Board of Directors
Board Members
Advisory Boards
Burkina Faso Volunteers Team
U.S Volunteer Team
Board Members
Born in Burkina Faso, and partially raised in Belgium, Bienvenue Michelle Konsimbo knows first-hand the importance of education and reading. She has worked for many years in the education field in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of Arts in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University.
Konsimbo created Girl Now Woman Later, a nonprofit dedicated to combating child marriage in Burkina Faso. She’s a staunch advocate of menstruation education, which includes helping young girls to understand how their bodies function.
Like most Burkinabè women, Konsimbo was given little information about menstruation growing up. She wasn’t able to learn about how her body worked in school, even in an all-girl boarding institution. Periods were a private matter, dealt with in secrecy or discussed only among family members. Some families keep the topic of girls’ periods taboo and are uncomfortable engaging in conversation about it with their daughters. If that sounds like the remote past, think again: this kind of misinformation goes on to this day in Burkina Faso.
This kind of behavior is one of the pillars of the child marriage issue that continues to pervade communities in the country. Girls who don’t understand how their own body works and lack a culture of promoting independence for women, girls do not believe they have options when offered as a bride to older men. The simple act of allowing girls to talk freely about their menstruation period can be a powerful tool to create a better and safer environment.
Through her own experiences and dedication to these issues, Bienvenue launched Girl Now Woman Later: to break taboos and emancipate Burkinabè girls so they can become leaders themselves!
Clark is excited and looking forward to working with the GNWL leadership team.
He brings 20 years of passion working as executive management for non-profit health and human services organizations such as the American Red Cross and United Cerebral Palsy.
Clark has won awards for regional management and for programmatic development at the national level. He built teams, who working with Gadja Mada University, created impactful community services for persons with disabilities in Indonesia; and has worked with regional organizations in Israel and Russia to create exchanges focused on the coordination of non-profits with local governments and for-profit companies addressing social service safety nets in their communities.
Clark is a native Californian. He and his wife raised two awe inspiring adult children in the Los Angeles area, before moving to Salt Lake City in 2023.
He is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Public Administration, and an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University.
Mina Zandbar is a seasoned leader known for driving digital transformation initiatives across diverse industries. With over two decades of experience, she combines technical expertise with strategic vision to revolutionize organizations through innovative technology adoption and change management.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Mina’s passion for technology led her to executive roles where she navigates complex digital landscapes. Her journey was enriched by participation in MIT’s Digital Transformation program, equipping her with cutting-edge insights and practices.
Mina is a fervent advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), believing in its pivotal role in building thriving communities and organizations. She champions diversity and women’s empowerment, fostering inclusive environments for all individuals to thrive.
As a sought-after speaker and mentor, Mina continues to inspire and empower the next generation of digital leaders. Committed to excellence, she drives organizations to embrace digital transformation for growth and innovation.
Tatiana Overina joins GNWL with 20 years of experience in business, politics, and philanthropy. She previously held leadership positions at DTEK, Ukraine’s most significant energy holding, and was PR director at the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, where she built the foundation’s communication strategy from scratch.
As a Board Member at GNWL, Tatiana will focus on developing PR and marketing strategies to attract funding, leveraging her communications and reputation management expertise, and organizing large-scale international events.
Advisory Boards
MEET Mme KARAMBIRI /GOURBEGA Lady Fatou
My name is Mrs. KARAMBIRI / GOURBEGA Lady Fatou. I was born in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Joseph Ki Zerbo University and began teaching in 2017. I later returned to school and earned my Master of Arts degree in African literature and culture. I am currently completing my thesis for my Master II in Modern Letters.
I have been a member of both political and apolitical associations. Because of this, I am well prepared and capable of promoting the ideology of Girl Now Woman Later within the educational sector and beyond.
As a French teacher in a private institution, I care about the mental and physical health of every student I teach. I strive to instill moral values in all youth as a teacher, especially in young female students who may lack this guidance. There is a saying that goes, “Educate a girl, educate a nation.”
I aspire to join Girl Now Woman Later, as my ideologies greatly align with those of the association. I hope to leverage my knowledge and experiences to motivate and galvanize the youth, who oftentimes need guidance.
I want to contribute in any way to positively impact the lives of young girls today to guide and inspire them to become the accomplished women leaders of tomorrow by aiding GNWL in her mission.
MEET Dr. Tsayli Lili Chang
Dr. Tsayli Lili Chang serves as the Executive Director of The Goddard School of Millburn & Maplewood in New Jersey and is a passionate advocate for excellence in early childhood education. With 18 years of experience spanning from teaching, curriculum development, coaching and educational administration, Lily brings a wealth of expertise and a steadfast commitment to fostering environments where children thrive. She holds a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Montclair State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands.
Lily’s educational philosophy emphasizes inquiry-based learning, inclusion, and the creation of joyful and meaningful learning experiences. A champion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, she strives to cultivate settings that honor each child’s unique potential and support holistic growth.
Dr. Chang is honored to contribute her expertise to The Girl Now, Woman Later (GNWL) initiative. She firmly believes that her dedication to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice aligns closely with GNWL’s vision and mission. Together, she is confident that we can make a profound and positive impact on the lives of girls facing gender inequality, fostering a brighter, more equitable future.
