{"id":2326,"date":"2021-11-10T08:30:47","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T08:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cassavatechnologies.com\/?page_id=2326"},"modified":"2024-06-04T18:03:28","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T16:03:28","slug":"strive-masiyiwa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cassavatechnologies.com\/strive-masiyiwa\/","title":{"rendered":"Strive Masiyiwa"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Strive Masiyiwa is a telecommunications and technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. In his nearly four decades as an entrepreneur, he has started and invested in businesses throughout the world including Africa, the European Union, India, Latin America, the Middle East, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.<\/p>\n

Some of his most prominent start-up companies and investments include Mascom Wireless Botswana, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless Nigeria (now Airtel Nigeria), Liquid Intelligent Technologies Group, Econet Wireless New Zealand (now 2 Degrees Mobile), Trilogy Capital Partners Canada (early investor), Cassava Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Sasai Fintech, and Telrad Group Israel. He continues to invest privately through his investment companies, and family office.<\/p>\n

Born in Zimbabwe in 1961, he left the country as a child and returned after Independence in 1984, working briefly as a telecoms engineer before setting up his first business in 1986. He emigrated from Zimbabwe in 2000, living with his family in South Africa until 2010. They then moved to the UK in 2010 from where he runs a global portfolio in more than 40 countries on four continents.<\/p>\n

His family foundations, Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies, have supported over 300,000 scholarships to African children, public health, girls empowerment, youth mentorship, rural transformation, and other critical social impact initiatives in Africa. The foundations are led by his co-founder wife, Tsitsi, and their oldest daughter, Elizabeth.<\/p>\n

Strive graduated with a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cardiff and has received several honorary doctorates. Committed Christians, Strive and Tsitsi have six adult children. They are signatories of the Giving Pledge.<\/p>\n

