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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 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 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><ref>[http://blog.ud.com/2012/03/new-gtld-news-connecting-a-continent-with-africa/ New gTLD News: Connecting a Continent with .AFRICA]</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>