Special Envoy & Global Ambassador for National Branding & Cultural Diplomacy,
Republic of Liberia | Chief Community Officer, Essence Ventures | Founder & CEO, MBL Intl Group
Barkue Tubman-Zawolo is a mission-driven entrepreneur, international strategist, and Liberia’s Special Envoy & Global Ambassador for National Branding & Cultural Diplomacy, appointed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the President of Liberia. She serves as Chief Community Officer at Essence Ventures, where she leads expansion, talent strategy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement across the diaspora. As Founder & CEO of MBL Intl Group, Barkue represents, advises, and produces for high-level executives, Fortune 500 brands, governments, and cultural institutions across the U.S., Africa, and international markets. MBL specializes in strategic partnerships, experiential platforms, cultural diplomacy, and market expansion—connecting clients to decision-makers, opportunities, and communities that amplify influence and unlock revenue.
MBL’s production credits include the Essence Full Circle Festival in Ghana, the International Women’s Colloquium for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, and the launch of Orange (a GSM telecom company) in Liberia and Guinea with Akon. Through MBL, Barkue has also executed large-scale national conferences for countries and U.S. states and is piloting the Community Gateway Framework in 2026, a scalable model for tourism and economic engagement.
At Essence Ventures, Barkue curates talent for Essence Festival stages at the New Orleans Superdome—one of the largest concert experiences in the U.S.—booking headliners including Usher, Wizkid, Tems, Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Babyface, Lil Wayne, Davido, Vice President Kamala Harris, and more.
Her clients and collaborators include Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, USAID, World Bank, UN Women, Bono’s ONE Campaign, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Essence Communications. She has produced high-level summits with world leaders, developed national tourism and creative economy strategies, and designed campaigns that merge culture, commerce, and community impact across borders.
A former U.S. music executive, Barkue has worked with artists including Usher, Outkast, Missy Elliott, and Queen Latifah, building her reputation as a bridge-builder across entertainment, business, and government. She is also Co-Founder of BE Africa Luxury, Founder of Power WalkHer Global, and Executive Producer of a forthcoming documentary on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Her life’s work is dedicated to shifting narratives, advancing women’s leadership and economic inclusion, and building bridges that position leaders and nations—across Africa, the U.S., and beyond—as players in commerce, culture, and diplomacy.