Trish Tierney is passionate about connecting activists around the world, linking resources, brainpower, and technology to contribute to sustainable, socially just and productive communities. As the co-founder and CEO of WAKE (Women's Alliance for Knowledge Exchange), Trish leads a global network of women who are driving change from human rights to environmental justice.

Trish brings 25+ years of experience in international education, social entrepreneurship, leadership development, women's empowerment, and technology. She has designed and implemented high-impact, innovative programs in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean and the U.S. working in partnership with NGOs, multinational organizations, foundations, governments, and leading tech companies. 

Prior to starting WAKE, Trish was Executive Director of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in San Francisco, where she founded IIE’s Center for Women’s Leadership Initiatives, and edited a book, “Women in the Global Economy: Leading Social Change.” Previously, Trish was a Tech Track Advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative and worked at Cisco Systems expanding the reach of the Cisco Networking Academy Program to the world’s fifty least developed countries, with special emphasis on the inclusion of women. At the World Bank, Trish focused on education reform and girls’ education in Africa. Trish began her career as a WorldTeach volunteer in Namibia, which sparked her lifelong dedication to education in Africa. Trish recently co-founded Future Fund for Education, a catalyst for African entrepreneurs who are transforming education across the continent. She lives in beautiful San Francisco with her husband and three kids.