CELMAD emerged from deep reflections drawing from personal experiences and studies by several internationally renowned African and non-African leaders, managers, experts and specialists. These individuals have successfully and in a sustainable way transformed teams, public and private structures, countries, and international organizations such as banks, private enterprises, the United Nations, governments, civil society organizations, NGOs, youth networks, women’s groups, rural producers ‘associations, universities and research centers.

These African personalities strongly believe that a combined approach of innovative and contextualized leadership and management is a crucial factor of Africa’s thorough sustainable transformation by and for its citizens. Therefore, on April 2, 2024, they founded this Think-Act institution, Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management (CELMAD), based in Dakar with a continental scope. The center was officially recognized on October 2, 2024, under registration acknowledgement number 0022009/MISP/DGAT/DLPL/DAPA.

As an African-inspired institution while consistent with global quality standards, CELMAD aims to contribute to the building of a critical mass of capabilities across the public, private, and parastatal sectors, the civil society, the media, communities and citizens, to ensure commitment in the management of this transformation. Emphasis will be placed on women’s leadership on account of African women’s significant roles and contributions to their continent’s development. Additionally, the innovative dynamism of youth will serve as a key lever and an intergenerational bridge. All these elements will help to ensure no one is left behind in this transformative process, including now vulnerable or excluded populations.

Our Definition of Leadership
Leadership is the ability of an individual, through personal growth, to define an inspiring vision within a given context and to persuade a group of individuals—through trust-building, communication, and intrinsic characteristics—to transcend individual interests and act collectively and voluntarily to achieve common goals, create sustainable positive impact, and structurally transform a community, an enterprise, an organization, a country, a continent or the world.

Our Definition of Management
We think Management also encompasses the aspects usually found in the concept of governance, namely strategic direction, systems, procedures, and mechanisms aiming to achieve the tangible results expected from the leadership's transformative vision.