By Alex Popa
In today’s world, technology is a key driver of economic progress, yet many regions remain underserved in access to digital skills and education. Castelline Tilus, a visionary leader in workforce development, is determined to change this reality.
As the founder of Akademi, a digital training platform, she is on a mission to equip one million individuals in the region with the skills needed to thrive in the global tech industry.
With a passion for education, a deep commitment to Haiti and the Caribbean, and an impressive background in international development, she is creating pathways to success for aspiring tech professionals.
Early Life and Education
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Castelline spent her early childhood in Jean-Rabel, Haiti, before moving to South Florida. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, she excelled academically and graduated second in her class from Dillard High School in 2009.
Her outstanding academic performance earned her a full-tuition scholarship to Stanford University, making her the first in her family to earn a college degree.
At Stanford, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in international relations, deepening her understanding of global issues and economic development. She later furthered her studies with a master’s degree in international policy and development from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Her academic journey set the foundation for her career in technology, policy, and education, equipping her with the knowledge and skills to drive impactful initiatives in underserved communities.
Professional Accomplishments
With over eight years of experience in international workforce development, Castelline has played a significant role in advancing education and economic inclusion. She co-founded Ayiti Analytics, a Haiti-based data science education and consulting firm, where she led a data science training program that achieved a remarkable 92% job placement rate.
Beyond her work in Haiti, Castelline has contributed to global development initiatives, collaborating with organizations such as the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank. Her efforts have focused on closing the financial inclusion gap, particularly through the G7 Partnership for Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa.
Through these projects, she has helped create policies and programs that empower individuals, particularly women, to access financial services and economic opportunities through technology.
How Akademi Was Born
After the success of Ayiti Analytics, Castelline recognized that the demand for tech education extended far beyond Haiti. The Caribbean, despite its potential, remained largely overlooked in the global technology landscape. This realization led her to launch Akademi in 2023, with the goal of expanding tech education and workforce development across the region.
Akademi offers training in Data & AI, Software Development, Cybersecurity, and Product Design, ensuring that Caribbean learners gain the necessary skills to compete in the global job market. The journey of building Akademi was not without challenges, particularly in securing funding for its initial launch.
Faced with financial barriers, Castelline made the bold decision to self-fund the pilot program in Jamaica in 2024. Despite these obstacles, the pilot program proved to be a success, selecting eight students from nearly sixty applicants to participate in its inaugural cohort.
Plans for 2025 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Castelline has ambitious goals for Akademi, focusing on expanding its reach and impact. In 2025, she plans to launch specialized tech training programs in Haiti and across the English-speaking Caribbean. The goal is to enroll 1,000 students across Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, ensuring that young professionals and enterprise learners have access to affordable, high-quality education.
To enhance its curriculum and program offerings, Akademi is forming strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with the Flatiron School, a well-established coding and tech education institution.
Additionally, the organization is working on localizing its curriculum into English, Haitian Creole, and French, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
Beyond 2025, Castelline envisions Akademi scaling operations to fifteen Caribbean territories, with a projected enrollment of 25,000 students by 2028. By leveraging artificial intelligence and other digital tools, she plans to enhance the learning experience, making it more interactive and adaptable to the needs of students.
Financial sustainability remains a priority, with a business model that balances enterprise partnerships and bootcamp tuition, ensuring that young professionals can access high-quality education at competitive rates.
Word of Encouragement to Young Haitians
Castelline’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of education. She believes that young Haitians and Caribbean professionals have the potential to thrive in the global tech industry if given the right opportunities. To those aspiring to break into technology, entrepreneurship, or global development, she emphasizes the importance of taking risks, investing in continuous learning, and building strong networks.
She acknowledges that the path to success is rarely linear and that setbacks are an inevitable part of the journey. However, she encourages young people to remain adaptable, seek mentorship, and leverage every opportunity to grow.
She also stresses the importance of giving back to one’s community, recognizing that true success is not just about personal achievements but about the impact one creates for others.
Through Akademi, Castelline is proving that Haiti and the broader Caribbean can be more than just consumers of technology—they can be leaders in innovation. By equipping the next generation with the skills they need to succeed, she is ensuring that the Caribbean is not left behind in the digital revolution.
