Fred Swaniker

Frederick Kenneth Swaniker
Nationality Ghanaian
Occupation entrepreneur, educator
Known for founder of African Leadership Academy

Fred Swaniker (born c. 1976) is a Ghanaian serial entrepreneur and leadership development expert. He has launched five organizations that aim at developing leaders, primarily in Africa. He is the chairman and founder of the African Leadership Academy, an institution located outside Johannesburg in South Africa that aims to develop 6,000 transformative leaders for Africa over a 50-year period. He is also the founder of African Leadership Network, Global Leadership Adventures, and Africa Advisory Group.

Early life and education

His father was a lawyer and magistrate; his mother is an educator. Both are Ghanaian, but he had lived in four countries in Africa by the time he was 18. He attended Macalester College in Minnesota. He worked for McKinsey & Company in Johannesburg, then graduated from the Stanford School of Business in California,[1] where he was named an Arjay Miller Scholar of Stanford University.[2]

Career

While working at McKinsey he became concerned about the fact that wealthy African families were sending their children to study in the United States and the United Kingdom. He decided to launch a top-notch school for African students in Africa. He used his Silicon Valley connections to find financial backing and launched the African Leadership Academy in 2004. The school teaches leadership skills to high school juniors and seniors from throughout Africa. For most students tuition is waived, provided they stay in Africa after graduating.[1]

He also co-founded the African Leadership Network, a gathering of African leaders under the age of 50, which takes place every year in a selected African city,[3] and the Global Leadership Adventures program.[4]

Recognition

Swaniker's work as an educational entrepreneur has been praised by U.S. President Barack Obama[5] and other prominent global figures.

He has been named a TED Fellow (2009) [6] and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2012).[7] He was named one of the Top Ten Young Power Men in Africa by a 2011 Forbes Magazine online feature.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Barret, Victoria (May 26, 2008). "Fighting Africa's Brain Drain". Forbes. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  2. ↑ 2009 Macalester Young Alumnus Award
  3. ↑ "Ghana: Honour for Citizen/South African From WEF". All Africa. March 7, 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Fred Swaniker, Founder of the Global Leadership Adventures and the African Leadership Academy, Is Featured on CNN". Stock Markets Review. November 21, 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  5. ↑ Sedzro, Anthony (July 3, 2013). "Obama Commends Ghanaian Entrepreneur For Leadership Role". Ventures - Africa. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  6. ↑ TED Fellow profile
  7. ↑ World Economic Forums Young Global Leader
  8. ↑ Top 10 Young Power Man in Africa, Forbes.com, September 13, 2011, The 10 Youngest Power Men in Africa