Basic Information
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Company
Koun Khmer Foundation -
Phone
202-699-4888 -
Email
Mona@KounKhmer.org -
Mobile phone
571-383-5632 -
Website
https://kounkhmer.org/ -
Describe How You Would Like To Be Introduced Via Email
Mona Nguonly is the Founder and Executive Director of the Koun Khmer Foundation. A survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide, she has transformed her resilience and her professional expertise in business development, HR, human capital management, and team leadership into a mission that expands digital literacy and educational access for underserved rural Cambodian students. Business leaders value being introduced to Mona because she brings a strategic, solutions‑oriented mindset to every conversation—offering insight into people development, organizational growth, and meaningful social impact. Connecting with her gives leaders an opportunity to align their skills and resources with a mission that creates lasting generational change. -
What is your "why"? Why do you do what you do?
My life has been shaped by both survival and possibility. As a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide, I carry a deep understanding of how fragile opportunity can be—and how powerful it becomes when a child finally receives it. That truth has guided me for as long as I can remember.
Throughout my career in business development, HR, human capital management, and team leadership, I’ve learned how to build people, strengthen teams, and create environments where others can grow. Founding the Koun Khmer Foundation is where my lived experience and my professional skills meet. It’s the place where resilience becomes action, and where I can help open doors for underserved rural Cambodian students who deserve the chance to learn, dream, and shape their own futures.
My purpose is simple: to create opportunities and to ensure the next generation rises with more possibilities than the one before them. -
Qualifying Questions: What are three questions we can ask clients to help pave the way for a referral? List them here.
1. Who comes to mind when you think of leaders or companies that want their giving to reflect their global footprint?
2. Who in your network values stories of resilience and giving back, and might be looking for a speaker to inspire their team during professional development or training sessions.
3. Who comes to mind that would appreciate a powerful story of resilience and generosity, and might want a speaker to bring that perspective to their staff during training or development? -
Unique Selling Proposition
Supporting a child 10,000 miles away is an investment in global stability and shared prosperity. In a world where economies, technologies, and challenges are interconnected, so are our responsibilities. Educating a student in rural Cambodia strengthens the global talent pipeline, expands future leadership, and builds the kind of world‑ready citizens our future depends on. That’s why this work matters—because global citizenship isn’t a concept; it’s a practice. -
About me
I am a founder, a people‑builder, and a believer in global citizenship. My life began in the shadow of the Khmer Rouge genocide, an experience that taught me early how fragile opportunity can be—and how powerful it becomes when someone chooses to invest in you. That truth has shaped every chapter of my life.
Professionally, I’ve spent more than two decades in business development, HR, human capital management, and team leadership. I know how to build systems, develop people, and create environments where others can thrive. Those skills led me to create the Koun Khmer Foundation, where my lived experience and my leadership expertise come together to expand digital literacy and educational access for underserved rural Cambodian students.
I believe that helping a child 10,000 miles away is not an act of distance—it’s an act of global responsibility. When we invest in a student across the world, we strengthen the future we all share. My work is rooted in that belief: that every child deserves the chance to learn, to dream, and to rise, no matter where they were born. -
Profession
Nonprofit Founder -
Title
Founder & Executive Director -
Hobbies and interest
Travelling, cooking, working out, hiking, gardening, eating. I'm open to new experiences and discovering new places to visit with family and friends.
Contact Information
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City / Town
Fairfax -
State
VA -
Zip
22033 -
Country
United States -
Facebook Business Page URL
https://www.facebook.com/ -
LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mona-nguonly-a579a63/
Education
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College / University
Russell Sage College -
Graduation Year
1989