Fifteen years after launching in a single room in Manchester, These Executive Minds (TEXEM), founded by Alim Abubakre, has grown into a global leadership platform shaping Africa’s public and private sectors.
At the heart of this remarkable growth lies a founding philosophy: impact over headcount.
Established in 2010 with a mission to turn British leadership insights into practical tools for African executives, TEXEM has trained over 4,000 senior leaders across more than 20 countries in 4 continents, from central bankers to energy CEOs in every major sector of the African economy. Its alumni now influence billions in capital flows, regulatory policy, and institutional strategy.
TEXEM’s impact-first model prioritises intellectual depth and real-world relevance which has allowed it host programmes in Oxford, Lagos, and Abu Dhabi, with hybrid delivery reaching audiences in Nairobi, Toronto, online, and beyond. Its faculty blends Ivy League scholars, corporate strategists, diplomats, and entrepreneurs.
“The journey from that room to today’s multi‑hub footprint is a reminder that, in leadership, geography is an entry point, not a destiny,” a TEXEM statement reads.
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Every two years, it conducts a longitudinal study tracking agility, strategy execution, and ESG maturity among alumni institutions. A recent alumni tracking report shows a 16% boost in decision-making speed and stronger ESG compliance across participant organisations. One alumnus used TEXEM’s scenario planning to rescue a major pipe-line deal during Nigeria’s 2023 currency crisis.
But TEXEM isn’t content with anecdotal evidence. What sets it apart is a determined commitment to impact over volume. TEXEM’s journey proves that African leadership development doesn’t need to imitate the West; it can help shape it. Oxford professors test their theories against real-world Nigerian infrastructure challenges, while African regulators use European benchmarks to refine and adapt local policies.
Fifteen years on, TEXEM is scaling with cautious optimism. They are balancing global reach with local relevance. The firm is investing in AI-powered learning customisation and developing a pan-African leadership index to benchmark institutional resilience, aimed at evolving from a training provider into a strategic partner for boardrooms and governments.
