Meet Aji Sanneh | Soccer Mompreneur & Global Health Economist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aji Sanneh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aji, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The COVID pandemic shifted the way most of us think about work, life and the fragility of life. My husband, Amadou, and I met, got married and had a baby while the world shut down. We also lived in two different continents; him in Plano and me in Geneva, Switzerland. We not only wanted to bring our family together under the same roof, we wanted to build a business together. With our son enrolled in swim classes, we wanted him exposed to soccer too, a sport that we both played and have a deep love for. We came across Soccer Stars and saw that they recently started franchising. This was a match made in heaven. After months of meetings, negotiations, and getting to know the corporate team, we knew that we found our tribe. We have both worked in the corporate world for over a decade and know that even with promotions and acclimates, there’s only so much that we can “create” and build. And with our young marriage and child, we are in building mode. As business owners, we get to build a company where our coaches belong, where they are valued, given opportunities, and most importantly, where they have fun! Offering soccer classes to kids ages 1 to 14 in a non-competitive environment brings a joy that one cannot explain. Their excitement at scoring a goal, getting positive reinforcement and being seen is a feeling that never gets old. As much as we teach them the fundamentals of soccer, they teach us adults that the little things can make the most impact on our lives.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I majored in political science and was determined to be a diplomat like my dad. During a conversation with my dad about my career plans, he was challenging me to see if I was really choosing that path because that’s what I wanted and not what I thought was expected. He tried to expose me to the education side of international development and my response was “how do you educate people who aren’t healthy?” We both paused. Even without knowing it, I was an advocate for health access to all and fighting against inequity before I even understood what the word meant.
I am a Gambian-American who has lived in 6 countries and speaks 3 languages. My ability to find commonalities with anyone I meet, irrespective of where they’re from, continues to enrich my life and diversify my network beyond my wildest dreams. For over 15 years, I have worked with governments in Africa and Asia to design and implement HIV prevention and treatment programs with a focus on adolescent girls and young women. It wasn’t easy. I was young and mostly dealing with cultures that naturally respected the presence of prominent grey hair and decades of experience. This did not deter me. I unapologetically spoke out in rooms filled with faces and features not like mine. I spoke out for people and communities who weren’t even given space in those rooms.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m the best friend! I’m new to DFW and exploring as we speak! I loved the Dallas Museum of Art and I’m sure I need several trips to take it all in. We discovered what I believe to be the best pizza ever at Milano’s in Richardson and Flower Child is amazing. Fogo de chao will also be a place to have dinner. And we’d go on a lot of hikes! I’m looking forward to exploring the outdoors some more.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband and business partner, Amadou is my first shoutout. His ability to see the vision even before I articulate is makes us work smarter and faster. We’re both learning as we go but there’s no better person I can imagine embarking on this journey with. Our son Sidi has been a constant source of inspiration for me. I see him learning something new every day. His curiosity, tenacity and light heartedness is a constant reminder for me to stay present but to also strive for greatness. His hugs and kisses make my heart smile every time, without fault. My parents and sister are really the wind beneath my wings. They have given me the safe space to be myself, to question, to challenge and to grow. Their opinion and feedback matter to me and I hope that I make them proud. My global health career has taken me to more countries that can fit in one passport. During my travels, I continue to meet people who some might think got the shorter end of the stick. People who are living with deadly health conditions, people with so little material things but who always have a smile on their face, happy to be alive for one more day. They inspire me every day to wake up, energized and to contribute to my community. Without even knowing my name and thousands of miles away, they continue to be a source of inspiration.

Website: https://soccerstars.com

Image Credits
Family photo: Suraj Photography Other pictures: Amadou (my husband and daddy to Sidi!)