Her Story
About Bonni
Bonni Abdurahman is the Chief Administrative Officer for the African Youth Leadership Institute, which she founded and leads, and serves as Engagement Coordinator for the Department of Human Services. She brings nearly a decade of experience in government and education, having previously worked as an equity specialist, student achievement advisor in schools, and research interventionist in the Moundsview School District. Abdurahman earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2022 and her MBA in leadership and management from 2022 to 2024. She is currently enrolled in a second master's program in marriage and family therapy. A refugee who grew up in Blaine, Minnesota, she attributes her drive and success to the powerful women in her family who modeled excellence as leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members. Her work centers on community service, identifying local problems, and creating opportunities for youth, particularly girls, to access connections and realize their potential without limits.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Bonni
01What do you attribute your success to?
My drive and passion comes from my family. I grew up surrounded with powerful women that were able to do it all. They were great wise, great entrepreneurs, great leaders in their field, and great people of community, so I attribute my success to that, being able to see strong women supposedly be able to excel in all of the things that they want to do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is making sure that you're of service and in service to your community and the people that you surround yourself with, and then you live a life. Being able to identify a problem within my community and try to solve that and be of service.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is this false dichotomy... like oh you can't do everything or you can't do you have to pick or you have to make yourself small... As long as you're clear on where you're going and what you want to do and what you're capable of, other people's opinion of what you can does not matter. You have it within you to be able to accept that. If it has not been done before you could be the one that does it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Specifically working in the nonprofit world and starting something from scratch requires a lot of connections and trial and error. The challenge is not having a mentor for the mentors or a clear path. The current environment and people having certain distrust of organizations and nonprofit organizations or government in general could feel like you're fighting an uphill battle, but the work is worth it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community and being able to be community-centered is very important to me. That concept of uniting the world in kindness and living a positive impact. Living is better than you find it. That is something important to me that I try to do.
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