Manny Ohonme On Visionary Leadership Driving Global Health Equity And Hope

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Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme serves as the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet International, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organisation dedicated to giving hope by giving new shoes to those in need.

Additionally, he is the Founder and Chairman of World Shoe, Inc., a multinational social enterprise focused on manufacturing innovative footwear in Africa.

Manny grew up in Nigeria and received his first pair of tennis shoes at the age of nine from a “Good Samaritan” visiting his country. Those shoes became a symbol of hope as he earned a college basketball scholarship in the U.S. and began a career in the technology industry. But Manny never forgot the children of his homeland or the “Good Samaritan” that encouraged him to believe in his dreams.

In 2003, Manny and his wife, Tracie, founded Samaritan’s Feet and have distributed more than 10 million pairs of shoes in 109 countries and over 600 U.S. cities. Manny has leveraged his success and unique perspective to drive social impact on a visionary scale.

Because of his eclectic career and inspiring life-story, Manny is a sought-after panelist and global speaker on topics like strategy, vision, purpose, leadership, social justice and have worked with companies and leaders around the world.

Manny is the author of Sole Purpose, co-authored The Journey, and is the recipient of the 2021 Pontifical Hero Award for Inspiration from the Vatican and the Cura Foundation. He is a 2022 U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement award recipient and a 2023 Rotary International Global Service award recipient.

Manny is committed to the betterment of communities worldwide and wants to repay that encouraging gift he received at the age of nine by giving hope through the gift of shoes to those in need around the world.

Manny discusses how receiving a single pair of shoes as a child sparked a global movement, the role of visionary leadership in catalysing sustainable impact, and how purpose-driven manufacturing in Africa is advancing health, dignity, and community empowerment.

Highlights from the interview (listen to the podcast for full details)

[Indio Myles] - To start off, can you please share a bit about your background and what led to your passion for social entrepreneurship and making a difference?

[Manny Ohonme] - It all began at the age of nine in Nigeria. As a child, I used to sell water and soft drinks in the streets and parks of Lagos. One day, I turned up to sell my drinks when a group of missionaries arrived to teach African children how to play sports.

They showed up with little orange balls that bounced, and while we were used to bouncing or kicking balls around, these ones were being played with using hands. They were running a sports clinic and having so much fun. I wanted to join in, but as I tried, I was shooed away because I was a street merchant.

As I stood watching all the other kids having fun, one of the balls rolled towards where I was standing. I quickly grabbed it, paused for a moment, and thought, “You know what? I can throw it in and join them.” So, I jumped in.

The missionary announced there would be a shooting competition, and said the prize for the winner would be a new pair of shoes. Every kid wanted to be picked. I was lucky enough to be chosen, even though I had never played basketball before.

My first shot went in the net. I ended up winning the competition, becoming the first person not just in my family, but in my entire community to own a pair of tennis shoes. It changed my life. From there, I started playing basketball, which eventually led to a scholarship to study in America. I completed my undergraduate degree and then went on to earn my Master’s.

I had always thought I was going to feed children, because I used to wake up every day saying, “It’s okay if I don’t have breakfast, it’s okay if I don’t have lunch, but at least give me supper so I can make it to the next day.” I knew what it was like to be hungry.

I dreamed of one day becoming the head of the UN World Food Programme, so that kids like me would never have to go hungry. That’s why I earned a Master’s in Agricultural Economics and Applied Economics, focusing on supply chains—thinking I was going to help feed the world.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would one day become a conduit for blessing others with shoes, just like I had been blessed as a nine-year-old kid.

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Can you share a bit more about Samaritan's Feet International, the organisation you co-founded, and what it is doing to help communities around the world?

It’s amazing. My father passed away in 1997, and when I returned to Nigeria to bury him, it was not only a tough time emotionally, but also an economic challenge for my family. The place where he had lived was in such poor condition that I couldn’t even use the bathroom in the house—I had to cross the street to the same park where I once sold water.

When I came out of the facilities, I looked across the park and saw hundreds of children with no shoes. Later, I learned that over 300 million children wake up every day without shoes on their feet, and more than a billion people become infected with soil-transmitted diseases. I thought, “What if I could start helping children like this?”

That’s when the seed for what would become Samaritan’s Feet was planted. When I returned to America, I spoke to my wife and said, “What if we dedicated our lives to helping children just like I was—to help them find purpose and provide shoes as a vehicle to activate hope in their lives?” That’s how it all began.

It took us five years. If you read my book, Sole Purpose, you can learn the full story. But the heart of it is this: five years later, we launched Samaritan’s Feet with the vision to put shoes on the feet of 10 million people across the globe. But we wanted to do something unique—we didn’t just want to give out shoes. We wanted every interaction to be memorable.

For every recipient, we humble ourselves and wash their feet. We learn their name, we ask about their dreams. It’s about inspiring hope—helping to advance hope, opportunity, peace, and education. That’s the vision behind Samaritan’s Feet.

To think that today, 23 years later, by the end of this year we will have served our 12 millionth person in 113 countries around the world. It proves how one person’s action can create a ripple effect. Who knows—maybe the next child we serve in Kuala Lumpur, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, or Ghana will become the next Manny.

