We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting for

When asked what message she had to share with the Segal Family Foundation community, author, entrepreneur, and former Segal program officer Caroline Numuhire chose words of power. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. How can we continue designing solutions that empower Africa and Africans to fulfill their immense potential?” The line “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for” has echoed through many voices, from Alice Walter to Barack Obama. It originates in the poem Passion by June Jordan, read before the United Nations to commemorate the 1956 Women’s March in Pretoria in opposition to apartheid.

The reference speaks to the culture of ambition and passion within the Segal community, and the relentless drive from both teammates and partners to punch above their weight in the pursuit of justice. As we approach our 20th anniversary, we reached out to several former teammates and asked them to reflect on the lessons they learned during and after their time at SFF and what insights they could share with the next generation of changemakers. 

Ash Rogers was with the foundation in its infancy, serving as director of operations from 2012 to 2015. Currently, she is the co-CEO of Luminary Circle partner Lwala Community Alliance alongside Segal board member Julius Mbeya. Rogers notes, “Big goals equal big resources. Sometimes we are scared away from big goals for fear of failure or because we are chasing the ever-elusive concept of ‘sustainability.’ I’ve found that when you articulate ambitious goals, people are more inspired to join you.” Since her tenure with Lwala, the organization has experienced a 17-fold increase in budget. 

Consistently, the former staff mused on the powerful role of boldness within their professional life, and how their instincts and ambition were amplified during their time with Segal. 

Recent operations staff member Fiona Ouma noted, “My experience at SFF was transformative! Supporting local partners to take ownership of their narratives, define their priorities, and implement innovative solutions [within] their unique contexts was quite impactful. Segal’s approach to grantmaking inspired me to fully immerse myself in philanthropy and development.” 

Since moving on from Segal, Ouma has earned her masters in international development policy from Duke University, participated in the Stanback Fellowship Program, and worked with the MacArthur Foundation. Currently, she serves as a program specialist consultant at Savanna Group LLC in Seattle, focusing on policy advocacy and environmental, social, and governance consulting.

Former teammates’ sentiments and achievements echo the undaunted ambition of our visionary partners and demonstrate the foundation’s values in action. Like our African Visionary Fellowship and our partner journey, the professional pathway within SFF empowers teammates and encourages them to explore the full extent of their skills. 

“It was at Segal where my journey working on localizing grantmaking efforts for a foundation started. Segal gave me the freedom to learn, innovate, and even fail,” said our first in-country program officer Eve Omala. She now supports grantmakers in her adopted country of Australia to transform their own giving and serves as the African portfolio manager for Partners for Equity. “This experience has been pivotal in guiding other funders to localize their grantmaking efforts, largely inspired by the Segal playbook.”

SFF’s community-building philosophy is based on the principle that investing in talented and ambitious individuals will yield untold benefits for years to come. Our investment in our teammates and partners is repaid year after year through peer collaborations, donor referrals, and ad hoc mentorship, which flourish across the community. 

Today, many former Segal staff members have taken their localization mission to new corners of development and philanthropy. Their reach includes The African Visionary Fund, Co-Impact, Partners for Equity, and numerous peer organizations beyond. In each new venture, former teammates shine brightly, demonstrating a passion for justice and the boldness to take on daunting challenges. 

For nearly two decades, Segal Family Foundation has empowered talented individuals with outsized ambitions. Each generation of visionaries has shared their skills with an ever-expanding network of local leaders within the Segal community and beyond, furthering our long-term vision to be the most influential development network in Sub-Saharan Africa, with local visionaries at the helm.