From Ghana to CEO: A Leadership Journey Built on Moments

Written by: Yaw Sam Growing up in Ghana, I didn’t have a roadmap to leadership—I had moments. Moments that taught me responsibility, pushed me to act, and helped me grow through discomfort.

One of those early moments was becoming the Grounds Prefect in elementary school. My job was to make sure the school compound was always clean. It sounds small, but it taught me a big lesson: take ownership—of a space, of a standard, and of people—especially when they’re not as motivated as you are. I had to find ways to get my classmates involved, hold them accountable, and still get the job done. That was my first real taste of leadership.

Later, I became the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of our middle school’s military cadet group. That’s where I learned that leadership isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about consistency, discipline, and showing people you care. That role taught me how to earn respect by showing up prepared and steady—not just bossy.

When I moved to the U.S. for college, I brought that same mindset with me. At the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), I served as a Senator for the College of Business, which gave me a front-row seat to what servant leadership really looks like. I later found myself on nonprofit boards like RGV Gives Back, where leadership became less about directing and more about serving—connecting people, solving problems, and making sure resources got to the people who needed them most.

And now, I lead as the CEO of Brand Geniuz, a content marketing agency I built from the ground up. I oversee a growing team, work with businesses across industries, and guide strategies that directly impact how brands show up online. But honestly, leadership still feels the same as it did when I was a kid sweeping classrooms—it’s about responsibility, clarity, and helping people do their best work, even when it’s hard.

A Defining Moment: Learning to Let Go

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn as a leader came when I had to let someone go from my team. I struggled with it for days. I was new to managing people, and the idea of ending someone’s job felt like failure.

But over time, I came to understand that leadership isn’t just about building people up—it’s also about making the decisions that protect the vision and the team as a whole. It taught me that you can be firm without being harsh. You can make a difficult decision and still be human about it. Letting someone go doesn’t always mean they weren’t good—it just means the alignment wasn’t right. That lesson shaped how I handle tough conversations today.

My Philosophy: Make Mistakes, Grow Anyway

I believe mistakes are a requirement for growth. I’ve made a lot of them—some small, some expensive—but each one sharpened my leadership instincts.

At Brand Geniuz, I encourage my team to take smart risks. We try things, we test, we learn. I don’t expect perfection—I expect progress. And that only happens in an environment where people feel safe enough to experiment, fail, and try again.

That’s the culture I work hard to build: one where we celebrate wins but also unpack losses—not to blame, but to grow.

Advice to Aspiring Leaders

• Say yes to roles that scare you. Every meaningful step I’ve taken started with some level of discomfort. That’s where growth happens.

• Titles don’t make leaders—action does. Whether you’re the intern or the CEO, leadership is about stepping up when no one else will.

• Embrace failure. Don’t run from it. Let it teach you, shape you, and push you forward.

A Story That Stuck With Me

During my time as a Senator for the College of Business at UTRGV, one of the things I quickly realized was this: if you want to represent people well, you have to hear from them often.

It’s not enough to sit in meetings, make assumptions, or roll out events you think students need. You have to be intentional about creating spaces where people can speak up.

That’s why I started hosting consistent town halls for business students—not just once a semester, but regularly. I wanted to create a culture of open communication, where students could share their concerns, give feedback, and feel like their voices mattered.

Some came with specific issues—classroom experiences, advising concerns, campus policies. Others just came to listen and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Those town halls became one of the most effective tools in my leadership journey. They reminded me that leadership isn’t just making decisions—it’s making space. The more I listened, the more informed I became. And the more students felt heard, the more they engaged.

That experience taught me something I carry with me today as a CEO and leader: communication must be proactive, not reactive. You don’t wait for problems to get loud—you build regular check-ins and touchpoints so people always have a seat at the table.

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t a badge or a title—it’s a daily decision. It’s a muscle I’ve been building since I was a kid in Ghana sweeping floors, and I’m still building it now as a CEO leading a team in Texas.

If you’re reading this and wondering how to grow as a leader, my advice is simple:

Step up before you feel ready. Show up when it’s inconvenient. Speak up when it’s uncomfortable.

That’s where the growth is. That’s where leaders are made. Yaw Sam. Co-Founder & CEO Brand Geniuz