From AfRICA To The World: Recent Episodes
PABWA | Pan African Business Women's Association
Conversations CHANGING the narrative of Africa, telling the stories of, AfRICAN Excellence. AfRICAN Leadership. AfRICAN Inspiration.
From Africa, to the World with Yavi Madurai Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
OPPO Ep3: Tech Table of Opportunities
The Tech Table of OPPOrtunities is brought to you by @OppoSouthAfrica in partnership with 'I AM South African' & PABWA
In this week's episode Yavi Madurai & OPPO's Avashnee Moodley welcome South African Social Media Sensations, Youtuber Thato Fox & @ Tik Tok-ker Chane Grobler to 'The Table' to chat about is a career in being a Social Media Influencer, a behind the scenes look at the lives, and what ‘work’ looks like for them
Join us next week, same time - for Ep4 of the Women's Month Tech table.
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Happy Womens Month
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OPPO brings you “The TECH Table of OPPOrtunities”
A Limited Series Podcast for Women’s Month, in partnership with 'I AM South African' & PABWA.
We’re talking "Mobile Tech: Changing the Way we do Business"
Join us at the OPPOrtunity Tech Table where OPPO’s Avashnee Moodley & I AM South African & PABWA's, Yavi Madurai bring entrepreneurs Sibu Mabena and Logan Coleman to chat about how mobile tech has changed the way we do business, & even how to start a business, just with your phone!
Join us next week for Ep3 of the Women's Month Tech table
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
OPPO brings you “The TECH Table of OPPOrtunities”
A Limited Series Podcast for Women’s Month, in partnership with 'I AM South African' & PABWA.
We’re talking Women & Their Phones in this first episode.
Join us at the OPPOrtunity Tech Table where OPPO’s Avashnee Moodley & I AM South African & PABWA's, Yavi Madurai bring Digital Natives Deshnie Govender from #THATDESH, and Roseanna Hall from @the_goldenrose - to the table.
They discuss choosing phones over partners, having 2 sides to your phone to match the 2 sides of you – life & work, and even how you can use your phone as ‘therapy’ in terms of mental health.
Join us next week for Ep2, Mobile: Changing the way we do business.
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Amb Mehreen Mia Cassimjee is a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Humanitarianism, based in Durban, South Africa.
She has been directly involved in the peace and social cohesion efforts during the unrest and violence plaguing South Africa at the moment.
Large-scale looting, destruction of infrastructure and development, extreme violence was prevalent over a week until the army was deployed.
Now racial tensions are bubbling to the surface as the looting has become violent based on race.
Amb Mehreen describes to us what is really happening on the ground, how the women are taking back the power, how racial cohesion is actually playing out on one end while we are seeing media reports of racial violence, and how the media are perceived to the community at the centre of it, in the conflict-ridden environment.
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Davisha L. Johnson is a dual resident of the US and Ghana as a serial entrepreneur with a passion for African economic development in respect of gender. She has a multifaceted career, as:
- CEO of D.L. Johnson Consulting Agency, LLC a US-based political consulting and brand management firm
- Chief of Staff to Georgia State House Representative Sandra G. Scott
- Creator of the Ghana Investment Tour focused on SME's and international trade with the black diaspora
- Creator of the Global Black History Honours which is an annual event celebrating black people globally during black history month in Atlanta, Georgia
- Global Project Specialist for the Global African Business Association focused on women and rural black underserved communities in the United States and bringing African investment to the Diaspora
- Former National Director of Development for the National Women in Agriculture Association
- Founder and President of the Cooperative Executive Management Team, LLC which assists black Farmers globally in agribusiness and Hemp policy domestically and internationally
Ms. Johnson studied something completely different to business - she studied architecture at Morris Brown college for two years and then at Southern Polytechnic State University for four years, and then went on to study construction management for four years at University of Houston and received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Georgia State University in 2016.
She has only been in politics for a very short time but has advised elected officials from 7 different African countries and has a major focus on women in agribusiness.
