Meet Melissa Darville: The New CSO of WeDiasporan Leading with Purpose and Vision
What happens when an educator, entrepreneur, and changemaker with a deep love for her culture joins forces with a global movement committed to transforming the African diaspora? What kind of magic unfolds when strategy meets soul, and innovation meets purpose?
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These are just some of the questions that come to mind with the appointment of Melissa Darville as the new Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of WeDiasporan, an organization that’s been quietly but powerfully shaping connections across Africa and its diaspora.
Last week, WeDiasporan’s Board of Directors officially announced Melissa’s new leadership role not just as CSO, but also as the coordinator of the WeDiasporan Collaboration Network (WCN), and country representative for the Bahamas.
It’s a strategic move that reflects both where the organization is headed and the kind of leadership it believes will get it there. And Melissa? She’s more than ready.
A Natural Alignment of Values and Vision
For Melissa Darville, this isn’t just another leadership role. It’s personal.
“Joining the WeDiasporan Collaboration Network as an executive member is a natural extension of my life’s work and personal philosophy,” she says. “From educator to entrepreneur to global strategist, my journey has always been about creating access, building community, and restoring financial hope.”
With WeDiasporan, Melissa sees the opportunity to scale that impact globally, starting with deeper, more intentional ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
The organization’s commitment to cultural reconnection, mutual collaboration, and knowledge transfer perfectly aligns with Melissa’s own mission to create spaces where people, especially those historically left out, can thrive.
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Her leadership is not just strategic; it’s deeply rooted in service.
WeDiasporan Mission
Melissa Darville’s appointment as Chief Strategy Officer marks a pivotal moment in advancing WeDiasporan’s mission to reconnect the African diaspora through cultural, economic, and strategic collaboration.
At its core, WeDiasporan is dedicated to empowering people of African descent to reclaim their narratives, celebrate their heritage, and transform shared cultural wealth into sustainable growth.
Through initiatives like cultural travel, knowledge exchange, and community-driven dialogue, the organization fosters deeper connections between African nations and their global descendants, connections that Melissa is uniquely equipped to expand.
Her background in education, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development aligns seamlessly with WeDiasporan’s goal to build bridges that uplift both heritage and livelihoods.
With Melissa leading strategy and coordination of the WeDiasporan Collaboration Network (WCN), the organization is poised to scale its impact across continents. Her appointment is not just a leadership change, it’s a strategic move to activate the organization’s global vision: uniting Africa and its diaspora to create transformative, purpose-driven partnerships.
Melissa’s track record in creating access, scaling grassroots innovation, and fostering inclusive entrepreneurship will amplify WeDiasporan’s mission to strengthen diaspora networks, preserve cultural legacy, and advance sustainable development.
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Her leadership signals a bold step forward in turning cultural identity into a platform for collective progress and economic empowerment.
Why Melissa Was Picked For This Role
According to Obehi Ewanfoh, CEO of WeDiasporan and host of the widely respected Obehi Podcast, Melissa Darville is far more than a capable leader, she is a transformative force. With over 1,000 interviews conducted across the global African diaspora, Obehi has developed a sharp eye for true changemakers.
Having interviewed Melissa twice in the past months alone, he describes her as “relentless in her work ethic and deeply committed to building something that uplifts not just an organization, but an entire global community.” Her potential, he adds, is not just promising but already proving impactful.
This promise was on full display during the Africa-Caribbean Business Trade Show, held in Accra, Ghana, this past April, where Melissa served as one of the key pioneers behind the event.
Her leadership and strategic insight helped shape the platform into a landmark gathering for cross-continental trade, collaboration, and innovation.
For Obehi and many others in WeDiasporan organization, Melissa’s presence at the trade show wasn’t just symbolic, it was evidence of her capacity to turn vision into action and ideas into lasting partnerships across the African diaspora.
What She’ll Be Doing at WeDiasporan
In her role as Chief Strategy Officer, Melissa will lead WeDiasporan’s long-term vision and implementation efforts.
