Lyzz Ogunwo serves as the Vice President of International Development and Global Impact for the National Basketball Players Association, the union that represents all active NBA players. In this role, Ogunwo leads the NBPA’s global social impact initiatives with a focus on Africa and advancing academia, policy, and thought leadership development for the union.
Since 2017, Ogunwo has worked with the NBPA Foundation, leading the development of philanthropic resources and support for the individual efforts of NBPA members and the Foundation’s programmatic work domestically and abroad. Most recently, Ogunwo served as the Foundation’s interim Executive Director from January 2022 to November 2022. Before joining the NBPA Foundation in 2017, Ogunwo spent over a decade in politics and government affairs, notably serving as the White House Leadership Development Director and White House Liaison to the Peace Corps during the Obama Administration. Under President Obama’s first term at the Department of Energy, Ogunwo helped to advance the White House Energy Council on Women and Girls and the International Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) initiative.
Ogunwo holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Corporate Communications from James Madison University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Senegal).