Cheick Diarra: Microsoft's man in Africa - African Business Review

Recalling his early days, Cheick Diarra says: “When I was a young boy, growing up in Mali, fascinated by the stars, I had never met an astronomer... What’s more the chances of meeting one were minimal to say the least. Yet, had I met an astronomer, my personal journey to astronomy might have been different.”

Though he may have not quite made it as an astronomer, the young boy didn’t do too bad turn spending 10 years working for NASA as its first African astrophysicist before joining what can only be called the defining brand of our generation, Microsoft.

Indeed, Dr Diarra, the prefix a result of his PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Howard University, Washington DC, US, is a man of many achievements and one on whom the continent can rightly take pride.

“I am a son of Africa. I had an African childhood and education, and like so many Africans, I have been a farmer, battling the rains and the droughts. I am also a scientist, one lucky enough to have worked with some of the greatest minds in the world in my 14 years at NASA.

As an interplanetary navigator, Diarra has piloted five NASA missions to Venus, Jupiter, the poles of the Sun and Mars. He later became the director of NASA's "Mars Exploration Program Education and Public Outreach."

In 2006, he took over the challenge of Microsoft Africa.

Diarra attributes this success to his roots and approach to both business and life: “I am an African entrepreneur, a person who, by nature, embraces initiative and risk, and uses available resources in novel ways.

“Entrepreneurs are not daunted, we are excited. We see what could be and we say ‘why not?’ We bring people together with the power of ideas, an action plan and a lot of ‘can do’ spirit. Some of us work in business, some of us in the community, some in even broader circles.”

Diarra believes his new role with Microsoft places him in a perfect position from which to bring alive his dream for his beloved continent.

“My vision for my continent is to see Africa go well beyond basic IT access, to become a thriving, competitive, technology and knowledge-based continent in my lifetime,” he says.

Diarra is also heavily involved with many charities and educational organisations such as the Pathfinder Foundation which supports female students achieve scientific education. “If we invest in the women of Africa and in basic literacy programmes for them, this will have an exponential effect in terms of broader literacy and education,” he says.

Source: http://www.africanbusinessreview.co.za