Dambisa Felicia Moyo, also known as Baroness Moyo, is an economist and author who was born in Zambia. She is well-known for her analysis of macroeconomics and global affairs. Moyo has written five books, four of which became New York Times bestsellers. Her books cover a range of topics, from aid in Africa to the challenges faced by the global economy.
Moyo was born in Lusaka, Zambia in 1969. She spent some time in the United States during her childhood while her father pursued his postgraduate education. She later returned to Zambia. Moyo studied chemistry at the University of Zambia and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at American University in Washington, D.C. on a scholarship. She then went on to earn an MBA in finance from the same university. Moyo furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University and a DPhil in economics from Oxford University.
After completing her MBA, Moyo worked at the World Bank as a consultant. She later joined Goldman Sachs as a research economist and strategist, where she advised developing countries on issuing bonds on the international market. Moyo has also served on the boards of various companies, including SABMiller, Barclays Bank, Barrick Gold, and Seagate Technology. Currently, she is a board member of Chevron Corporation, 3M Company, and Condé Nast. Moyo has also been involved with charitable organizations such as Lundin for Africa and Room to Read.
Moyo is not only an economist and author but also a public speaker, commentator, and columnist. She has written for prestigious publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The New York Times, and Time. Moyo has spoken at numerous financial and economic summits and conferences, including the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Council on Foreign Relations. She has also appeared on television networks as a business news commentator.
Awards and Honors
- World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2009)
- Time 100 (2009)
- Oprah Winfrey’s Os First-Ever Power List (2009)
- Hayek Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
- GQ and Editorial Intelligence’s The 100 Most Connected Women (2014)
- Handelsblatt’s 25 Great Thinkers (2015)
- Evening Standard: London’s Most Influential People (2015, 2016, 2017)
Books
Dead Aid
Moyo’s first book, “Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa” (2009), became a New York Times bestseller. In this book, she argues that government-to-government foreign aid has harmed Africa and proposes alternative solutions for financial development.
How the West Was Lost
Moyo’s second book, “How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly – And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead” (2011), also became a New York Times bestseller. It explores the economic challenges faced by the Western world and offers insights into potential solutions.
Winner Take All
Moyo’s third book, “Winner Take All: China’s Race for Resources and What It Means for the World” (2012), examines China’s global rush for natural resources and its impact on the global economy.
