Biography

Isaac is an international political economy advisor and experienced global executive with political and investment acumen in Africa and the larger global South, keen on powering developing economies by creating opportunities, catalyzing conversation, and connecting capital. 

Isaac is the Founder and Principal of Botho Emerging Markets Group an investment and strategy advisory firm with offices in Nairobi, Dubai, and Chicago. With two decades of experience working in 20 markets across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Isaac has an extensive and successful track record in investment facilitation, strategy consulting, and policy advisory across sectors including Finance, Technology, Healthcare, Education and more. At Botho, Isaac has provided strategic investment support to investors and companies, overseeing transactions worth over $2 billion in debt and equity. 

Isaac is also the Founder of the Amahoro Coalition, an African-led initiative convening multi-sector actors from across the region to accelerate private-sector leadership in driving sustainable market-based interventions that advance economic inclusion for displaced populations. The Coalition has engaged over 200 African private sector companies to discuss their role in promoting economic inclusion for refugees. The Coalition is also one of the first organizations to successfully apply for a Class M work permit that allows refugees to work legally in Kenya. In early December 2021, the Coalition hosted the inaugural 36Million Solutions: Africa Private Sector Forum on Forced Displacement. This Forum was historic in many ways - it was the first regional event after the 2019 Global Forum on Refugees held in Geneva. This was the first time Africa's private sector was engaged in such a convening to support refugees and displacement issues across the continent. The Forum attracted over 700 participants. 

Prior to founding Botho, Isaac was the CEO of the African Leadership Network (ALN), a network for people passionate about developing 3 million leaders for Africa by 2060 through affiliated organizations such as the African Leadership Academy, ALU Education & ALU School Of Business. During his tenure as CEO of ALN, the organization raised over USD 100 million in funding for member entities. Furthermore, Isaac spearheaded the establishment of the African Leadership University’s first Kigali campus; over 600 young Africans are now enrolled in degree programs at the Omidyar Network-backed institution. 

Isaac is a 2014 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow and a Trustee of Hanover College. In 2021, Isaac was also named amongst the Top 100 Most Influential Africans by The New African magazine. He also serves on several Boards including, Ashesi University, Kepler University, The Graca Machel Trust Investment Advisory Board, The Boardroom Africa, and AMREF Health Innovation, Limited. Further, Isaac serves as an Advisor to Start-Ups including, AMP Global Technologies, Yemaachi BioTech Limited, and Ananse Internet Group. 

Isaac is also a writer and his work has been featured in several publications including the Financial Times, CNN, Forbes, Business Islamica, Arabian Business, African Business Magazine, BBC, Reuters, The National, and The East African. Isaac holds a BA from Hanover College, an MA from the University of Chicago, an MBA from DePaul University Kellstadt School of Business, and a Certificate in Leadership from the University of Oxford.