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Line 57: − ==International Career== − In 1998, Bekele left the corporate world and spent time traveling around the globe, visiting [[Europe]], [[Asia]], [[Latin America]] and [[Africa]], before launching a new career as an [[entrepreneur]]. − − Bekele quickly moved on to entrepreneurship by starting-up and building a technology supply and integration company that successfully delivered on important information and communications technology projects for an inter-governmental organization and a national government institution in Ethiopia. Bekele set up '''CBS International,''' a company based in California, as a private technology supplier to various clients, including value-added resellers with a mission to transfer technology to [[emerging economies]] including Africa. As an affiliate of CBS International, Bekele also set up a local company in her home country of Ethiopia, '''SbCommunications Network, plc, (SbCnet)''' specializing in systems integration and dedicated to provide technology integration and support services.<ref>[http://www.cbsegroup.com/ CBS International]</ref> − − During her first two years in Africa, Bekele built business alliances with local and international firms, where she became known for her efforts to adapt Western business methods and practices into the traditional Ethiopian business model. Her efforts paid off when Bekele, as President/CEO brought and won her first multi-million international contract to deploy a turnkey large technology supply and integration services contract to build a state-of-the-art fibre optic ICT infrastructure for the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which has since been transformed to the [[African Union]] headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/cbs-wins-oaus-largest-it-project-2-pages.pdf CBS wins OAU's largest IT project]</ref>. The ICT project that Ms. Bekele delivered for the African continental organization provides high-speed network infrastructural access and data services to a large number of users working at the African Union Commission headquarters campus site in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The project was funded under a [[United Nations Development Programme]](UNDP) project that was designed to build the capacity of the African inter-governmental organization. Furthermore, the supervisory authority was the [[United Nations Office for Project Services]] (UNOPS). Through the AU data networking infrastructure project, Ms. Bekele gained valuable experience working with the United Nations and its affiliates, as a technology vendor and service provider and important inter-relationships. − − Following the success of the AU ICT project, Ms. Bekele's using her local company SbCnet in Ethiopia, arranged a strategic partnership with [[Dimension Data Holdings]] of South Africa to bid on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Peoples' Representatives [[Ethiopian Parliament]] data networking infrastructure supply, installation and commissioning project. She won the international competitive bid (ICB) and was awarded a multi million dollar international contract for the implementation of an integrated data networking infrastructure project and entered into contract with the Ethiopian federal government, to deliver and implement the parliamentary information systems networking project. This project involves the delivery of a fully-redundant optic fibre network infrastructure is based on CISCO and advanced cabling infrastructure within a campus network environment, with Broadband Internet Access. Ms. Bekele as Supplier's Project Director managed a multi-national team of experts and oversaw the foreign procurement of various technology goods from a network of suppliers arranged through her US-based CBS International. Through the strategic partnership that Bekele established, the network cabling infrastructure was implemented to the most exacting world-class standards by Sbcnet and Dimension Data Advanced Infrastructure, a service unit of the global Dimension Data Holdings of South Africa." <br /> − The Ethiopian business weekly, ''[[Addis Fortune]]'', referred to it as the most controversial contract that the government had. Originally awarded to Bekele's competitor GCS in 2001, Bekele's company, which had been second on the list, issued immediate complaints. Reportedly with aggressive lobbying by Bekele, the bid was audited,<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/auditor-says-parliament-award-improper.pdf Auditor says Parliament's IT Project award improper:Addis Fortune]</ref> and it was determined that the awarding of the contract had been improper, and the Parliament reversed the decision and awarded the bid to Bekele's company in 2002.<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/is-justice-served-by-sophia-bekele.pdf/ Is Justice Served? :Addis Fortune]</ref> − − − "''It is almost possible to assume that the private press has, for all practical intentions narrowed down on the '[[sensationalist]]' value of the story without considering the core values of the process at stake and the precedent setting process at work in this matter. Precedence is being set, because this is the first time since the renaissance of our democracy that an illegally awarded contract on a national scale project has been successfully suspended, cancelled and reversed in the interest of higher ideals.''"