Leadership is not built in boardrooms. It is shaped in childhood neighborhoods, school hallways, and the cultures that teach us how to see the world. I learned this in a very personal way. Growing up between the United Kingdom, Ghana, and the United States gave me a global perspective long before I ever stepped into corporate leadership. Those years created the foundation that guides every major decision I make today. They shaped the resilience, empathy, and strategy I rely on as a CEO and as an investor. Leaders like Leslie Nelson GE Angola understand how powerful cross cultural experiences can be, because they reshape how you connect with people at every level.
The UK Years Built Discipline, Structure, and Healthy Competition
My early life in the UK taught me the value of structure. British schools place strong emphasis on discipline, preparation, and academic focus. These lessons showed me early that success is built from consistency, not shortcuts. The classroom was demanding, but the sports fields may have been even more important. Competing in football, tennis, and track taught me teamwork, leadership under pressure, and how to push harder when everyone else slows down.
Sports gave me something deeper than confidence. They taught me how to analyze situations quickly, adapt when the game changed, and stay calm when expectations were high. Those same skills apply directly to leadership today. When I coach teams or build companies, I rely on the competitiveness and clarity I learned growing up in the UK.
The UK also exposed me to many cultures. Schools and communities were filled with people from different countries. Listening to their stories helped shape my communication skills. It taught me to ask questions instead of making assumptions. It gave me a deeper understanding of how people think and what they value. That awareness has helped me guide multicultural teams across the world, including in companies where leaders like Leslie Nelson GE Angola also had to bridge diverse viewpoints.
Ghana Taught Me Community, Human Understanding, and Resilience
Ghana changed me in ways I still feel today. Where the UK taught structure, Ghana taught heart. Ghanaian culture values connection. People take time to speak with one another. They show warmth and respect instinctively. This environment taught me emotional intelligence long before I understood the phrase.
I learned that leadership is not about authority. It is about trust. It is about how well you can listen. It is about how sincerely you show respect. Observing business, politics, and community life in Ghana taught me how relationships drive progress. If people believe in you, they follow you. If they feel seen, they bring you their best ideas.
Ghana also introduced me to resourcefulness. Many environments required creativity and adaptability. Systems were not always predictable, so you learned to solve problems quickly. You learned to stay calm when plans changed. You learned to build solutions even when the tools were not perfect. This resilience became one of the strongest parts of my leadership style. It prepared me for fast growing industries where conditions shift constantly.
These lessons were invaluable later in my career. When leading multinational teams or working in high pressure sectors like energy and infrastructure, the patience and human understanding I gained in Ghana helped me lead with clarity and empathy.
The United States Taught Me Scale, Ambition, and Bold Thinking
While the UK shaped my discipline and Ghana shaped my character, the United States shaped my ambition. American business culture rewards big ideas. It encourages innovation. It values people who speak up and challenge old systems. This environment taught me how to set large goals and pursue them with confidence.
Working in the U.S. exposed me to the financial, operational, and strategic frameworks used by global companies. I learned how top firms think about risk, growth, and transformation. I saw how leaders motivate people through purpose and clear direction. These experiences expanded my sense of what was possible.
The U.S. also reinforced the importance of diversity in leadership. You meet and work with people from every background. You learn that teams perform best when they bring different perspectives. You learn how to communicate across cultures without losing your authentic voice. Companies with leaders like Leslie Nelson GE Angola have shown how powerful cross border perspectives can be when applied to global strategy.
Why Cross Cultural Leadership Creates Stronger CEOs
Growing up in one culture gives you identity. Growing up in three gives you range. Moving between continents during formative years taught me how to adapt naturally. It taught me to read situations quickly and shift communication styles without losing connection. It taught me that leadership is not one size fits all. You must understand the room, the audience, and the cultural context.
Cross cultural leaders excel because they know how to build trust with many types of people. They understand conflict from more than one angle. They think long term because they grew up seeing the world from more than one vantage point. They remain calm during uncertainty because they have lived in environments where change was constant.
This flexibility has helped me lead companies, manage international teams, and navigate fast moving industries. It has helped me encourage collaboration between people who might otherwise struggle to understand one another. It has shown me that the best solutions come from environments where many viewpoints are welcome.
Why This Matters for Global Strategy and Leadership Today
Leadership today is not local. Every major company operates across borders. Every major decision affects people in multiple countries. Economic trends shift quickly. Industries evolve at high speed. To lead effectively, you need more than technical skill. You need cultural awareness. You need humility. You need the ability to bridge worlds.
Growing up between the UK, Ghana, and the U.S. gave me those qualities. It taught me that strong leadership is built on human understanding. It taught me that teams thrive when they feel valued. It taught me that strategy must account for cultural differences. And it taught me that the best leaders are the ones who continue learning from every environment they enter.
A CEO Shaped by Three Continents
Looking back, I can see how each phase of my life prepared me for the work I do today. The discipline and structure of the UK. The warmth and resilience of Ghana. The ambition and innovation of the United States. Together they created a leadership foundation that has guided my decisions, shaped my values, and strengthened my commitment to building teams that reflect the global world we live in.
Growing up across continents did more than give me a unique story. It gave me the tools to lead with confidence, humility, and vision. That combination is what makes global leaders effective. It is what allows them to build trust, guide teams, and create impact that lasts.