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The Generation Equality Forum The Generation Equality Forum took place in Paris from 30 June – 2 July 2021, the 2nd leg after Mexico City in March earlier this year.
The Forum launched a 5-year action journey to achieve irreversible progress towards gender equality, founded on a series of concrete, ambitious and transformative actions, including $40 Billion in financial commitments, announced by UN Women Executive Director, Africa's very own Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Charlotte Lobe, South Africa's COO of the Department of International Relations and Co-Operation, joined us on the final day of the historical event, to give us insight into:
- what the 3 days of the Forum were about
- What Generation Equality is and it's context and background (hint: 1995 Beijing Platform for Action - see: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/csw59/feature-stories)
- The 4 Action Coalitions + 1 compact
- South Africa and Kenya's commitments: how do organisations, private sector, and civil society can take it and make it their own, realising the goals of the commitments made.
PABWA has endorsed the commitments made by South Africa and Kenya, by putting forward our commitments highlighting specific programs and initiatives that are already in progress - making OUR commitments tangible, and therefore contributing to the goals of the commitments made.
Our challenge to other organisations: show us your commitments!
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The GENERATION EQUALITY FORUM: A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
#ActForEqual
The Generation Equality Forum is a global movement for gender equality, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France.
The Forum brings together governments, corporations, NGOs, youth-led groups and Foundations to secure concrete, ambitious, and transformative commitments for gender equality. These are shaped by the Action Coalitions. They are the world’s roadmap for gender equality.
COVID-19 has exposed and accelerated existing gender inequalities. The impact on women and girls has been severe and disproportionate. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, we must put gender equality at the heart of that process.
To make this happen, we all need to play our part
Act For Equal! Join Generation Equality and show people everywhere that, together, we’re standing up for gender equality.
The Generation Equality Forum is on from 30 June - 2 July 2021 in Paris
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In this excerpt from an interview with Melissa Fleming - Ma'm Phumzile answers the question on what keeps her up at night, and her call to simply "empower women".
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Being Special Advisor to the Nigerian Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment - means that Collins Osagie Omokaro is the man that drives the implementation of a range of initiatives within the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan to facilitate the implementation of key initiatives, aimed at accelerating the diversification of the Nigerian economy for:
- economic growth
- job creation
- poverty alleviation
Some of these initiatives include:
- the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP)
- supporting the growth of MSMEs
- accelerating investment in the Nigerian economy
- and facilitating trade promotion & establishing 21st century trade/free trade agreements
He has managed key projects which include:
- the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (SMP) in collaboration with the largest conglomerate companies in Nigeria
- cost-differential analysis on Textile and Garment industry competitiveness – using China and Nigeria as case studies
- the diversification plan created to boost the growth of revenue from the non-oil sector
- and he is Advisor to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)
In this episode and series we talk about Nigeria's readiness for operationalisation of the AfCFTA, what have been Nigeria's key challenges, but mainly what have been the things they have done and are doing to ensure they maximise benefit for Nigerians in this era of the AfCFTA.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
June 16th, is commemorated annually as the DAY of the AFRICAN CHILD (DAC).
The theme for 2021 is “30 years after the adoption of the Charter: accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for children”.
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Committee), established under Articles 32 and 33 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the Charter) selected this theme for the commemoration of the DAC in 2021.
Did you know about Agenda 2040?
Agenda 2040
- Aspiration 1: The African Children’s Charter, as supervised by the African Children’s Committee, provides an effective continental framework for advancing children’s rights
- Aspiration 2: An effective child-friendly national legislative, policy and institutional framework is in place in all Member States
- Aspiration 3: Every child’s birth and other vital statistics are registered
- Aspiration 4: Every child survives and has a healthy childhood
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Yavi Madurai speaks to her daughter Tanith Madurai, a young youth activist fighting for Gender Equality, Education that tells Africa's story from Africa's perspective, and Climate Change, through her organisation GenEqual, which she founded under another name at the age of just 8 years old - about the status of youth on the continent, the challenges, opportunities and what leaders of the current generation should be thinking about when leading and leaving a world for the next generation.