As Coordinator of the WeDiasporan Collaboration Network, she will oversee the global initiative that brings together African and diaspora-led businesses, cultural institutions, nonprofits, and international development partners.
Her goal? To turn collaboration into tangible change through trade, innovation, community building, and cultural exchange.
But that’s not all. As the Bahamas Country Representative, Melissa is also tasked with amplifying WeDiasporan’s footprint in the Caribbean, building local partnerships that tie directly into broader African-diaspora development efforts.
It’s a powerful trifecta of roles that perfectly matches her experience and passion.
A Journey of Service, Creativity, and Strategic Impact
Melissa’s career path defies convention. She started out as an educator, with a focus on math, science, and specialized learning. She went on to found CMS Learning Centre, a diagnostic and special needs school in Nassau, the capital and largest city of The Bahamas.
The Learning Centre operated for more than a decade, serving children and adults who often fall through the cracks of traditional education systems.
But her impact didn’t stop at the classroom door.
In 2014, Melissa co-founded Shiver Caribbean, a frozen dessert brand known for its real fruit sorbets and social impact mission.
With an emphasis on using local ingredients and empowering other entrepreneurs through franchising, the company quickly scaled across the Bahamas and recently launched in the United States as the first authentic Caribbean frozen dessert franchise.
Shiver’s success wasn’t just about sweet treats. It was about using entrepreneurship as a vehicle for financial inclusion, youth employment, and cultural celebration.
Melissa’s approach combined packaging creativity with systems thinking, sustainability, and scalable infrastructure skills, which she now brings to the global stage through WeDiasporan.
Recognized and Respected on the Global Stage
Melissa’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was a Top 100 Finalist in the Entrepreneurship World Cup, placed first in the 2022 Climate Launchpad Green Business Competition for Barbados and neighboring islands, and was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Business.
She holds certifications in areas like resource efficiency, training for labor markets, and is a Certified Scrum Master. All these speak to her hybrid approach to leadership, blending business agility with social responsibility.
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She also serves as a representative for the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), helping connect entrepreneurs across countries, industries, and causes. Whether mentoring new founders, hosting community events, or advocating for small island developing states (SIDS), Melissa is a force for inclusion and impact.
Why Her Leadership Matters Now
WeDiasporan was founded in 2014 in Verona, Italy, as Evideos, with a mission to reconnect the African diaspora through cultural storytelling, migration history, and heritage preservation. Over time, it has evolved into a global force for transformation, using travel, dialogue, and knowledge sharing to reshape narratives and strengthen diasporic communities.
Melissa’s appointment comes at a time when cross-continental unity is no longer just symbolic but strategic.
As the world faces shared challenges like economic inequality, climate change, and cultural erasure, her unique experience across education, manufacturing, logistics, and franchising offers the kind of cross-sector thinking needed to build resilient systems.
With Melissa at the helm of strategy, WeDiasporan is well-positioned to deepen its impact, not only by celebrating heritage but by turning it into a springboard for economic opportunity and regional development.
What’s Next for Melissa and WeDiasporan?
Expect to see more Africa-Caribbean partnerships, new trade and travel initiatives, and a stronger push for youth and women-led entrepreneurship under Melissa’s leadership.
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She’s particularly passionate about connecting underrepresented entrepreneurs to tools, training, and international markets. And she believes in doing so through cooperation, not competition.
“We rise when we rise together,” she says, reflecting on her motivation for joining WeDiasporan. “For me, this isn’t just about business, it’s about building bridges, honoring legacy, and crafting a future we can all be proud of.”
Join the Movement
Melissa’s story is a living example of what’s possible when innovation, education, and heritage intersect. Her leadership marks a new era for WeDiasporan, one rooted in trust, transparency, and transformation.
As WeDiasporan expands its reach, it is actively seeking partners, institutions, and individuals who share a vision for a unified, empowered diaspora. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, educator, or global citizen, there’s a place for you in this movement.
So, the question remains: What might be possible if we dared to reimagine the diaspora, not as scattered stories, but as a united force for good? With Melissa Darville leading strategy, we’re about to find out.
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
