Awa Ambra Seck

Awa Ambra Seck is an Assistant Professor in the  Business, Government, and the International Economy unit at Harvard Business School and a Research Affiliate at LEAP Bocconi, CID and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. 

Professor Seck studies the enduring effects of colonial policies and the critical role of cultural traits in shaping policy effectiveness. Her research explores how historical legacies, such as colonial military deployments and administrative systems, have influenced migration networks, economic development, and political mobilization in Africa. For example, her work on En Route demonstrates how the deployment of Moroccan soldiers to France during the colonial period established migration networks that continue to shape economic outcomes in their communities of origin. Additionally, Ambra examines the importance of cultural institutions, such as the age-set systems prevalent in pre-colonial African societies, in determining the effectiveness of modern development policies. By integrating enthnographic research in economic analysis, her research highlights how tailored policies can better align with the social structures and traditions of target communities, ultimately improving their impact and sustainability.

Professor Seck earned her Ph.D. in Political Economy and Givernment from Harvard University in 2023, and spent the academic year 2023-2024 at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, as an Academy Scholar. She also holds an M.S. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University, and her B.S. in Economics from the University of Turin and Collegio Carlo Alberto.