Patrick Awuah Jr. is a Ghanaian engineer, educator, and entrepreneur.
He is best known as the founder and president of Ashesi University, a private, not-for-profit institution in Ghana that focuses on providing innovative and quality education.
Founded in 2002, Ashesi University has become one of Ghana’s top universities, known for its innovative curriculum and emphasis on ethical leadership.
The university has grown from 30 students to over 1,500 students from 31 countries.
Awuah has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to education and social entrepreneurship, including the MacArthur Fellowship (2015), the WISE Prize for Education (2017), and named one of Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders.
This is his profile as told by WOA:
Early Beginnings
Patrick Awuah Jr. was born in 1965 in Ghana. His father was an engineer who, along with his mother (a nurse), pursued higher education abroad in England.
Awuah grew up in Accra, Ghana, where he attended the prestigious Achimota School. He held leadership roles as a house prefect during his time there.
At a young age, Awuah showed interest in technology. In 1984, at the age of 19, he was already familiar with fiber optics technologies, demonstrating his early fascination with innovative technologies that could impact Africa.
In 1985, despite the economic challenges facing Ghana at the time (under military dictatorship), Awuah received a full scholarship to attend Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
Initially unable to afford even the minimal fees required for visa processing due to financial constraints at home, Swarthmore intervened by offering him a full scholarship.
Joining Microsoft
After graduating from Swarthmore, Awuah joined Microsoft as an engineer and program manager.
He played a key role in developing dial-up internet technologies during his tenure from 1989 to 1997. His work at Microsoft made him a multi-millionaire before the age of 30.
Despite his financial success, Awuah felt compelled to return to Ghana.
He pursued an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business (graduating in 1999) to establish a university that would focus on ethical leadership development.
During his MBA at UC Berkeley, Awuah and other graduate students conducted a feasibility study in Ghana to explore the possibility of opening a private university. This trip was pivotal in solidifying his vision for Ashesi University.
He observed that Ghana’s educational system remained unchanged, focusing on rote memorization rather than critical thinking.
Consequently, he quit his lucrative career at Microsoft to pursue his vision.
“I won’t lie to you – it was tough,” says Awuah. “But I can tell you that when I mentioned this idea to my wife, she immediately agreed,” he told CNN.
Founding Ashesi
In 2002, Awuah founded Ashesi University with just about thirty students.
The university aimed at fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among its students—skills he believed were lacking in traditional African education systems.
Over time, Ashesi has grown from 30 students to over 1200 students annually. The institution is located on a 100-acre tract of land in a town called Berekuso.
In light of his achievements, Awuah was honored with the John P. McNulty Prize, which recognizes social entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact.
Recently, he was honored with the Sunhak Peace Prize for his contributions to education and ethical leadership.
Education
Patrick Awuah holds the following educational qualifications:
- A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics from Swarthmore College, graduating in 1989.
- A Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1999.
- He has been awarded honorary doctorates from Swarthmore College, Babson College, the University of Waterloo, and Connecticut College.
- He has also received an honorary degree from the University of Toronto
Family
Patrick Awuah is married to Rebecca Awuah, whom he met while working at Microsoft.
Rebecca was a software testing engineer at the time. Together, they have children, and one of their sons has been diagnosed with autism.
This diagnosis posed challenges when they decided to move back to Ghana in 1999 to establish Ashesi University.
