Biftu Bussa (she/her) is committed to advancing the health and wellness of her community, and building a healthcare system that is truly equitable and affordable for all.
In her current role, Biftu works as the Social Responsibility and Equity Senior Program Manager at Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. She focuses on advancing health equity across the Fortune 10 company by overseeing employee and volunteer engagement opportunities. Primarily, Biftu leads Optum’s Skills-Based Pro Bono Volunteer Program, which allows employees to donate their time and expertise in service to non-profit organizations. As a result of this program, Biftu has been able to support hundreds of volunteers across the globe and provide >$20M in financial value to organizations serving our most vulnerable communities.
Prior to joining Optum, Biftu served as an Immigration Specialist at the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF). At MFF, Biftu led all immigration efforts and focused on helping immigrants detained by ICE by paying their immigration bonds and providing post-release support. Prior to this role, Biftu was a Community Representative at The Office of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. During her time, Biftu focused on community engagement and constituent outreach. Her portfolio of issue areas included housing, agriculture and food access, K-12 education, youth, technology and science, and the 2020 Census. Biftu also worked on Ilhan Omar’s campaign for Congress and helped with voter registration.
Outside of work, Biftu is a yoga instructor and enjoys practicing yoga. She previously served on the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, the Board of Directors for Gender Justice, and as the Community Engagement Chair on the New Leaders Council-Twin Cities board.
