Samuel Sommer
Sam is a leadership trainer, organizational transformation advisor, and social entrepreneur with an MSc in Sustainable Development from Switzerland. He brings extensive experience in leadership and organizational development across sectors and cultural contexts.
At Lead Beyond, Sam designs and delivers leadership and organizational development programs for clients including US DOS, BRAC International, Mercy Corps, Catholic Relief Services, Unilever, multiple embassies, and the Ethiopia Civic Engagement (ECE) Program. He facilitates high-level, multi-stakeholder strategy and engagement processes, recently convening senior representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and others. He has also advised Front Line Defenders and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on strengthening collaboration, organizational culture, and impact. Previously, as Chief Operations Officer at Spring Household Manufacturing PLC, he led the market introduction of the MINCH Household Water Filter in Ethiopia.
Sam’s work integrates human-centered facilitation, leadership development, and systems thinking through inclusive approaches. His professional background spans social work, advocacy, education for children with disabilities, and research on decentralized natural resource management in the Global South. Fluent in German and English, he excels in cross-cultural communication and supports organizations in driving sustainable, positive change.