Professional History: Marie-Alix de Putter is the Founder and President of the Bluemind Foundation, a community and research organization fighting stigma and providing care around mental health in Africa. She started the organization in July 2021 after the murder of her husband and her experience with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The organization's motto is 'Mental health is health.' Under her leadership, Bluemind Foundation's award-winning signature program, Heal by Hair, has seen its social footprint and impact quickly grow, with more than 36,000 women impacted each year.
Marie-Alix is a senior executive with 16 years of experience in corporate affairs and strategy in both the public and the private sectors in Africa. She has a teaching background and demonstrated strengths in cross-cultural management, global marketing, and communications. A published and bestselling author, her work has been read and watched by 280M+ people on various channels, including major national and international media, in more than 130 countries.
She has previously served as Communication Director for Africa at OCP Group; and founded HEMLEY Productions, a content media company. Marie-Alix is also the co-founder of The Okwelians, an organisation whose mission is to build a community of ethical and responsible leaders committed to promote social innovation with the ambition to contribute decisively to the transformation of Cameroon and Africa.
Marie-Alix has received several awards. In 2021, the Quartz Africa 30 Innovators Award, and 50 women leaders in Communications in Africa; in 2018, Communication Leader in Africa; and in 2022, Best Woman Leader of Africa for her innovative impact on women and mental health in Africa.

Academic and professional credentials: Masters degree with distinction in Political Science and International Relations - Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
Executive MBA with distinction in Business Management and Communications - CELSA, France
Masters degree in Project Management - Sorbonne Paris Nord University, France
Masters degree in Corporate Business Communications - Paris Sorbonne University, France
Executive certificate in Authentic Leader Development - Harvard Business School, USA

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