As Upwardly Global celebrates 25 years of supporting immigrant and refugee professionals, we are excited to announce the appointment of Alice Kang as President, Alexis Williams as Chief Revenue Officer, and Avigail Ziv as Chief Program Officer.
These leaders bring deep expertise in nonprofit management, philanthropy, and workforce development, positioning Upwardly Global to expand its reach, deepen partnerships, and deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of our job seekers and the workforce at large.
Upwardly Global is looking to the future — adopting new technology, exploring new ways to measure impact, and expanding program access for a wider range of partners and communities. This forward momentum has inspired us to bring in visionary leadership to help shape what’s next.
Alice Kang appointed President
As President, Alice Kang will collaborate closely with our executive leadership team to bring Upwardly Global’s vision to life, aligning strategy, programs, and investments in support of immigrant and refugee professionals.
Alice joined Upwardly Global in January as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, bringing over two decades of experience leading mission-driven organizations. Her expertise in strategic planning, storytelling, and movement-building will power our progress as we add programmatic capacity and continue to expand our reach.
Prior to Upwardly Global, Alice held senior leadership roles at FoodCorps and Amnesty International, where she spearheaded global campaigns and successful strategies across operations, research and evaluation, and communications and brand development. Earlier in her career, she led global product engineering at Travelocity, building e-commerce products in markets around the world. This foundation in technology now informs her leadership at Upwardly Global, where she is advancing the organization’s approach to tech and AI investments to drive workforce innovation and impact.
Her global perspective, shaped by living and working in cities like Singapore, Sydney, and London, is matched by a deeply personal commitment to workforce inclusion.
“I’m honored to step into this role at such a pivotal moment, when our mission is so essential to our nation’s continued progress,” Alice shared. “I wouldn’t be here without the mentorship and coaching I encountered throughout my career, and I believe everyone deserves that same opportunity to contribute their talents to the workforce. I am thrilled to be part of an organization creating a future where that is possible.”
Alexis Williams joins as Chief Revenue Officer
In her role as Chief Revenue Officer, Alexis Williams will lead Upwardly Global’s revenue strategy, driving philanthropic partnerships and updating funding models to support our mission and scale our impact amid an evolving workforce.
A recognized leader in philanthropy and partnerships, Alexis brings over 15 years of experience raising more than $80 million in philanthropic capital and overseeing high-level budgets to ensure every dollar drives real world impact.
Alexis has led successful revenue and growth efforts for high-impact organizations such as Echoing Green, SBP, and INSEAD, and currently serves on advisory councils for the BlackFemaleProject and Network for Good DAF. Her strategy-driven, collaborative approach will be instrumental in shaping Upwardly Global’s long-term sustainability and scale.
“Upwardly Global is doing the kind of work that transforms lives and strengthens communities, and I’m honored to be part of it,” Alexis shared. “As Chief Revenue Officer, I see immense opportunity to scale our impact and ensure every newcomer has the support they need to contribute to our shared future.”
Avigail Ziv appointed Chief Program Officer
As Chief Program Officer, Avigail Ziv’s visionary leadership will guide the evolution of Upwardly Global’s programs to meet the needs of today’s workforce. Since joining as Vice President of Programs in 2023, her deep expertise in program leadership and commitment to job seekers have been central to our success.
Avi came to Upwardly Global with two decades of experience supporting immigrant and refugee communities. Most recently, she served nearly a decade as Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in New York and New Jersey, where she led a team of over 175 people, expanded programs and funding, and built key partnerships with government, community, and corporate stakeholders.
Her earlier roles include Deputy Director for IRC’s Ethiopia office and Program Officer at IRC’s New York headquarters, along with positions at FHI 360, the UN Global Compact, and NARAL Pro-Choice New York. Avi’s ability to scale impact while centering community voices makes her uniquely equipped to lead Upwardly Global into its next chapter.
“At Upwardly Global, our job seekers are at the heart of everything we do,” Avi shared. “Immigrant and refugee professionals bring extraordinary resilience and talent to the U.S. workforce, and my focus is to ensure we meet them where they are, evolve with their needs, and open doors to meaningful careers.”
Looking ahead: Innovating for a brighter future
With new leadership at the cutting edge of workforce development, Upwardly Global is poised to scale impact, deepen partnerships, and continue transforming lives. We are excited to continue building a future where every immigrant has the opportunity to thrive.