Ismail was born and raised in South Sudan. He completed his South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) in 2012 from Eyira Adventist Vocational Academy in Maridi. Ismail is a proud alumnus of the United World College Program (UWC), a global movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. He obtained his International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2015 from UWC Adriatic in Trieste, Italy. Ismail holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (with distinction) from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, USA, which he completed as a Davis Scholar. Currently, Ismail is pursuing a Master's in Programme Evaluation at the University of Cape Town as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, class of 2022.

He began his career as a Research Analyst working for Institutional Shareholder Services, a leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions that empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth. Prior to pursuing his graduate studies, he also worked as a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Engineer for Water for South Sudan Foundation, where he led a UNICEF funded project to rehabilitate water points and construct sanitation facilities in rural schools and health centres