Dale Dawson
Dale Dawson is an investment banker and entrepreneur. In 2002, he was 50 and doing exactly what he had always wanted to do — looking for investment opportunities and leading the investment banking practice at Stephens Inc, a private firm owned by one of the wealthiest, most entrepreneurial families in America. Then he met Bishop John Rucyahana who introduced him to the kind of challenges he had never before imagined. A year later, Dale quit his position at Stephens to begin building schools and businesses in Rwanda.
Today, Dale serves on President Paul Kagame’s Presidential Advisory Council and is Founder, Chair & CEO of Bridge2Rwanda. Dale serves on the board of Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda; OneHundredX (formerly Leadership Network), founded by Bob Buford, author of Halftime; EduLeap founded by Chris Crane; and the Opportunity International President’s Council.
During his career, Dale has served as an Executive Vice President at Stephens Inc; a Partner and National Director at KPMG, the global accounting firm; and Chair & CEO of TruckPro, the country’s largest independent distributor of commercial truck parts, which he sold to AutoZone. He and his wife, Judi, are University of Texas graduates and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their children, Katherine and Jack, are both college students.
About the project
The Isoko Institute for Entrepreneurship and Strong Societies in Africa promotes private enterprise solutions to prosperity, new business creation and business training in Rwanda and Africa. The Center serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurs and investors to launch new businesses and test them in the African marketplace. At the same time, the Center accelerates the impact of Africa’s most effective business innovations by providing a platform for scholars, advocates and teachers to vigorously research results, recognize inspiring role models and promote best practices.
Bridge2Rwanda
Bridge2Rwanda serves as a catalyst, facilitator and encourager for those called to Rwanda. We are dedicated to building Rwanda’s global network of friends and vigorously growing its private sector. We introduce individuals and organizations to Rwanda; arrange and host visits and projects; connect and create opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, universities, individuals and other nonprofit organizations.
Our strengths are a dense network of friends who share our passion for Rwanda and private enterprise and a talented team of highly-motivated individuals that can get things done. Bridge2Rwanda aggressively partners with any individual, private organization or government that shares our calling. We value relationships and don’t care who receives credit as long as Rwanda’s best interests are served.
Entrepreneurs create products, services and jobs. They expand economies, improve people's lives, provide employment (high and rising wages) and bring about competition. A competitive environment, in turn, gives rise to efficiency, meritocracy and further innovations and entrepreneurial drive.
The potent combination of entrepreneurship and technological innovation can forge an environment that is conducive to further enterprise, involving even government policy in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.
