Who We Are

What’s your favorite underrated technology in global development? Post-harvest preservation systems are some of the most underrated but significant technologies in global development. About 1.3 billion tons food gets lost globally per year, and much of that occurs in low-income countries. Efficient agricultural preservation systems (such as off-grid refrigerators and crop storage systems) can reduce food losses substantially and improve food security around the world.

What’s your real-life superpower? I’m immune to jet lag. A fantastic superpower for someone who is a frequent traveler.

What’s in your go bag for fast getaways? Universal power adapter, camera, running shoes, expandable duffel bag for unexpected souvenirs, sunscreen and Sharpies.

How long have you been with E4C? Since we were in beta with just three dozen testers and a dream.

What’s on your desk? I work on a lap desk on my porch where I can see the Pacific if I stand on tippy toe.

Cell phones or toilets? Toilets. Because, come on. Phones are great, but toilets.

What’s your favorite underrated technology in global development? Rope-pumps. Used for 1000+ years, they're still a great solution to safe-water supply for rural communities today. They can be constructed and maintained locally, from materials available in almost any trading center across the world, enabling a great degree of local ownership. They also have great adaptability to use for irrigation or to be driven by different power sources!

What’s your real life superpower? My ability to remember and make fast mental time zone conversions certainly comes in handy given E4C’s global reach!

Cell phones or toilets? Toilets. They’re not only dignifying and a vital tool to combat major health risks but also have promising potential for waste-to-energy and to produce agricultural inputs.

What is your favorite underrated technology in global development? Carabiners. You can do so much things with carabiners. It can withstand very heavy weights, and you can built nearly everything with some of them.

Cell phones or toilets? Definitely toilets. At this rate with technological advances, maybe in a couple of years, cell phones will be a new feature of toilets.

What is your real-life superpower? Drinking gallons of coffee each day, and still be able to sleep at any time.

How long have you been with E4C? About a year, but I have been involved with the community since 2020 when I participated in and reached among the finalists of the Siemens Design Challenge. Later, I joined as an E4C 2021 Summer Fellow where I worked and volunteered in several diverse projects.

What is your real superpower? I see the brightside everywhere I look, I never get tired of learning, and I drink a ridiculous quantity of water per day.

What is your go bag for fast getaways? A book, my water bottle, my camera, and some nuts.

How long have you been with E4C? I was a volunteer for E4C in 2019 working on the State of EGD Report for North America before I was brought on as an Expert Fellow for the 2020 and 2021 Summer Cohorts. In September of 2021, I transitioned into my role as Research Manager. I had such positive experiences with E4C over the years, I just couldn’t leave!

What’s on your desk? At my work-from-home desk, I have my laptop, pictures of my nephew and nieces, a mug of coffee, and dog treats.

What’s your real-life superpower? Turning anything, even the most menial of tasks, into a friendly competition.

What is go to bag for fast gateways? First, take a breath. Then hop onto a yoga mat to be in flow with myself and others along with my meditation for centering and grounding. My other options for outdoor adventures and connecting with nature are running shoes or hiking boots.

What is your real super power? I connect the dots and can create ideas and opportunities for growth. I love learning and getting curious about everything. You will always find me learning something new and sharing my knowledge about it.

How long have you been with E4C? I have been with E4C for about 1 year and a half. My E4C journey started in 2020 as a research fellow, where I discovered the community and enjoyed being part of it. It transformed my perspective on engineering work. Then in the summer of 2021, I was an expert fellow and later joined the team in this new role.

How long have you been with E4C? I am a Forever Fellow by now, was first an Energy Research Fellow in 2018, volunteered as co-lead for the E4C Corps pilot project in 2019, became an Expert Fellow in 2020, and a Program Coordinator in 2021.

What inspires you? People's creative capacity (via written words, art, hardware/software products, ...) to reimagine a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.

Cell phones or toilets? Tough question.. but cell phones! They allow access to information and information is power, with a cell phone that has internet access I can find a way to build my own toilet.

What is your real-life superpower? I can pick up accents fairly easily. Especially accents and dialects within English. As any true superpower, it took some work to master this. As a teenager, I used to talk on the phone to my cousin in South Carolina (back when long distance calls were expensive). She had a strong Southern accent and apparently I picked it up during each conversation. I wondered how my parents always knew when we talked until one day my sister told me "Why do you sound Southern?". I would return to my usual pronunciation in another few minutes. Overtime, I found I had the same result for Irish, London, Australian, and other pronunciations.

What is your go-to bag for fast gateways? Other than the obligatory electronics, any trip requires dancing shoes, running shoes, and my waterproof hat. I'm usually ready for whatever I may want to do with those three things. And probably a speaker or headphones to create my own dance party.

How long have you been with E4C? A week and a half. But I've known E4C since 2018 when I attended ISHOW Kenya gave a talk to the group of Fellows that year about my work as an engineer in a social enterprise in Rwanda.