Isha Sesay

Isha Sesay is a former anchor and correspondent for CNN, having appeared on programs across CNN International and CNN/U.S. She also founded W.E. (Women Everywhere) Can Lead, a non-profit working to nurture and encourage teenage girls to become the next generation of leaders. Sesay is also the first female CEO of OkayMedia and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

During her time at CNN International, Sesay anchored "CNN NewsCenter," a half-hour weekday news program that takes viewers through the day’s big stories of global importance. She also hosted "BackStory," the weekly program that goes behind the scenes of CNN’s global newsgathering operation, and often filed reports for "African Voices." In addition, she provided news updates for the 2000ET edition of "Anderson Cooper 360°," which is broadcast around the world on CNNI.

A seasoned journalist, Sesay has covered numerous breaking news and world news events, notably securing a Gracie Award for her coverage of the kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian girls in Chibok in 2014. She has also moderated and hosted events with organizations such as the Gates Foundation, Coca Cola, The Obama White House, The World Bank, and the MasterCard Foundation.

Sesay is the author of "Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram," which details the mass abduction of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls by the Boko Haram terror group. She has discussed this book and the resilience of the Chibok girls on platforms such as "The Daily Show" and at events like the Harrisburg Book Festival. Her efforts have been recognized with a Peabody Award, adding to her list of accolades.

In the 2010s, Sesay covered significant global events such as the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, and the World Cup from Johannesburg in 2010. She also reported from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for CNN’s iList series, landing an exclusive interview with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Complementing her role as anchor and correspondent, Sesay reprised her role as co-host of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, emphasizing her commitment to journalism in Africa. Other notable interviews include world leaders like Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as well as cultural figures like David Beckham, Bill Gates, and Bono.

Sesay joined CNN in November 2005 from the UK broadcaster ITN, where she anchored ITV’s Early Morning News program, and news bulletins for the UK’s most-watched breakfast program GMTV. Prior to this, she spent more than three years presenting Good Morning Sports Fans for Sky Sports. From 1998-2001, Sesay presented a wide range of programs across the BBC networks. A Briton of Sierra Leonean parentage, she holds a BA honors English degree from Trinity College, Cambridge University. Additionally, she hosts the podcast "The Accidental Activist," where she continues to delve into social justice issues, particularly those affecting women and girls globally.