London, 29 May 2026 — A new memoir from Eritrean-born executive Yibrah Tesfazghi offers a rare, first-hand account of what it takes to build record-breaking success inside one of America's largest corporations and what happens when that success challenges the established order.

Glass Ceilings & Hidden Walls: A Tale of an African Executive & His African Dream Team — in Corporate America spans more than 30 years at General Electric, from Tesfazghi's entry in 1980 to his appointment in May 2003 as President and CEO of GE Africa, the first Black African to hold a senior regional leadership position within GE International.

Tesfazghi describes the book as "an act of protest."

"I do not mean protest in the sense of anger alone. I mean protest in its highest form, the refusal to remain silent in the face of injustice, and the determination to bear witness to truths that many institutions would prefer to leave unspoken.

“The GE Africa Dream Team did succeed beyond expectations. But what failed was the system's willingness to accept that a team of highly capable African professionals could outperform established norms and challenge long-standing assumptions about who is considered fit to lead.

“Never confuse the dismantling of a successful team with the failure of its vision. Talent is universal, but opportunity is not always distributed fairly."

The results under his leadership were unprecedented. In three years, Tesfazghi grew GE Africa's regional revenue from $150 million to $3.8 billion.

Between 2003 and 2008, Africa became GE's fastest-growing region in the world, delivering the highest profit margins globally. He assembled what he calls his "Dream Team", a cohort of indigenous African leaders who transformed how GE operated across the continent.

Within five years of those results, the team was gone. In his memoir, Tesfazghi shares his account of what he believes led to the dismantling of GE Africa's leadership, and what it reveals about the barriers that still exist for African professionals inside global institutions today.

The Dream Team members have since gone on to distinguished careers. Allan Kilavuka is now Group MD and CEO of Kenya Airways. Oswald Mkhonto is Sales Director at Air Liquide Global Engineering & Construction Solutions, Sub-Saharan Africa. Their forewords corroborate both the achievements and what followed.

ENDS

Tesfazghi is available for interviews and speaking opportunities.

Notes to editors

Publisher: African World Press | ISBN: 9781569029619 (HB) 9781569029626 (PB) Available at: africaworldpressbooks.com (https://africaworldpressbooks.com/glass-ceilings-hidden-walls-by-yibrah-tesfazghi-a-tale-of-an-african-executive-his-african-dream-team-in-corporate-america) | amazon.co.uk (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-Ceilings-Hidden-Walls-Executive/dp/1569029628/ref=sr_1_1_mod_primary_new?crid=111C8K1FPKUBG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lko_aUa33k1NfWoSjTz85g.lv8iVKbb91Tn6K-ULDuz_d5cpm5NGHY-Q8AdcI6tGkc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Glass+Ceilings+&+Hidden+Walls&qid=1779875147&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sprefix=glass+ceilings+&+hidden+walls,aps,357&sr=8-1)

● Yibrah Tesfazghi joined GE in 1980 and retired on 1 January 2019, after nearly four decades with the company.

● In 2003, Tesfazghi became the first Black African to hold a senior regional leadership position within GE International.

● Between 2003 and 2008, Africa was GE's fastest-growing region globally, delivering the highest profit margins of any region worldwide.

● Forewords are contributed by Allan Kilavuka (Group MD and CEO, Kenya Airways) and Oswald Mkhonto (Sales Director, Air Liquide Global Engineering & Construction Solutions, Sub-Saharan Africa).

Media enquiries: Joyce Oladeinde, joyce@crescendodigital.co.uk

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