Sawa Nakagawa

Executive Director - AlphaMundi Foundation

Sawa Nakagawa is the Executive Director of AlphaMundi Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen the long-term commercial viability of SMEs in Africa and Latin America to drive sustainable and inclusive economic transformation.
An impact-driven leader, Sawa has a strong track record of fostering societal and environmental change through social entrepreneurship and impact investing in emerging markets. Having lived in South Africa and Kenya for 16 years, she has a deep understanding of sub-Saharan Africa, where she works to build a sustainable ecosystem by blending technical assistance, smart capital, and measurable impact.

Prior to joining AlphaMundi Foundation in 2024, Sawa founded and led ThreeArrows Impact Partner, a specialized advisory firm focused on impact investing and social innovation based in Johannesburg and Nairobi. Sawa previously served as inaugural Chief Executive Officer of E2 Investments (Pty) Ltd, an impact investment company with a mission to create jobs and attack poverty in South Africa. Sawa has worked for Absa, IFC (World Bank Group), and UBS Investment Bank.