After her time at Planned Parenthood, Iskander in 2012 became the chief operating officer of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in South Africa before becoming its chief executive officer (CEO) in 2013. Harambee is focused on connecting employers to first-time workers to reduce youth unemployment and increase retention. In 2015, Iskander made a commitment in New York City to the Clinton Global Initiative that Harambee would provide South African youth with 50,000 jobs and work experiences; by 2018, she was able to share with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, in Johannesburg for a visit, that Harambee had exceeded her commitment, delivering over 85,000 such opportunities.[6]
Speaking at the 2019 Conscious Companies Awards in Johannesburg, Iskander explained that she wanted "business to understand that the hiring of young people in their first jobs is not a charitable exercise but talent [...] We treat young people like customers and not like beneficiaries."[7] By building a large pool of workers that is easily navigable and proving that youth can be employed successfully using this method, Harambee was able to scale their efforts and effectiveness.[8] During her time as CEO, the non-profit connected 100,000 young workers with work opportunities in partnership with 500 businesses as of June 2019.[9]
On September 14, 2021, Iskander was named as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, assuming her post on January 5, 2022.[10] She has stated in interviews that her priorities after taking her role were to diversify Wikipedia's volunteer writers and editors and to promote the Wikimedia Foundation's mission of advocating for access to information.[11] In 2023, Iskander was elected to the Yale Board of Trustees.[12]
^ abcdef"Maryana F. Iskander, 2001". Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. P'unk Ave. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^"Scholar Listing". The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^"About Our Team". Harambee. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
^"Maryana Iskander". University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service Speaker Series. Clinton School. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
^"Maryana Iskander". AGLN. The Aspen Institute. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
^"Skoll Awardees". Skoll Foundation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
