Team
Nicole Poindexter
CEO & Founder
Nicole Poindexter founded Energicity Corp. in 2015 to solve the problem of bringing sustainable electricity to unserved rural communities in Africa. Under her leadership, Energicity has raised $10 million in funding and currently supplies electricity to 70,000 people by building and operating solar mini grids, in Benin (Weziza Benin), Liberia (Starlight Energy) and Sierra Leone (Power Leone). Nicole’s passion for building transformative, high-impact businesses puts her on the backroads of Africa and also in the White House and in some of the U.S.’s most influential media outlets. In 2022, she was appointed to President Biden’s Presidential Advisory Committee for Doing Business in Africa where she advocates for policies to strengthen private investment in African solar energy. Also in 2022, she was invited by Time magazine to write an op-ed article on her vision for ending energy poverty with solar mini grids. Nicole’s work has caught the eye of environmentalist, Bill McKibben, who featured her in The New Yorker article,The Race to Solar-Power Africa and in his book, Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? Nicole’s leadership of Energicity draws on expertise gained at OPower, a smart grid software company that she helped bring to IPO in 2014, as a senior policy advisor to the Mayor Bloomberg Administration, as VP of operations for a $500 mm book publisher, and variety of finance roles including portfolio manager for the $100 mm New York City Investment Fund (sponsored by Henry Kravis) and Director of Investments for the New York City Empowerment Zone a $300 mm fund. She graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School.
Guy-Bertrand Njoya
Chief Financial Officer
Guy-Bertrand Njoya is a passionate strategist and financier with over 15 years of experience powering high-growth organizations in Africa. Driven by a desire to unlock opportunities for underserved communities, he leverages diverse expertise in venture building, finance, and risk management to drive tangible impact. His career spans investment banking, consulting, and leadership roles at industry-shaping companies. He honed his skills at Standard Chartered and PwC, advising on major transactions across Africa. He then co-founded Synekas Consults, helping businesses navigate the continent’s unique challenges. His leadership shines in his CFO roles. At Terragon Group, he secured funding and oversaw a successful acquisition, propelling the company’s growth. He then revolutionized the finance function at MAX, Africa’s leading mobility platform, fostering financial inclusion and job creation. Currently, as CFO of Energicity, Guy-Bertrand tackles the critical challenge of energy access for millions. He spearheads innovative strategies to unlock capital and empower a brighter future for Africa. Fueled by an unwavering commitment to impact, Guy-Bertrand is an Endeavor member, actively contributing to the high-impact entrepreneur community. His journey, marked by strategic acumen, financial expertise, and a deep understanding of frontier markets, makes him a force for positive change in Africa.
Patrick Ayemeli
Director of Operations
Patrick Ayemeli, Energicity’s Senior Director of Operations, is a seasoned professional in the energy and utilities sector. Leading Customer Management and Operations and Maintenance, Patrick strategically drives the organization toward excellence and stakeholder satisfaction. Patrick shapes Energicity’s operational strategies in his pivotal role, focusing on maximizing energy access impact and stimulating demand for productive services. His expertise lies in refining operational frameworks to achieve unparalleled service. Previously, Patrick spent eight years at Accenture Paris, advising global industry leaders like EDF and Engie in France. His contributions included devising smart grid deployment plans, deploying millions of smart meters, and leveraging meter data for enhanced consumer service. Patrick holds a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Lyon School of Management and an Engineering Master in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon. His multifaceted leadership reflects a commitment to advancing the energy sector’s capabilities.
Femi Coker
Director of Market Development
Femi Coker is Energicity’s Director of Market Development, with over 12 years of experience in the power and utilities sector. His tenure as Country Manager for PowerGen Renewable Energy (Sierra Leone) saw him managing 17 operational mini-grids and successfully deploying 21 additional grids, significantly enhancing energy access in rural communities. Previously, at the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone, Femi played a pivotal role as Commercial Lead/Senior Economist, translating governmental petroleum policies into strategic objectives for the upstream petroleum sector. His background spans Health Economics Research, Project Management, and Data Analysis in the UK. Femi holds a degree in Economics from Fourah Bay College (Sierra Leone, 2001) and, double Masters’ Degrees in Energy Studies (specializing in Oil and Gas Economics) from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy (UK, 2013), and International Business Economics from Westminster Business School (UK, 2003). Joining Energicity in January 2022, Femi brings extensive industry expertise to drive the company’s market development initiatives.
Neema Kezilahabi
Director of Project Management and Construction
Neema E. Kezilahabi, Energicity’s Director of Project Management & Construction, is a results-driven organizational leader with over 12 years of experience in operations, strategic planning, and program management. Holding an Executive MBA with a specialization in HRM/Personnel Administration from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and a BSc in Engineering & Environmental Geology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Neema brings a diverse skill set to her role. Neema’s career journey began at Atlas Copco, Tanzania, where she served as a Human Resources & Training Manager for five years. Transitioning to the renewable energy sector, she held pivotal positions at Powergen Renewable Energy and Rijk Zwaan Ltd. In her current role as the Regional Director of Project Management & Construction at Energicity, Neema supervises operations across four countries. Her expertise lies in operationalizing best practices, streamlining systems, and achieving company KPIs. Neema’s commitment to collaborative teamwork and achieving organizational objectives is evident in her impactful contributions. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, showcasing a holistic approach to leadership. With a focus on operational excellence and strategic leadership, Neema continues to play an instrumental role in driving the success and growth of the organizations she collaborates with.
Anna-Karin Hess
Director of Innovation & Chief of Staff
Anna-Karin Hess is Energicity’s Chief of Staff and Director of Innovation. She leads Energicity’s Innovation Team, leveraging technology for the ongoing improvement of Energicity’s electricity services. The Innovation Team is most notably responsible for developing Energicity’s proprietary software and metering hardware systems. Prior to Energicity, Anna-Karin managed a diverse portfolio of United States Government international development impact evaluations at Social Impact, Inc., including the MCC Benin II Power Compact evaluation. She holds a Master of Development Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. There, she completed energy and electricity research projects in Nepal with UC Berkeley’s Global Environmental Health Lab and Nepal Ministry of Energy and in Democratic Republic of the Congo with UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab. Anna-Karin also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.