Current international boards<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
    \n
  • Netflix Inc., Non-Executive Director<\/li>\n
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Board of Trustees<\/li>\n
  • National Geographic Society, Board of Trustees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Current advisory councils<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Bank of America, Global Advisory Board<\/li>\n
    • Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Global Advisory Board<\/li>\n
    • Stanford University, Global Advisory Board<\/li>\n
    • US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Standing Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial<\/li>\n
    • Chatham House, Panel of Senior Advisors<\/li>\n
    • Trilateral Commission, Global member<\/li>\n
    • Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, New York University Law School, Board of Advisors<\/li>\n
    • Ashinaga Kenjin-Tatsujin (Japan), International Advisory Council<\/li>\n
    • International Finance Facility for Education, High-Level Advisory Group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Leadership in philanthropy (organisations he helped establish) include:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), founded with the late Kofi Annan, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation<\/li>\n
      • B-Team, inaugural co-founder and member<\/li>\n
      • Carbon War Room, founded by Sir Richard Branson and others, Founder\u2019s Council<\/li>\n
      • Africans Against Ebola Solidarity Trust, Co-founding trustee<\/li>\n
      • Global Business Coalition on Education, Co-founding member<\/li>\n
      • Generation Africa GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize, Co-founder<\/li>\n
      • Global Africa Business Initiative, Co-founder<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Previous roles (international boards, advisory councils, commissions, juries) include:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Unilever PLC, Non-Executive Director (2016-2024)<\/li>\n
        • African Union\n
            \n
          • Special Advisor to African Presidents, US-Africa Leadership Summit Initiative on Food Security, 2022<\/li>\n
          • Special Envoy for Covid Response, 2020-2022<\/li>\n
          • Head of Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, 2020-2022<\/li>\n
          • Reform Task Force, Member, 2015-2018<\/li>\n
          • Special Envoy for the Ebola Pandemic Response, 2014-2015<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              \n
            • United Nations\n
                \n
              • Global Commission on Adaptation, Member, 2018-2019<\/li>\n
              • International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunities, Secretary General\u2019s Advisory Board, 2015-2016<\/li>\n
              • Commission on Sustainable Energy for All, Secretary General\u2019s Advisory Board, 2013<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • United States Council on Foreign Relations, Global advisory board member, 2012-2023<\/li>\n
              • President\u2019s Advisory Council on Investment (South Africa), Advisor, 2020-2023<\/li>\n
              • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Member of Committee on Conscience, 2010-2021<\/li>\n
              • Pathways for Prosperity Commission for Technology and Inclusive Growth, Co-Chair with Melinda French Gates and Hon Sri Mulyani Indrawati, 2018-2019<\/li>\n
              • Africa Business Heroes competition, Finalist jury (inaugural competition for African entrepreneurs founded by Jack Ma, fellow juror), 2019<\/li>\n
              • Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Chair, now Chair Emeritus), 2010-2018<\/li>\n
              • Asia Society, Board of Trustees, 2015-2020<\/li>\n
              • Morehouse College, Board of Trustees, 2012-Jan 2017<\/li>\n
              • Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Campaign, Cervical cancer awareness ambassador, (Initiative of former President George W Bush and his wife, Laura), 2016-2019<\/li>\n
              • Africa Progress Panel (set up by Kofi Annan), Panel member, 2013-2018<\/li>\n
              • Grow Africa, Co-chair, 2012-2015<\/li>\n
              • Micronutrient Initiative of Canada, (Now Nutrition International), Chair, 2014-2016<\/li>\n
              • SMART Africa, Founding member, 2013<\/li>\n
              • Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Prize, Member of international jury, 2012-2018<\/li>\n
              • Archbishop Desmond Tutu\u2019s Global e-Health Ambassadors Programme, Special advisor and ambassador, 2011-2015<\/li>\n
              • The Rockefeller Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2003-2018<\/li>\n
              • Southern African Enterprise Development Fund (set up by President Bill Clinton and Ambassador Andrew Young), Advisor, 1994-1998<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Recognition, honours, and awards include:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • International Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2023<\/li>\n
                • Entrepreneur of the Year, Spear\u2019s Magazine UK, 2022<\/li>\n
                • New Africa Magazine, 100 Most Influential Africans, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022<\/li>\n
                • Fortune Magazine, World\u2019s 50 Greatest Leaders, 2014, 2017, 2021<\/li>\n
                • Bloomberg, 50 Most Influential People in the World, 2020<\/li>\n
                • Junior Achievement Worldwide Global Business Hall of Fame, 2020<\/li>\n
                • Speech laureate, 9thAnnual Archbishop Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture, 2019<\/li>\n
                • Honorary Fellow, African Academy of Sciences, 2019<\/li>\n
                • Norman E. Borlaug Food Prize Medallion, 2019<\/li>\n
                • Points of Light Award (UK Prime Minister\u2019s Award for Philanthropy), 2018<\/li>\n
                • Invited by the White House to introduce President Barack Obama at launch of Feed the Future Agriculture initiative, the US government’ multibillion dollar program to support smallholder farmers in Africa (for which Mr Masiyiwa led the campaign), 2016<\/li>\n
                • Forbes Magazine, 10 Most Powerful Men in Africa, 2015<\/li>\n
                • Freedom Award, International Rescue Committee, 2015<\/li>\n
                • UN Foundation Global Leadership Award for Africa, Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust, 2015<\/li>\n
                • Invited by President Barack Obama to attend G-8 Summit at Camp David, 2012<\/li>\n
                • Forbes Magazine, 20 Most Powerful Business People in Africa, 2011<\/li>\n
                • Times of London, 25 Leaders of Africa\u2019s Renaissance Award, 2011<\/li>\n
                • Builder of Modern Africa Award, 2010<\/li>\n
                • CNN\/Time Magazine Poll, 15 Global Influencers of the Year, 2003<\/li>\n
                • Times Global Influencers, 2002<\/li>\n
                • Ten Most Outstanding Young Persons in the World, Junior Chamber International, 1999<\/li>\n
                • Zimbabwean Manager and Entrepreneur of the Year, 1998<\/li>\n
                • Zimbabwean Businessman of the Year (youngest ever recipient), 1990<\/li>\n
                • Commencement speaker: Africa Leadership University (2018), New York University Stern Law School (2018), Morehouse College (2016), Hult International Business School (2014)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Honorary doctorates<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Yale University (USA), 2019<\/li>\n
                  • Cardiff University (UK), 2019 (Fellow)<\/li>\n
                  • Nelson Mandela University (SA), 2017<\/li>\n
                  • Morehouse College (USA), 2012<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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