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Teresa Mbagaya

Principal (Representative)
Location: Kenya
Focus Area: Littlest Learners / Growing Learners / Adult Learners
Regional Focus: Africa
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Meet Teresa, a principal at Imaginable Futures. Her work focuses on driving our investments and activities within Africa.

Prior to joining Imaginable Futures, Teresa served as Microsoft’s education lead in East and South Africa. She led regional teams in the implementation of learning solutions across 10 countries, impacting millions through initiatives centered on digital education transformation and youth skills development. As the head of Econet Education, Teresa drove the development of Zimbabwe’s first digital education platform. The business provides overlay education services targeting over five million subscribers in Zimbabwe.

A 2020 Desmond Tutu Associate and a 2019 Obama Foundation Africa Leader, Teresa was previously named by Forbes as one of the "30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa" and has served as an advisory member on the Global Education Platform under the UN Special Envoy for Global Education. She is the co-founder of Bidii Children Foundation, a nonprofit that funds tuition support for more than 900 students in western Kenya.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

Among my proudest moments in my career, was launching Zimbabwe’s first digital learning platform. In the time since, my greatest learning as a leader has been to build from a place of trust and transparency.

Q+A

Why do you love coming to work?

I find my work deeply impactful, and do so with a team and partners that I respect and admire greatly.


What did you want to be when you grew up?

In my earliest years, I always imagined I would grow up to be a teacher. I’ve always admired my teachers and figured there would never be a more noble profession.


Where is your happy place?

Lamu island in Kenya, often the first place I seek out when I want to recharge.

What’s the closest thing to real magic in this world?

A child’s laughter, a showcase of unexpected kindness, an African sunset.


Favorite quote:

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” -- E.B. White


What do you imagine or wish for the future?

A world where people feel more connected and inspired.