Our Staff
Meet the faces behind Tribe! Our team is building the tools and programming to help entrepreneurs and professionals like you access everything you need to succeed.
Founder and CEO
Alfred Burgesson
he/him
Born in Ghana and raised in Nova Scotia, Alfred is a thoughtful leader who enjoys social entrepreneurship and is passionate about building bridges between people, places and ideas.
Alfred’s unique talents include convening leaders, and an ability to launch grassroots movements and coalitions while utilizing digital tools and technology platforms.
Connect with Alfred: alfred@tribenetwork.ca
Operations Manager
Deborah Sanni
she/her
Deborah is a Nigerian with Yoruba roots, but grew up shuffling between the Republic of Benin, Nigeria, and Kenya.
Deborah is passionate about helping people and providing avenues for them to explore their fullest potential and be their best selves. Her career started in kinesiology and disability management, after which she transitioned into HR and worked in operations.
Connect with Deborah: deborah@tribenetwork.ca
Programs Development and Delivery Manager
Julia Ramirez
she/her
Julia moved from her native country of Colombia in 2005 to the province of New Brunswick. She has over 18 years of experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem including owning and managing small businesses, teaching entrepreneurship and guiding students, professionals and immigrants through the many programs offered in Atlantic Canada.
Her passion is helping entrepreneurs to access the variety of resources and bridging business owners and professionals with the current available tools.
Marketing & Communications Manager
Nicole Jackson
she/her
Technology Lead
Ngutor Ikpaahindi
he/him
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, but raised in Abuja. Ngutor moved to Canada to study the Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) at Saint Mary’s University Sobey School of Business.
He is passionate about building and operating technology-enabled companies. This passion drove him to learn and understand not just the technology and operations component of startups, but also the financing component. He is fascinated by Venture Studios and would like to run one in Nigeria.
Founder Success Lead
Katerina Msafari
she/her
Katerina is from the capital city of Nairobi, Kenya and moved to Canada to pursue the Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at Saint Mary’s University.
As a startup and venture capital enthusiast, Katerina is passionate about helping businesses scale by finding the right financing avenues. She is dedicated to continuing to make a meaningful impact in the industry and assisting businesses to achieve their full potential.
Marketing & Communications Intern
Queen-Esther Okundonor
she/her
Administrative Intern
Ramon Stultz
he/him
Born and raised on the tropical island of Jamaica. Ramon moved to Canada to pursue studies in Business. He is a jovial, fun loving individual with a passion for making an impact.
Ramon prides himself as being an optimist and risk taker. He is passionate about creating a conducive workspace for his colleagues as well as providing and connecting entrepreneurs to the black ecosystem.
Finance and Business Analytics Intern
Raihan Uddin Ahammad
He/Him
Raihan is a Fellow Chartered Accountant from Bangladesh and moved to Canada in 2023 to pursue Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saint Mary’s University.
With more than 15 years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounting in diversified organizations like KPMG and Kantar. Raihan is passionate about simplifying financial management for businesses and helping achieve their financial goa
Special Project Management Intern
Mehad ul Haque
He/Him
Mehad came to Canada in 2023 to pursue a Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saint Mary’s University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and is a certified Project Manager and Financial Analyst.
Passionate about emerging technology and business model innovation, Mehad leverages his wealth of experience and knowledge at Tribe Network to support special projects and initiatives aimed at cultivating innovation and growth for racialized entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada.
Community Outreach & Engagement Intern
Rocco MacIsaac
He/Him
Rocco is a second year student at Saint Mary’s university pursuing a Commerce degree. Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he is a descendant of Africville through his grandmother’s Howe family roots. Rocco’s passion for Accounting and Finance, has shaped his desire of gaining his CPA designation in the coming years.
Rocco is passionate about supporting others and giving back to his community. He takes pride in being a valuable resource for individuals who may lack access to similar opportunities. Rocco highly values the positive impact of helping people expand their networks and is dedicated to being a trusted partner to everyone he engages with.
Digital Production Intern
Ekow Korsah
He/Him
Passionate about technology and design, Ekow moved to Canada from Ghana to pursue a Masters in Technology entrepreneurship and innovation.
His skills extend beyond designing aesthetically pleasing interfaces to crafting user-centric experiences that make technology both accessible and engaging. He also loves to teach, and spends his free time tutoring individuals in programming and design.
Investment Principal
Phillip Yoon, CAIA
He/Him
Phillip is from Singapore and he returned to Canada in 2022 to pursue the Master of Technology, Entrepreneurship, & Innovation at Saint Mary’s University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Specialist in Economics & Finance) degree from the University of Toronto. Phillip is also a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.
He has more than 20 years of experience as a Capital Allocation Strategist, Fund Manager – Alternative Investments, Portfolio Manager, and Investment Consultant in private market opportunities and public market investments.