Leah Denise Wyatt, MSc.

Leah Denise Wyatt is a seasoned development strategist and coalition builder with 15+ years of experience designing knowledge and impact networks that accelerate action, resolve coordination gaps, and enable equitable decision-making. She specializes in helping organizations translate bold visions into structured, real-world outcomes through collaborative learning, program design, and strategic planning. Leah has worked across global coalitions, U.S. government agencies such as USAID, and leading non-profit organizations, with a strong regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. She is known for her ability to bridge leadership intent with operational execution — aligning people, processes, and purpose to drive tangible impact.

Education

• Master of Science (MSc), Information and Knowledge Strategy – Columbia University
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Journalism (Public Relations concentration) – University of Oregon

Areas of Expertise

• Knowledge & Impact Network Design
• Strategic Planning & Framework Development
• Collaborative Learning & Adaptive Management
• Equity Impact Assessment & Distributional Analysis
• Participatory Community Engagement & Systems Thinking

Select Accomplishments

• Led the development of a five-year $400M USAID/Ghana Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS)
• Led the development of a five-year $700M USAID/Uganda CDCS, integrating equity and systems thinking into sector strategies
• Helped establish a global coalition for health campaign effectiveness, developing peer-to-peer learning platforms
• Guided multi-sectoral learning networks on climate, democracy, education, health, and economic growth program development across the Global South
• Built adaptive knowledge systems that enhanced decision-making across philanthropic, donor, and multi-stakeholder platforms

Approach
Leah applies the Knowledge Network Effectiveness Framework (KNEF) to surface insights and develop strategic frameworks that enable social development outcomes. She believes in centering historically marginalized perspectives, fostering adaptive learning, and driving equity through practical, scalable solutions.