Jake Bright

Jake Bright is a writer, award winning author, and Whitehead Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association with a focus on business, politics, and tech. He contributes as an editor and independently for publications including TechCrunch, The Financial Times This Is Africa, and U.S. News & World Report. Bright is a frequent commentator to media outlets and his business reporting has received “Best Business Column” distinction by The Week magazine.

Bright is co-author of The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse with Macmillan Publishing. An Axiom Best Business Book Award winner, TNA details Africa’s transformation story driven by business, investment, entrepreneurs, and technology. Book related events, media, and speaking have included spots with Bloomberg News, The New Yorker, HuffPost Live, Fortune, World Economic Forum, C-SPAN, CNBC Africa, the White House Silicon Valley Africa Forum, Mic.Com, Kenya’s iHub innovation center, and The Council on Foreign Relations.

Prior to his current activities, Bright spent a decade in international finance as an officer at The Bank of New York Mellon. He began his career  in The Department of Commerce and on White House staff as a speechwriter and chief aid to senior international economic advisers.

Mr. Bright earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a certificate in African Studies from Michigan State University. He also attended Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, attaining a Master of International Affairs degree concentrated in international economics. Bright’s pastimes include open water distance swimming, aquathlon, and alpine ski racing. Jake was born and raised in Northern Michigan.