Guiding Kalena Global LLC as its Founder and CEO, Edna Massay Kallon brings over 15 years of expertise in international development with a specialization in the design and implementation of innovative initiatives. Originally from Sierra Leone, Edna has lived in various countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Her passion for international development has been cultivated through this rich tapestry of global experiences.

Edna holds a Master’s degree in International Development and Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, equipping her with critical skills and perspectives essential for fostering sustainable development. She also possesses dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Art & Art History from Franklin and Marshall College, highlighting her innovative thinking and nuanced understanding of human behavior. Additionally, Edna has earned a certificate in nutrition and healthy living from Cornell University, further enhancing her interdisciplinary expertise.

Throughout her dynamic career, Edna has left her mark on a multitude of organizations, ranging from multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the United Nations, NGOs including Nyumbani in Kenya and the Tommy Foundation for Autism in the United States, and an innovative private best-practices research firms called Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner).

Her expertise spans applied research, organizational development, partner relations, impact assessment, and strategic communications, reflecting her holistic approach to driving positive and transformational change. Her notable achievements include launching a new business line for a research firm, developing diagnostic tools to improve market access for agricultural products, and supporting the foundation of a non-profit for autism, among others.

In her leisure moments, Edna delights in culinary experiments with global recipes, traversing new destinations, cultivating her blog Edna Explores by spotlighting local enterprises, and immersing herself in her favorite genre of historical fiction, with Ken Follett’s “Pillars of the Earth” holding a special place on her bookshelf.