SEAN P. BROOKS

Managing Director

Sean P. Brooks founded Tethered Up in 2017, after seven years in senior roles with the U.S. government.  In leading conflict response and stabilization efforts in East Africa for the State Department and USAID, he saw the potential of local entrepreneurs to thrive out of pure necessity in places like Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.  He also saw innovations taking off in more stable parts of East Africa stopping at the door steps of these countries, despite the potential commercial and social impact they could bring.  

Between 2015 and 2017, Sean managed USAID’s flagship stabilization program operating across Somalia, primarily in areas recovered militarily from al-Shabaab, to build community-identified peace dividend infrastructure projects.  With the State Department’s Somalia Unit between 2013 and 2015, he supported the nascent Federal Government of Somalia in developing and piloting national initiatives related to handling disengaged combatants, reviving traditional justice systems, and establishing local governance administrations.  Before working on Somalia, Sean served as U.S. Senior Advisor for Darfur Dane Smith’s leading advisor and worked closely with U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Princeton Lyman.  In this capacity, he traveled frequently to Darfur and spent a considerable part of 2011 in Doha supporting U.S. efforts related to the Darfur negotiations.  Before the State Department, Sean led the Save Darfur Coalition’s research and analysis efforts, as well as supported the development of a diaspora umbrella partner organization to empower the disparate elements of the Darfuri diaspora.  He graduated in May 2009 from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a master’s degree in international relations and international economics and a concentration in Middle East studies.  In 2004-2005, he worked in the President’s Office of the American University in Cairo, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College. 

NADA ABSHIR 

Strategy Lead

Nada has 14+ years experience as a project manager in the non-profit and private sector. She is passionate about the role private sector development plays in emerging economies. She has worked extensively to catalyze and connect entrepreneurial communities across Africa and has delivered region wide programming to support the growth of early stage enterprises. She has managed programs for organizations including Oxfam, Save the Children, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Impact Hub in Africa and in South East Asia.

Nada has worked, studied and lived across six continents and is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from The New School (New York).

JOSHUA MUINDI

Business Manager

Born in Kenya and raised in Boston and Chicago, Joshua moved back to Kenya as a teenager.  After the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007, Joshua served as a relief worker in the Mai Mahiu camp, near Naivasha, to assist those who could not return home.  This experience exposed him to the harsh reality of the devastating effects that conflict can have on communities.  At the United States International University in Nairobi, he completed a degree in International Relations, majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies.  Because of his passion for social change, he decided to leave a young career in the private sector and study with both the Amani Institute where he earned a Post-Graduate Certificate in Social Innovation Management, and then United Nations University for Peace where he earned a Diploma in Social Innovation.  Josh has led a research team focused on countering violent extremism for Wasifiri Consulting in the Coastal Region of Kenya. 

Joshua’s life goal is to influence peace processes around the world by identifying root problems within social issues and tackling them to achieve healthy and positive development. Being an avid believer of the term "Carpe Diem", he also has an adventurous heart for traveling and spontaneity.

Zahra Kassam

Design Consultant

Zahra Kassam (MSc Urban Development Planning, Fellowship in Social Innovation Management) has over 10 years of professional experience in sustainable urban development and management in Africa and Asia with the UN (UN-Habitat, UNISDR, UNHCR), World Bank, Local Authorities (Kenya) and NGOs (Thailand, Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda), in the areas of urban design, strategic urban planning, slum upgrading, housing, disaster risk reduction, fisheries, civic engagement and participation, and social innovation (design thinking, social business canvas model, coaching). Currently living in Nairobi and working as the founder and director in different projects under KUWA, a social enterprise. Entrepreneurial, diplomatic, and results-oriented international development global citizen, proven relationship building skills and stakeholder engagement. A creative thinker, passionate about innovation processes.