Samuel Darko

University of Oxford, Saïd Business School

“Proudly African. Traveler. Inspired by generosity and gratitude. Driven by restless excellence and impact.”

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Fun Fact About Yourself: I do not know how to ride a bicycle; which is near-scandalous in a city like Oxford.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
BSc Biochemistry

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

African Leadership University (ALU)
Director, Outreach & Student Recruitment

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment is building and leading the Student Recruitment function at African Leadership University (ALU). My team delivered more than 35,000 applications, 1,500 enrollments from 35 countries and tens of millions of dollars in revenue over five years. For a new university with a limited number of majors, no graduates and with fees significantly higher than the market average, this is an achievement I am very proud of.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Unpretentious. For the most part, I have found my classmates to genuine in their presentation of themselves and their accomplishments while being open—even vulnerable—about areas of learning and growth. This has created the foundation for authentic interactions and [likely] life-long friendships.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The wide variety of options in the form of electives, extra-curricular, and career development programs to allow for a very personalized MBA experience for every student. Whether it is the Oxford Seed Fund, Finance Lab, Creative Destruction Lab, Impact Lab and more in the Michaelmas term – or the more than 40 electives to choose from for Hilary and Trinity terms; and the many opportunities in the wider Oxford University – there are endless opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills required for even the most unconventional career aspirations.

What is the most “Oxford” thing you have done so far as a full-time MBA student? Writing exams in sub-fusc; an Oxford tradition that requires students to wear dark suits with a black or white tie and an academic gown when writing exams. It sounds bizarre until you show up at the exam venue to see everyone looking well-dressed. I have particularly enjoyed post-exam photos and drinks in sub-fusc.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What would you do if you do not get accepted to Said Business School? It was the most challenging question because, at the time I was interviewing, I was 100% certain I wanted to attend Oxford. I was also convinced it was time to put a pause on work and reflect on my journey, hone my leadership skills and expand my network globally. For this reason, I was unsure how or if to communicate that I had not fully fleshed out ‘Plan B’.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? At 23, I co-founded a start-up that raised $200,000 in seed funding at inception. Running an investor-backed company so early in my career taught me humility and helped me get comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. The successes and failures of that start-up forged in me a calm confidence that I can take on pretty much any challenge.

Where do you see yourself doing ten years from now? Ten years from now, I would like to use my skills and network to lead a pan-African initiative to increase access to funding for entrepreneurs in Africa or of African origin. Since 2015, I have been an angel investor and start-up advisor. Having traveled to more than 20 countries in Africa and interacted with entrepreneurs, I am confident that the solutions to some of the world’s current and future challenges are being developed in Africa. Unfortunately, early-stage capital remains elusive for many of these entrepreneurs.