To Foday Sackor, B.S. ’07, Montgomery County is far more than a bustling suburb of Washington, DC. It is the land of opportunity where he arrived as a refugee of war-torn Liberia in 1997. After attending Watkins Mill High School, Foday made the “strategic” decision to enroll in Montgomery College and the University of Maryland, College Park’s Robert H. Smith School of Business at USG. His sights were set on becoming a successful entrepreneur and an international leader for development and change on his native continent.
Foday has delivered on that promise. He opened the doors to his first venture at age 17 – a tutoring business in Montgomery County that is still thriving today. He is finishing his master’s degree in International Affairs at Columbia University in New York City and delivered his first keynote speech in front of the United Nations this past April. He also serves as the president of the SIPA Pan African Network, a student group at Columbia University dedicated to economic, political, and social development in Africa.
So would Foday tell you that he’s accomplished his goals? Hardly. With ideas for managing oil discovery in Africa and plans to give Liberia an edge in the global economy, he’s quick to tell you that he’s just getting started.
FS: I was asked to serve as a keynote speaker regarding the Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal access to education. I was called on to speak because of my involvement with African interest groups and because of my first-hand experience with education in war-torn countries including Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Liberia. I understand the complexities and challenges of education in these regions and the impact that a lack of education can have on children and communities.
FS: My speech was about collaboration. I encouraged the international community to observe the situation from all angles and include many schools of thought in order to get the best dialogue. The problems in Africa are so complex. You need to include policy experts and educators in the conversation, but you also have to include sociologists and psychologists – people who understand human behavior. If you only engage people who think the same, you will only get band-aid fixes, not long term solutions.
FS: I am a founder of the Liberia Institute of Science and Technology for Economic Development. This group is collaborating with world leaders, scientists, and policy makers to help shape Liberia’s development. Following a brutal fourteen year civil war, our goal is for the country to be part of the global economy and achieve interdependence within 20 years.
Also, I am creating my own international energy advisory firm. Several West African countries are slated to discover oil. We all know how this kind of discovery can lead to corruption. It all starts with poor energy policies and poor leadership. I want to create a team that will develop and advocate for strong policies that benefit everyone. I am in the analysis phase right now, putting together the team and board of advisors. I am very driven by my energy and policy interests. But I will never lose sight of my entrepreneurial goals.
FS: USG made me who I am. Enrolling in Robert H. Smith School of Business at USG was a strategic decision. The small class size and access to leadership opportunities opened so many doors for me. I served as the Student Council President and learned to work with people from all walks of life. As an aspiring world leader, I was able to become comfortable with different backgrounds and cultures. The administration at USG really puts the students first - I will always be an ambassador for USG.