Tanith was recently chosen from 750 applications to be one of 100 Volunteers for AfricaYouthHub Volunteer Program, and she also starts her Harvard Undergraduate International Relations Foreign Policy program, coincidently today - on 'Youth Day'.
In looking forward to starting the program with some of the world's most prolific international leaders, she had this to say,
"In the future there’s going to be the African continent that will run the world from a workforce perspective. I think the main reason why I’m doing this, is when I’m older, to be able to understand and learn how I can position Africa from a foreign policy point of view, understanding that today we are seen as 'less', however by the time I am part of the workforce, technically, the world will be Africanised!" ~ Tanith Madurai
We couldn't have said it better.
Leaders are already here ... waiting their turn to lead and impact.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Special Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, means that Collins Osagie Omokaro is the man that drives the implementation of a range of initiatives within the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan to facilitate the implementation of key initiatives, aimed at accelerating the diversification of the Nigerian economy for:
- economic growth
- job creation
- poverty alleviation
Some of these initiatives include:
- the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP)
- supporting the growth of MSMEs
- accelerating investment in the Nigerian economy
- and facilitating trade promotion & establishing 21st century trade/free trade agreements
He has managed key projects which include:
- the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (SMP) in collaboration with the largest conglomerate companies in Nigeria
- cost-differential analysis on Textile and Garment industry competitiveness – using China and Nigeria as case studies
- the diversification plan created to boost the growth of revenue from the non-oil sector
- and he is Advisor to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)
In this episode and series we talk about Nigeria's readiness for operationalisation of the AfCFTA, what have been Nigeria's key challenges, but mainly what have been the things they have done and are doing to ensure they maximise benefit for Nigerians in this era of the AfCFTA.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Matthew Wilson, Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre - from his offices at the ITC in Geneva speaks to PABWA ED Yavi Madurai - somewhere on the continent "they call it Africa, we call it home'.
*Season 4 has a new format of an on-demand miniseries with volumes: we invite you to the Matthew Wilson miniseries.
Let's listen in as Yavi and Matthew chat though trade, intra-Africa trade, global trade and Africa's diaspora, discussing how to translate what we feel is Africa's time NOW, more than it has ever been before, but how this translates into action and leadership requirements to make it a reality. It's time for the world to feel 'Afrofinity' ... don't you agree?
From Africa, to the World, we're CHANGING the narrative of Africa one podcast at a time, showcasing "African Excellence, African Leadership, and African Inspiration" - from Africa and it's diaspora.
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Matthew Wilson has been the Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre since 2013. He is responsible for providing strategic advice to the Head of the ITC and ensuring the effective outreach, coordination and running of the Office of the Executive Director. Prior to this he served in the Cabinet of Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation where he was responsible for Development issues, Aid for Trade, trade facilitation, trade finance and the relations with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Mr. Wilson had previously served as Deputy Aid for Trade Coordinator at the WTO and was a trade negotiator and diplomat for the Government of Barbados for 8 years at the Permanent Mission of Geneva to the United Nations. In this role he was a lead negotiator on trade, labour and human rights matters. He was the inaugural ‘friend of the chair ‘ for the Trade Facilitation special and differential negotiations, the Chair of the ACP working group on EPAs and Vice Chair of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Duties, Vice Chair of the Safeguards Committee and Vice Chair of the Anti-Dumping Committee. He started his career as a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
He has a MSC degree in International Development, MSC Post-Graduate degree in International Relations and a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology. He is a Chevening Scholar and an alumni of the University of the West Indies and the University of Bath.
Season 4 started on 26 May 2021*
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Matthew Wilson, Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre - from his offices at the ITC in Geneva speaks to PABWA ED Yavi Madurai - somewhere on the continent "they call it Africa, we call it home'.
*Season 4 has a new format of an on-demand miniseries with volumes: we invite you to the Matthew Wilson miniseries.
Let's listen in as Yavi and Matthew chat though trade, intra-Africa trade, global trade and Africa's diaspora, discussing how to translate what we feel is Africa's time NOW, more than it has ever been before, but how this translates into action and leadership requirements to make it a reality. It's time for the world to feel 'Afrofinity' ... don't you agree?
