WELLINGTON, Fla. — Arie Kouandjio was just a kid when he made a promise that would shape every chapter of his life. 

“When I was 10, I committed to express my faith through business,” Kouandjio says. “My north star is working hard and treating people right.” 

That commitment has carried him from a modest upbringing, to championship football games watched by millions, and to a meaningful career in energy. 

Kouandjio came to the United States at age six, moving with his family from his native Cameroon to Maryland. Opportunity didn’t come easily, but it came decisively when he started at DeMatha Catholic High School—a turning point he still credits for changing the trajectory of his life. 

“It was an incredible school,” he says. “It exposed me to more rigorous academics. It set me up for the rest of my life.” 

DeMatha’s mix of academic excellence, discipline and faith resonated deeply. It also happened to be a pipeline for elite athletes. Kouandjio soon found himself recruited to play offensive line at the University of Alabama. 

Arriving in Tuscaloosa, Kouandjio joined what many consider the greatest college football program of all time. But the road wasn’t smooth. 

“I didn’t play until my third year after a series of major injuries that should have been career-ending,” he says. 

Through “the grace of God and the help of so many,” Kouandjio fought back.  

The result: two national championships, significant academic accolades and one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. 

 “I got to play in front of millions with my younger brother and just have fun,” he says.  

That sibling bond extended well beyond the field, a theme that continues today. 

“In high school, we were left tackle and right tackle,” he says. “Opposite ends of the O-line. And now we’re bookending the country.”

Kouandjio remains close with his family, though his parents and siblings live all over the world. His teammate brother, Cyrus, now lives in San Franscisco.  

The Kouandjio brothers’ perseverance paid off again when both were drafted into the NFL, fulfilling a lifelong dream. 

“I got drafted to the NFL, which was a blessing—especially coming back from injuries and being held together by faith,” he says. 

He spent several seasons with Washington and Baltimore, but the physical toll eventually ended his playing career. 

“I ran out of gas in my knees,” he says simply. 

For Kouandjio, the transition wasn’t an ending but rather a return to the promise he made as a child. 

“Football was an excellent opportunity,” he says. “But business was always the plan.” 

Even while competing at the highest athletic levels, Kouandjio never faltered in academics. He graduated as one of the most accomplished students in Alabama football history. 

After the NFL, he worked in venture capital and leaned heavily on mentorship, speaking with dozens of successful business leaders. 

Their advice was consistent: business school. Kouandjio ultimately chose the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, calling the experience transformative. 

“I went to Wharton with the most amazing people. It made me a kid in a candy shop,” he says. 

When it came time to choose an industry, Kouandjio focused on impact. 

“Energy is important to the world,” he says.  

That’s what drew him to NextEra Energy. 

“Coming to NextEra Energy has been great for me. We are building and investing in the future,” he says. 

Kouandjio joined the company through a leadership rotation program, a move he describes as a deliberate investment in long-term growth. 

“One of my business school professors said, “when you move into a new industry, do a rotation,” he says. “I viewed that as an investment in my future.” 

His path has taken him across business management, origination and mergers and acquisitions.  

“The theory is to go broad before deciding where to go deep,” he shares. “I got so much help along the way, so much advice from leaders.” 

Seven months into his current role, his gratitude is unmistakable. 

“I feel blessed. My team is incredible. The work is incredible. I feel like I am skipping into work every day,” Kouandjio says.  

Today, Kouandjio lives in Wellington with his wife, whom he met in a University of Alabama study hall, and their two young sons. 

“My advice is to do the things you’re really interested in,” he shares. “And you may find the love of your life.” 

Outside of work, his priorities remain clear: family, faith and community. 

And that promise he made at 10? 

“I’m still living it,” he concludes.