The Executive Director of Brain Hills International School, Mary Anane Awuku, has emerged as the overall winner at the 9th edition of the Forty Under 40 Awards, held on September 5, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
The celebrated entrepreneur clinched two honours on the night, winning the “Best in Education Award” as well as the coveted “Best Among Equals Award,” which made her the ultimate winner among her peers.
She becomes only the second woman to win the top prize since the inception of the awards nine years ago, a recognition that organisers say underscores her influence in Ghana’s educational sector. The award also highlights Brain Hills International School’s growing reputation as a leading Cambridge-based institution.
Founded in 2018, Brain Hills has expanded to campuses in East Legon and Weija Gbawe, offering boarding facilities and a full preschool-to-secondary structure. Its long working hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and emphasis on holistic child development have set it apart in Ghana’s competitive educational landscape.
Speaking after receiving the award, Mrs Awuku expressed gratitude to her husband, Samuel Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, as well as her staff and stakeholders. “Thank you all so much for your incredible support. I am so grateful and honoured to have won the award in education and the overall winner for the year. This wouldn't have been possible without your love, encouragement and support. Your belief in me means the world. Thank you Team Brain Hill. We did it,” she said with a smile.
She added that the school remains committed to its vision of nurturing excellence. “The school remains resilient in delivering on its core mandate of improving the lives of wards through its core values of sustainability, professionalism, innovation and teamwork, child-focus and excellence,” she stated.
The awards ceremony, organised by Xodus Communications Limited, recognises influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age of 40 across multiple industries. It seeks to promote excellence in leadership, innovation, and organisational impact while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and competition among businesses in Ghana.
Mrs Awuku’s leadership journey extends beyond education. She is also the founder of FacilityPro Management Services Ltd, a multinational company employing more than 700 people across Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria. She holds an MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Ghana, is pursuing a PhD in Psychology, and has completed executive programmes at Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and a U.S.-based Principal Training Centre. Through her YESSHECAN Foundation, she continues to champion women’s empowerment and community initiatives.