Ghanaian advocate Awo Ablo holds $3.3 million stake in Oracle

Rising from a young professional determined to engage with global issues to a leader whose work spans continents and sectors, Ghanaian advocate Awo Ablo has built a career defined by influence and service. Today she is recognized not only for two decades across the nonprofit, media, and private sectors but also for her growing presence in the corporate arena. As of this report, her stake in technology giant Oracle is valued at $3.35 million, making her one of the few Africans with a meaningful place in the upper ranks of global technology leadership.

Ablo’s path has been shaped by her upbringing. Born to Ghanaian parents and raised across Africa, Southeast Asia, and the UK, she grew up with a global outlook. At first, the United Nations seemed like the only institution capable of matching her ambition for large-scale change. But as her education advanced, so did her view of the broader field of global organizations. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology from the University of Kent, followed by a master’s degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Those studies introduced her to the worlds of development and security setting the stage for a career that would bridge borders and industries.

Awo Ablo’s journey: From NGOs to Oracle board seat

Her career began with an internship at Saferworld, a nonprofit focused on preventing armed conflict. She later joined BBC Media Action—then known as the BBC World Service Trust—where she rose to director of business development. In that role, she expanded the charity’s funding, helped lead a rebrand, and linked the organization more closely with the wider BBC. The work also deepened her interest in how media, technology and policy intersect. It gave her a vantage point over initiatives that stretched across television, radio and mobile platforms.

Those experiences led to leadership positions across governance, health, security, and human rights. As director of external relations at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, she managed outreach in 40 countries and oversaw $150 million in annual turnover. She also contributed to the Chatham House Global Health Working Group and began mentoring through Santa Clara University’s Black Corporate Board Readiness program. Over time, Ablo worked alongside heads of state and senior policymakers, advising on food supply chains, health systems, and digital infrastructure.

That experience helped position her for a seat on Oracle’s board. Her appointment in March 2022 brought not just global experience but also a direct understanding of what governments need from Oracle’s cloud services. The timing has been notable. Oracle has been one of the strongest beneficiaries of the surge in demand for artificial intelligence, with its cloud unit gaining traction from access to Nvidia’s chips. It projects $18 billion in cloud infrastructure revenue for fiscal 2026, with growth expected to accelerate further. Investors have taken notice: Oracle’s market value has climbed past $830 billion, and its stock has risen more than 75 percent this year. For Ablo, that rally has lifted her board stake to more than $3.3 million.

Blending corporate success with social progress

Yet her influence extends well beyond Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, she became president of programs and strategy at Co-Impact, a philanthropy platform founded in 2017 by Olivia Leland. The organization aims to raise $1 billion through its Gender Fund and is scaling projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its work focuses on strengthening health, education, and economic systems, with gender equality and women’s leadership at the core. Ablo is helping guide its next stage, ensuring resources and partnerships match its ambitions.

She also continues to serve as director of strategy and partnerships at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she oversees planning, growth and collaborations. The institute’s mission to help governments build open and technologically resilient economies aligns closely with her career in shaping policy and development strategies. Across these roles, Ablo represents a new generation of leaders who move easily between philanthropy, development and corporate boardrooms.