Our Story
This page shares the inception of The International Social Impact Institute®️ (The ISII).
Our Founding
Our journey began with the educational foundation of our founder, Elizabeth (Liz) Ngonzi. Having studied at The United Nations International School, Syracuse University iSchool, and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Liz’s experiences laid the groundwork for our global orientation, our embrace of emerging technologies, and our unwavering commitment to service excellence.
In 2020, Liz founded The ISII as a social enterprise with a mission to inspire, connect, activate, and transform institutions and individuals for a more equitable world, drawing upon her extensive 20-year career spanning multiple sectors, including the social sector.
We have since delivered over 30 trainings, facilitated 100+ partnerships, and empowered 33,000+ minds.
Our Mission
At The ISII, our core mission is to inspire, connect, activate, and transform institutions and individuals who are dedicated to building a more equitable world. We utilize groundbreaking innovations like generative AI to drive meaningful change.
OUR VALUES
We are guided by these fundamental values:
Inclusivity
We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, where diverse perspectives are welcomed and valued. Our work environment is one where every voice matters, and everyone, regardless of their background, feels a sense of belonging and can contribute fully to our mission.
Gratitude
We deeply appreciate the contributions of our team members, partners, and stakeholders. We take time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and efforts that help us advance our mission.
Social Justice
We are committed to promoting and defending the principles of justice and equality in all our activities. We advocate for fair treatment and equal opportunities for everyone, aiming to contribute to a more equitable world through our work.
Interconnectedness
We believe in the power of collaboration and see our organization as part of a larger global ecosystem. We strive to build strong relationships with our partners and stakeholders, recognizing that our successes and challenges are intertwined.
Service Excellence
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality services to our partners and stakeholders. We continually aim to exceed expectations, innovating and improving our offerings to deliver the best possible outcomes.
Integrity
Integrity is the foundation of our work. We uphold the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct in all our dealings. We make decisions with transparency and fairness, holding ourselves accountable to our team, our partners, and the communities we serve.
Sustainability
We recognize our responsibility towards environmental and financial sustainability. We strive to minimize our ecological footprint and create programs and initiatives that are not only impactful but also financially viable in the long run.
Our Methodology
At The International Social Impact Institute® (The ISII), our integrated approach to driving social impact is guided by four key actions: Inspire, Connect, Activate, and Transform.
Inspire
We ignite passion and possibility through thought-provoking content, events, and initiatives that embrace our potential as changemakers.
Connect
We build collaborative ecosystems by fostering connections among like-minded individuals and organizations dedicated to creating positive change.
Activate
We empower action by providing the tools, training, consulting, and coaching needed to turn ideas into impactful initiatives.
Transform
We catalyze transformation by equipping individuals and institutions with the mindsets and strategies for sustainable impact.
This methodology enables us to support individuals and organizations at each critical phase of the journey - from sparking the initial motivation to equipping them with the capacity to drive real-world change. By integrating Inspire, Connect, Activate, and Transform, we cultivate the full ecosystem needed for global social impact.
Our Story — Decades in the Making
Since our founding, The ISII has achieved significant milestones that demonstrate our growing impact.
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1975
Our Uganda-born founder and storyteller moved to NYC, where she began studying at United Nations International School. Her gift can be traced through her DNA, as the daughter of late legendary Ugandan playwright and dramatist, Dr. John Ruganda, and UN diplomat Hilda Rwabazaire Paqui - a lineage of artists and global change makers.
1975 - 1988
Over a decade of schooling at United Nations International School in NYC fostered our founder’s multilingual abilities, global orientation, social awareness and creative spirit. This lengthy tenure helped shape key attributes that empower her work as a global changemaker.
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1992
Our founder's pioneering Syracuse information systems degree equipped her with critical technical expertise ahead of its time. This enabled her recruitment into Digital Equipment Corporation’s elite Marketing Development Program, foreshadowing her future as a trailblazing leader leveraging technology to drive change.
1994
Ranking as a top salesperson at MICROS Systems for sales to hospitality companies showcased an unparalleled ability to deliver results in this industry and sparked an enduring passion for the field.
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1998
Earning a masters in hospitality management from the world-renowned Cornell University ingrained an unwavering commitment to service excellence. Our founder then managed merger integration consulting projects across sectors in a “Big 5” consulting firm.
2001
Launching Amazing Taste focused on global cuisine catering and events concepts consulting. It was marked by service excellence and a clientele of corporations and elite private clients.
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2003
Beginning as a hospitality course lecturer, our founder eventually developed and taught popular events management courses, which led her to co-develop an event disaster management conference with her students, displaying strengths in innovative applied education and social impact.
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2004
Repositioning her consulting firm to facilitate synergistic partnerships among nonprofits, corporations, philanthropists and media displayed a commitment to purpose-driven work.
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2007
Repositioning a major cancer research fundraising gala to be environmentally sustainable, supported by an innovative online marketing and fundraising strategy, demonstrated forward-thinking leadership.
