Pelkins is a scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur committed to building institutions that transform economies and livelihoods. He is the founder and CEO of CassVita, whose proprietary technology extends cassava’s shelf life from three days to 18 months—boosting the incomes of thousands of smallholder farmers by over 400%. Today, CassVita operates two mega-factories and is reshaping global commerce through scientific innovation and industrial capacity.

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A native of Cameroon and fluent in French, Pelkins was recognized as the country’s top high school student before earning a degree in mechanical engineering from MIT and a joint MS/MBA from Harvard, where he graduated with honors. He holds three patents.

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Outside work, Pelkins finds creative balance through music and stays active through soccer and tennis. He integrates mindfulness into his daily life and advocates for mental health awareness as a cornerstone of resilient leadership.