Frannie Léautier facts for kids

Frannie Léautier is a talented Tanzanian civil engineer, a smart academic, and an expert in international finance and development. She helps many different organizations, from private companies to non-profit groups, grow and succeed around the world.

Frannie Léautier's Early Life and Education

Frannie Léautier was born in Moshi, a town in northern Tanzania. She grew up with three sisters and three brothers. When she was three, her family moved to Lushoto, a town in the Usambara Mountains. Her grandfather greatly influenced her there, inspiring her to study physics and engineering.

Frannie Léautier attended the University of Dar es Salaam. In 1984, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. She then continued her studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. She received a Master of Science degree in Transportation in 1986. Later, from 1987 to 1990, she completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Civil Engineering at MIT.

Frannie Léautier's Career Journey

Frannie Léautier started working with the World Bank in 1992. She helped create a plan for building important structures like roads and bridges in the 1990s. In 1994, she joined the World Bank full-time in Washington, DC. She worked there for 15 years in many different roles.

In 2000, she became the Director of Infrastructure for a year. Then, in 2001, she served as the Chief of Staff for James Wolfensohn, who was the President of the World Bank Group at that time. From 2001 to 2007, she was in charge of the World Bank Institute, which helps train people in development.

Working as a Consultant and Leader

After leaving the World Bank, Frannie Léautier co-founded the Fezembat Group. This was a consulting company based in Castelnau de Montmiral, France. She worked there as a Managing Partner from 2007 to 2009.

From 2009 to 2013, Frannie Léautier moved to Harare, Zimbabwe. She became the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation, a non-profit group. At the same time, she was also a special professor at Sciences Po in Paris, France.

In 2013, she returned to Tanzania. She co-founded and chaired Mkoba Private Equity Fund. This fund invested in new business opportunities across Africa. She worked there for two and a half years until 2016.

In 2017, Frannie Léautier was considered for a top leadership role at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This organization works to fight major diseases worldwide.

She later rejoined the Fezembat Group as a strategic advisor. She also served as the vice-chair of its Board.

Leadership in Banking and Finance

Frannie Léautier also worked at the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a Senior Vice President. In July 2018, she joined the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) in Nairobi as its Chief Operating Officer. In 2019, she became the Executive Director for the Bank's Asset Management business.

In May 2020, The SouthBridge Group announced that Frannie Léautier was appointed as a senior partner. Before this, she was a non-executive Board member and chairperson of the Group’s Board Risk & Audit Committee. As a senior partner, she is responsible for finding new business and helping the Group grow its advisory and investment activities.

Other Important Activities and Roles

Frannie Léautier has served on the boards of many important organizations around the world. Some of these include:

• United Nations Foundation, Board Member (since 2019)
• World Future Council, Member (since 2019)
• African Risk Capacity (ARC), Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee (since 2018)
• African Culture Fund (ACF), Board Member
• Institute for Security Studies, Advisory Board Member
• Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), International Advisory Council Member
• World Economic Forum (WEF), Regional Advisory Group for Africa Member
• Commissioner on the Economy and Climate - New Climate Economy
• Uongozi Institute (Leadership Institute), Founding Board Member
• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Treasurer and Director
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporation, Visiting Committee Member
• Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Founding Member
• Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Founding Member
• King Baudouin Foundation USA, former Board of Trustees Member
• Women's World Banking, former Board of Trustees Member

Honors and Awards for Frannie Léautier

In 2019, Frannie Léautier received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. This award recognized her important work in infrastructure around the world. She also holds an Honorary Degree in Humane Letters from North Central College in Illinois, US, for her contributions to Africa.

She has won many awards, including "Best Manager" and awards for excellence at the World Bank Group. She has also been featured multiple times in the New African Magazine list of the 100 most influential people in Africa. The Agona people of Ghana gave her the title ‘Nkosuohemaa’, which means ‘queen of development’ in the Ahanta language, for her work there. She was also recognized in a book called African Women of Worth.

Publications and Academic Work

Frannie Léautier is a well-known author and academic. She has written books, articles, and papers on topics like international development, leadership, and Africa's role in the world. She has taught advanced courses and advised students at many universities, including Sciences Po, MIT, the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and the University of Tokyo.

Selected Books by Frannie Léautier

• Leadership in a Globalized World: Complexity, Dynamics and Risks
• Cities and Spaces of Leadership: A Geographical Perspective Book
• Development Drivers in Africa: Role of Innovation

Personal Life

Frannie Léautier speaks Kiswahili, French, and English very well. She also knows some Spanish and Arabic.

See also

• Irene Tarimo
• Mary Mgonja
• Fausta Shakiwa Mosha
• Joyce Msuya