AI is transforming industries and economies across the world, and Africa does not want to be left behind. Although the continent is still lagging in AI adoption, strong momentum is building. This is driven by a surge in AI startups, rising investment, and empowering, visionary leaders. Grant McDonogh, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at i60 Global, is a leading light in Africa’s AI space. Living by the mantra “The future is bright — run towards the light,” Grant’s vision and leadership are helping position Africa as an emerging force in the global AI landscape.
Over the years, Grant has learned that unless he lives a person’s reality, he cannot find real solutions to their challenges. This has inspired him to harness AI with the intention to make a difference in communities across Africa.
The Path Leading to AI
Grant developed a fascination with technology from a very young age. It was sparked by his passion for figuring out how things work. He remembers teaching himself to program; then the motive was to create his own games. Sometimes he would also dismantle his television or radio to understand its inner workings. “I was always exploring and experimenting,” Grant recalls.
Later, when he grew up, he chose to pursue a career in the technology field. At the beginning, he worked as a programmer. Over the weekends, he and his friends would play with genetic programs that evolved their own code. “We were trying to find a way for computers to program themselves,” Grant says.
After successfully building his own neural work to understand machine learning, he became drawn to AI and its ability to shape one’s thinking and one’s future.
Journey: From iSixty Services to Vice President of AI at i60 Global
When Grant created iSixty Services, his aim was to build a place where people — both customers and employees — could live their best lives. “I wanted to use technology to make people’s jobs better by removing the drudgery from their work,” he says. As the company’s scope and impact began to grow, so did its vision. And then iSixty Services evolved into what is now known as i60 Global.
With i60 Global, Grant and his team began to broaden their focus. Now, the aim is to harness AI-driven innovations on a global scale. Grant’s role has transitioned from hands-on execution to strategic leadership. In his role, he guides AI adoption and innovation to shape digital transformation not only within their organization but also across Africa.
Human-First Approach to AI
i60 Global’s expertise in legacy system replacement is unmatched. It ensures that a client’s move to modern, efficient systems is seamless and rewarding. The mission of i60 Global is grounded in a human-first approach to AI.
As AI adoption accelerates, concerns about humans being replaced by technology are becoming common. Grant and his team do not share that concern. “We believe that technology should empower people and not replace them,” he says.
Every decision of theirs is centered on making their employees perform better and businesses more productive and competitive through the practical implementation of AI and automation. Grant points out that their goal is to elevate human potential by removing the mundane, repetitive tasks from work.
The end goal is to ensure that communities, businesses, and governments across Africa thrive in a digitally transformed future, according to Grant.
Challenges to Overcome
In Africa, there are some officials in governments who see themselves as being “in power” rather than “in service.” Grant says that their biggest challenge comes from these officials. Their “in-power” mindset has often been the most significant stumbling block in their growth story.
Additionally, the lack of skills and a sense of entitlement remain substantial barriers to transformation. “We choose to ignore those driven by self-interest and instead align ourselves with individuals who are hungry for change and eager to grow,” Grant says. He also says that their work often begins by helping people recognize their own capacity for self-improvement. Grant underscores that such people possess the God-given abilities needed to overcome challenges, rather than seeing themselves as hopeless victims.
He is of the opinion that once this mental shift occurs, they begin to identify the opportunities and solutions that have been within their reach all along.
The Leadership Lessons
Grant has learned several valuable lessons over the years. One is that people are not helpless. He says that when one starts treating them as capable and responsible, they begin to act that way. “At the same time, I’ve also come to understand that not everyone wants to change,” he adds. “Some people simply want what you have without any understanding of what it takes to acquire or maintain it.” These insights have shaped Grant’s leadership.
Empathy, realism, and an unwavering belief in human potential define his approach to leadership. He is a leader who delegates a task to somebody and helps them get up after they fail rather than do everything himself. “True leadership lies in helping people understand that it is okay to fail, but it is not okay to give up,” Grant says.
AI’s Impact on African Businesses
Africa is still grappling with multiple issues that prevent its businesses from becoming major players on the global stage. In the coming years, Grant expects that to change. He predicts that AI will dramatically reshape African businesses by solving complex challenges that create friction and hinder companies from competing globally.
