Harambeans is a collection of stories - stories of sacrifice, leadership and vision. Stories of young African entrepreneurial leaders in the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance (Harambeans), who have chosen to leverage their skills, networks and education to address the needs of their communities. Their inspiring tales reveal the values propelling the emerging generation of young African leaders and suggest that while their ventures may bend to the inescapable whims of the entrepreneurial process, their values endure and will continue to find expression in the lifework of these young leaders.
Three stories, three traits: Servant Leadership told through the journey of Kwami Williams of Ghana; Enduring Optimism as seen through the eyes of Ms. Sabina Ndakorerwa of Rwanda; and Deliberate Audacity as experienced by Mr. Obinna Ukwuani of Nigeria.
In her Foreword, Obiageli Ezekwesili, former World Bank Africa Vice President, captured the essence of Harambeans: "Okendo's brief and timely reflection affords us insights into the character and innovative potential of Africa's youth. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed watching the steady progress of Harambe. May it inspire other young Africans and strengthen our confidence in the unlimited potential of Africa's youth."
About the Author: OKENDO LEWIS-GAYLE is founder and chairman of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance (HEA) - a network of highly educated young African entrepreneurial leaders, who, as signatories of the Harambe Bretton Woods Declaration, are committed "to work together as one to unleash the potential of Africa's people...and fulfill the dream of our generation." These young leaders, known as Harambeans, are translating the lofty principles of the Harambe Declaration into the concrete gains of their social and business ventures across Africa - efforts which have been recognized by the Economist, Forbes, Vanity Fair, China Daily and the Queen of England among others.
Starting in 2007, in partnership with Fortune 500 companies and Ivy League universities, Okendo has overseen the development of HEA's diverse ecosystem of opportunities aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial aspirations of young African professionals with mentors, feasibility study grants, scholarships, pro bono legal services and access to angel and venture capital.
For nearly a decade, Okendo has interacted with African professionals in over 30 campuses around the world and worked closely with the over 200 Harambeans, who represent 33 African countries and are graduates of leading universities in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, institutions such as Harvard, HEC Paris, Oxford, Stanford, Tsinghua, and the University of Cape Town.
Okendo is part of Africa's historical diaspora - the over 12 million Africans who were shipped to the Americas during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Born in Costa Rica, raised in Italy, and educated in the United States and Taiwan, Okendo has recently been admitted to the Harvard Kennedy School to continue his master's studies as a member of the prestigious Edward S. Mason Program.
