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Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is  a business and corporate executive, an entrepreneur, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.  She has maintained a successful career track record spanning over a decade of constant professional activity working for Fortune 500 Companies and transnational business ownership/operation.  Bekele has founded and run various International start-ups amongst them [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]] and implemented successful projects as well as launched companies into new markets.

Ms. [[Sophia Bekele]] is  a business and corporate executive, an entrepreneur, ICT activist, and international policy adviser on ICT/Telcom to public and private enterprise.  She has maintained a successful career track record spanning over a decade of constant professional activity working for Fortune 500 Companies and transnational business ownership/operation.  Bekele has founded and run various International start-ups amongst them [[CBS International]] and [[DotConnectAfrica]] and implemented successful projects as well as launched companies into new markets.

Bekele was elected and served member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), which advises on global internet policy and the policy development work on new generic Top Level Domain name.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2005/candidates Sophia Bekele ICANN GNSO]</ref>  During her term at [[ICANN]], she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Concurrently, Bekele initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD, under DotConnectAfrica Trust, and run a successful 6-year “Yes2dotAfrica” global awareness campaign.<ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Governments-have-no-role-in-managing-gTLDs Governments have no role in managing gTLDs]</ref> <ref>[https://thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/living-and-the-arts/lifestyle/item/324-an-ethiopian-woman-fighting-for-africa-a-new-generic-top-level-domain An Ethiopian woman fighting for .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain]</ref>

Bekele was elected and served as a member of the ICANN Council of the GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization), which advises on global internet policy and the policy development work on new generic Top Level Domain name.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2005/candidates Sophia Bekele ICANN GNSO]</ref>  During her term at [[ICANN]], she has championed the IDN Policy Dialog for the international community. Concurrently, Bekele initiated the first African-run Registry for a .africa TLD, under DotConnectAfrica Trust, and run a successful 6-year “Yes2dotAfrica” global awareness campaign.<ref>[http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/Governments-have-no-role-in-managing-gTLDs Governments have no role in managing gTLDs]</ref> <ref>[https://thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/living-and-the-arts/lifestyle/item/324-an-ethiopian-woman-fighting-for-africa-a-new-generic-top-level-domain An Ethiopian woman fighting for .africa, a new generic Top-Level Domain]</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>

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>

Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of technology transfer to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance,  Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives, public policy on ICT/telecom.  It is based near Silicon Valley, California.

Ms. Bekele founded [[CBS International]], a private corporation with the goal of technology transfer to emerging economies. The company also consults on Systems Integration, Internet solutions, Business Process Engineering, implementation of Corporate Strategy & Governance,  Sarbane Oxley compliance initiatives, public policy on ICT/telecom.  It is based near Silicon Valley, California.

CBS International 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://cbsegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/auditor-says-parliament-award-improper.pdf Ethiopian Parliament Integrated Information Network Infrastructure]</ref> Ms. Bekele and her company CBS International has also assisted various U.S. Clients in the public/private markets, primarily in corporate governance and risk management areas, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley ACT, GAAP & PCAOB.  In these areas, her selected clients has included OnScreen Technologies, Inc. (OTC), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq) BDO Sieldman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), Genentech Corp (Gene).

CBS International 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://cbsegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/auditor-says-parliament-award-improper.pdf Ethiopian Parliament Integrated Information Network Infrastructure]</ref>  

 

Ms. Bekele and her company CBS International has also assisted various U.S. Clients in the public/private markets, primarily in corporate governance and risk management areas, including the recent Sarbanes-Oxley ACT, GAAP & PCAOB.  In these areas, her selected clients has included OnScreen Technologies, Inc. (OTC), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq) BDO Sieldman LLP, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB), Genentech Corp (Gene).

==DotConnectAfrica (DCA)==

==DotConnectAfrica (DCA)==

Bekele’s recent venture is the  establishment of the DotConnectAfrica Trust and DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, which is well-known for its successful six year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the .Africa Top Level Domain Name.  Bekele made  a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and  introduced it to the PanAfrican organizations in Africa such as UNECA and African Union and the global publics.  She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative.  Currently, Bekele's focus is on the .africa – a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme.

Bekele’s recent venture is the  establishment of the [[DotConnectAfrica]] Trust and DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, which is well-known for its successful six year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the .Africa Top Level Domain Name.  Bekele made  a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and  introduced it to the PanAfrican organizations in Africa such as UNECA and African Union and the global publics.  She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative.  Currently, Bekele's focus is on the .africa – a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme.

 

==Speakings and Writings==

==Speakings and Writings==

Sophia is invited to speak on international foras to present her exemplary work in technology transfer, and her work was credited for bringing powerful advanced information technology to the developing world, with long-standing initiatives to bring the internet to Africa.  She has made presentations at Yale University African Youth Empowerment Conference, at prestigious high-level meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York, ITU “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali Rwanda,and Stanford Women in Business in California alongside founders and executives of Pandora, YouTube, Gmail, and Yahoo featuring people that have made great impact!,  Rebranding Africa with African Leadership Retreat in South Africa,and How to build a Top Level Domain Community in Munich, Germany. <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/speaking/ Selected Speaking Sessions]</ref>

Sophia is regularly invited to speak on international foras to present her work in technology transfer, and has been credited for bringing powerful advanced information technology to the developing world, with long-standing initiatives to bring the internet to Africa.  She has made presentations at Yale University on 'Africa: Economic Development Through Technology', at prestigious high-level meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on ICT in New York, ITU “ConnectAfrica” Heads of State submit in Kigali Rwanda,and Stanford Women in Business in California alongside founders and executives of Pandora, YouTube, Gmail, and Yahoo featuring people that have made great impact!,  Rebranding Africa with African Leadership Retreat in South Africa,and How to build a Top Level Domain Community in Munich, Germany. <ref>[http://sophiabekele.com/speaking/ Selected Speaking Sessions]</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>