Maybe they’ll go on to cure cancer or send the next rocket into space. That’s the power a single pair of shoes can have. That’s what Samaritan’s Feet has been doing across the globe.

That brings us to World Shoe Inc., another social enterprise you’ve founded that is innovating in the space of manufacturing footwear in Africa. What is the vision behind this venture, why is its model unique, and how are you adapting to the challenges you face today?

Our distribution model began when we decided to use shoes as a form of intervention, because at Samaritan’s Feet and World Shoe, we believe that shoes should be considered a fundamental human right for every person on this planet.

Everywhere you go—whether it’s a local community or a different country—the first sign of poverty is often children walking without shoes. That visible poverty becomes a root cause for a number of other challenges.

Without shoes, people are exposed to a variety of diseases. A simple cut can become a death sentence. As we incorporated foot washing into our work as a form of care and connection, we also encountered numerous foot-borne diseases—like podoconiosis, tungiasis, and jiggers—that proper footwear can help prevent.

After serving our 10 millionth recipient, we realised that this problem couldn’t be solved at scale through charity alone. We had to shift from an aid-driven model to one that’s development-focused. We needed to create a framework that empowered the people who needed support the most.

To do this at scale, we decided to establish a manufacturing facility—a world-class factory—in Africa, where the need is greatest. Too often, people in developing countries are expected to wait for solutions from the developed world. We said, let’s flip that script. Let’s create a world-changing intervention that is manufactured in Africa, allowing innovation to flow from Africa to the rest of the world.

We developed a unique product called the World Shoe. It’s patent-pending and uses a specially formulated organic antimicrobial compound that helps fight disease, reduce infection, and prevent odours.

We also wanted to be an environmentally friendly solution. The World Shoe is eco-friendly and includes a biodegradation accelerant—so once the shoe is no longer in use and is placed in the soil, it begins to break down after about five years. We’re intentional about ensuring our product does not become an environmental burden.

We established a factory and work environment with the capacity to produce over a thousand shoes initially, and now we've scaled to a capacity of approximately five million shoes annually. Unlike most footwear companies that subcontract their manufacturing, we’ve chosen to own and operate our facilities to empower local workers, create jobs, and produce a product that can truly change the world.

It’s amazing to see what we’ve accomplished, but not without challenges—particularly with supply chains and logistics. With the current wave of global tariffs, we find ourselves in a unique position.

We may become a solution for countries seeking alternative manufacturing options, especially in Africa, a continent with immense potential and a rapidly growing, youthful population.

Today, Africa is home to 1.4 billion people, and this is projected to reach 2.4 billion within the next 18 to 20 years. Within that time, one in three—or one in four—employable individuals globally will be African. The question now is: how do we replicate this model across other parts of Africa, continuing to create jobs, develop innovative technologies, and produce footwear that makes a global difference?

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That’s the power of World Shoe. We’re accelerating prosperity, driving job creation and economic development, and improving global health. It’s a powerful combination—one we believe can bring real change and transformation to the world, while also advancing education.

Something powerful happened a few months ago after we had a major flood in Aka Samba, where one of our factories is in Ghana.

What was incredible was seeing how the very same individuals who were unemployed just a few years ago—who are now employed in our factory, manufacturing shoes locally—stepped up to respond to the needs of their own community.

The shoes made right there in their community were provided to over 2,000 people who had lost everything. It was a realisation of our vision: that locally grown, locally made solutions can empower people to show visionary leadership. These workers demonstrated compassion, care, and a spirit of service that brought hope and transformation to those affected.

It’s amazing to think about what happens when people walk past our factory. It’s a world-class facility, and it sparks dreams in children. Engineers, future leaders, and technicians pass by and say, “One day, maybe I’ll get to work there.”

That’s what we mean when we talk about activating hope. The people working there are filled with pride, knowing they are part of something meaningful, developing a product that could help us one day create a world with zero shoeless people.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered, and what strategies or methods have you applied to overcome these barriers to ensure they don’t stop you from creating impact?

Operating a world-class manufacturing facility in Africa comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of the biggest issues is intercountry trade within the continent. Customs processes, corruption in certain areas, and logistical barriers all make it incredibly difficult.

In fact, it’s sometimes cheaper for us to ship a container of shoes from Ghana to the United States or Europe than to send that same container to Cape Town, South Africa, or Kigali, Rwanda. That has to change.

Another hurdle is the difficulty we face as an African-led organisation in gaining visas to help people in neighbouring countries. These unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles prevent us from responding to critical needs quickly. But we’ve learned that we can’t let those barriers stop us.

There’s also the reality that every pair of shoes manufactured must be paid for by someone. Often, the people who need our products the most don’t have the resources to access them.

With the recent reduction in international aid and the abolishment of programmes like USAID and other development funding streams, we’ve had to become even more creative and entrepreneurial.

We’ve focused on finding ways to market and sell our products to purpose-driven individuals—people who want to be part of a meaningful cause. We have to show them that by purchasing our shoes, they are advancing economic development in Africa, helping to create jobs, and contributing to health initiatives not only on the continent but globally.

