Engineering
social change

Meet Isaac

Isaac Addae is a change agent dedicated to shifting the trajectory of communities of color, so those who reside within them have access to opportunities to thrive. By leveraging the collective resources of businesses, government agencies, as well as civic and social organizations, he is committed to developing and implementing creative solutions for communities’ most pressing needs.

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Expertise



Kind words

I have been truly inspired by Isaac from the very first moment that I met him a few years ago at the rest area at mile 75 of a 100-mile bike ride, the Tour de Cure, a fundraising event for the American Diabetes Association. During the next 25 miles, I quickly learned how highly intelligent and driven is Isaac in all that he does. Isaac is a gentleman with solid character and high integrity and somebody who calmly, but boldly demonstrates how much he cares about our community through his gentle words, involvement and actions. I cherish Isaac as a trusted friend. I look forward to opportunities to support Isaac in his career and also in his service to advance opportunities for those in need and to educate and galvanize support.

David Weil
Vice President / Quorum Legal Services | QUORUM Health

I am proud to be associated with Isaac Addae. He is a strong man of great character who makes a passionate and intentional point to support the community as an Educator, Political Advocate, Social Economic Developer and Philanthropist. Isaac is a Thinker and a Visionary for Entrepreneurship who not only has a promising future, but an unselfish drive to help others to also succeed.   

Carolyn Waller
President / Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce

I have had the pleasure of partnering with Isaac Addae over the past 2 years and has shown himself to be the epitome of excellence and integrity.  He is a true servant leader to his students and the Nashville community.   He is a true social innovator and visionary with the ability to bring resources together for the greater good.  Isaac is an inspiring communicator, change agent, strategic thinker, and is always focused on sustained solutions. He is an outstanding person both personally and professionally.

Jeff Brown
Corporate Trainer / Kroger Company

Core Values

PURPOSE. Identify your unique privilege and the responsibility to live it thoughtfully.
INFLUENCE. The vehicle through which change and impact occur.
CHANGE. Giving others the opportunity to leave things better for generations to come. 

Let's get to work.

