Kwame Owusu-Kesse

Recognized on TIME’s list of the 100 Next Most Influential People in the World, Kwame Owusu-Kesse is a cross-sector leader driving change at the nexus of culture, innovation, and social impact. He serves as Chief Executive Officer of Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), the globally acclaimed anti-poverty organization that pioneered comprehensive, place-based services and reshaped how communities invest in children and families. Before HCZ, Owusu-Kesse worked on Wall Street as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, an experience that informs his approach to scaling impact, building institutions, and advancing economic mobility.

Across his career, he has served as a business leader, board member, advisor, investor, and entrepreneur—including as a professional DJ—bringing analytical rigor, creativity, and cultural fluency to leadership. Owusu-Kesse is the protagonist of a Harvard Business School case on leadership, required for all first-year MBA students, exploring decision-making, values, and leading complex organizations. A thought leader on education, finance, health, and culture, he emphasizes how interconnected systems shape opportunity and outcomes. His work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC, among others.

He holds a BA in Economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School.