About Konektid
Throughout the decade Mike Shanley, Founder & CEO, worked in international aid, he saw great new ideas, approaches, and products, that were not always accessible to people in emerging markets. Mike founded Konektid in 2013 to connect great ideas and innovations with USAID projects. Konektid leverages deep industry experience and networks with USAID partners to help clients bring their work to emerging markets through USAID.
Konektid's team has experience working with USAID and their most successful partners, and we bring this expertise to our clients that want to start or grow their work with USAID. In addition to supporting prime implementers, we work with USAID subcontractors to design and implement USAID business development strategies, and with the private sector to help them better partner with USAID investments.
Since our founding, Konektid's team has worked with clients ranging from the Fortune 500 to small local partners in emerging markets, all looking to grow their work and partner with USAID.
“Konektid’s team has helped us build strategic relationships with several of USAID’s largest implementing partners. They brokered partnering meetings with key individuals at these organizations, and before the meetings provided us with a thorough background on who we were meeting with and key talking points to focus on in the partnering discussions.”
Our Name
In selecting Konektid (“connected”) as our name, we chose a phrase with a positive connotation across the 60+ diverse countries we operate in. “Konektid” comes from the Esperanto language, created in the 19th century to be a single language that bridges cultural and linguistic barriers. Konekti connotes connections and partnerships. The “id” at the end of Konektid comes from International Development and represents the unique value Konektid provides clients by leveraging international development resources to create new opportunities in emerging markets.
Where we work
We support work everywhere that USAID works. Visit the USAID website for a full list where the agency operates.
After serving in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, Mike Shanley spent more than a decade of his career working with USAID and its partners, leading business development and project management activities across five continents. He has designed and managed projects of up to $30 million for governments, businesses, and civil society organizations in more than 25 emerging markets. In 2013, he left Chemonics International, a large USAID implementing partner, to start Konektid with a goal to bring new approaches, innovations and products to USAID projects around the world.
Mike balances regular travel to clients around the work with trail running and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. He speaks English, Russian, and Spanish.
Christy Hollywood supports Konektid clients and consultants with skills honed during 20+ years of leadership in international development, professional services, and consulting organizations. She led a successful consulting firm of her own for 11 years.
Earlier, she served as Vice President for BD of Cardno (a large USAID and MCC contractor, since acquired) and held pivotal business development roles at KPMG’s Emerging Markets Group, RTI International, PATH, as well as Fidelity Investments and Noblis.
A recognized expert in business development consulting, she’s authored several articles and is five-time invited presenter at international conferences on proposal management, competitive intelligence, and business development.
Away from work and travel, Christy enjoys her attempts at gardening, wandering in the woods, reading, and kayaking around the edges of the Chesapeake Bay. She speaks basic French and Spanish, but has forgotten most of her university Russian and Hungarian.
Olivia Tisa brings experience supporting diverse clients and projects in achieving their goals efficiently and working towards impact. She has spent the last three years in Washington, D.C. serving a variety of progressive and community based organizations focused on political policy, social impact, and international development. Prior to joining Konektid, Olivia worked for Chemonics International and was responsible for supporting the implementation of a critical 25+ year USAID project.
Olivia graduated from Saint Louis University with her M.S. and B.S. in Social Work and a concentration in community organization and nonprofit administration; with particular emphasis on gender equity, social inclusion, and community engagement.
When she’s not working, Olivia enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her partner, friends, and family.
Tim Spesia brings a range of experience supporting Konektid’s clients, partners, and operations to achieve their mutual goal of designing and executing highly impactful projects around the world. Since moving to Washington D.C., he has worked in the non-profit, consulting, and policy sectors, and supported a number of USAID projects. His professional background also includes community economic development work in Nicaragua and Mexico where he developed a professional proficiency in Spanish.
Tim is currently completing his M.A. in International Development from American University, further honing his research, analysis, and project management skills. In his free time, Tim loves to travel, play soccer and tennis, and spend time with friends and family.
OUR USAID Partnering SPECIALISTS
Konektid’s global team of USAID specialists can help you design and manage your USAID business development strategy. Our team is experienced in both USAID proposal development, as well as in building the capacity of business development teams and USAID partners to better work with USAID.
Konektid’s team has decades of experience working for USAID and the agency’s largest implementing partners. Our team has designed and managed billions of dollars of USAID programs and built a global network across nearly every country where the agency now works. The team is fluent in Spanish, French, Arabic, Georgian, and Russian languages.
We are positioned to rapidly mobilize our global team to meet your USAID needs.