ABOUT
Us
kate daniels
Kate is passionate about private-sector driven socio-economic development and correlating responsible investment to better returns. She is a high energy influencer, writer, speaker and a proactive communicator. A business professional with 17 years of international leadership experience, Kate thrives on developing strategy and elevating the discourse around investment impact. She has studied and worked in North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
Kate's greatest career successes have involved aligning businesses in emerging economies with international standards, business development and strategic relationship management. Kate's strengths lie in articulating salient messages from a product or service's impact and conveying that narrative to audiences of C-suite executives, partners, customers and other leaders.
Kate understands the implications of ignoring ESG responsibilities and she has seen the power of achieving compliance with international investment standards to benefit communities, the workforce, shareholders, partners and companies, themselves.
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For 17 years, Kate has navigated the worlds of both nonprofit and for profit resource mobilization, project design, monitoring & evaluation, reporting & communications, investor/donor relations and management of teams.
Kate helps clients to develop strategy, craft tactics, track progress and effectively communicate their business impact for both internal and external audiences. She leads ESG strategy formulation, ESG Due Diligence, contributes to fundraising road shows, offers strategic communications and crisis communications support and leads all business development for Akerblom.​
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Certifications
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Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Entrepreneurship from the University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg, South Africa (2016);
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Master of Arts (MA) in Women's Studies from the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland (2004);
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Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Saint Mary's College of California in Northern California, USA (2003)
Kelly O'Brien
Kelly O'Brien leads Finance and Administration for Akerblom. Having worked in education for more than 15 years, Kelly has recently managed Finance & Administration for a STEM non-profit and has led administration and logistics for a property investment start-up.
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Kelly understands the back-end work involved in taking a concept to maturation; and in readying a business for investor critique. She supports clients with ESG policy formulation, Environmental & Social auditing, policy audits and finance support.
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Kelly is a project manager of the highest order. In life and at work, she leads by example, and never falters in her commitment to excellence. Kelly is an avid reader, researcher and boasts incredible attention to detail.
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Kelly holds a single subject and multiple subject teaching credential; an MA in Education involving post graduate work at Chapman University and the National University; and a BA in English Literature with a minor in Deaf Education from California State University, Fullerton.
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Certifications
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Single subject and multiple subject Teaching Credential (California)
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Master of Arts in Education; National University and Chapman University
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Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Deaf Education; California State University, Fullerton