The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. (SCDAA), a national non-profit membership organization that advocates for people affected by sickle cell disease, appointed Akua Okunseinde to its board of directors.

“Joining the SCDAA board is both a professional honor and a deeply personal commitment,” Okunseinde said. “I look forward to supporting the organization’s mission to improve outcomes for individuals living with sickle cell disease, advance awareness and help accelerate progress toward equitable access to care and curative treatments.”

Okunseinde is a sales executive with more than 15 years of experience spanning consumer products, technology, financial services and healthcare-adjacent industries. She is the co-founder of Karité, a skin care company that sources unrefined shea butter from women farmers in Ghana, West Africa. Under her leadership, Karité has expanded distribution across retail, hospitality and e-commerce channels.

Prior to co-founding Karité, Okunseinde held leadership roles at Google in New York and London, helping global brands grow through digital technology. She also held marketing roles at American Express and managed investment portfolios at Bank of America.

Okunseinde earned her MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship from Columbia Business School and her bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Tufts University. She resides in northern New Jersey.

Sickle cell disease is a rare inherited blood disease causing red blood cells to take a sickle shape, which leads to blockages that prevent blood from reaching parts of the body. As a result, people with sickle cell complications can experience anaemia, jaundice, gallstones, stroke, chronic pain, organ damage and premature death. More than 100,000 Americans live with sickle cell disease, and 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait. No universal cure exists.

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. advocates for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empowers community-based organisations to maximise quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure. The association and more than 55 member organisations support sickle cell research, public and professional health education and patient and community services. www.sicklecelldisease.org

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