From Africa, to the World, we're CHANGING the narrative of Africa one podcast at a time, showcasing "African Excellence, African Leadership, and African Inspiration" - from Africa and it's diaspora.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew Wilson has been the Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre since 2013. He is responsible for providing strategic advice to the Head of the ITC and ensuring the effective outreach, coordination and running of the Office of the Executive Director. Prior to this he served in the Cabinet of Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation where he was responsible for Development issues, Aid for Trade, trade facilitation, trade finance and the relations with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Mr. Wilson had previously served as Deputy Aid for Trade Coordinator at the WTO and was a trade negotiator and diplomat for the Government of Barbados for 8 years at the Permanent Mission of Geneva to the United Nations. In this role he was a lead negotiator on trade, labour and human rights matters. He was the inaugural ‘friend of the chair ‘ for the Trade Facilitation special and differential negotiations, the Chair of the ACP working group on EPAs and Vice Chair of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Duties, Vice Chair of the Safeguards Committee and Vice Chair of the Anti-Dumping Committee. He started his career as a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
He has a MSC degree in International Development, MSC Post-Graduate degree in International Relations and a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology. He is a Chevening Scholar and an alumni of the University of the West Indies and the University of Bath.
Season 4 started on 26 May 2021*
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Matthew Wilson, Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre - from his offices at the ITC in Geneva speaks to PABWA ED Yavi Madurai - somewhere on the continent "they call it Africa, we call it home'.
*Season 4 has a new format of an on-demand miniseries with volumes: we invite you to the Matthew Wilson miniseries.
Let's listen in as Yavi and Matthew chat though trade, intra-Africa trade, global trade and Africa's diaspora, discussing how to translate what we feel is Africa's time NOW, more than it has ever been before, but how this translates into action and leadership requirements to make it a reality. It's time for the world to feel 'Afrofinity' ... don't you agree?
From Africa, to the World, we're CHANGING the narrative of Africa one podcast at a time, showcasing "African Excellence, African Leadership, and African Inspiration" - from Africa and it's diaspora.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew Wilson has been the Chief Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre since 2013. He is responsible for providing strategic advice to the Head of the ITC and ensuring the effective outreach, coordination and running of the Office of the Executive Director. Prior to this he served in the Cabinet of Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation where he was responsible for Development issues, Aid for Trade, trade facilitation, trade finance and the relations with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
Mr. Wilson had previously served as Deputy Aid for Trade Coordinator at the WTO and was a trade negotiator and diplomat for the Government of Barbados for 8 years at the Permanent Mission of Geneva to the United Nations. In this role he was a lead negotiator on trade, labour and human rights matters. He was the inaugural ‘friend of the chair ‘ for the Trade Facilitation special and differential negotiations, the Chair of the ACP working group on EPAs and Vice Chair of the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Duties, Vice Chair of the Safeguards Committee and Vice Chair of the Anti-Dumping Committee. He started his career as a Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
He has a MSC degree in International Development, MSC Post-Graduate degree in International Relations and a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology. He is a Chevening Scholar and an alumni of the University of the West Indies and the University of Bath.
Season 4 started on 26 May 2021*
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Inspired and Dedicated to the Youth of Africa
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I AM Africa Rising.
We are born IN Africa. Nay we are born OF Africa, a soil & hearts so great, Africa is born IN us.
We are born of a continent where wars, (neo) colonialism, & propaganda are plotted to keep us small, because they fear the power if we are to know who we truly are.
We are born in a time of possibility, a time of Ubuntu, a time of "Africa Rising" - beyond all that is against us, but only if we choose the path of 'rising'.
We are Giants in talent & innovation - we need to know this, remember this, feel this, tell our children this - THIS is who we are, so we can rise to who we can become.
We are the youngest people in the world - women, children & men of Africa, with the brightest future, resilient & proud, standing tall, wanting to rise into the Titans we actually are.
WE can be Africa Rising.
Born under the glory of the African sun.
