Meet Agnes Nsor

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Agnes Nsor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Agnes, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

My ability to take risk was built through necessity and conviction.

Moving to the United States as an international student, away from anything I knew was a risk. Transitioning from law to international business was a risk- It felt like my years of experience as an attorney wouldn’t count. Traveling internationally competing in national competitions without knowing the outcome was a risk. I even started my company, Arbenaiah Group a global trade and investment firm in the most risky and uncertain time of my life.

But each leap taught me that risk is not recklessness. With faith, taking risks is affording yourself the opportunity to be aligned with your true purpose. Every step of the way, what i didn’t know was that the steps I took shaped the career path I would one day be so passionate about.

When your vision is bigger than your fear, you move anyway.

I developed courage by acting before I felt fully ready, betting on myself, trusting my preparation and ultimately in God, and grounding myself in purpose and direction.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am an international trade and investment strategist focused on strengthening economic bridges between Africa, the Gulf, and the Americas. My work centers on designing strategic frameworks, building high-impact partnerships, and leading cross-border initiatives that empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs), diaspora investors, and emerging markets to participate more fully in the global economy.

My professional journey began as an F-1 international student navigating a new country and building from scratch. Over time, I transitioned from a legal associate in real estate and compliance to an award-winning strategy professional recognized for my work in global business. You might ask… how did this happen? Well, It all started while as a graduate student getting my MBA at Georgia State University. There, I was exposed to professionals who did business internationally. With an international business concentration at the time, we would have several professionals from around the globe log in virtually during class and talk about how they did business internationally, the modes of entry into new markets and the challenges they faced. Outside of class, I ensured I got in on all the school trips visiting global business and innovation hubs. Yes! I was that student who went everywhere and did everything. Looking back now, I didn’t know that exposure was a gift I gave to myself. Today at the HOPE Global Forum, someone described what they did as helping youth get exposed and he said “When you see something, you can hardly unsee that”. From study abroad trips to experiential immersion programs to case competitions, you could bet that you’d find me there.

Soon after, I landed an internship at the Mayor’s Office of International and Immigrant Affairs, an experience that solidified who I am today. International business went up a notch and I had access to the realities of global business. I thought to myself… This is so cool! On the job, I learnt so much, connected with so many people and continued to grow my confidence. Most of the work we did was to position Atlanta as America’s gateway to doing business with Africa. This involved shaping Atlanta’s global engagement strategy and building programs that supported small businesses in the community. That experience has shaped the work I do today especially my belief that when SMEs are empowered, they create not just jobs, but good-paying jobs that strengthen communities and close economic gaps.

Professionally, I lead Arbenaiah Group, where we support governments, investors, and businesses in navigating global markets, driving B2B matchmaking, and unlocking cross-border investment pipelines. I also serve on the leadership team of the Go Global Conference, overseeing communications strategy and engagement for one of Southeast USA’s signature international business forums. In addition, I am a founding partner and the Head of Business Development for the Gulf Africa Investment Nexus, a platform designed to strengthen Africa–Gulf deal flow and catalyze high-value partnerships. I was also just appointed Director of Innovation for the Atlas Convention, where I lead the first-ever Pan-African Innovation Challenge—an initiative committed to developing and showcasing the next generation of African innovators.

What excites me most about my work is the ability to introduce new ideas and the ability to implement them. One worthy of note is the emerging Brain Circulation Strategy Model that helps reshape how countries and private sector actors think about global mobility, talent exchange, and mutual economic growth.

This year, we are expanding our global convenings, including the Go Global Conference, Atlas Convention and the Gulf Africa Investment Nexus, which bring together businesses, investors, innovators, and policymakers. I’m also preparing to release my upcoming book, “From Intern to Founder”, which chronicles my journey and the frameworks I’ve developed to guide the next generation of global entrepreneurs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Strategic Thinking Across Multiple Disciplines
My journey has been shaped by a multidisciplinary foundation that spans law, business analysis, international affairs, and strategy consulting. This combination has allowed me to design high-impact frameworks that integrate policy, markets, and people—an approach that has guided my work in trade, investment, and global economic development. Throughout my career, my ability to see across disciplines has consistently set me apart. My advice to anyone beginning their journey is simple: expose yourself to multiple fields early. Innovation is born where disciplines intersect, and the most transformative ideas often come from those who can think beyond a single silo.

2. Cross-Cultural Intelligence & Relationship Building
A significant part of my career has been built on the ability to connect across cultures and environments. As I continue to gain access to rooms with diverse perspectives, I continually realize that understanding people matters just as much as understanding markets. This cross-cultural intelligence has allowed me to build trust, mobilize partners, and navigate the complexities of international engagement with confidence. My advice here is grounded in experience: listen more than you speak. People choose to work with you when they feel understood, and every strong partnership begins with intentional listening.

3. Courage to Show Up
Much of my success is rooted in simply showing up. Each milestone began with a moment of courage, a willingness to take a step before knowing the outcome. My advice to anyone aspiring to grow is this: say yes before you feel ready. Growth happens in motion, and the courage to show up often becomes the catalyst for extraordinary achievement.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe in going all-in on your strengths. Your strengths are where your natural excellence lives—and excellence creates opportunity.

When I first arrived in the U.S. I tried to become “well-rounded” in the traditional sense. But my real breakthrough came when I leaned fully into my strategic mind, cross-cultural lens, and communication skills. This wasn’t always clear to me. It required time, effort and focus to understand my strengths are. That focus is what allowed me to become an entrepreneur and build a company that operates across continents. I recognized that to build a successful company, I didn’t have to “do” it all and being the person that I am I had to teach myself to delegate tasks. That way, I don’t overburden myself learning what I truly don’t understand. Is it important to have all-round knowledge? Definitely!

Here’s the nuance: Strength creates direction; improving your weaknesses creates stability. You need both but I believe one should know where their genius lies and lead from it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arbenaiahgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ibstrategist/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnes-nsor