Gifty Pokuaa Abankwa, MBA

Gifty Pokuaa Abankwa, MBA, has a diverse range of work experience across various industries. Gifty Pokuaa began their career as a Line Worker at the Club while attending Brigham Young University Hawaii, where they gained customer service skills and experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Following this role, Gifty interned at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ghana, where they assisted with administrative tasks and gained exposure to international relations. Gifty Pokuaa then returned to Brigham Young University Hawaii as a Student Manager at the Club, where they ensured the smooth operation of the cafeteria and spearheaded the "Green Soap Project," making hand and laundry soap from used cooking oil. Gifty Pokuaa'sdedication to this project earned their recognition as a BYU-Hawaii representative at the NACUFS competition in Fort Worth, Texas.

Gifty continued their education at George Mason University, where they worked as a Student Desk Assistant for University Information. In this role, they provided information to university patrons and promoted the university in a positive light. Gifty Pokuaa also served as a Clubs Liaison at Salt Lake Community College, assisting campus clubs with resources to facilitate successful events and foster a safe and social atmosphere for students.

At Convergys (CIGNA), Gifty worked as a Customer Service Advocate, helping healthcare professionals access health benefits and create efficient claims processes. Gifty Pokuaa ensured timely processing and payment of claims, benefiting patients and healthcare providers.

Gifty's passion for community service led their to volunteer roles at GKFolks Foundation, a nonprofit organization. As Chief Program Officer, they ensured the effective execution of annual events and provided support to team members. Gifty Pokuaa also served as Treasurer and Project Manager, responsible for financial management and project coordination.

Additionally, Gifty gained valuable experience as a UVU Entrepreneurship Institute Intern/TA at Utah Valley University, supporting the Entrepreneurship Lecture Series and assisting students with academic needs and resources.

Currently, Gifty works at Pathful Inc. as a Sales Development Representative, where they utilize their skills in sales and customer relations to drive business growth.

Through their diverse work experience, Gifty has developed strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, and has demonstrated a commitment to making a positive impact in their community.

Gifty Pokuaa Abankwa, MBA has a diverse educational background with a focus on business administration, conflict analysis and resolution, and intercultural peace building. In 2004-2007, they attended Kumasi Wesley Girls' High School, where they obtained their General Arts degree. From 2008 to 2012, Gifty pursued a Bachelor of Arts in International Cultural Studies and Intercultural Peace Building at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. In 2014, they earned an Associate of Science degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Salt Lake Community College. Moving forward, Gifty enrolled at George Mason University from 2013 to 2015, where they pursued a Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. In 2016, they returned to Utah Valley University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Lastly, in 2016-2017, they completed their Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Utah Valley University, specializing in Business Administration and Management, General. In addition to their academic achievements, Gifty also obtained a certification in Intercultural Peace building (Mediation) from the David O McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding in April 2012.