My Journey to enFocus
Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
Long before I came to the United States for graduate studies at Ball State University, my experiences in Ghana exposed me to talented entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators with ideas that could transform lives. What often stood in the way was not talent. It was access to opportunities, networks, and environments where those ideas could flourish. That realization shaped the way I think about leadership, innovation, and impact. It also shaped the organizations I chose to be a part of. In many ways, that belief laid the foundation for my journey to enFocus. My journey to enFocus did not begin with a job application. It began with an unexpected conversation.
Last year, while coordinating five side events at the RALLY Innovation Conference in Indianapolis, I heard about enFocus during a conversation with Notre Dame students in attendance about innovation within Indiana and talent retention. At the time, I simply took note of the organization and moved on. Months later, as I reflected on my next career move, I found myself returning to that conversation. This time, I decided to learn more about the organization.
“The more I researched enFocus, the more I realized it reflected values that had quietly guided my career all along. I have always been drawn to work where technology, research, and innovation create meaningful change. After a rigorous application and interview process, I received the call that marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
In April of 2026, I concluded a fellowship with the American Institute for Economic Research, packed my bags from Massachusetts, returned briefly to Muncie, where I had completed graduate school, and then made my way to South Bend, a city I now call home.
After joining enFocus, I have come to appreciate the organization founded at a time when South Bend had been labeled one of America's "dying cities." Rather than accepting that narrative, community leaders chose to invest in talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship as catalysts for economic development.
Learning that history reinforced why I chose to become a Fellow. Today, I have the opportunity to contribute to projects that address real challenges across the region. As I work on initiatives focused on student connectivity, economic impact assessment, and predictive analytics for local government, I am constantly reminded that innovation is most meaningful when it solves the problems that matter to people's everyday lives. Equally important are the people behind the work. I have found colleagues who challenge me to think differently, mentors who are genuinely invested in my growth, and community partners who are committed to building a stronger region. The work we do at enFocus also reminds me that lasting impact is rarely created by one individual. It comes from people who bring their talents together in pursuit of a shared purpose.
As I reflect on my journey so far, becoming an enFocus Fellow feels less like accepting a new position and more like continuing a journey that began long before I arrived in Northern Indiana. It is a journey rooted in the conviction that when talented people are given meaningful opportunities, they do more than build successful careers. They innovate, solve meaningful problems, create opportunities for others to thrive, and help build stronger communities.
