Bright Simons
Bright Simons | |
|---|---|
 Bright Simons speaking at the Friends of Europe forum | |
| Born | Bright Simons |
| Education | PRESEC Legon |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Occupation(s) | Social Innovator, Writer, and Social Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2009–present |
Bright Simons is a Ghanaian social innovator, entrepreneur, writer, social and political commentator. He is the vice-president, in charge of research at IMANI Centre for Policy and Education.[1] He is also the founder and president of mPedigree.[2]
Education[edit]
He is a former student of the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) Legon, Greater Accra Region, where he became the President of the Student Representative Council in his final year.[2] He later won a scholarship to study Astrophysics at Durham University in UK.[3][2]
Career[edit]
As of 2013, Bright Simons was the President of the mPedigree Network, a self-described 'social enterprise' noted for its work to expose makers and distributors of counterfeit medicines, and for creating a computer program called Goldkeys that enables the verification of certain products in some countries.[4]
Simons writes for the Huffington Post,[5] Harvard Business Review Digital[6] and the Royal African Society's online magazine, African Arguments.[7] He is a regular contributor to the BBC's Business Daily programs.[8]
The Financial Times has described Bright Simons as "frighteningly clever."[9] Simons has co-authored several pieces of research at IMANI.[10]
Honours and recognition[edit]
In 2009, Simons was a TED Fellow. The World Economic Forum recognized Simons in 2012 as a Young Global Leader and The mPedigree Network as a technology pioneer.
The Salzburg Global Seminar[11] named Bright Simons a Fellow in 2011. He credits his Salzburg engagement as helping accelerate movement of the mPedigree Network from Africa to India and China.
In 2012, The Diplomatic Courier and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy named Simons as one of the Top 99 under 33 Innovators for his work with mPedigree.[12]
MIT Technology Review included Simons in a list, released on August 21, 2013, of the top 35 innovators under 35. He was included on the list for his work in telecommunications.[13] The International Foundation for Africa Innovation gave Simons a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to innovation in Africa on August 7, 2013.[14]
In March 2016, Fortune magazine listed Simons among the World's 50 Greatest Leaders, placing him just ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[15] He has also been ranked by Africa Youth Awards among the 2016 100 Most Influential Young Africans.[16]
In October 2016, he won the Innovator of the year at the All Africa Business Leaders Awards for West Africa category and All Africa category respectively.[17]
In December 2017, he was announced as an Eliasson Prize Laureate and a Tallberg Global Fellow in New York City.[18] In 2018 he was inducted into Power Brands LIFE – Hall of Fame at London International Forum for Equality[19]
In April 2019, he received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship on behalf of mPedigree.[20]
Affiliations[edit]
- Advisory Board[21] of IC Publications, publishers of the New African and Africa Business, among other titles.[22]
- Ashoka's Globalizer Initiative, having been elected a Fellow of Ashoka in 2008.[23]
- Microsoft Former 4Afrika Advisory Council Member.[24]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Boateng, Michael Ofori Amanfo. "Bright Simons: Why IMANI Ghana disagrees with NPP on Free SHS". Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
- ^ a b c "Bright Simons". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Bright Simons | Innovators Under 35". www.innovatorsunder35.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ Chinese Pharma Cracks Down on Africa Counterfeits
- ^ "Search Bright B. Simons". hbr.org. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ HBR.org Author Profile
- ^ RAS African Arguments Author Profile
- ^ Melik, James (2010-08-13). "Business books: Wise advice or a load of waffle?". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ "Financial Times lauds "frightenly clever" mPedigree founder Bright Simons". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ "Parallel players". The Economist. 2012-06-23. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ "Salzburg Global Seminar".
- ^ "Bright Simons". Diplomatic Courier. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ MIT Technology Review 2013 Top 35 Innovators Under 35 List
- ^ Simons, Amoabeng, Named iFAI Lifetime Achievers
- ^ "Fortune 50 World Greatest Leaders". Fortune. New York. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ Akpah, Prince. "2016 100 Most Influential Young Africans Released". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ "Top business leaders revealed". www.dstv.com. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ "Global Leaders 2017". The Tällberg Foundation. 2017-11-06. Archived from the original on 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ "Home". powerbrandsglobal.com.
- ^ "5 Cool Things That Could Make The World A Better Place By 2030". NPR. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ "IC Publications".
- ^ IC Publications Advisory Board webpage
- ^ "Social Entrepreneur from West Africa to participate in Prestigious". www.ghanaweb.com. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Listening to Africa: Microsoft Forms 4Afrika Advisory Council". Microsoft on the Issues Africa. Retrieved 2018-04-20.