Ian is founder of Goals for Girls. His career has focused on supporting the growth of companies in Africa and the Middle East. He is a founding partner at ISI Consultants, founder of Africa Talent Management, co-founder of Ragball International, and a member of the DC/VA District Export Council.
Coupled with his work on international business, Ian has an extensive background in sport-based international development initiatives and impact-driven social change programs. He has structured and led the growth of several large-scale and sustainable public-private-partnerships and corporate responsibility activities in emerging markets on behalf of U.S. government agencies as well as large multinational companies and institutions. Ian believes strongly in aligning corporate goals with social and impact investing and has a passion for giving back through the global appeal of soccer.
IAN OLIVER
Founder and Board Member
LOLA OGUNBOTE
Executive Director
Jessica has been a board member since 2019. She is on the board of Neighbor Hood House and has been on their board since 2011 and just finished a two year term as board President. Her presidency included overseeing a capital campaign that secured over $21,000,000 for a new 57,000 square foot building that will serve over 250 families. The capital campaign included fundraising, stewardship of donors, meeting with builders and architects throughout the entire design/build process, and helping secure state appropriation funds. As President, Jessica advocated for the proper compensation training, and support of the entire staff. She has also served as the chair for the Pr/ Development, Programs and Annual Tent Party Fundraiser committees.
Jessica has a CDA and bachelors degree in speech/ language pathology. She has 10 years experience as a child development specialist in Ohio and New Jersey working with both private and corporate centers.
She is passionate about helping to provide opportunities, enrichment and support for children and families, particularly in the Latino community.
Jessica mirabile
Board Member
SHAONA sen
India Program Director
Annie grew up playing club soccer and ODP in Salt Lake City, Utah. After high school, she played Division I soccer at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. She was a 4-year starter and holds 4 individual season records and 4 career individual records there including goals scored and career points. She was also the second player in Gonzaga history to earn First Team All Conference Honors. Her junior year she led the Conference in Goals Scored and was second in points. She also earned NSCAA All Region Third team honors her junior year.
After college, Annie played professionally in Sweden’s top league, the Damallsvenskan. She also played on the USASA National Team and was part of the USWNT pool for 3 years. After playing in Sweden, she returned to Salt Lake City to play for Real Salt Lake Women, a semi-professional team.
Annie joined Goals for Girls in 2016 and has traveled to both India and South Africa. She has been involved ever since and most recently co-directed the Utah based summit in 2019.
Outside of soccer, she does marketing for a large technology company, trains and mentors kids in soccer, and loves to travel.
annie hawkins
Consultant, Summit Trainer
Cassadie Nelson
Program Volunteer
Bri is an alumna of Goals for Girls, having participated in the 2015-2016 program in India as a junior in high school. Since then she has traveled to India again in 2018 as an intern and in 2019 to South Africa as a trainer.
She is currently a junior at Bucknell University & captain of the varsity soccer team. Bri is an international relations major with a concentration in Africa. She is originally from North Carolina but resides in Pennsylvania for school.
BRI KROPINACK
Program Volunteer
Paulette has been playing soccer since 2002, after choosing it above other sports they had at school. One of her most memorable soccer moment is Winning the playoffs in 2013 with Blue Birds Ladies.
She played a pivotal role in the planning, organizing and facilitation of the Goals for Girls Leadership summit held in Alexandra in 2017, and in 2018 there were more than 180 young girls between 15-18 that attended. She was also a major contributor to the 2019 summit that was held at Greenside High school .
She officially joined the Goals for Girls team as a (Johannesburg, Gauteng) Program Coordinator in 2019 and serves as a lead trainer at Goals for Girls Leadership Summits.
Outside of Goals for Girls, Paulette works as a soccer referee and coaches the Greenside High School senior ladies football team.
PAULETTE “Paul@” coglin
Young Leaders Academy South Africa, Program Coordinator
Khanyisile also known as Small, is a former Grassroot Soccer Life Skillz coach and Laureus YES program Alumni. Small was selected to be one of the coaches to facilitate sessions at the G4G Leadership Summit in Alexandra South Africa in 2017.
Small first got involved with Goals for Girls in 2017 and has done 3 summits in South Africa so far. Small officially joined the Goals for Girls SA staff team in 2019.
Khanyisile “small” Nkonyane
Young Leaders Academy South Africa, Program Coordinator
Dineo joined Goals for Girls as a trainer in 2018 and has been part of 2 annual leadership summits in Johannesburg.
She officially joined the Goals for Girls team as a Program Coordinator for ‘ Goals for Girls YLA’ in 2019, where she serves as a mentor/coach for a group of 35 girls in Alexandra Township.
Outside of Goals for Girls, Dineo is a B.ed (Bachelor of Education) student at the University of South Africa.
DINEo mamabole
Young Leaders Academy South Africa, Program Coordinator
Jessi joined DC Soccer in 2005 as the Scholarship Coordinator. She traveled to South Africa (2007), for the inaugural Goals for Girls program and became a board member in 2008. She returned to South Africa with Goals for Girls in 2017 and 2018.
In 2005, Jessi worked for Grassroot Soccer, an international NGO where she was the Street Children Program Coordinator in Zambia. Jessi received her Master’s Degree in Social Work and her Juris Doctor in 2013 from the University of Maryland. Prior to continuing her education at the University of Maryland, Jessi worked with Maryland Choices. She also completed internships in Senator Ben Cardin’s Office, the Public Defender Service of D.C., and High Road Upper School. Currently, Jessi works as a School Based Mental Health Therapist for Mary’s Center. Jessi was a four-year D1 college soccer player at the University of Miami & Stetson University.
JESSI CATES-BRISTOL
Board Member and Secretary
nhlanhla dube
South Africa Program Director
Laura is an alumna of Goals for Girls, having participated in the 2009 Uganda Program as a senior in high school. She officially joined the Goals for Girls team as the Marketing Director in 2016, and has traveled to India with Goals for Girls 6 times, South Africa 3 times, and Uganda as a participant. Laura works as a videographer, photographer and graphic designer, and also manages all Goals for Girls social media accounts. Additionally, she serves as a lead trainer at Goals for Girls Leadership Summits around the world.
Outside of Goals for Girls, Laura works for the RSL Foundation as their Creative Director and Head of Special Projects, and is a freelance photographer/videographer in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can find her on the soccer pitch playing city league, or out enjoying all the beauty that Utah has to offer.
laura dearden
New Media Specialist, Content Creator
ALI houghton
Sports Psychologist, Program Volunteer
Becca joined the Goals for Girls’ team as a trainer in 2016, and has traveled with Goals for Girls to India two times and to South Africa once. She has also helped organize and facilitate two Goals for Girls’ summits in Salt Lake City, and helped coordinate a cross-cultural exchange with a group of Indian youth who traveled to Utah to participate in one of the Utah summits.
Becca played goalkeeper at Weber State University, where she holds the career shutout record. Following her collegiate career, Becca played semi-professionally for over ten years. During this time, she won the WPSL national championship with the Boston Breakers’ reserve team and played for the Real Salt Lake Women. In 2018, she trained and signed with Utah Royals FC.
Outside of Goals for Girls, Becca is a partner at Mac Accounting Group, LLP, a firm located in Salt Lake City, Utah, which specializes in SEC audits. When she isn’t working, you will find Becca landscaping in her yard or spending time at the gym or on the ski slopes.
BECCA RITCHIE
Program Volunteer
THABILE nene
Young Leaders Academy South Africa, Program Coordinator
KHANYE “west” dzova
Young Leaders Academy South Africa, Program Coordinator