Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Wemimo Abbey

Wemimo Abbey

Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Esusu, Henry Crown Fellowship

Sherman Oaks, CA

Wemimo Abbey grew up in the slums of Lagos, Nigeria. After his mother borrowed money from a predatory lender at 400% interest, Abbey and his co-founder, Samir Goel, launched Esusu to address such financial challenges. Wemimo serves on the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, is a Commissioner at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Board of Trustees at the University of Minnesota Crookston, a board member at the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA), and co-chairs the Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA) Director Circle. He was named to the TIME100 NEXT List and awarded EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. Goldman Sachs recognized him as one of the “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” in 2021 and 2022. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned his M.P.A. from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.