Grant does not believe that AI will replace people. Its deployment, however, will enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and support decision-making in industries such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, logistics, and ethical governance. According to him, this transformation will make businesses more resilient and empowered. They will be better equipped to thrive in the global economy while growing their local economies.
“It will also open access to alternative markets and identify hidden resources in the value chain that were previously thought of as waste products,” Grant says. The potential is immense, but to fully realize it, governments in Africa have to play a proactive role.
Grant wants governments across Africa to establish special economic zones. “But they must be free from the bureaucracy that stifles innovation,” he says. Additionally, these zones should be designed to enable AI-empowered entrepreneurs to move fast. “They should be running and not crawling,” Grant points out. This is only possible when unnecessary red tape is removed and a supportive, agile environment for digital advancement is created in Africa, according to him.
AI offers incredible opportunities for Africa. “But it is essential to understand that AI alone cannot solve the continent’s challenges,” Grant points out. “Only its people can.”
He also believes that when people of Africa are empowered with AI, the results can be transformative. But limiting access to AI to the large enterprises, will only widen the divide between the rich and the poor. Grant also points out that AI can be a powerful equalizer in a short time. When that happens, it will benefit small enterprises. They can compete through enhanced service delivery and innovative product offerings. This will make them more agile and responsive to micro-trends in the market, according to Grant.
“And in the long term, it is crucial to democratize access to AI,” he says. Grants hopes to see AI introduced in schools and made accessible to those without formal education. He points out that one of the most promising opportunities lies in “FaceTime-style” interactions with specialized assistants, which help develop skills and deliver knowledge and tools for overcoming everyday challenges.
“Africa’s focus must shift toward empowering individuals to help themselves, moving away from centralized, top-down solutions to poverty,” he says. “Only through broad, inclusive access can we truly transform the continent.”
What Makes Africa’s Future Exciting
Grant loves a challenge, which makes him excited about the many problems that exist in Africa. He sees problems as opportunities. That is why he is always trying to apply solution-oriented thinking.
“By leveraging technology, especially AI, we can outcompete our enemies for the hearts and minds of the people,” Grant points out. “Our enemies are anything that stands in the way of a prosperous, empowered, and independent people.”
Africa has all the resources, all the talent, and every reason to succeed, and according to Grant, what is needed is simply the “will to change.” He sees many opportunities in Africa, and every morning, he wakes up full of ideas. “I just wish I had more time,” Grant says.
In order to shape a more empowered, equitable, and prosperous Africa, he hopes to see the leaders on the continent accept that “one has no responsibility to do anything, but one has the privilege to help people.”
“Understand that no man is an island,” he adds. He believes that one does not succeed alone, so a leader needs to reach down and lift somebody up. Grant is not a fan of window dressing. According to him, if someone wants to change the world for the better, they should just do it without broadcasting it. “If you don’t want to change anything, own that too,” he adds. “Stop lying to yourself and others.”
And Grant does not expect everyone to step up. He says that no one is obligated to act. “But we should all be judged by our fruit,” he points out. “Let the market inform our practices, not useless legislation.”
“In other words, our role as business leaders is to be true to who we are so that others can learn from our successes and our failures,” Grant says. “That will shape and empower people for the long term.”
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Like the rest of the world, young African entrepreneurs are full of ideas and aspirations to make a mark in the AI and technology space. Grant advises them to abandon their victim ideologies and embrace self-determination. “The past is a trap,” he points out. “So, stop focusing on what can’t be changed.”
Grant also encourages them to be lifelong learner, actively seek mentorship, and leverage technology. He has always been proactive when it comes to solving problems. So, he advises young entrepreneurs also not to wait for someone else to solve their problems. He tells them to take control of their destiny and find solutions locally.
“While funding may sound appealing, it can sometimes hinder creative, disruptive thinking. Learn to bootstrap,” Grant advises young entrepreneurs. “Build your industry, even if it means helping your competitors; the rising tide raises all boats.”
The Legacy!
Grant aspires to set an example that other people can learn from. He wants them to see that, in spite of government, media, or societal narratives, individuals cannot be painted with a broad brush. “If even one person says, ‘My life was better because I met Grant,’ then I will have fulfilled my purpose,” Grant says. “That is the legacy I hope to leave.”