Stephen Sobhani

Stephen Sobhani is Vice President, International, Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Takalani Sesame, whose multi-media programming reaches children in over 150 countries around the world. He is responsible for Sesame Workshop’s Global Health Initiative African projects.

Previously, Sobhani led the private-sector outreach team for the Secretary General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health (Every Woman, Every Child), building cross-industry and multi-sector collaborations to better engage private sector strengths to critical issues related to Millennium Development Goals Four and Five. Prior to joining the United Nations Foundation, Sobhani was Director for Advocacy and Global Projects at Abbott Labs, responsible for relationship-building with external stakeholders that operate in the international HIV/AIDS and public health arenas. His global health work from within the pharmaceutical industry began during his tenure as Senior Director of International Alliance Development for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) - the world’s largest pharmaceutical trade association. There, Sobhani cultivated new relationships with multi-lateral and non-governmental organizations, patient and physician groups, and other global health stakeholders to improve access to medicines and mobilize further resources to the poorest of the poor.

Before his work in the private-sector, Sobhani was founder and President of The Great American Condom Campaign – a US-based, non-profit organization that focuses on prevention of sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV/AIDS, in women and other vulnerable populations across the United States and around the world. His work in global public health, resource mobilization and partnerships began at the United Nations Foundation after their founding by Ted Turner’s 1998 gift of $1 billion to support UN causes.

Originally from Santa Barbara, CA, Sobhani holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Foreign Service and Masters in Public Policy, from Georgetown University.