A woman of many talents, Sanela Diana Jenkins was born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She now resides in California. While she initially attended the University of Sarajevo to pursue an advanced degree in public policy, Jenkins decided to leave her home country during the siege of Sarajevo, also known as the Bosnian War, in 1993 and emigrated to London, where she studied at City University, London. Sanela Diana Jenkins: A Woman of Many Talents
Table of Contents
Early Life
Sanela Diana Jenkins was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and raised during the siege of Sarajevo. She fled her home country and emigrated to London, where she studied at City University, London. After graduating, she moved to California to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. Throughout her life, Jenkins has always been driven by a desire to help others. This is evident in her work as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. With degrees in business and philosophy from the Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris; Trinity College Dublin; UCL School of Management; IE Business School; Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (MBA); and Wharton School of Business, Harvard University (MBA), Jenkins was able to return to her native country with a wealth of knowledge and experience. In 2005, she co-founded Alma Capital Partners Ltd., a venture capital firm focused on companies located within Southeast Europe that employ innovative solutions for healthcare challenges. In 2010, she founded Adelante Healthcare Solutions LLC., which offers cost-effective healthcare technology solutions for providers throughout North America. Sanela Diana Jenkins: A Woman of Many Talents
War Years (1992-1996)
Sanela Diana Jenkins was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1972, just as the country was descending into war. From 1992 to 1996, she lived through the siege of Sarajevo, one of the bloodiest episodes of the Bosnian War. During that time, she witnessed firsthand the atrocities that can be committed during wartime. Despite the violence and suffering she saw all around her, Jenkins refused to give up hope. Instead, she did what many children are unable to do when faced with such adversity: She persevered. She learned English from British television programs and newspapers so that she could continue her education abroad. After the war ended, Jenkins completed a degree in economics at City University London before returning home to start a family with her husband Ilhan. In 1995, they had their first daughter Lejla who would grow up to become an artist and poet like her mother; then followed their son Esmaan who became a photographer and filmmaker; finally came youngest daughter Amelie who studied law at Harvard University before becoming an executive producer for CNN International’s documentary unit.
Entrepreneurial years (2002–present)
In 2002, Jenkins founded SDJ Ventures, a holding company for her many businesses. These businesses include a software development company, an online retailer, and a luxury home rental company. In addition to her business ventures, Jenkins is also a philanthropist. She has donated money to numerous charities, including the Red Cross and Amnesty International. In 2009, she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune magazine. Her personal net worth exceeds $1 billion, according to Forbes.
Books Authored
Since arriving in the United States, she has written two books: My Journey: A Girl Who Survived the Bosnian Genocide and The ISIS Brides. In My Journey, Jenkins tells her story of growing up in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War. The ISIS Brides is a work of fiction that tells the story of three women who are forced into marriages with ISIS fighters. Sanela wrote this book as an act of solidarity for the Yazidi women and girls who have been sold as sex slaves by ISIS.
Q.&A.
How did you get interested in entrepreneurship and philanthropy?
I got interested in entrepreneurship because I wanted to create something that would have a positive impact on people’s lives. I was also motivated by the challenge of building something from scratch. As for philanthropy, I was inspired by my experiences growing up in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I saw firsthand the difference that philanthropy can make in people’s lives, and I wanted to be able to help others in need.