<br>Sophia Bekele, writing a May 2002 opinion column in the ''[[Addis Fortune]]'',<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/yes-justice-has-been-done-by-sophia-bekele-for-fortune.pdf yes, justice has been served]</ref> − − − <br /> − With these registered successes in ICT project delivery, Ms. Bekele was appointed by H.E. K.Y. Amoako, then Executive Secretary of the UNECA [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa]] to serve on the Advisory Technical Board (ATAC) of the '''African Information Society Initiative (AISI)''' that advised the UN Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on building a new information society for Africa. This ATAC formulated policy and provided policy guidance and direction especially on how to reduce the digital divide between the developed countries of the West and Africa. The increasing penetration of ICT’s and widespread adoption of digital technologies into Africa is due to the deregulated and liberalized policy environment established in various African countries, which could be rightly credited, in part to the positive impact of the work of the AISI-ATAC since 2000. Ms. Bekele co-authored the ''''Common Position for Africa's Digital Inclusion''''<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:JuoSiWI1_GgJ:repository.uneca.org/bitstream/handle/10855/14203/Bib-55678.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjyIT4MiMVnQL2L4h4Sh_--dgXPtwCvUXhHjrQhyU0rSGe3tVnh_iK-9pDmJvz1rvIj10EEoDH6RM1oPFXVf4AfdAlR6GwuPfP0TAmh6m2rURnJcAJJ-gUegxM_vHZGcIrixt97&sig=AHIEtbRm2BbpuNL8SkxsVcTlXsz0YrIKeQ Africa's Common Position for Digital Inclusion : UNECA]</ref>,<ref>[http://graduateinstitute.ch/aspd/wsis/DOC/105EN.PDF Africa's Common Position for Digital Inclusion]</ref> which was developed in response to the ECA Conference of Minister's Resolution 812 (XXXI). The 'Common Position' was a blueprint that reflected Africa's ICT position communicated to various global forums such as the G8 DOT Force, [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC) the [[United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force]] (UN Task Force), [[World Economic Forum]], [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]] (NEPAD) initiatives, etc. Her ATAC work at the UNECA provided Ms. Bekele with useful experience on how to harness the potential of digital technologies in the aid of socio-economic development. She has continued to use this identifying framework for future ICT projects and activities that are geared towards building a 21st-century e-enabled society in Africa. − − <br /> − After the contracting controversy with the Ethiopian Parliament, Bekele's next encounter was the issue of the elite private sector business in Ethiopia, specifically what she regarded as the illegitimate formation of a [[stock exchange]]. She wrote an editorial claiming that this entity was planned without the proper rules, regulations, infrastructure and controls: − − − "''It is better for us to have a proper open stock market where market forces determine the price of a share and security instruments...and should not be left to the machinations of a Share Dealing Group...the truth of the matter is that Addis Ababa [[Chamber of commerce]] cannot be both the sponsor and the regulator (oversight) according to the by-laws of the group... Government is the only agency that could put the regulatory frameworks and principles under which a proper stock exchange or [[commodities exchange]] can exist.''"<br>Sophia Bekele, writing a June 2002 opinion column in the "[[Addis Fortune]]",<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/share-dealing-group-comment-on-proposal-for-ethiopian-stock-market-sophia-bekele.pdf View Point:Share Dealing Group vs. Stock Exchange Preventing a Travesty|pages=11, 16 Addis Fortune]</ref> + + − To her vindication, the government eventually rejected the proposal for the share dealing group in November 2002.<ref>[http://cbsintl.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/is-justice-served-by-sophia-bekele.pdf Sufian Rejects Share Dealing Launch: Addis Fortune Giorgis, Tamrat G]</ref> As a followup, though there was no direct link with Bekele, in April 2008 the Ethiopian government launched a commodities exchange market, aimed at boosting fair trade and stabilizing its food market.<ref>[http://newsblaze.com/story/20081101110847tsop.nb/topstory.html Ethiopia Launches Commodities Exchange to develop Agriculture Phillip Kurata,News Blaze]</ref> − − <br /> − Following service in the AISI Steering Committee, Ms. Bekele was elected to the gNSO Policy Advisory Board of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) through the Nominating Committee Selection in December 2005,<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-04nov05-en.htm Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections for Key Leadership Positions within ICANN]</ref>, an internationally organized private-public partnership with the mission of Internet governance, promotion of competition, and the achievement of broad representation of global e-communities within the Internet; and development of global policy appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus based processes. