Tsitsi Masiyiwa

Executive Chair & Co-Founder | Higherlife Foundation

Tsitsi Masiyiwa is an African philanthropist and social entrepreneur. She is Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Higherlife Foundation, whose primary goal is to invest in human capital development to build thriving individuals, communities and sustainable livelihoods.

As a result of her work and experience establishing and growing Higherlife Foundation over the last twenty-five years, Tsitsi has become an advisor and thought partner to universities, national leaders, and social entrepreneurs on issues of education, health, leadership development, and youth empowerment.

In 2017, Tsitsi established Delta Philanthropies, as a vehicle for impact investing and grant-making. Delta Philanthropies seeks to unlock and catalyse innovative solutions to the elimination of poverty by convening strategic partnerships and incubating new development models. Her work has garnered global recognition, including Honorary Doctorate degrees from Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia; Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe; as well as the prestigious Champions for Change Award for Leadership from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).

Tsitsi is a founding board member and the current Board Chair of the African Philanthropy Forum; a Trustee of the Legatum Institute, and the END Fund; a member of the Sesame Workshop Global Advisory Group, the Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council, the International Advisory Board for Texas A&M University, the Yale Institute for Global Health Advisory Board, the Prince’s Trust International West Africa Advisory Board, and the Kenjin-Tatsujin International Advisory Council.

Her most recent appointments include serving on the inaugural Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) and as the Co-Chair of The Trinity Challenge Judging Panel. Tsitsi and her husband, Strive, have been signatories to the Giving Pledge since 2014.