He works as the chief financial officer CFO at an import-export trading company, Comptoir Commercial General , and has been with the company since His day at Comptoir finishes around in the evening, but for Diallo that is hardly the end of his workday. After work, he often heads down to the docks on the Sangareya Bay in Conakry to check on his traditional fishing company, Dassy Peche.
The business was his idea and although he is not involved in the daily operations, he does keep a close eye on things. He has dreams of expanding the operation in the future: more boats, more captains, and more meaningful work at a living wage for his partners and employees.
His personal life mirrors his professional life in activity. Back home, he checks daily on his mother, who lives nearby, and spends as much time as he can with his wife and baby daughter, just a few months old at the time of this interview. He used to play soccer and run for fun, but between work and family there is hardly enough time in the day now. However, like at home, Diallo wants to dedicate himself to peak performance throughout his time at Notre Dame.
The program is an opportunity of a lifetime, one Diallo spent years trying to earn. He initially heard about the fellowship on the radio and applied twice—not making the cut either time. When he decided to apply again for the fellowship, with more experience under his belt, he made it his mission to be available and prepared.
He talked to previous fellows who were helpful and encouraging during the application process. His years of persistence paid off and when his acceptance to the fellowship came through he was informed that he had been assigned to the home of the Fighting Irish in a small town called South Bend.
