BRITE ’22 SPEAKERS: MICHELLE KATHRYN ESSOMÉ '99

MICHELLE KATHRYN ESSOMÉ '99

Managing Director
EJE Limited

Former CEO
African Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

Michelle Kathryn Essomé is an experienced CEO and Executive Director with more than 20 years of financial services experience covering investment banking, investment management, recruitment, diversity & inclusion, and private equity and venture capital. She excels in brand positioning, revenue growth, financial management, strategy, fundraising, marketing, and driving operational excellence.

Strong international experience throughout the UK, Africa, France, and the USA. Recognized as a natural relationship builder and convenor with strong diplomatic skills. She has a real passion for Africa and building companies.

Michelle currently advises start-ups on capital raising and scaling. Prior to this, Michelle was the Chief Executive Officer of the African Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCA) for nine years. She is widely credited and globally known for the catalyzing the African private investment industry through the restructure of the company, taking over a defunct organization and transforming it into a highly regarded African investment partner.  

Prior to this, Michelle held various senior roles in investment banking, investment management, recruitment, diversity & inclusion, and women's leadership with Neuberger Berman, Nomura, Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch in the US, France, and the UK.

She has an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School where she was a Robert Toigo Fellow and was later awarded the inaugural Young Alumni Award, and a BBA in finance from Howard University's School of Business. She has also completed the Private Equity and Venture Capital Masterclass at Harvard Business School and been named as a "Woman to Watch" by Bloomberg Africa. She is a dual national American and British and is fluent in French.