Madelyn (Ananda) Leeke

Washington, DC

Madelyn (Ananda) Leeke

Washington, DC

Meet Madelyn (Ananda) Leeke, CEO of Ananda Leeke Media, a digital social enterprise company that provides value to clients through digital citizenship, communications, sisterhood (leadership, liifestyle, and living well initiatives for women in social media and technology), and wellness (mindfulness techniques and training that help computer users unplug and effectively manage their time online with breathing, Reiki, self-care practices, and yoga).

Madelyn began her digital communications career as the Knowledge Manager for The Hamilton Securities Group, Inc. in 1996. At Hamilton, she honed her project management skills and created, curated, and managed content for two intranets. She also spearheaded the design and implementation of an intellectual property protection and contracts administration programs for Internet products and services. After leaving Hamilton, she launched Intellectual Capital Solutions and worked as a Business Consultant.

While serving as the Senior Program Officer for the Preferred Communities Program at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, she established the first-ever social media technical assistance program for refugee resettlement agencies. From 2008 to 2013, her efforts revolutionized the organizational culture of over 25 affiliate agencies by providing oversight and review of social media plans, social media strategy and training sessions, best practices documentation, peer-to-peer learning exchanges, annual funding for technology tools, and a SharePoint resource library.

In 2013, she penned "Digital Sisterhood: A Memoir of Fierce Living Online" (available on Amazon.com). Her book discusses how the Internet influenced her career, creativity, yoga and self-care practices, and work as the founder of the Digital Sisterhood Network. She is a frequent speaker on topics such as blogging, crowdfunding, digital citizenship, digital storytelling, digital wellness, leadership, self-care, social good, social media, and yoga.

The White House selected her to serve as a social media leader for the State of the Union, French Arrival Ceremony for French President Francois Hollande, and Tumblr Q&A session on education and college affordability in 2014. The U.S. Department of State invited her to serve in a similar capacity during the International Women of Courage Award Ceremony. These experiences inspired her to launch the Digital Citizenship Project.

  • Work
    • Digital Communications Professional
  • Education
    • LLM, Georgetown University Law Center (1991)
    • JD, Howard University School of Law (1989)
    • BA, Morgan State University (1986)