Stephanie Lord
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Development & Strategic Partnerships
Stephanie is a seasoned International Development professional with nearly two decades of experience delivering high-impact, data-driven gender equality and women’s protection and empowerment programming across the globe.
Before coming to Vital Voices, Stephanie was tapped by Angélique Kidjo, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, to be the Founding Executive Director of the Batonga Foundation, an organization that equips marginalized and vulnerable female youth, primarily in West Africa, with education and skills to develop economic autonomy and gain agency over their own lives. At Batonga, she led the establishment of country offices in Benin and Senegal and steadily expanded programs to reach over 9,000 adolescent girls and young women in Benin and Senegal as well as over 400 young gender equality leaders and advocates in 22 francophone African countries. She also pioneered a digital literacy initiative reaching over 2 million households and launched a men and boys engagement program to offer specialized training in positive masculinity.
Stephanie holds a Master’s Degree in International Development from the American University School of International Service and has a strong track record of sparking creative initiative, leading with empathy, and piloting programs into award-winning success.
Five things to ask me about:
- Why opossums are great
- Anything related to raising Sheep
- How West Africa shaped Southern food and culture in the US
- Why sharks are misunderstood
- Benefits of yoga