Strive Masiyiwa, an entrepreneur and engineer by background, has built successful mobile and digital infrastructure companies across Africa and globally. He has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, leveraging his global perspective and focus on contributing meaningfully.
When considering board opportunities, Masiyiwa carefully evaluates the organization, its needs, and how his skills align. He emphasizes the importance of intellectual curiosity, working hard, and being a strong leader who can contribute to the collective decision-making process.
Masiyiwa believes that diversity is essential for business success, as it brings varied experiences and perspectives that reflect global customers and stakeholders. Masiyiwa advocates for increased board rotation and term limits to promote diversity and bring fresh perspectives. He encourages current minority board members to identify and encourage talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue board opportunities.
Masiyiwa stresses the importance of empathy, understanding the company’s history, and recognizing the broader societal impact of corporate decisions. He emphasizes that institutional investors, representing the funds of ordinary people, play a crucial role in promoting diversity and corporate responsibility.
Masiyiwa concludes by urging aspiring minority candidates to recognize their worth, prepare themselves through various leadership roles, and confidently pursue board positions, as their contributions are valuable and necessary for the success of American and global businesses.
