazers-by-uks-new.htm/, Top “50 African Trailblazers” By UK’s New African Magazine: Juliana Rotich, Jason Njoku, Alex Okosi, Sophia Bekele & Barrack Obama Named]</ref> <ref>[ http://www.kenyanews.net/index.php/sid/214959307/scat/c1ab2109a5bf37ecAfrica: DotConnectAfrica's Sophia Bekele Named One of 50 African Trailblazers by NewAfrican Magazine]</ref><ref>[http://issuu.com/icpubs/docs/na0513_combinedissue_lowres?e=6326645/2549184,A future made in Africa-50 Trailblazers under 50 MADE IN AFRICA!_New African page 59]</ref> Bekele was also named as one of the <i><b>“two leading ladies in Africa’s ICT sector”</b></i> by “Bloomberg TV”<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20131129_african_women_to_watch_sophia_bekele_on_bloomberg_tv/ "African Women to Watch" - Sophia Bekele on Bloomberg TV]</ref> and enumerated in “African Women to Watch” a  prime TV program,  that <i>“celebrates the most fearless, competitive and visionary African women of our time” </i>,  and explores <i><b>“the women working hard to close the gender gap and  shaping the continent’s social, political and economic landscape”</b></i>.   

Bekele is of Ethiopian decent but studied in the USA for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analysis and Information Systems at San Francisco State University and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management Information Systems from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California.  She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).  Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in Walnut Creek, California and Africa, where she has a firm based in  business and family.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/prodigal-prodigy-cbs-international-sophia-bekele.pdf Prodigal prodigy K Kaufman]</ref> <ref>[http://ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref>   

Bekele is of Ethiopian decent but studied in the USA for her Bachelor's Degree in Business Analysis and Information Systems at San Francisco State University and earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management Information Systems from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California.  She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, Certified Control Specialist (CCS), and Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).  Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in Walnut Creek, California and Africa, where she has a firm based in  business and family.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/prodigal-prodigy-cbs-international-sophia-bekele.pdf Prodigal prodigy K Kaufman]</ref> <ref>[http://ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref>   

She has been involved in public affairs commentary and continues to write articles on technology for development, Internet Governance, cyber security, regional economic integration, good governance, business and politics; that have been published in different newspapers, journals and Internet web sites <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/writing/ selected articles/presentations]</ref>

She has been involved in public affairs commentary and continues to write articles on technology for development, Internet Governance, cyber security, regional economic integration, good governance, business and politics; that have been published in different newspapers, journals and Internet web sites <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/writing/ selected articles/presentations]</ref>

==Other Endeavors==

==Other Endeavors and leadership Positions==

Bekele has been elected and served on a number of United Nations initiatives, such as the UN-ICT Taskforce and UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and East African Representative to the African Regional Network (ARN), UNGAID, and UNPAN, where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/leadership/ Sophia Bekele Leadership]</ref> <ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2005/candidates Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the Nominees 2005]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref> In her tenure at AISI,  Bekele co-authored the 'Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion', which was developed in response to the ECA Conference of Minister's Resolution 812 (XXXI). The 'Common Position' was a blueprint that reflected Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, World Economic Forum, NEPAD initiatives, etc

Bekele has been elected and served on a number of United Nations initiatives, such as the UN-ICT Taskforce and UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and East African Representative to the African Regional Network (ARN), UNGAID, and UNPAN, where she represents the private sector in discussions about the economic development of Africa.<ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/leadership/ Sophia Bekele Leadership]</ref> <ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2005/candidates Nominating Committee | Biographical Information on the Nominees 2005]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ethiopianwomenunleashed.org/profile_detail.php?PId=111 Ethiopian Women Unleashed]</ref> In her tenure at AISI,  Bekele co-authored the 'Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion', which was developed in response to the ECA Conference of Minister's Resolution 812 (XXXI). The 'Common Position' was a blueprint that reflected Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, ECOSOC, the UN Task Force, World Economic Forum, NEPAD initiatives, etc