  • Made in America (and Ghana) . A few months ago I had the chance to share some thoughts about my life and upbringing with Rodney E. Freeman Jr. on The Black Male Archives Podcast (@theblackmalearchives18). It was me being vulnerable and sharing aspects of my life that I've never discussed before. We talked about my childhood experiences as a child of Ghanaian immigrants in the Diaspora, and how I was shaped into the person I am today. We also touched on my community engagement and my approach to fatherhood. I’m glad Rodney thought that my journey was worth documenting in this way. My ancestors used the oral tradition, in lieu of writing, to share family history with future generations. Now it’s my turn to be the griot! Check it out in my bio link and let others know about Rodney’s podcast. 🇬🇭 🇺🇸
  • Birthday Thoughts: What a Difference a Year Makes . Lately I’ve become more appreciative of my time. A year no longer feels the same. Days, weeks & months zoom by, hours disappear in the blink of an eye. Every minute has become much more precious. These pictures may look similar, but a year later, I’ve changed tremendously! Time flies! . On this day last year, I wasn’t as healthy as I am now (spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, financial health). Since then, I shed baggage literally & figuratively. The @SamsoniteUSA bag I carried since 2001 was replaced. Past traumas that I carried around for years were thrown out like yesterday’s trash. I’m much lighter now. I stopped holding on to the weight of unrealized dreams and also lost over 20 pounds (thanks to Keto & @kevin_bazile @80_20fitness 🥗🏋🏿‍♂️). . I spent less time serving others and more time practicing self care. I started getting a monthly manicure / pedicure (thanks to Tonya @polishnailsconcierge 🖐🏿🦶🏿). I slept earlier, got more rest & woke up earlier. I only had 3 cups of coffee & found healthier ways to boost my energy. I read more, spent more time with my son, reconnected with family, poured more into my TSU business students, and served my community in healthier ways. . I got engaged to a wonderful woman (@drkishasimmons 😘), traveled to 6 countries, won teaching & community awards, got a new dissertation chair (Dr. Addae coming soon like Dr. Dre & Detox 😂). I spent less time talking, more time praying, listening, thinking, and doing. I posted much less on social media & started sending out a monthly email newsletter (subscribe on isaacaddae.com). I had several speaking engagements & was asked to be a commencement speaker (travel conflicts 😥). . So much happened (wins & losses) over the past year. I could say more, but I’ll end with this. Year 38 was one I’ll remember as a period of significant growth. I’m much less worried about who/what I am not & focus more on celebrating who/what I am & who/what I am becoming. As I approach my 39th birthday next year, I pray for continued growth. In the spirit of Nipsey Hussle, #TheMarathonContinues #38special #gate38 #morelife #moregrowth #moretravel
  • Independence Day, an annual celebration of nation building and freedom, is being observed across the United States today. The focus of today is America’s nearly 150 year journey, grounded in the concept of hope for a better tomorrow. As I think about how far we have come as a nation, I’m reminded of the collective work of millions of people that have contributed to the development of America. A nation is at its best when its people are at their best. With this in mind, I’m excited to announce that I’m cohosting a new podcast, Practicing Purpose, with my good friend @MarcusWhitney. I believe that everything great in the world begins with a simple understanding of purpose, followed by a connection of purpose to action aimed at bettering the world. I invite you to join Marcus and I as we delve into various aspects of life as it relates to fulfilling one’s purpose. Check us out every Thursday on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to let us know what you think. #purpose https://marcuswhitney.com/podcast/
  • Dear Father, You Matter . As a child you learn how to be a man by observing the men around you. I’ve had several positive male role models in my life, but my father, Dr. David Addae, exerted the greatest influence on my overall development as a man. He’s by far the most compassionate person I know and has a huge soft spot for anyone that needs help with improving their life. His journey from Ghana to America is an improbable one, and throughout his 40 years in this country, he’s worked tirelessly every day to help other people, oftentimes complete strangers. Everything that I am is because of my father. He’s a college professor, entrepreneur and community leader. Me too! My brothers and I are very much like him, and I’m sure our sons will be as well. . To all the father’s out there that are reading this, understand that your daily walk through life is creating a path that your children may one day follow. Whatever exists in your past as it relates to your father, unpack that baggage and let it go. Our children deserve the best version of us and in order to be our best for them we must shake the grip of generational traumas. . For various reasons, valid or not, society perpetuates images of Black men’s absence from fatherhood. I’ve seen many Black men internalize and almost become what has been portrayed. I’m here to tell you that you matter, even if you’ve been told otherwise. Never let anyone dim your light as it relates to your presence in your child’s life. Fight through whatever your being faced with because your child’s future depends on you being a positive and constant force in their life. #dearfather
  • Last month I was blessed with an opportunity to attend the annual Leadership Study Mission hosted by the @nashchamber. Austin, TX was this years location. This has been one of my best experiences since moving back to Nashville in 2015. Over 130 Nashville Business and community leaders spent three days learning how Austin built their innovation ecosystem. I started my engineering career at @IBM in Austin back in 2006. I had no clue back then how fast the city would grow. It was great to network, learn, brainstorm, and reconnect with some old Austin friends. My main takeaway from the trip is that Nashville can build an ecosystem similar to what we saw in Austin, but we have to be intentional and realize it will take a generational investment. Shout out to my brother @arvinpoole for the hospitality and to my Leadership Connect cohort for their friendship! #LSM19 #Austin #Nashville
  • Queen Mother . The older I get, the more I wish I had more time to spend with my parents. Thankfully over the past month, my siblings and I spent some time traveling with our mother, braving the desert climates of Tucson, Arizona and Marrakech, Morocco. Our father was back home in Ghana and missed all the fun. If you are familiar with the story of any immigrant family, then you’ll understand the difficulty faced after coming to America and trying to succeed. Through God’s Grace, our parents succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Our mother, Dr. Rejoice Addae, is the strongest woman I know. She has faced every hurdle in life with devout faith and optimism. She taught us to pray, be good humans, persevere, and lift others up as we climb. Even though we’re all accomplished adults, she is still concerned about our development and well-being. She started from the bottom and worked her way to the top, while also caring for our immediate and extended family. My mother is my superhero and I strive to be like her everyday. We had fun in Tucson celebrating my sister’s second doctorate degree completion. Roaming the streets and enjoying the cuisine of Morocco was also enjoyable. Also, she’s expecting her third grandson this summer. I know we’ll continue to make her proud. #queenmother 👸🏾
  • You vs. Expectations: Who Wins? . At various points in my life I’ve carried the immense weight of other’s expectation of me (personal, professional, social, etc.). In the past, when I would fail to meet all of the various expectations, I would internalize it as an inability to push through. As an achiever, I was essentially allowing unmet expectations to become a major source of stress that eventually became detrimental to my mental and physical health. About a year ago I reached a breaking point and realized I had to make a change. Through prayer and numerous conversations with my support system, I discovered something: there will never be a day when I am able to meet everyone’s expectations of me. Throughout my life, in every setting, I’ve been viewed as “the one” that will be the next ____ or can do ____ better than it was ever done before. Typically this would come with grand expectations that I immediately worked to meet. For a driven individual such as myself, there’s nothing better than a high bar being set for you to chase. If this sounds familiar to you, please consider this, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). Free yourself from the prison of other’s expectations. Realize that you are only one person and work to fulfill your purpose while also maintaining balance. Everyone will not be happy with you all the time and that is ok. Do your best to work at the highest level you can, but also give yourself the time you need to preserve your mental and physical health. There are too many casualties of expectations, people that have lost their lives due to prolonged stress and poor physical/mental health. It is truly a blessing to have people see the greatness in you and push you to be your best. However, you’re the only one that’s aware of your mental and physical limits. Keep in mind what’s most important in your life, hold on tight, and never let go. #expectations
  • Summer 2019 reading list. Finished Essentialism on Saturday. Almost done with The Bullet Journal Method. These plus countless research papers for my dissertation. What’s on your list? #bookworm #phdjourney 👨🏿‍🏫📚

Mission

To drive unity among communities, businesses, and governments for the purpose of strengthening their collective impact on people and society.

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