Written by Colin McEvoy | July 29, 2024 | SHARE
Thomas Edou is among the young leaders participating in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at Lehigh University's Iacocca Institute.
This summer, Lehigh University’s Iacocca Institute is hosting 25 of Africa’s brightest emerging business leaders as part of the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
Over the next several weeks, we will spotlight several of these talented young innovators and entrepreneurs, showcasing the impactful work they are doing in their home communities, as well as their experiences during the six-week program at Lehigh.
Among these young leaders is Thomas Edou, a marketing consultant and entrepreneur from Gabon.
Can you describe your current professional role and share what inspired you to pursue this career path?
I currently run a structure that helps students with disabilities by providing them with specific support to enable them to learn well despite their disabilities.
How has your experience at Lehigh and the Iacocca Institute been? Are there any particular moments or experiences that have stood out to you?
My experience at Lehigh Iacocca institute was very enriching because I learned so much during the training sessions and I especially appreciated the sessions on leadership because they enabled me to discover my CliftonStrengths top 5 which are learner, includer, context, belief, and activator.
How do you plan to apply the knowledge and skills you've gained here to your work back home?
I'll be able to apply everything I've learned here by getting more people to join me in the work I do, by improving the content of the services I offer and, above all, by helping more students with disabilities to continue their studies.