Salah Goss is a financial inclusion expert specializing in harnessing digital solutions for social impact. She was recently named, Senior Vice President for Social Impact at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth leading North America-based programs focused on financial inclusion, racial equity, and small business growth. Previously, she was Senior Vice President at Mastercard running international markets for financial inclusion at the base of the economic pyramid. Her previous roles at Mastercard also include Head of the Mastercard Lab for Financial Inclusion in Nairobi where she oversaw technology innovation and product development focused on developing markets; and Vice President, Global Products and Solutions where she partnered with the development community, NGOs and governments to design payments and financial services products that foster financial inclusion and address wider economic development challenges. Salah has contributed to multiple patents, representing her contribution to innovation and the creation of cutting-edge digital solutions while at Mastercard.
Salah previously worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where she focused on digital financial inclusion, working with both the private and public sector to incentivize investment in innovative business models and products. Prior to The Gates Foundation, Salah worked as a financial analyst at Sanabel Microfinance Network of Arab Countries in Cairo, Egypt. While in West Africa, she led the establishment of the West Africa Regional Office of the Soros Open Society Foundation based in Dakar, Senegal. Early in her career, she worked for the United States Department of Commerce as a Partnership Specialist where she received an award for outstanding performance.
Salah has authored numerous articles, including an article on financial inclusion featured in the World Economic Forum, “The Mobile Financial Services Development Report 2011”. In 2007, Salah was recognized as a National Security and Education Program David L. Boren Fellow and in 2016 Salah became a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Most recently, in 2019, Salah was awarded the Outstanding Corporate Social Intrapreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum and Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Salah is a member of the board of directors for Root Capital and Global Advisory Board for Planned Parenthood International.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and US Foreign Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree from The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.