# Rosa Whitaker

> Rosa Whitaker is the founder, president and CEO of The Whitaker Group, an Africa-focused strategy and investment firm established in 2003. A former diplomat and the first Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, she helped draft and implement the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Her later work includes direct investment in Dominion Television, investment advisory and mentoring women leaders.

- **Role:** President and CEO at The Whitaker Group
- **Organizations:** The Whitaker Group, Dominion Television, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), Office of the United States Trade Representative, AGOA Alliance (former co-chair)
- **From:** Washington, D.C., United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, American University, Further specialized studies, U.S. Foreign Service Institute
- **Known for:** First Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa., Helped draft, secure passage of and implement the African Growth and Opportunity Act., Founded The Whitaker Group in 2003.

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Moved to Africa, as she recalled in a 2021 interview.
- **1997-2002** — Served as the first Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
- **2000** — AGOA was enacted; Whitaker had helped co-draft the law as a senior trade advisor to Congressman Charles Rangel and worked on its passage and implementation.
- **2003** — Founded The Whitaker Group.
- **2010** — Named among Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers.
- **2016** — Received the Face2Face Africa Trailblazer Award.
- **2017** — Led TWG’s acquisition of shares and management control in Dominion Television.
- **2021** — Received the Association of Women in International Trade Business Legacy Award.
- **2026-03** — Announced her decision to step down as AGOA Alliance co-chair and from AGOA advocacy, while continuing her business and board work.

## Achievements

- First Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa.
- Helped draft, secure passage of and implement the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
- Founded The Whitaker Group in 2003.
- Led TWG’s 2017 direct investment in Dominion Television.
- Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinkers, 2010.
- Face2Face Africa Trailblazer Award, 2016.
- Association of Women in International Trade Business Legacy Award, 2021.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published a LinkedIn article titled “UBER’S AFRICAN RETREAT: A LESSON ON SCALE” on September 3.
- **2026-03** — Announced she was stepping down as co-chair of the AGOA Alliance after three decades of involvement with AGOA, continuing TWG and her FEDA and U.S. Chamber board service.
- **2025-12** — An ESSENCE feature discussed her unpaid AGOA advocacy and a planned Ghana-based fintech venture for underbanked communities.

## Links

- Website: https://thewhitakergroup.us/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosawhitaker
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/whitakergroup
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1S-7l2LnyYJNS4PuCi7sQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosaonafrica/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/The-Whitaker-Group/1598302670399081

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rosa-whitaker
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09