Banassa Kone: A Destiny Shaped by Faith, Perseverance, Resilience, and Vision

Modern higher education is in a phase of strategic reinvention, with universities repositioning themselves as innovation engines rather than mere knowledge repositories. As the global economy becomes increasingly skill-centric and automation-driven, universities are integrating programs, incubators, and immersive research to ensure students graduate with competencies that are both actionable and adaptive. However, high-quality higher education continues to be a luxury in several regions of the world.

Bridging this gap for Africa is Banassa Kone, an education entrepreneur with more than a decade of executive experience. In 2018, she founded British International University (BIU) driven by a belief that Francophone Africa should have direct access to world-class, English-medium higher education within its own borders. As BIU’s founder, Banassa’s professional ethos is rooted in driving educational innovation to produce globally competent, bilingual African talent. Recognized for academic rigor and international accreditation, BIU today serves as a benchmark for excellence across the continent.

Founding BIU was a strategic endeavour to scale impact through transnational partnerships and forward-looking curricula in business and technology. Banassa remains unwavering in her dedication to academic distinction and continental advancement.

Take us through the formative years of your life. What were some key influences that played a pivotal role in shaping your life’s trajectory?

My academic trajectory spans two continents. Having pursued my academic foundation in India and Dubai, I combined technical expertise in Computer Science with strategic insights in Business Management. In the process, I developed a balanced outlook on technology and leadership. The foundation which was laid by my father, a visionary in the field of education and founder of GECOS formation, instilled values such as faith, discipline, humility, perseverance. These core values were equally impactful to my formative years.

Growing up deeply engrossed in the world of academia and entrepreneurship, in continuation my formative years were immersed in the world of education, witnessing my father build an institution from the ground up. It taught me that knowledge is not just empowerment, it is a lasting legacy. Equally influential was my mother, whose quiet resilience and steady support instilled in me a strong sense of direction that continues to inform my leadership journey. Through her quiet strength and steadfast support, my mother provided the emotional resilience that has anchored me through challenges and milestones alike.

Faith, vision, resilience and impact are the cornerstones to my leadership approach

Tell us about your professional journey in the education space and the key specialization that you bring to the table?

My foray into the professional world was rooted in humility and purpose, as a receptionist at HEC Abidjan, the institution founded by my father. Far from limiting, this role served as my formative experience offering a first-hand view into the operational backbone of higher education. Upon assuming the leadership of HEC Abidjan, I led a transformative phase, restructuring its academic portfolio, strengthening governance, and driving expansion initiatives. This evolution laid the groundwork for founding British International University (BIU). This foundational experience offered a unique vantage point into student needs, administrative workflows, and the everyday realities of running an academic institution.

Living and working across different countries later provided me with international exposure, enriching my experience and deepening my commitment towards serving in education. This leadership experience became the springboard for founding BIU, a forward-looking institution dedicated to academic excellence and global opportunity.

As I stepped into executive leadership at HEC Ab­idjan, I spearheaded its transformation and growth, leading my way forward with resilience and com­mitment at its core. I now specialize in institution­al architecture, institutional strategy, bilingual pro­gram innovation, global academic partnerships and the architecture of future-forward education models.

What inspired you to establish BIU? What’s the underlying idea and vision behind the education venture?

The inception of British International University in 2018 was guided by a strategic imperative and deeply rooted belief that Francophone Africa should have direct access to world-class, English-medium higher education within its own borders.

The institution embodies a mission-driven com­mitment and strategic vision to align local talent with global opportunity, without requiring geographic dis­placement. The inception of BIU was driven by an am­bition to reconcile that disparity between the compo­nent’s latent potential and the international platforms where transformative influence is exercised.

At the heart of BIU lies a mission to deliver British-standard academic programs that are accessible, innovation-driven, inclusive and globally relevant. Our aim extends beyond education, we are cultivating leaders, entrepreneurs, and catalysts for change who remain deeply grounded in African heritage. BIU is characterized by a disruptive academic paradigm, demonstrates societal relevance, and a bold mandate to shape the next generation of Pan-African thought leaders and changemakers rooted in African identity and values.

