Leslie Nelson grew up in the UK as the oldest of three boys in a Ghanaian family where discipline and education mattered. His father worked as an accountant. His mother built a career in publishing sales. From an early age, he learned that preparation was expected and effort was not optional.
His career began in investment banking at Merrill Lynch and UBS. Later, he joined General Electric, where he led GE Africa’s $1 billion power business and served as Country CEO for Ghana. He would go on to help lead New Fortress Energy’s expansion in Africa and support its public listing in 2019. Today, he leads an Africa-focused energy transition platform designed to bring reliable and affordable power to communities that need it most.
Alongside his professional work, he funds university tuition for 15 students from the Village of Hope Orphanage in Ghana. He also mentors them personally. They are set to graduate in 2026.
For Leslie, impact is not abstract. It is practical. It is lights staying on. It is students finishing degrees. It is systems that work.
Leslie Nelson GE Angola on Building Confidence, Taking Risks, and Staying Grounded
What inspires you most today?
I am inspired by practical progress. I remember visiting a factory in Ghana where power kept cutting every 20 minutes. Workers were standing around waiting. When that problem gets solved, output rises straight away. That kind of visible improvement motivates me.
Did you always know you wanted to work in energy?
No. I started in finance at Merrill Lynch and UBS. I liked the pace. But I realised I wanted to see how capital changed daily life. Moving into infrastructure at GE gave me that view. When I became CEO of GE Africa’s power business, I could connect decisions in a boardroom to power on the ground.
How do you build confidence in your own ideas?
I test them against reality. Early in my career, I would build complex financial models. Later, I would visit sites and see that small operational details mattered more than theory. If an idea works in real conditions, confidence grows.
You’ve taken big career risks. How do you think about risk?
Risk is part of growth. Leaving pure finance for infrastructure was a shift. Joining New Fortress Energy before its IPO was another but it was time for a change. I look at risk in layers. What is the downside? What can I control? What can I learn if it fails? If the answers are clear, I move.
How do you inspire others without forcing it?
I try to show consistency. When I fund the university education of 15 students from Village of Hope, I also check in with them. I bought laptops for them because tools matter. But I also talk about careers and discipline. Showing up consistently builds trust.
What advice do you give young professionals?
Focus on systems, not titles. Learn how things actually work. During my early and mid career years, I saw projects succeed because the team understood maintenance schedules and payment systems. Not because the project looked impressive.
How do you stay grounded after leading billion-dollar portfolios?
Family keeps me grounded. Golf helps too. It reminds you that one bad swing does not define the round. You reset and continue.
What keeps you excited about the future?
Energy transition in Africa is still early. There is space to build smarter systems. I like working on problems that are unfinished. It means there is room to improve.
If you could share one lesson from your journey, what would it be?
Design for reality. Whether in London, New York, or Accra, systems must work under stress. If they do, progress follows.
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