For more than two decades, Elsie Praba Ankuma M’28 has worked across risk management, governance, and cybersecurity, helping organizations navigate complex risks and strengthen their systems.

But as technology, business, and society have become increasingly interconnected, she began to see that managing risk could no longer be separated from understanding the broader forces shaping organizations.

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate. Data privacy concerns are growing. Economic and geopolitical shifts are creating new uncertainties. For Elsie, these changes raised a bigger question: How can leaders prepare organizations not only to manage risk, but also to adapt, innovate, and create value in the face of constant change?

The question prompted her to return to the classroom and broaden her understanding of business and leadership.

“I wanted an institution that reflects ethical leadership, innovation, and Africa’s unique development context, and I found that at Ashesi,” she says.

Returning to the classroom after years of executive responsibility has been “both inspiring and humbling,” she says.  The experience has reinforced the importance of continuous learning and reshaped her understanding of leadership.

As she begins her Ashesi MBA journey, Ankuma is embracing the opportunity to reimagine risk management’s role as an enabler of innovation and value creation. Equally important, she is learning alongside professionals who share a passion for building stronger enterprises and a better Africa.