Meet Eden Tadesse, Our Chief Executive Officer from Ethiopia
By Ambitious.Africa
An ordinary girl with extraordinary ambitions
I was raised in the slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 11 incredibly smart, resourceful, talented changemaker siblings. At the same time, I was fortunate enough to attend the top private school in the country, amongst children of royalty, millionaires and high-ranking politicians. As a result, I was raised to experience life on both sides of the economic spectrum. This gave me a unique and balanced perspective on life. Growing up in the slums taught me the importance of community, social values and versatile leadership. Being educated amongst the top 1% in an international environment equipped me with the right tools and resources to position myself as an agent of change.
Eden as part of a cohort of 25 global impact entrepreneurs in Oslo, Norway
The question on everybody’s mind, ‘How did you end up at Ambitious.Africa?’
In autumn of 2021, I was working for the United Nations in Ethiopia as a Deputy Project Manager. It was my first role in Programme Development and I was immensely grateful for the opportunity to grow professionally in this exciting new field. Nevertheless, I knew intuitively that the UN wasn’t where I was going to make my mark on the world. To cut a long story short: I was then introduced to the CEO opening at Ambitious.Africa through the Ye! Community (shoutout to Claire and the team at Ye!) and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I learned more about Ambitious.Africa (programs, team, community, vision, impact) and I felt strongly aligned to the organization’s mission and strategic goals. That’s when I applied… and the rest, as they say, is history.
Eden discussing with Ethiopian political refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp
How the Nordic countries cultivated your entrepreneurial ambitions
In 2016, I travelled to Copenhagen (Denmark) to attend the largest conference on women’s rights and health. It was my first time in Europe… and I fell in love with Scandinavia! With a 6-month visa and friends across many European states, I made an impromptu decision to make Europe my third home (after Africa and Asia). I am, after all, a Global Citizen.
My time in Norway in 2019 set my life off in a completely new trajectory. Exploring the startup ecosystem, meeting brilliant impact-oriented entrepreneurs, developing innovative global programs on education/employability was a phenomenal experience… I was even fortunate enough to pitch an AI chatbot software (used to increase sustainable investing) to the CEO of Storebrand, a billion-dollar financial services company in Norway – he called it 'brilliant' and integrated the bot across different departments. Suffice to say, the Nordic countries welcomed me with open arms, and it was a perfect match. As a young, ambitious changemaker/entrepreneur and doer, I felt right at home.
Eden photographed with the Ambassadors of Tanzania and Burundi in Denmark
What is your message to the youth of this generation?
Youth are a force to be reckoned with – and we have the right to reclaim the quality of life we deserve. At Ambitious.Africa, we strive to empower young people to lead with conviction, build sustainable programs, and transform the world through collaboration, impact and leadership. If not us, then who? So, let’s not hold back in creating a more inclusive future.
Eden photographed with refugee entrepreneurs at Kakuma Refugee Camp
Eden can be reached at eden@ambitiousafrica.org
