EDISON LEE, CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR

In 2009, immediately after my university graduation, I found myself living in a place beset by crises and civil unrest. On the heels of a controversial presidential race, a public health crisis, and uncontained hyperinflation, Zimbabwe faced a long and arduous road to recovery.

As a freshly minted college grad, the challenges seemed insurmountable. Still, I worked to address food security issues at a local level, and worked with local community members to start small income generating projects. In that process, it dawned on me that as an outsider, I would never fully grasp the cultural mechanics and nuances to be an effective change agent. I learned that local problems required local solutions, and that I could best contribute by providing technical advice, where necessary, and working to build leadership and management capacity in these contexts.

Over the next few years, I spent time working as a strategy consultant, coming alongside SMEs to develop management capacity in high impact businesses in East Africa, and later, transitioned into investment banking, advising clients on strategic alternatives and equity/debt capital raises. In 2016, I left my job in finance to work full-time with Justice Rising. 

Through my past experiences, I have developed a deep, personal commitment to the building up of local leaders, and I feel amazingly privileged to work with the incredible teacher and student leaders of Justice Rising.