Isaac Y. Addae

Professor Isaac Y. Addae is an award-winning educator, author, speaker, and strategist. He currently serves as the Small & Minority Business Liaison in the Nashville Mayor's Office and is a business professor with over a decade of experience teaching strategy and entrepreneurship at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Previously, he held roles as Chief Strategy Officer at Pivot Technology School and in leadership positions across industries including automotive, defense, and IT (IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, Ford).

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Business Administration, Morgan State University (2021)
  • M.Sc., Systems Engineering, Tennessee State University (2006)
  • B.Sc., Electrical & Computer Engineering, Tennessee State University (2004)

Research Interests: Focuses on social entrepreneurs, impact-driven startups, and the role of small businesses in economic development. Also studies entrepreneurial ecosystems and strategic consulting for organizations in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Awards & Recognition:

• Nashville Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 Award
• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Connect Program
• NAACP Nashville Branch Legacy Award

Consulting & Leadership: Advises C-suite executives and organizations on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and cultural development. Serves on boards of Corner To Corner, Knowledge Bank, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and previously chaired the Nashville Health and Educational Facilities Board. Authored the book Black Boy Fly: Embracing My Ancestry, Blackness, and Purpose in the African Diaspora (2021), which explores his Ghanaian-American heritage and empowerment of Black males.