Shannon May

Shannon May Shannon has a account Chief Development Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Founder; Bridge International Academies Kenya 500+ connections Contact info Bridge International Academies UC Berkeley About Shannon May is a Co-Founder of Bridge International Academies, the largest chain of private schools in Africa. Bridge disrupts the education status quo by ensuring that every child, regardless of parental income, has access to the education he or she deserves. The first Bridge International Academy opened in 2009; five years later Bridge teaches more than 100,000 pupils every day at one of 350 pre-school and primary schools across Kenya. For $4.50-$7.00 per month, children receive more than 40 teaching contact hours a week, with all lessons written by experts and delivered by a local teacher using ICT. May serves as both the Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Development Officer for Bridge, leading the Development pipeline in Kenya, as well as international expansion. She also leads Research, Government Relations and Business Development, and supervises Marketing and Brand Strategy. Prior to founding Bridge, she published widely on ecological and economic development, and has served as an advisor to multiple international organizations focused on design, development, and sustainable cities around the world. Her experience also extends to the classroom, having taught in primary, middle, and secondary schools in both China and the US, as well as in the university lecture halls of U.C. Berkeley. Shannon received her BA, Magna Cum Laude in Social Studies from Harvard University, and her PhD in Anthropology from UC Berkeley. Experience Bridge International Academies Chief Strategy and Development Officer Company NameBridge International Academies Dates EmployedJul 2008 – Present Employment Duration12 yrs 3 mos LocationNairobi, Kenya Chief Strategy & Development Officer and Co-Founder Provided strategic leadership and vision for the Company. Recognized authority in the LCPS market, parental education consumption, regulatory environments and reform, public and government discourse on private schooling, and international market entry strategies. Leads development efforts at the Company, including market intelligence and demography, real estate acquisition, marketing and communications, government and media relations, as well as the building of relationships with the broader market of LCPS and their respective associations. Leading overall international expansion in Uganda, Nigeria, and India with Development team. Driven by these efforts, Bridge International Academies is now the largest chain of private schools in Africa, and the largest chain of schools globally serving populations earning < $2. … see more Urbanization and Sustainable Development Research and Advising Researcher and Advisor Company NameUrbanization and Sustainable Development Research and Advising Dates EmployedJan 2005 – Aug 2008 Employment Duration3 yrs 8 mos LocationAfrica, China, India, SE Asia Conducted primary research in impoverished communities across the globe, with a focus on urbanization, education access, small-holder farmers, sustainable development and ecological design. Advised leading architecture firms on eco-city work. Identified key challenges and opportunities within the LCPS market serving children of parents earning less than $2 per day. Hachette Filipacchi New Media Business Development Manager Company NameHachette Filipacchi New Media Dates EmployedFeb 2001 – Oct 2001 Employment Duration9 mos LocationNew York, New York, USA Spearheaded brand management and media-platform expansion of 18 leading magazine titles, including Elle, Car and Driver, Woman’s Day, and Premiere. Marketized interactive chat application to drive multi-platform advertising for launch of ElleGirl. Primary focus on Internet and television development. Morgan Stanley Financial Analyst Company NameMorgan Stanley Dates EmployedJun 2000 – Jan 2001 Employment Duration8 mos LocationNew York, New York, USA Devised asset allocation models and investment strategies for high net worth investors. Education UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Degree NamePhDField Of StudyAnthropology Dates attended or expected graduation2005 – 2011 Dissertation: Practices of Ecological Citizenship: Global Dreams for a Chinese Village University of California, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley Degree NameMaster's degreeField Of StudyAnthropology Dates attended or expected graduation2002 – 2005 Harvard University Harvard University Degree NameABField Of StudySocial Studies Dates attended or expected graduation1995 – 2000 Activities and Societies: The Advocate, Cheerleading, Dean's Undergraduate Advisory Council (Radcliffe), Theater performance, Kappa Alpha Theta