Our Mission
Shared Interest mobilizes the resources for Southern Africa’s economically disenfranchised communities to sustain themselves and build equitable nations.
Our Vision
Shared Interest envisions just and vibrant Southern African nations that eliminate disparities, uphold their peoples' basic human rights, and serve as models of economic justice.
Our History
A Beautiful Journey Of 30 Years
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Shared Interest was established in 1994 by Founder Donna Katzin along with other U.S. anti-apartheid activists and socially responsible investors who were committed to ending apartheid with an unwavering passion for human rights and economic justice. That year, after the country transferred political power to a democratic Nelson Mandela government, but left economic power concentrated in the same minority hands; Shared Interest was launched to provide U.S. investors with a catalytic vehicle to help reverse apartheid’s legacy of institutionalized race-based inequality.
The enduring vision that drives our organization – then and now – is to not make direct loans to our beneficiaries but to, instead, facilitate guarantees that catalyze South Africa’s own banks to lend to Black entrepreneurs, farmers and microfinance institutions, thereby creating sustainable solutions to address the region’s growing economic inequality and to achieve long-term growth and impact.
Now, 30 years later, we have supported more than 2 million people by unlocking some $131 million in lending. Building on our long track record of success in South Africa, Shared Interest has recently expanded to other Southern African countries, including Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Shared Interest’s work is more critical now than ever before. The World Bank recently deemed South Africa the most unequal country in the world, with "race" playing a key role in a society in which 10% of the population owns more than 80% of the wealth. Shared. Interest is leveling the economic landscape for Black entrepreneurs and small and growing businesses by facilitating access to affordable financing and the technical resources that enable them to expand and scale their businesses.
Making Our Mark in Southern Africa
Our Team
Leadership Team
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Ann McMikel
Executive Director
Amye Jameson
Senior Director of Operations
Program Consultants
Shared Interest’s programming is powered by a team of financial experts with specific geographic and industry expertise, strong relationships with lenders, and experience with enterprises in different stages of development.
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Joyce Masi
Program Consultant
Malawi
Jessie P. Nyirenda
Program Consultant
Zambia
Marie-Lou Okoko
Program Consultant
South Africa
Wendy Silinyana
Program Consultant
South Africa
Sibongile Zulu
Program Consultant
South Africa
Board of Directors
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The Centre for
Disruptive Technologies
Brown Advisory
Dr. Adrienne Y. Bailey
Board Secretary
Independent Education Consultant
Spelman College
Lea Conrad
Board Member
Conrad Advisory
Trident Union
Capital Partners
Loring Wolcott Coolidge
Impact Investor
Board of Advisors
Alcinda Honwana, Visiting Professor, Open University, UK
Danny Glover, Actor (Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Honoree)
Eddie Bergman, President of Innovative Development Services (IDS) &
CEO of Proxima Hospitality Group
Felicia Mabuza Suttle, South African Talk Show Host, Entrepreneur & Activist
H.E. Fikile Magubane, South Africa’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark
Marion Fremont-Smith, Choate Hall & Stewart
Marco Masotti, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
Monroe France, Senior Associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Inclusive Leadership, NYU Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity & Strategic Innovation
Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Episcopal Clergy, Race and Gender Activist & Daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Peggy Dulany, The Synergos Institute
Robert Brooke Zevin, Investment Advisor
Robert Friedman, Corporation for Enterprise Development
Ron Kunene, Original Lion King Cast Member and Ensemble Singer
Sarah Leshner Carvalho, The Capital Group
Sheila Sisulu, Retired United Nations World Food Programme
Susan L. Taylor, National Cares Mentoring Movement
Vincent Mai, Cranemere LLC
In Loving Memory
The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu (Honorary Chair)
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town
The Honorable David Dinkins
106th Mayor of New York City, Lawyer, Author
Our Partners
Our valued network of partners are a collective group of businesses, corporations, foundations, investors and individuals that enable us to support disenfranchised Black communities in Southern Africa by strengthening their resilience and expanding access to the capital and resources they need to create sustainable livelihoods and pathways out of poverty.