Superpower: Cultivating relationships and connecting people from around the world to facilitate profound experiences for greater impact.
Adele is an accomplished international development advisor with over 25 years of management experience in global markets, predominantly in Africa, India and South America. She has a proven track record of building strategies, volunteer engagement, donor cultivation, partnerships and coalitions among non-profit organizations, philanthropists, foundations and corporations. In her various roles, Adele has worked as a hands-on advisor on fundraising tactics to reach revenue goals and scaling strategy. She has extensive success including 6-figure fundraising gains, significant increased donor commitment and giving, and a history of improving donor engagement for non-profits.
Adele started her career at American Airlines as a Customer Service Manager for Airport Operations and was promoted to different managerial roles. Following her time at American Airlines, Adele worked for a private jet company called Bombardier Flexjet overseeing the Owner Relations and events department. In 2008, she joined Opportunity International where she oversaw the International Education department. Her responsibilities included all donor, media, photography, filming, and corporate visits to the field, international visitors to the U.S., donor cultivation strategy, and international events. During her time with Opportunity International, Adele planned, lead, and executed over 430 trips to the developing world. She also lived in Kigali, Rwanda during some of her time with Opportunity International.
In 2016, Adele took a leap of faith and started her own philanthropic tour company, The JoYOUs Journey. Her love for travel, creating transformational travel experiences for others, and serving those living in poverty is what lead Adele to start her own travel company. The JoYOUs Journey matches Fortune 500 clients, non-profits, corporate foundations, and individuals with philanthropy and tourism to the communities they support. She was able to build her company to a six-figure agency within two years and help increase donor support for various global non-profits. Adele believes that women are the universe’s greatest asset, and is deeply moved to help them realize their potential beyond the labels that have been placed on them. She has addressed an auditorium of over 3,500 women on how they can empower other women, no matter which part of the world we live. Adele holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Texas Christian University and Master of Arts in Organizational Management.
She is a Chicago girl and enjoys taking long walks along the lake, painting, and spending time with her loved ones. Adele’s mission statement for her life is simple –“When people leave my presence, I want them to smile, feel loved, and know they are valued.”