So we ask: who can fund this work? Who can support our supply chain? Who can help change policy to make shoes a priority health intervention? We continue to navigate these questions while facing down policies that don’t yet see footwear as a tool for stopping foot-borne illnesses.

At times, it feels like we’re banging our heads against the wall of regulations, but we stay focused. We know why we’re doing this. Until we live in a world where every child has access to shoes, we won’t stop.

Someone once told me, “Nothing can stop a movement whose time has come.” And our time has come. We are needed now more than ever. Children need hope. The future depends on it. Without hope, we can’t achieve anything—and that’s what we’re offering through a simple gift: a pair of shoes.

For entrepreneurs or anyone looking to make a difference, why is visionary leadership so crucial? In a turbulent global environment, how does visionary leadership help navigate and overcome the difficult periods?

I always tell people that visionary leadership is the ability to take a dream and turn it into reality—to break through every major obstacle that stands in the way.

For me, it’s about looking at the world like a blank canvas and reimagining the kind of world you want to create. That’s the mindset I want every social entrepreneur listening to embrace. Let “no” be the fuel that propels you to go the extra mile and achieve what seems impossible. If something hasn’t been done yet, it’s simply because you haven’t said “yes” to doing it. So say yes—get started today.

It doesn’t matter what problems you face. Don’t let those challenges become barriers. Let them become catalysts. When someone tells me “no,” that’s when I get excited—I can’t wait to go out and prove what’s possible. That’s the beauty of visionary leadership.

I tell people all the time there are three key things we need to live by: we must love, we must care, and we must serve others. Every visionary leader needs to build on those foundations. When you love your world, love yourself, and love others, then your success (whatever it may be) must translate into helping someone else’s life become better. If not, what’s the point of having what you’ve been entrusted with?

At World Shoe and Samaritan’s Feet, our team members know they are loved and cared for. I remember one story from our factory in Ghana. One of our staff became ill and was sent home.

The very next day, she came back. We told her, “You need to stay home for the next three days.” But she replied, “I can’t—I have to be here with my family.” That’s how she saw her co-workers—like family. Because in our workplace, we care for each other.

If you want to be a visionary leader, care for your community. Care for yourself. Care for your neighbours. When we love, serve, and care, this world becomes a far greater and more beautiful place to live.

What key pieces of advice or lessons have you learned through your social entrepreneurship journey that you would share with changemakers looking to build scalable, impact-driven initiatives?

I always tell people—and yes, it might sound cliché—that your network will determine your net worth. And I don’t mean net worth just in terms of money or ego, where you tell the world how much you have. I mean it in terms of how much you care, how much you invest in others, and how deeply you're connected to a community of purpose.

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Surround yourself with big thinkers—people who are vision-driven. I always encourage others to dream big. When I first told people I was going to put shoes on the feet of 10 million children, many thought I was crazy. But I said, “Trust me, I don’t know exactly how it’s going to happen, but in my world, I believe I can do amazing things when I trust the supernatural power working through me.”

Dream big, and make sure your network is aligned with that vision—because collaboration is one of the most powerful building blocks for creating real change. Here’s another important point: too often, people get caught up in wanting credit. But I don’t care who gets the credit, as long as the work gets done. That’s what matters.

As a social entrepreneur, your focus should be on getting the work done. Assemble the right team, lean into the power of “us.” When you work as a collective, greater things happen.

And I always remind people—service to others emancipates humanity from the dungeon of self. Learn to serve. Because when you truly serve, greatness follows. That’s when you access real joy. And when you have joy, there is nothing you can’t do.

What inspiring projects or initiatives have you across recently creating a positive change?

We’re actually about to launch the next line of our product—The Row, which is a clog-style shoe. It’s set to lead our North American product launch and will soon be available through worldshoe.com. It’s an exciting step for us as we scale and expand our reach.

We’re also collaborating with the Foundations for Farming, a fantastic organisation doing incredible work across Africa. For example, in Zimbabwe, through the Ultra Africa Study, they’ve demonstrated how small plots of land can produce triple the yield through regenerative techniques. They’ve trained agricultural cooperative officers not just in Zimbabwe, but also in Rwanda and several other countries. It’s amazing work.

To prepare for a future where Africa’s population could reach 2.4 billion, we need to ensure food security. That means supporting initiatives that can feed not just Africa, but the world. What’s powerful for me is how our footwear can contribute to that vision—helping farmers and workers live healthier, more dignified lives.

We’re excited to collaborate with groups across agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare, providing the right footwear to improve health outcomes globally. These partnerships represent our holistic approach where a simple shoe can become a vital part of a much bigger impact.

To finish off, are there any books or resources you would recommend to our audience, Manny?

Aside from my own book, Sole Purpose, there are two others that have deeply influenced me on my journey. One is The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. I believe strongly in the power of purpose, and this book speaks to that in a profound way.

Another is The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. That book changed my life. I remember something my mother once reminded me of that’s stayed with me ever since. She said, “You’ve seen people survive for days without water, and people go days without food, but no one has ever survived a day without hope.”

Hope is the medicine we need for a better and more bountiful future.