Ojany
The Drexel University College of Engineering is proud to announce that
Jonathan A. O. Ojany, an accomplished global executive and Drexel
Engineering alumnus, will deliver the keynote address at the College’s 2025
commencement ceremony on June 13.
Ojany, who earned dual bachelor's degrees with honors in architectural and
civil engineering from Drexel in 1997. Most recently the U.S. CFO and head
of strategy and transformation at KFC, his career has spanned engineering,
global strategy, and C-suite leadership at some of the world’s most
recognizable brands, including McKinsey & Company, InterContinental
Hotels Group, The Coca-Cola Company, and Yum Brands (KFC).
Though his path has led him into the boardroom, Ojany’s roots are in
engineering—and in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was born and raised. His parents
were his mentors – educators accomplished in their respective fields.
“My father was an educator who encouraged me to dream big and never give
up,” he said. “My mother was an executive and entrepreneur who championed
the importance of self-awareness and confidence, on preparation and
personal brand.” He has carried both these philosophies throughout his life
Ojany first came to Drexel drawn by the opportunity to merge creativity
with analysis. “I consider myself both a left and a right brain,” he said.
“Architectural engineering fit very well…using both the artistic part of
architecture and the scientific part of engineering.” Drexel’s cooperative
education program sealed the deal. “I liked the idea of being pragmatic…
working while learning to understand what the degree was about.”
At Drexel, Ojany balanced demanding academic coursework, a string of
co-ops, and multiple part-time jobs – all while navigating the cultural
complexity of being a Black African student in the U.S. His experiences,
both challenging and empowering, helped shape his values and identity as a
leader. He embraced opportunities for growth through student organizations,
leadership societies, and classroom environments that encouraged critical
thinking and diverse perspectives. The Drexel African Students Association,
which he helped found, became a place to celebrate heritage while fostering
a spirit of unity and cross-cultural connection.
Ojany credits Drexel’s co-op program with opening his mind to the broader
role engineers can play in shaping business and leadership. His two co-ops
at Sunoco led to a full-time position and early exposure to
cross-functional collaboration. “That was one of the early openings of the
aperture,” he explained. “You’re not just sitting at your desk crunching
numbers. You’re interacting with other functions driving change.”
In 2005, he returned to school to earn his MBA at the Wharton School at the
University of Pennsylvania, focusing on finance and management to expand
his influence beyond engineering. “I wanted to be part of a bigger part of
any organization,” he said. “And in order to do that, you actually move
from being the doer to the leader.”
In 2023, Ojany was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar, part of a
program offered by the presidential centers of former presidents George W.
Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. As a
Presidential Leadership Scholar, Ojany believes real change starts with
showing up for others and leading through representation and servant
leadership.
“If you're in the room, you (and by extension, the people you lead) have a
voice,” he said, a reminder that presence is power. He lives by the belief
that “a diverse group makes better decisions than a lone genius,” trusting
in the strength that comes from many voices coming together.
Ojany’s commencement address will focus on what he calls the “three-legged
stool” of success and navigating inevitable change and uncertainty: hard
work, timing, and luck. “You can’t always control timing or luck,” he said.
“But you can control how much you prepare and how you position yourself to
take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.”
That message echoes themes from Ojany’s personal essay,
“In the Footsteps of Giants,”
published in A Legacy to Share: Volume 2, a collection of
reflections from members of Drexel’s Black Alumni Council. In it, he
reflects on the foundation his parents – his heroes - laid for him, the
power of education, and the importance of being prepared for when luck and
timing align: “Dream big, never give up, be self-aware, always be prepared
and, particularly in the world today, control your brand.” These tenets
continue to guide his path—from working student to global executive and
change maker. They are testaments of the power of resilience, integrity,
and continuous learning.
Ojany remains a dedicated Drexel alumnus, recently joining the College of
Engineering’s Executive Advisory Council, where he helps shape the college’s
strategic vision. As he returns to address the graduating class, he sees the
moment as both personal and collective.
“You spend a lot of time in the working world,” he said. “My role as a
leader is to make sure people are comfortable, clear on what they have to
do, and set up to thrive.”
Ojany’s message is forged in engineering but grounded in humanity—a perfect
fit for the next generation of Drexel engineers, tomorrow’s leaders.
His speech – and his ongoing message – is dedicated to the educators,
innovators and pioneers, like his parents, Professor Francis Frederick
Ojany and Mrs. Agnes Grace Ochido Ojany. whose unwavering commitment to
learning continue to drive human enlightenment.
“Without these educators, mankind would still be in the dark ages,” he
said.