Jacob Lief

Jacob Lief is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ubuntu Education Fund, a non-profit organization that takes vulnerable children in the townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa from cradle to career. Nuancing traditional development models, Ubuntu redefined the theory of “going to scale” as they focus on the depth rather than breadth of their programs within a community of 400,000. Ubuntu’s programs form an integrated system of medical, health, educational and social services, ensuring that a child who is either orphaned or vulnerable could, after several years, succeed in the world of higher education and employment. In 2009, Jacob was selected as an Aspen Institute Global Fellow and, in 2010, he was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. In 2012, he was asked to join the Clinton Global Initiative Advisory Committee. Jacob holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.