The MacKenzie Scott effect

Stephanie Beasley is a Senior Reporter at Devex, where she covers global philanthropy with a focus on regulations and policy. She is an alumna of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and Oberlin College and has a background in Latin American studies. She previously covered transportation security at POLITICO.

Ruth Levine, PhD, is Chief Executive Officer of IDinsight, a global advisory, data analytics, and research organization. Between 2011-19, Ruth, a development economist and expert in international development, global health, and education, served as the director of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Global Development and Population program. Before joining the Hewlett Foundation, Ruth was a deputy assistant administrator in the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning at the US Agency for International Development. In that role, she led the development of the agency’s evaluation policy. Previously, Ruth led research and programs at the Center for Global Development, and designed and evaluated projects at the InterAmerican Development Bank, and the World Bank. Dr. Levine holds a BS in biochemistry from Cornell University and a PhD in economic demography from Johns Hopkins University.

Maria Sjödin is the Deputy Executive Director of OutRight Action International, based in New York. Maria has over 20 years of experience advocating for LGBTIQ equality. Between 2005-2014 she was Executive Director of RSFL, Sweden’s largest LGBTIQ organization. While in this position Maria established RFSL's international program, played a key role in ensuring that the human rights of LGBTIQ people become ingrained in the Swedish government's agenda for development and foreign affairs, advocated for marriage equality (won in 2009) and the abolishment of forced sterilization of trans people as a requirement for legal gender recognition (outlawed in 2013). Maria has led leadership trainings for over 200 LGBTIQ activists from around the world on topics including strength-based coaching and appreciative inquiry. At OutRight, she leads the development and communications team, where she has diversified and increased the organization's funding, pioneered engagement with international businesses, and provided expert opinions to governments, UN agencies, and corporations.

Fanta was born and raised in Cote d’Ivoire. Her thinking and the collaborative approach that she promotes in her work were shaped by her experience working in humanitarian relief at the grassroots level early in her career, and subsequently for a US-based grassroots grantmaker. Fanta firmly believes that positive long-term outcomes on gender transformation and social change can only be achieved if and when communities are at the front and center of all discussions. Prior to joining the Girls First Fund, Fanta worked at the World Bank in the Human Development department. She managed loans and grants provided to government clients to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate social protection policies and programs. Her work focused on productive social safety nets, social assistance delivery systems youth employment, early childhood development, livelihood support, and post-conflict stabilization.
She holds a MA in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University and a BA in International and Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.