Women and the Changing Face of Entrepreneurship in Africa Conference
A collaboration between Harvard University’s Center for African Studies & Lionesses of Africa
Virtual Conference, October 1-2, 2020 | #WomenChangingAfrica
Join in on conversations that will explore the landscape of female entrepreneurship on the continent, identify challenges and opportunities, examine policy frameworks, and define policy actions that would position African women, leaders in global female entrepreneurship, to play a transformative role in the world’s largest emerging market.
RSVP here by September 30th:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at africa@harvard.edu or admin@lionessesofafrica.com
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE
CONFERENCE PANEL SESSIONS
CONFERENCE AGENDA
(All times in EDT)
October 1, 2020
DAY ONE
9:00AM*: Welcome from Conference Hosts
Dr. Wafaie Fawzi, Oppenheimer Interim Faculty Director, Harvard Center for African Studies, and Richard Saltonstall Professor of Population Sciences, Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Global Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dr. Margot Gill, University Marshal, and Administrative Dean for International Affairs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University
Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO at Lionesses of Africa Public Benefit Corporation
Ibukun Adebayo, Co-head Emerging Markets Strategy at London Stock Exchange Group
9:15AM: Panel One (Plenary Session): Women Entrepreneurs, Business Agility, and Africa’s Massive Job Creation Challenge
Panelists:
Kofo Akinkugbe, Founder & CEO, SecureID (Nigeria)
Sarah Collins, Founder & CEO, Wonderbag (South Africa)
Divine Ndhlukula, Founder & CEO, Securico (Zimbabwe)
Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder & Chief Responsibility Officer, Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)
Kate Quartey-Papafio, Founder & CEO, Reroy Cables Limited (Ghana)
Moderator:
Melanie Hawken, Founder & CEO, Lionesses of Africa (United Kingdom)
10:15AM: Keynote Address
Delivered by Dr. Zoe Marks, Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Moderated by Dr. Wafaie Fawzi, Oppenheimer Interim Faculty Director, Harvard Center for African Studies, and Richard Saltonstall Professor of Population Sciences, Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Global Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
10:45AM: Panel Two: Women Entrepreneurs, Value-added Commodity Processing, and Economic Diversification
Panelists:
Kimberly Addison, Co-founder, ’57 Chocolate (Ghana)
Tiguidanke Mounir Camara, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Tigui Mining Group TMG (Guinea)
Flora Mutahi, Founder & CEO, Melvin Marsh International (Kenya)
Ndidi Nwuneli, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting (Nigeria)
Lorna Scott, Founder & CEO, Inverroche (South Africa)
Moderator:
Diane Côté, Chief Risk Officer, London Stock Exchange Group, Director of Women Inspired Network (United Kingdom)
October 2, 2020
DAY TWO
9:00AM: Welcome from Conference Hosts
9:10AM: Panel Three: The Digital Economy and Economic Growth for Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs
Panelists:
Nkemdilim Begho, Founder & CEO, Future Software Resources (Nigeria)
Rebecca Enonchong, Founder & CEO, AppsTech (Cameroon)
Suzan Kereere, Global Head Merchant Sales & Acquiring, Visa International (United Kingdom)
Catherine Mahugu, Founder, Chiswara & Soko(Kenya)
Aisha Pandor, Co-founder & CEO, SweepSouth (South Africa)
Moderator:
Roshini Naidoo, Executive and General Manager, Discovery Limited (South Africa)
10:10AM: Hakeem and Myma Belo-Osagie Distinguished Lecture on African Business and Entrepreneurship in Africa
Delivered by Dr. Vera Songwe, United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa
Moderator: Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong, Oppenheimer Faculty Director, Harvard Center for African Studies, Ellen Gurney Professor of History and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University
11:10AM: Panel Four: Strengthening Institutional and Policy Frameworks, Funding, and Networks to Advance Women Entrepreneurs
Panelists:
Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive, Africa Regions, Standard Bank Group (South Africa)
Hend El Sherbini, Founder & CEO, IDH (Egypt)
Essma Ben Hamida, Co-founder & Director, Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia)
Natalie Kolbe, Partner, Actis (South Africa)
Vanessa Moungar, Director of Gender, Women and Civil Society, African Development Bank (Côte d'Ivoire)
Moderator:
Chantelé Carrington, Africa Business Group COO, PwC United Kingdom (United Kingdom)
12:30PM: Closing Remarks
Myma Belo-Osagie, Of Counsel at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Nigeria) and Chair, Harvard Africa Advisory Board
*All Times in EDT
6:00AM PDT | 9:00AM EDT | 2:00PM WAT | 3:00PM CAT | 4:00PM EAT