Media Party New York @ Brown - 2026

Harlan Mandel is CEO of Media Development Investment Fund, a mission-driven fund that offers debt and equity financing to independent media companies providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies. MDIF operates in countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America where a free and independent media is under threat. With investments in more than 150 media companies in 49 countries since 1995, MDIF has provided over $325 million in financing critical to the growth of many of those regions’ preeminent news media. Harlan joined MDIF in 1998 and has been CEO since 2011. Previously Harlan served as Deputy General Counsel of the Open Society Institute and practiced law in New York and Los Angeles with Morrison & Foerster. He holds a JD from Columbia University School of Law and a BA in International Relations and Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.