By Dawda Jallow
If Gambian-based innovation and entrepreneur expert, David Jeng was to scribble his grass-to-grace story, it would make a sold-out blockbuster movie at the box office. His story teaches hard work, consistency, doggedness and determination.
His story builds hope and conviction in the truth that Gambians are a force to reckon with, and anywhere the soles of their feet step on, their zeal and quest to excel never dies.
During his formative years in The Gambia, he was driven by passion and the strong will to succeed in his endeavours. Born on January 17, in Banjul, The Gambia. He completed his primary education at Methodist Preparatory School and his secondary education at Gambia Methodist Academy. Jeng also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of The Gambia.
Jeng never gave up on his dreams, in fact, he chased them with much gusto, he obtained a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property from Africa University, with his graduate research focusing on the strategic use of trademarks by small and medium-sized enterprises in The Gambia. He has also undertaken advanced coursework in Patent Law and Global Public Health at Harvard Law School.
The Harvard-trained innovator revels in being Gambian and is fiercely patriotic, flaunting his African identity in his solutions and presentations. He has been credited with spearheading several initiatives.
Working as a consultant for the World Bank’s Tourism Diversification and Resilience Project in The Gambia and also collaborating regularly with international organisations including the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union (EU) has proven with every seconds that there’s enough space for anyone who dares to dream.
Jeng is also on the Board of Directors for Women Empowered (WE), a non-profit organization that dares women to break the mold and make one another better. He is also under the Agricultural Systems Advisory Board (ASAB) of IoT4Ag which is focused on representing voices of the end-user grower community.
His leadership has been recognized through numerous accolades, including Leader of the Year (2023) by the West African Leadership and Empowerment Centre, Most Influential Global Leader of the Year (2023), and recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans in both 2024 and 2025 by the Pan African Leadership Foundation. A Mandela Washington Fellow, he completed leadership training in Business at the University of Notre Dame and a Professional Development Experience at the Penn Center for Innovation, University of Pennsylvania.
Jeng who made a covenant never to forget his roots has invested so much in capacity building, creating employment, and mentorship of Gambians, and even beyond — especially African entrepreneurs.
“I’ve always been inspired by the everyday problems we face in The Gambia and other African countries and the need to create cut-edging solutions for these issues,” said Jeng. This drive led him to entrepreneurship, where he successfully launched his own businesses and also helped numerous startup solutions.
As the Founder and Managing Consultant of Bliss Executives, a management consultancy firm, he has also led other entrepreneurs to shift global attention towards their own orbit — one bold idea, one visionary product at a time. With a keen eye for opportunities, he has established a remarkable presence in various businesses. Jeng also serves as Managing Director of Chapman Xpress Financial Services.
Gone are the days when validation had to come from abroad before it gets counted at home. The Gambia dream has evolved: it is global by ambition but proudly local in origin. Jeng has been active in business development and entrepreneurship for over nine years, with particular expertise in innovation, intellectual property, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development across Africa.
With an intimidating profile, Jeng has ensured that many young innovators are blending the rich textures of The Gambian culture with cutting-edge thinking. They are building ecosystems, launching movements, and redefining what it means to be world-class from The Gambia point of view.
Jeng identifies as Muslim and has interests in cooking, reading, and music. He maintains an official website at www.davidjeng.co and is active on LinkedIn.
He said: “I want many people to be inspired by my growth, and this is about making a meaningful impact while pursuing my vision and helping others achieve their goals.’
