T. Sylvester John

As a Walmart corporate officer and head of (Massmart) group eCommerce in Africa, Sylvester is responsible for driving the overall digital commerce strategy, including omnichannel. Previously in the US eCommerce business, he founded and led last mile delivery, growing it into a multi-billion-dollar operation. Sylvester chairs Candid’s board, having started with Foundation Center in 2016.

Sylvester had a long career with the international nonprofit organization, Enactus. He was International President and founding head of their Office for Strategic Initiatives. Through various roles, he expanded international operations to 36 countries, greatly increased overall revenue, constituent base and beneficiaries, and helped develop data systems that still underpin Enactus’ international operations. He also founded and chairs his family charity, the OJJ Scholarship Fund, that sponsors full 4-year educational expenses for girls pursuing higher education in Sierra Leone.

Sylvester earned a B.B.A. in marketing and management from the University of North Florida (UNF) and pursued an MBA at Webster University. He has served as chairman or director of nonprofit organizations in a dozen countries. Sylvester was USA and Ghana Chairman of the world’s largest strategy and management competition, Global Management Challenge, member of the World Economic Forum’s Transformation Leaders (Agriculture) Network, and advisory board member of UNF’s Coggin College of Business, and Russia’s largest university, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA).

A native of Sierra Leone with US dual citizenship, Sylvester has lived in Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and South Africa for more than 13 years.