SUCCESS: Defying the Odds through my Genius and Ingenuity

Life presents us with many challenges and to succeed we need to be focused and determined. Isaac’s personal journey is one of humble beginnings with countless challenges he faced and endured to become a seasoned professional leader and aspiring diplomat. Isaac’s humble beginnings and the challenges he overcame shaped his future leadership and/ professional career. Isaac has excellent academic abilities. From the childhood years, Isaac has always been a curious person- eager to learn and aim for the skies. Even early in his academic journey, he would study with diligence and outperform his mates in class. His genius helped him to succeed in high school and tertiary studies in Zimbabwe, The Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and the United States of America. Furthermore, Isaac’s genius helped him succeed in his professional career as a non-profit and business executive and politician. Through his humanitarian and volunteer services, Isaac has strengthened ties with people in the community, made new friends, gained new insights on other cultures, and have learned to be a better leader and role model.

Isaac Hokonya was born and raised in rural Zambia but is of Zimbabwean nationality. His family’s ancestral roots trace back to the Basotho people in present day Lesotho and South Africa. Isaac graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Science Honors and from Wageningen University with a Professional Master of Science. Isaac’s entire professional career has been in the nonprofit management and management consulting, with a brief stint in life sciences research. Isaac is a Management Consultant at DeftEdge Corporation, a leading New York consulting firm that provides evaluation, professional development, technical assistance, capacity-building, and development solutions for UN agencies and international NGOs. He is also a Director Board of Directors at Stepping Stones International (SSI), a growing non-profit organization that provides holistic care and education for children and youth in Southern Africa.