Nana Achiaa Acquah has spent more than 20 years learning what makes people and organizations rise. She started out auditing numbers at EY and Aon Hewitt, grew global accounts at IHG Hotels & Resorts, and went on to shape talent strategy at Amazon Web Services. Along the way, she saw one truth play out again and again: the people who make the greatest impact are not always the ones with the biggest titles. They are often the ones who know their gift and use it.
As Global Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity for AWS Global Sales, Nana led global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity strategy for nearly 25,000 employees across 51 countries. Her strategies helped close measurable gaps in performance ratings, promotions, and retention, opening doors for talent that had too often been overlooked.
Today, as founder of Blank Check Global, Nana helps professionals and leaders turn hidden potential into visible impact through her five-pillar Blank Check Framework: identify, develop, activate, multiply, and leave a legacy. As AI reshapes work, her signature message, Your Gift Is Your Blank Check, invites audiences to ask: What can I bring that no one and nothing else can?
Nana is the founder and board chair of Glow Impact, a nonprofit that has supported more than 50 justice-impacted girls. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting Information Systems from James Madison University and the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification, completed Harvard’s Senior Women’s Leadership Program, and is a Forté Foundation Rise alumna.
Born in Ghana, West Africa, Nana carries a middle name that says it all. Achiaa means “waymaker.” Her work is built on a simple truth: titles change, roles end, and your gift remains.