MEET Sonia Rodriguez-Marto
Sonia Rodrigues-Marto is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LCADC), a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She is the Senior Director of School and Community Based Programs at Rutgers University, a department that provides professional development, prevention programming and intensive mental health programs to youth and families in public, private and out of district school settings.
She is the owner of Transition to Wellness, a small private practice in NJ and has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Monmouth University and at Middlesex County College. She has presented on a variety of workshops on topics related to stress and anxiety among teens, integrating mindfulness practices in schools, completing suicide risk assessments, non-suicidal self-injury, supporting youth in schools and the community in a post-Covid world and on treating survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Her clinical and research interests are within the areas of acculturation among Latino populations, multicultural factors in counseling, working with teens and young adults on life transitions and career exploration, self-injurious behavior and risk assessments, sexual and domestic abuse, trauma and factors related to resilience.
She serves on several boards and aims to support agencies and schools in an effort to promote overall wellness and health for women, children and families. She is thrilled to join the GNWL advisory board and continue her commitment to supporting organizations that empower women and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.
Sonia is deeply passionate about ensuring that women worldwide have their basic needs met and are given the opportunities to thrive in all areas of their lives. As a first-generation immigrant, it has been incredibly meaningful to her to contribute to underserved communities.
Burkina Faso Volunteers Team
MEET Laure Congo
A volunteer Program Coordinator for GNWL, Laure Congo believes in the mission of empowering young girls in Burkina Faso. She divides her time between her volunteer work and her day job as a sales representative in an insurance company. With a DEUG II in English from the University of Ouagadougou and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing From ESCO/ IGES of Ouaga, Laure believes that every girl should have information about their menstruation, as to exercise control of their own body.
MEET Joel Konseimbo
Volunteering as Program Accountant and Communication Officer at GNWL, Joel Konsiembo believes in the cause of empowering young women. A graduate student in accounting and auditing at the Burkinabe Institute of Arts and Crafts (IBAM), Joel is also a graphic designer in his free time and is a staunch defender of the cause of sustainable development.
MEET Sakande Koanda Sanata
After hearing about students who couldn’t go to school after having their period in class, Sakande Koanda Sanata decided to volunteer for GNWL as a health trainer. An experienced nurse, she used her skills to fight against this scourge and to help young women to understand how their bodies work.
MEET Salamata Toure
To Salamata Touré, girls contribute significantly to improving the health, nutrition, and education of their families. Thus, helping young girls will have a direct impact on the well-being of their families. As the Program Director Volunteer at GNWL, Salamata wants to help Burkinabè girls to avoid pregnancy and to have more opportunities, which will have a positive impact on the lives of those around them.
U.S Volunteer Team
MEET Kelly Lauturner
Kelly Lauturner has been a storyteller since childhood. She graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in English and began her career in the nonprofit world. She has worked in marketing for consumer goods and tech companies. She currently creates member communications for Emblem Health and volunteers with GNWL, Dress for Success of Northern NJ, and the American Copy Editors Society.
In her free time, Kelly enjoys attending concerts, tap dance, and enjoying the outdoors with her family.
Meet Heather MacDonald
Heather has a background in nonprofits and small business management.
She feels that GNWL’s mission of empowering young girls in Burkina Faso is an important one, and it motivated her to get involved and share her skills to help that mission.
Meet Catherine Rompais
Catherine is an experienced and qualified graphic designer/illustrator and digital marketing professional. She has worked in several sectors – the charity sector (paid and volunteer), education (primary to adult), the arts and culture scene; complementary therapies; medical; recruitment; sports; women’s causes, people with a disability and LGBTQ+ charities.
Catherine loves watercolor painting and urban sketching, music and her keyboard, languages, and cycling around the countryside. She has a degree in Art History and French and loves art museums. She is also bilingual in French and English, currently learning Spanish, Italian and a bit of Greek! Catherine loves meeting people and championing their causes and helping wherever she can.
Catherine joined GNWL in May, having begun her voluntary work with a 7-day campaign in the lead up to International Menstruation Day on May 28. Catherine continued with a new bilingual social media campaign with myths and facts surrounding menstruation and was asked to continue with GNWL. She is very happy to continue supporting GNWL with graphics and illustration, social media content and direction in French and in English to help eradicate period poverty in the US and Burkina Faso for young women.
Meet Mariana Marzolla
I’m from Venezuela, I come from an Italian immigrant family, and I currently live in the United States. I have always been fascinated by the creative field, and I find my inspiration in nature.
I have worked as a designer for over 15 years in the healthcare, finance, and education industries. I am currently studying for a master’s degree at Falmouth University (UK), where I’m following my passion for storytelling, creativity, psychology, and illustration. I keep myself updated about design trends and learn from everything around me.
I joined Girl Now Woman Later because I firmly believe that knowledge is power, and the more you know about yourself, the closer you are to achieving your true potential. Women should be free to choose their paths, have the freedom to understand themselves, and not be boxed in by the wrong concepts that society creates.
Meet Diane Adelson
Diane has been working in IT since 1981. She enjoys contributing her time and skills to help support nonprofit organizations.
I support GNWL because I believe every girl deserves to live a life free of shame, have equal access to education, and the freedom to live to their fullest potential.