Outline your primary responsibilities as BIU’s founder?

As a founder and president of BIU, I embody and navi­gate a multifaceted role that spans the intersection of strategic leadership, global representation, and oper­ational management. My responsibilities encompass

steering long-term planning, fostering global partner­ships, assuring advancement. Central and steering in­stitutional advancement. Central to this is our ambition to proliferate BIU’s presence continent-wide via a robust franchise academic framework.

My focus extends to synchronizing academic curricula with evolving global market needs to enhance graduate employability. A core pillar of my approach is the strategic harmonization of our academic programs with global labor market trends to bolster the employability and career readiness of our graduates.

For me, leadership not only encompasses visionary thinking, but, it is about foresightedness paired with consistent dedication and resilience to overcome operational challenges and lead through complexities.

What challenges do you encounter while leading BIU & how do you navigate through these roadblocks?

Operating in the dynamic context of African higher education requires navigating the multifaceted challenges of introducing English-medium education, which involves overcoming cultural resistance, administrative complexities, limited resources, and stringent equality controls across campuses. From overcoming cultural resistance to English-medium instructions, navigating bureaucratic complexities, managing limited resources, to upholding academic excellence at scale, each obstacle requires intentional leadership. Through this journey and my experience, I have found that unwavering faith and resilience are essential for cultivating a value-driven mindset to sustaining progress.

To overcome these challenges, I have come to rely on two unwavering principles, namely faith in the mission and resilience in execution. A resilient organizational culture rooted in transparency, leverage trusted counsel, and drive ongoing innovation forms the backbone of BIU. BIU is anchored in sustainable institutional growth, enabling agile decision-making, fostering trust and ensuring long-term competitive advantage to help students survive the rapidly evolving education landscape.

What key milestones have you achieved so far? What is your ‘success mantra’?

Throughout my leadership journey, I have been privileged to achieve several milestones that stand out, each underscoring my long-term commitment to transforming higher education across Africa. Milestones such as transforming HEW Abidjan, launching British International University, inaugurating our Kigali campus, and securing international accreditations collectively reflect a strategic vision rooted in innovation, expansion, and academic excellence. Today BIU proudly serves over 2,500 students and has conferred more than 500 globally recognized degrees, standing as a testament to our commitment to empower the existing and deliver future-ready talent.

Underlying every success is a personal framework I live by. My professional ethos and leadership approach have anchored in five enduring pillars, namely Faith, Vision, Hard Work, Resilience, and Impact. Together, they form the compass that guides my decisions, ensuring that success is measured not just in outcomes, but in the ability to uplift others. To me, that is the highest form of legacy.

How do you foresee Ivory Coast’s education landscape evolving? How is BIU aligned with these evolutions?

Ivory Coast’s higher education landscape is entering a pivotal era in educational reform, driven by the impera­tive of globalization, digital acceleration, and workforce relevance. Strategic investments are being made in En­glish language proficiency, STEM advancement, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration to en­sure alignment with international economic standards.

At BIU, we are directly aligned with our vision and constantly set new benchmarks for higher education in Francophone Africa. Our fully English-medium programs are designed to prepare students for global competitiveness, while our emphasis on innovation equips them for a fast-evolving professional landscape, cultivating global career readiness, and driving pedagogical innovation. We position our graduates for long-term impact in an interconnected world. As the nation embraces education reform, BIU remains at the forefront, committed to nurturing talent that can lead both locally and internationally. This outlook is exceptionally promising, and BIU remains committed to being a key architect of education evolution.

Banassa Kone, Founder, British International University

Banassa Kone brings expertise in developing bilingual academic ecosystems, tailored education frameworks aligned with global demands.

With over 13 years at the helm of Abidjan, Banassa Kone is an education entrepreneur who missions to redefine educational paradigms and cultivate innovation to produce globally competent African talent. Recognized for academic rigor and international accreditation, Banassa’s conviction continues to shape and drive her professional ethos. Under her aegis, British International University endeavours to scale impact anchored in rigorous British academic standards, equipping students with the competencies essential for navigating an increasingly complex global business landscape.