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2009
Our founder began developing and teaching pioneering online fundraising courses at NYU, later creating a professional certificate program in digital fundraising and receiving a Distinguished Teaching Award for this work.
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2011
Being selected as the strategic marketing consultant for Cornell's premier hospitality awards blended our expertise in events, marketing, and education at the world's top institution in this field.
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2012
Developing a groundbreaking SXSW panel confronting harmful stereotypes about African women, while spotlighting their applications of technology in healthcare, agriculture and education evidenced a commitment to gender equality and inclusion on the global stage.
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2014
Creating breakthrough training for women leaders across sectors and continents to help them with fundraising, branding, and global partnership building through Vital Voices highlighted our founder’s inclusive approach and worldwide reach.
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2014 - 2018
As CEO of Afrika Tikkun USA, our founder brought strategic initiatives, digital storytelling, and high-impact partnerships to this nonprofit. Notably, she secured a Fortune 50 CEO partnership and facilitating participation as partner to the U.S. Commerce Department's Trade Winds Africa - the U.S. government's largest trade mission to Africa at the time.
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2018 - 2019
In this video our founder shares how her sabbatical provided an opportunity to realign with her personal values and purpose, leading to the creation of The ISII dedicated to driving transformative change.
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2019
Our founder officially launched Liz Ngonzi Transforms, to provide speaking services building off of her more than a decade of speaking engagements and coaching services based on her personal development honed through training with the likes of Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and Lisa Nichols, living in an ashram and her sabbatical.
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2020
Launching The ISII on digital platforms allowed immediately establishing a global presence and commitment to technology-enabled impact. LinkedIn Live launch enabled connecting with worldwide stakeholders from the very start.
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2021
Our team of partner consultants was assembled, committed to driving social impact worldwide through excellence in training, coaching and consulting. Their decades of experience and innovative solutions epitomized The ISII's approach.
2021
Our new logo was revealed, featuring three spirals composed of interconnected dots representing the power of collective action. This design reflects our mission of activating change through partnership.
2022
Taking on Youth Giving's stewardship, we convened the inaugural Youth Giving Summit, empowering young leaders from across the globe to connect and activate change in their communities.
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2023
Integrating AI strengthened our capacity to help clients craft compelling stories and drive change. Pioneering integrative of generative AI transformed our capabilities, allowing us to deliver customized storytelling and engagement strategies that drive measurable social impact.
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1975
Our founder – the daughter of Dr. John Ruganda (Uganda’s preeminent dramatist) and Hilda Rwabazaire Paqui (a diplomat who later became a senior communications official with the United Nations Development Programme) – moves from Uganda to New York City.
1975
1975-1988
Our founder graduates from the United Nations International School, which she attended for 13 years and at which she developed the foundation of her social awareness and global orientation.
1975-1988
1992
Our founder is recruited into Digital Equipment Corporation’s prestigious Marketing Development Program, after graduating from Syracuse University as part of the second group of students to complete its Information Studies undergraduate degree program.
1992
1994
Our founder is recognized as the highest grossing first year salesperson in the history of MICROS Systems Inc., where she later becomes a top 10 salesperson on a companywide basis.
1994
1999
Our founder graduates from Cornell University with a hospitality focused management master’s degree and joins Arthur Andersen, where she becomes a Business Consulting Manager overseeing merger integration and strategy development projects.
1999
2001
Our founder launches Amazing Taste LLC as a catering and events consulting firm serving corporate and private clients.
2001
2003
Our founder begins teaching an Event Planning and Meeting Management course at Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey. As course instructor she doubles the course’s enrollment and later develops an emergency preparedness/ disaster management conference with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
2003
2004
Our founder re-positions Amazing Taste LLC as a marketing and fundraising consulting firm focused on the nonprofit sector. The firm develops its first event website and its first email marketing campaign for a fundraiser, launching two of its core offerings.
2004
2007
Amazing Taste LLC repositions the “Pink Tie Ball” fundraising gala hosted by Susan G. Komen’s Northern New Jersey Affiliate as a “Green” gala for 1,100 guests. The event raises $1.1 million to provide underserved women with access to early breast cancer detection and treatment services.
2007
2009
Our founder begins teaching her online fundraising course at the NYU Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising (then under the leadership of Executive Director Naomi Levine). A version of this course is still offered, and in 2021 our founder (i) received an NYU Distinguished Teaching Award for her work on the course, and (ii) developed a professional certificate program in Digital Fundraising that is centered around the course.
2009
2011
Amazing Taste LLC is selected by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration as strategic marketing and events consultant for the Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards, the School’s premier event at which it recognizes industry leaders while raising funds for scholarships.
2011
2012
Our founder co-develops a panel at SXSW titled “Africa, Tech and Women: The New Faces of Development”. The panel focuses on African women’s application of technology in ways that advance Africa’s development – and it directly confronts persistent negative stereotypes associated with African women and their place in the economy and in society.
