Co-founder Dolly Owusu was born in Ghana, West Africa, an English-speaking country. At the age of eight, her life changed when she moved to French-speaking Belgium. This early immersion into a new language and culture shaped her understanding of bilingualism, resilience, and empathy. A defining moment in her journey was the kindness of her elementary school teacher, who dedicated her summer holidays to teaching Dolly French. That act of care and commitment planted the seeds of what would later become The Académie—a school where bilingualism, multiculturalism, and kindness are foundational values.

With 20 years of experience in education, Dolly studied languages and earned a degree in Teaching. Her professional journey includes international internships in Austria, educational experiences in the United States starting at age 18, and teaching in Louisiana, USA since 2024. Her dedication and excellence were recently recognized when she was elected Best Teacher of the Year at Erath Middle School in Louisiana.

Passionate about innovative learning, Dolly has consistently developed creative, project-based approaches, including theater projects, which she strongly believes are powerful pathways to learning a foreign language. Her work reflects a unique blend of passion, expertise, and savoir-faire.