MaryKay Penn
Executive Director, Institute for African American Folk Culture
MaryKay Penn is an experienced consultant with 28 years of expertise in leading public sector and nonprofit organizations through transformative planning and strategic growth. Over the course of her career, she has focused on empowering organizations to maximize their social impact. She has worked with more than 175 organizations in 20 countries, providing expert guidance in strategic planning, capacity building, diversity management, resource development, and organizational systems design, all with a focus on amplifying social impact.
Her approach is deeply informed by her background in anthropological research, which enables her to understand the intricate dynamics of organizational culture and human interaction. She is passionate about advancing social and cultural justice, equity and inclusion, women’s empowerment, economic fairness, youth development and climate adaptation/sustainability, and has successfully collaborated with organizations that are committed to uplifting vulnerable communities worldwide.
Her approach is deeply informed by her background in anthropological research, which enables her to understand the intricate dynamics of organizational culture and human interaction. She is passionate about advancing social and cultural justice, equity and inclusion, women’s empowerment, economic fairness, youth development and climate adaptation/sustainability, and has successfully collaborated with organizations that are committed to uplifting vulnerable communities worldwide.
