▁development ▁and ▁education ▁char ity ▁based ▁in ▁London , ▁England . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁Ess om é ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Cam ero on ▁in ▁October , ▁ 1 9 6 8 . ▁She ▁has ▁an ▁M BA ▁in ▁Fin ance ▁from ▁Columbia ▁Business ▁School , ▁where ▁she ▁was ▁a ▁Robert ▁F . ▁To igo ▁fellow . ▁She ▁also ▁obtained ▁a ▁B BA ▁in ▁Fin ance ▁from ▁Howard ▁University ▁in ▁Washington ▁DC . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁In ▁September , ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁Ess om é ▁was ▁appointed ▁chief ▁executive ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁African ▁Private ▁Equ ity ▁and ▁Vent ure ▁Capital ▁Association ▁( AV CA ), ▁a ▁pan - A fr ican ▁industry ▁body ▁which ▁a ims ▁to ▁catal y se , ▁promote ▁and ▁enable ▁private ▁equ ity ▁and ▁vent ure ▁capital ▁invest ment ▁in ▁Africa . ▁ ▁Ess om é ' s ▁invest ment ▁bank ing ▁career ▁has ▁sp anned ▁over ▁ 2 0 ▁years ▁with ▁roles ▁in ▁equ ities , ▁fixed ▁income ▁and ▁invest ment ▁management . ▁She ▁was ▁previously ▁a ▁Director ▁at ▁Ne uber ger ▁B erman ▁and ▁has ▁worked ▁with ▁M err ill ▁Lyn ch , ▁Gold man ▁Sach s , ▁J PM organ , ▁and ▁Nom ura . ▁In ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Ess om é ▁joined ▁Le h man ▁Brothers ▁As set ▁Management . ▁ ▁Ess ome ▁has ▁worked ▁in ▁the ▁US , ▁UK ▁and ▁France . ▁ ▁Personal ▁life ▁ ▁Ess om é ▁married ▁Guy ▁René ▁Ess om é