Ato Ulzen-Appiah is the Director of the Ghana Think Foundation and an Entrepreneurship Development Specialist at the Kosmos Innovation Center. With a clear vision for his future from an early age, he chose to study Science in senior high school and later pursued Engineering at MIT. It was during his undergraduate studies that he discovered a passion for management, which led him to earn a master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Stanford University.
Driven by a growing interest in technology and the digital landscape, Ato joined Google Ghana as a Program Manager, where he focused on outreach, developer relations, and youth engagement.
In this interview, Ato shares three major shifts he foresees in his industry—particularly how entrepreneurs will need to develop viable products that adapt to an ever-evolving cultural landscape.
He also challenges common misconceptions, noting that managers aren’t necessarily leaders and don’t have all the answers. As he puts it, “They need to be able to work with people to go the way—not just knowing, showing, and going the way.”
We also discussed the core skills essential for success in his field: strong documentation, clear communication, and effective reporting.
Watch the full interview to gain deeper insights into his inspiring career journey.
