This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
The Unseen Path to Success: A Conversation with Dr. Alex O. Awiti ¶
Published on July 29, 2019
Dr. Alex O. Awiti, a renowned academic and leader, has spent his career navigating the complexities of East Africa's youth and education landscape. As the Vice Provost and Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Communications at The Aga Khan University, he has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of relationships and people-focused leadership.
Awiti's journey began at the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York, where he was a research fellow and adjunct assistant professor. He later joined the Aga Khan University as the Founding Director of the East Africa Institute (EAI), conducting groundbreaking research on East African youth.
Today, Awiti's days are filled with meetings, discussions on construction, academic programs, budgets, and recruitment. Despite his packed schedule, he remains committed to his people-focused approach to leadership, believing that enabling others to perform at their best is the key to success.
'You're a really smart guy, but that's not going to keep you in the organisation,' a professor once told Awiti. 'It is how you build relationships with your colleagues.' This advice has stayed with him, and he credits his relationships with his colleagues for his career progression.
When asked about the best advice he would give to anyone, Awiti emphasizes the importance of being broadly curious and intensely interested in learning. 'Life is much more interesting than what you went to school to study,' he says. 'You should be learning every single day, and no matter what station you are in life, you can learn from anyone.'
Outside of work, Awiti enjoys photography and writing, often taking his camera with him to capture random pictures that tell him a lot about society. He also values his time with his wife and children, who are all adults now.
As a proud parent, Awiti believes that parenting is by example, and that you can only influence your children by living a life of integrity. He shares that his children know what he earns, and he's sure they do the math and can see that everything they own adds up.
