Rita Bunatal ’16
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
This award is given to alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and who are emerging leaders in their fields.
Rita Bunatal (’16) is the founder and creative director of Malaika Collective, a community- and culture-driven creative agency and lifestyle brand rooted in storytelling, strategy, and design. What began as a student-led project at Ithaca College has grown into a global platform that centers the voices of Black and African creatives through brand consulting, merchandise, and cultural campaigns. Rita’s work exists at the intersection of creativity and advocacy—using design to challenge misrepresentation and build bridges between communities across the diaspora.
After earning her B.S. in Communication Management and Design, with minors in African Diaspora Studies and Communication Studies, Rita went on to work in marketing and innovation at Sundial Brands, where she helped lead product launches and branded storytelling for SheaMoisture Hair Care. She later completed a Business Certificate at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and was selected for the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women program.
Through Malaika Collective, Rita has led creative work for organizations like Black Ambition, the African American Policy Forum, and Brooklyn Community Pride Center. Her leadership and entrepreneurship have earned her national recognition, including being named a Future of Ghana 30 Under 30 honoree and a finalist for Black Girl Ventures NYC. Most recently, Malaika launched an exclusive merchandise collection in collaboration with Kohl’s for Black History Month.
In addition to her agency work, Rita is also an agency-represented plus-size model, featured in campaigns for Target, Universal Standard, and more. Whether she’s behind the camera or in front of it, her commitment to meaningful, inclusive storytelling remains at the center.
Rita’s journey is a reflection of her purpose: to build infrastructure for underrepresented creatives, amplify overlooked narratives, and reimagine what’s possible when culture leads.
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