Joanne Ke Edelman

Joanne is an Associate Director at GDI Americas where she leads the emerging Tech and AI for Good portfolio and co-leads the Leadership Development practice. A seasoned venture builder and leadership coach, she believes that inspired leadership combined with thoughtful execution can turn good ideas into impactful initiatives that transform lives.

With 15+ years of strategic and operational experience, Joanne is passionate about partnering with mission-driven leaders and ventures to navigate their growth journeys. Her track record includes serving as COO of the Refugee Investment Network and Emerging Public Leaders, as well as designing/scaling innovative organizations like Co-Impact, health.enabled, Malengo, NEPI, Oxygen Hub, and Precision Development.

Before joining GDI, Joanne worked at the World Bank/IFC, TechChange, and LEK Consulting. She holds a BA/MA in Economics and Management from Oxford University, an MA in Applied Economics, and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching, both from Georgetown University. Beyond GDI, Joanne practices kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold – finding beauty in transformation and resilience.