Rwanda, Inc.: How a Devastated Nation Became an Economic Model for the Developing World

Eighteen years after the genocide that made Rwanda international news, but left it all but abandoned by the West, the country has achieved a miraculous turnaround. Rising out of the complete devastation of a failed state, Rwanda has emerged on the world stage yet again-this time with a unique model for governance and economic development under the leadership of its strong and decisive president, Paul Kagame. Here, Patricia Crisafulli & Andrea Redmond look at Kagame's leadership, his drive for excellence and execution that draws comparisons to an American CEO and emphasizes the development of a sophisticated and competitive workforce that leverages human capital. In Rwanda, the ultimate turnaround, strong and effective leadership has made a measurable and meaningful difference. Rwanda's progress offers an example for other developing nations to lift themselves out of poverty without heavy reliance on foreign aid through decentralization, accountability, self-determination, and self-sufficiency. The authors also explore Rwanda's journey toward its goal of becoming a middle-income nation with a technology-based economy, and its progress to encourage private sector development and foster entrepreneurship, while also making gains in education, healthcare, and food security-and all with a strong underpinning of reconciliation and unification. As so many nations stand on the brink of political and economic revolution, this is a timely and fascinating look at the implications of Rwanda's success for the rest of the continent-and the world.

Patricia Crisafulli is the author of several books including The House of Dimon and Comebacks, which she co-authored with Andrea Redmond. A former business journalist for the Chicago bureau of Reuters America, Crisafulli's articles have appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and other national newspapers. Crisafulli has been featured on national television and in radio broadcasts, as well as in several magazines and newspapers. As a ghostwriter, she has worked extensively with thought leaders in business, finance, and leadership on more than 20 book projects.

Andrea Redmond is a well-regarded consultant who works with corporate boards, CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, and private investors. She sits on several boards of directors, including The Allstate Corporation, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Hospital, and the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center.
The authors live in Chicago, Illinois.