Andela Co-Founder Christina Sass Steps Down As President

Another Andela co-founder is stepping down – but not in the way you think. This time, it is the President and Chief Operation Officer (COO) of the Lagos-based outsourcing firm, Christina Sass, who is stepping down from her role as president and bringing her 5-and-the-half years of leadership to an end. 

Unlike Aboyeji, who vacated Andela’s CEO seat in search of other business opportunities, Christina will not be leaving the company. She will now play a supporting role as the chairperson of the Andela Advisory Council and the Andela Alumni Group. 

Christina holds a degree in Ancient Philosophy from the University of Georgia and co-founded Andela with five other people in 2014. In case you do not know, the company specializes in training software developers in Africa. Not just that, but also links them with tech companies around the world where their skills and talents are needed.

Under her watch, Andela has achieved quite a lot. In an official statement, she says that building the company has been the hardest yet best thing she has ever done, as she goes through this development with mixed feelings. The over-1000-workforce company now has offices in Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, and Kigali. 

“I feel immense joy when I reflect on all that Andela has accomplished since 2014, and when I think of the bright future that lies ahead for the company and the team. Of course, I am also sad because I have found my time at Andela the most uplifting, meaningful, fun, and profound experience of my life,”, she says. 

Andela has also raised a total of USD 181 Mn since inception, and its last Series D funding led by Generation Investment Management with participation from U.S grand slam tennis star Serena Williams. The firm has also been named the “Best Company to Work for in Africa” at the Great Place to Work Awards, “The Best Place to Work in Nigeria for 2018” by Jobberman and one of the twenty-five technology companies to watch by The Wall Street Journal in 2018.

“I feel immense joy when I reflect on all that Andela has accomplished since 2014, and when I think of the bright future that lies ahead for the company and the team. Of course, I am also sad because I have found my time at Andela the most uplifting, meaningful, fun, and profound experience of my life”.

“As I embark on my next professional pursuit, I leave inspired to consider all the many ways that Andelans, like myself, can continue to influence our world. I will be spending the next few months exploring entrepreneurial ideas.

I remain passionate about connecting talented young people with meaningful work and empowering women and will explore opportunities that can meaningfully impact those issues”.