Will Smith ’14

As a junior government major at William & Mary, Will Smith walked into a Politics in Africa course and was immediately captivated. Little did he know, that course would change the trajectory of his life. Will, a former two-year captain of the Tribe men’s soccer team and CAA Defensive Player of the Year, is using the unique combination of education, sports and leadership training to create opportunities for young people in Liberia, Morocco and communities across the globe.

Will is the founder and board chair of LEAD Edu, a global nonprofit that establishes, supports and grows programs that empower future leaders through education and sport. At present, LEAD has two leadership Hubs – LEAD Monrovia Football Academy in Monrovia, Liberia and LEAD Morocco in El Mansouria, Morocco – that educate, train, and feed 325 boys and girls. As LEAD grows its Hubs and works to add new ones, it is also building LEAD Learning, which aims to support the leadership and soft skill development of hundreds of thousands of children globally. During COVID-19, LEAD radio-broadcasted leadership lessons to over 135,000 children and are now working to integrate the program into existing schools, summer camps, and after-school programs.

Will is also the founder and CEO of Charter Oak Advisory, which provides advisory services to leading companies, nonprofits and individuals to maximize their social impact and improve business outcomes. Charter Oak has worked across a range of issues, including education, gender equality, sports for development, racial justice, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability and crisis relief. At William & Mary, he serves on the Global Research Institute Advisory Board.

Learn more about Will

• Watch a video about the Transformative Potential of Football.
• Read his feature in World Minded.
• Read about Will on the Global Research Institute’s blog.
• Read his feature in the W&M Alumni Magazine.
• Read his perspective on the power of scholarships and impact W&M had on his life.