2012
2014
Our founder is selected by Vital Voices Global Partnerships to develop fundraising and marketing training for its African Businesswomen’s Network and 200+ VVGROW fellows from around the world.
2014
2014 - 2018
Our founder joins South Africa-based youth development organization Afrika Tikkun as CEO of its North America representative, Afrika Tikkun USA. She begins transforming the US entity into an in-demand nonprofit, developing partnerships with AmerisourceBergen, Delta Airlines, Facebook and McCann Worldgroup, among others.
2014 - 2018
2018 - 2019
In this video, Liz Ngonzi, our founder, shares how her sabbatical in 2018 provided her with an opportunity to realign with her personal values and purpose. This introspective period led to the creation of Liz Ngonzi Transforms and The International Social Impact Institute, organizations dedicated to driving transformative change and empowering individuals and institutions to make a lasting global impact.
2018 - 2019
2020
Liz Ngonzi officially launched The International Social Impact Institute (ISII) on LinkedIn and YouTube Live, signifying the beginning of our journey in leveraging technology platforms for global impact. This milestone event allowed us to reach a wide audience and establish our presence as a catalyst for positive change on a global scale. Since then, we have continued to harness the power of technology to connect with diverse stakeholders, deliver impactful programs and services, and operate effectively with a geographically dispersed team and network of partners.
2020
2021
In 2021, we unveiled a new logo for The International Social Impact Institute (ISII) that beautifully encapsulates our mission. The logo features three spirals, each composed of interconnected dots and spirals, symbolizing individuals coming together to create a ripple effect of impact. This design reflects our belief in the transformative power of individual actions, which can inspire and activate change within institutions and society as a whole. Our logo represents our commitment to fostering a more sustainable and equitable world through collective effort.
2021
2022
On International Youth Day (August 12, 2022), we took on the stewardship of the Youth Giving platform, previously established by our partner Candid. To mark this significant milestone, we organized a groundbreaking virtual event known as the Youth Giving Summit. This summit served as a platform to inspire, connect, and activate young individuals, empowering them to become agents of transformative change within their communities.
2022
2023 -
Starting in 2023, the ISII has harnessed the power of generative AI to transform storytelling, communication, and problem-solving. Seamlessly integrated into our programs and services, this technology empowers our clients to craft compelling narratives, engage stakeholders, and drive social impact.
2023 -
Our Story –
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR FOUNDING IN 2020
Our New Logo
The Institute’s new logo embodies our mission to inspire, connect, and activate individuals and organizations towards making the world more sustainable and equitable. The three spirals, each containing dots with spirals representing individuals, symbolize our belief in the ripple effect of individual impact that can lead to transformation in institutions and society at large.
Our team
The Institute is backed by a dedicated core team and partner consultants who share the organization’s core values and bring together diverse backgrounds and experiences to advise and train clients from various public and social sector areas, including arts and culture, associations, government, public health, education, human rights, impact and traditional investing, philanthropy, social justice, and youth development.
Youth Giving
The global ecosystem powered by The International Social Impact Institute® – Empowering youth to create global impact.
NY NOW® interview
With our founder / CEO, Liz Ngonzi, about the origins and purpose of The International Social Impact Institute®.
Virtual Personal Brand Story Development Workshop for Nonprofit Fundraisers
Development and Delivery of a virtual workshop for members of the National Capital Gift Planning Council (NCGPC) and the Washington DC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-DC) on how develop a compelling personal brand story to increase supporter engagement and fundraising support.
Sustainable Leadership, Fundraising and Digital Engagement Coaching and Training Program
Development and Delivery of the Sustainable Leadership, Financial Management/Funding and Digital Engagement Coaching, Peer-to-peer Learning, and Training Program for the 2021-2022 cohort of the CIVICUS Global Alliance Youth Action Lab.
eCornell Keynotes Personal Branding Webinar and Workshop
Development, marketing and delivery of the eCornell Keynote webinar and workshop – Telling Your Story: How to Align Your Purpose with Your Paycheck – for 2,000+ purpose-driven leaders and professionals.
Fundraising Webinar Series for African Nonprofit Organizations
Development, Marketing and Delivery of the African Resource Mobilisation Webinar Series in close collaboration with King Baudouin Foundation US (and other valued partners) for 2,000 nonprofit leaders and professionals in Africa and across the globe.
Virtual Executive Education Program for Nelson Mandela University
Development and Delivery of the Nelson Mandela University “Global Resource Mobilisation and Branding Executive Education Programme” for the university’s senior leadership in South Africa.
What our partners say about us
"The capacitation programme with The International Social Impact Institute is important to us to help position our university…The best contribution we can make as Mandela University is to marshal ourselves to be the scholarly articulation of his social and political contribution to the improvement of humanity; to put together institutional arrangements to expand our national, continental and global footprint of scholarly outputs promoting social justice and equality.”
