"Loughborough is a place I went to grow up," Jo reflects, recalling his years studying Politics and Geography. "The university wasn't just about sports; it offered a world-class education that sparked my interest in global issues."
Jo embarked on a career in peace building and development. This was fuelled by a master’s degree specialising in African political economy. This led him to Africa where he witnessed firsthand the challenges of global commerce and economic disparities.
Alongside his business partner Carl, Jo started ARC Global to make businesses that make money sustainably and help everyone involved. ARC Ride, part of Arc Global, is a project aiming to change transportation in busy cities like Nairobi and fight air pollution directly. Jo's work focuses on transitioning from fossil fuel vehicles to electric alternatives which demonstrates his commitment to both commercial success and environmental sustainability.
Jo recently met up with Professor Ed Brown, Professor of Global Energy Challenges at the School of Social Sciences at the University. Jo explained how one of their battery swap stations works:
“The battery swap system is a locker where you come and take an empty battery, you scan a QR code, you put the empty battery in, and you shut the door, and a new one comes out.”
He added:
“We call it swap and ride. This idea is literally real-time, anywhere access to your energy and then use that to ride around.”
For Jo, the proudest achievements stem from the collective efforts of his team of 50 dedicated individuals who are working to drive ARC Global's mission forward.
Under Jo’s leadership, ARC Group Global aims to foster transformative growth and inclusive development across Africa through innovative solutions and by challenging conventional norms to create lasting change.
Visit Arc Ride's website for more information.