Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia
President @The Gaba Foundation
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WORK HISTORY
President @The Gaba Foundation
MI, US
Founded by Mr. Akindele Akinyemi and Ms. O.Rerhi OnomakeLead the Foundation’s strategy at the intersection of workforce access, talent mobility, and economic opportunity for African and Caribbean communities in the United States and across the diaspora. Build and scale programs that expand pathways to employment, credentialing, entrepreneurship, and industry access while aligning people, systems, and long-term economic mobility.Advance the Foundation’s role as a workforce intermediary by developing talent pipelines, strengthening employer partnerships, and removing structural barriers to work and business growth. Oversee financial strategy, operational planning, and multi-sector partnerships that expand funding, scale programming, and improve workforce outcomes.Position the organization as a leader in global workforce access by collaborating with corporate, philanthropic, education, and government partners to increase opportunity flows for internationally connected African and Caribbean talent. Strengthen organizational capacity through data-informed planning, cross-border relationship management, and systems that support sustainable community advancement.Key Accomplishments• Supported 300+ families through workforce access, documentation assistance, and economic mobility programming in 2025• Established formal relationships with 10% of all African nations, strengthening global reach and expanding cross-border workforce and talent pathways• Distributed nearly in direct community support to advance stability, employment access, and economic resilience• Built partnerships with nearly a dozen organizations across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to expand workforce and business development opportunities• Increased grant capacity by 150% through strategic alignment, improved readiness, and expanded funding channels
EDUCATION
University of Michigan-Flint
Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA
ABOUT RHONNA-ROSE AKAMA-MAKIA
Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia is an aspiring attorney with almost 20 years of strategic HR and organizational leadership experience.A graduate of the University of Michigan, she brings a rare combination of expertise in immigration law practice and enterprise-level workforce operations. As an Immigration Legal Assistant, she handles family-based petitions, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases, deportation defense matters, and is building expertise in employment-based immigration law.Her HR background provides distinctive insight into employment-based immigration. With experience directing workforce operations for 250+ employees across 12 states, she understands compliance architecture, multi-state regulatory frameworks, employee relations, and the operational realities employers face when sponsoring immigrant workers. This systems-level expertise positions her to bridge the gap between immigration law and corporate HR needs.Her career spans mobilizing $650M+ in resources, building operational infrastructure for organizations navigating rapid growth and regulatory complexity, and shaping workforce strategies affecting individuals. She understands both sides of employment-based immigration: the legal requirements and the organizational capacity needed to support sponsored employees.Rhonna-Rose is positioned to serve both immigrant communities and employers, providing legal advocacy informed by practical understanding of the workplace systems that shape economic stability and long-term outcomes.
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