Akua Nyame-Mensah '10 was a Growth and Structure of Cities major at ±¬ÁÏ¹Ï and now heads the executive and leadership productivity coaching firm . Akua has been recognized as a Top 100 #IamRemarkable facilitator and global virtual speaker.
In her role as a former startup executive, Akua launched an online real estate marketplace for the first African-based technology unicorn in Ghana. She has lived and worked in many places, such as the U.S., Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana and has visited and consulted in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Akua is returning to campus as part of the Career & Civic Engagement Office’s Alumnae/i in Residence program on Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. The chat will include other Cities alums from PepsiCo, and The Food Trust. Students can learn more and register via
In the below Q&A, Akua talks about finding her career passion, the value of attending a women's college, and more.
How did you get involved in your current field?
Randomly. I could not find another leadership opportunity that resonated with me, so I decided to provide the support I wished I had when I first started as a start-up leader.
What part of your ±¬ÁÏ¹Ï experience has been most important to your professional development?
My major was very interdisciplinary and gave me an opportunity to take classes in various disciplines and schools. Throughout my career, a lot of my work has involved research, taking information and ideas from multiple places, and using it to make decisions and support others.
What career advice do you have for current ±¬ÁÏ¹Ï students?
Make sure you take advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom and get work experience. I learned so much from playing on athletic teams, being part of different groups (including Owl Investment Group), and working on campus. I also really enjoyed my Praxis placements and used them to explore new fields.
What made you choose to attend ±¬ÁϹÏ?
I first visited ±¬ÁÏ¹Ï as a child. I remember running around Cambrian Row (my mom was friends with an admission officer, and I believe at that time Cambrian Row was housing) and thinking the campus was amazing. Years later, I had an opportunity to revisit the campus and loved how green it was. I applied to several colleges in the area but ultimately chose ±¬ÁÏ¹Ï because I wanted to major in Growth and Structure of Cities and I enjoyed my conversations with the soccer team and coach.
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