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-04nov05-en.htm Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)]</ref> − − Focusing in the US market since 2003, Bekele and her companies consulted for clients in public/private markets, primarily in corporate governance and risk management areas, including the [[Sarbanes-Oxley Act]] of 2002. She also advised in corporate relations/communications programs within public companies.<ref>[http://nomcom.icann.org/candidate-bios-2005.htm Biographical Information on the Nominees]</ref> − − Currently, Bekele's focus is on the [[.africa ]]– a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme. Bekele travels globally for her work and shuttles regularly between her residences in [[Walnut Creek, California]] and Africa, where she also has a firm base. Line 95:
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Sophia began her career working for multinational institutions in large financial/banking companies in Corporate America such as Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi/Union Bank of California, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, as well as building various start-ups with international business portfolios. Most of Ms. Bekele's work is characterized with overseeing the control and security activities for technologies, auditing computer IT systems, evaluated new product & system services and recommending cost effective solutions, project management, client relationship, operational and business risk assessment, business process re-engineering, writing recommendation reports to Executive Management for operational improvements, and corporate good governance.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref>
Sophia began her career working for multinational institutions in large financial/banking companies in Corporate America such as Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi/Union Bank of California, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, as well as building various start-ups with international business portfolios. Most of Ms. Bekele's work is characterized with overseeing the control and security activities for technologies, auditing computer IT systems, evaluated new product & system services and recommending cost effective solutions, project management, client relationship, operational and business risk assessment, business process re-engineering, writing recommendation reports to Executive Management for operational improvements, and corporate good governance.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Bekele Sophia Bekele, wikipedia.org]</ref>
==DotConnecAfrica (DCA)==
Bekele’s recent venture is the establishment of the DotConnectAfrica Trust and DotConnectAfrica Registry Services Limited, which is well-known for its successful six year Yes2dotAfrica global awareness campaign for the .Africa Top Level Domain Name. Bekele made a clear case for a DotAfrica (.africa) gTLD for Africa within ICANN and introduced it to the PanAfrican organizations in Africa such as UNECA and African Union and the global publics. She then received endorsements from both organizations in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and the global IDN working group for her DotAfrica Initiative. Currently, Bekele's focus is on the .africa – a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) for the Africa geographic name that she initiated during her appointment at ICANN. The project will be introduced and delegated for operation under ICANN’s new gTLD programme.
==Writing==
==Advocacy==
Bekele has written articles and editorials on issues concerning technology for development, [[good governance]], regional [[economic integration]], [[politics]], and [[Internet Governance]] that is of global public interest and Africa. <ref>[http://cbsintl.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/editorial-archives CBS International Webpress: selected articles/presentations]</ref>
Bekele has written articles and editorials on issues concerning technology for development, [[good governance]], regional [[economic integration]], [[politics]], and [[Internet Governance]] that is of global public interest and Africa. <ref>[http://cbsintl.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/editorial-archives CBS International Webpress: selected articles/presentations]</ref>
Watch Sophia Bekele, discuss the domain industry during the African development Bank (ADB) annual meeting at Abidjan capital of Ivory Coast for the Movers & Shakers of Africa hosted by Jeff Koinange of K24 <ref>[dotafrica.tv/movers-and-shakers/]</ref> a Leading TV station in Kenya.
Watch Sophia Bekele, discuss the domain industry during the African development Bank (ADB) annual meeting at Abidjan capital of Ivory Coast for the Movers & Shakers of Africa hosted by Jeff Koinange of K24 <ref>[http://www.k24.co.ke/ K24 Tv]</ref> a Leading TV station in Kenya.
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