A sun so strong & beautiful, it makes our skin glow with shades of golden brown & bronze, but we let narratives of black and white define who we are & what we become.
We are a generation who have let the seeds of conflict, violence, corruption, treason, & greed grow in our minds & actions. We have let the evil of money, distrust, & selling our children's future be our guiding light, destroying hope & wealth - making us weak, just what they want.
We ARE Africa Rising.
We are called upon today to be warriors to fight this scourge. To fight against the seeds of greed and inhumanity, planted by others & ourselves.
We are called to fight for our children, our morality, the financial inclusion of our women & youth, the development & economic self-sustainability of our people.
We are called to fight today for our unity, our growth in Trade not aid, we are called to fight for our legacy to be warriors of change & prosperity, not thieves of our children's future.
WE must be the ones we were waiting for, the ones our children are waiting for.
WE must ask with truth in our hearts and minds - what do we bring to the title of AFRICAN?
Rise Africa, so we can say we were here!
Rise, so we can say, we raised the bar, we raised the power & the meaning of saying "WE ARE AFRICAN"
WE are Africa Rising
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My idea for a great podcast: "How to podcast"
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We hope you are all ready for Part 2 of the conversation with #TheSisterhood
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I’m a Simon Sinek “start with why” advocate, so... ‘WHY this book?’
Did we really need another book about leadership or Africa?
Yes, we did.
Because, quite simply, the more people ‘get’ the key messaging about African excellence, leadership and inspiration – the better it is for Africa. The more we draw attention to the narrative that has indeed started to change, the more it needs to be harnessed into the essence of the continent, to normalise being proudly African in our views, opinions, perceptions and culture.
This book is a labour of love for so many reasons, but mostly because these are real conversations with real impact.
These unprecedented times have catalysed a need to take a step back to consider who we are, and what it is we desire the most for humanity’s future, as we plot a way forward.
I have noticed something over the last year and a bit: one of the psychological impacts of living in the midst of a global pandemic is similar to living with a life-threatening disease – as a Cancer survivor it feels now that ‘everyone’ around me wants to ‘leave a legacy’.
...
You'll have to buy the book to find out more!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
This book is not about me – it’s about the conversations I have had, and the take-aways from those conversations.
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If there is one thing that I am constantly annoyed about - it is the lack of recognition and affirmation for the excellence, leadership, and sources of inspiration that come out of the African continent.
There are many organisations working towards changing the narrative of Africa, and the more we have, the more we will still need, in my humble opinion. The media fraternity in Africa is acutely aware of the dynamics of what needs to be corrected, and they fight the good fight on a daily basis. My respect and admiration for these front-line soldiers of the written and spoken word, knows no bounds – a reflection of my belief in the 1839 quote by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “The pen IS mightier than the sword”.
As the Executive Director of PABWA, I wanted to add my voice to this struggle - inspired and challenged by the icon of feminism and the struggle-stalwart for gender equality: former South African Deputy President, and current UN Women Executive Director, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, but in a way that I knew how - that meant that I defaulted to technology – and so my podcast “From AfRICA To The World” was born.
As we were a new organisation, I truly and honestly wanted advice from these legends, these power-players, the new and bold voices, the game-changers, and the change-makers … so a question to them became an unplanned habit – “what advice would you give me?’
...
You'll have to buy the book to find out what the advice was ;)
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The podcast audio excerpt of the prologue of the book - based on the podcast ;)
What is "Africa Rising"?
What does it mean?
Why name a book after it?
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Today's episode features one of the most talented professionals from our great continent, but she is also one of Africa's social-conscious warriors.
Princess Doo Agbadu is a Behavioural Therapist, Executive Coach, Founder of the School of Confidence, Founder of Esteem Executive Coaching, Podcast Host (of "Moments with Doo" podcast), AND Executive Director of the EsteemHub International (Africa).
A head for wisdom, a heart for women and girls, and a voice for all Africans.
We can't wait to introduce her to you!
FromAfRICAToTheWorld🌍
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The conversation continues in Part 2...
S3 Ep2 From AfRICA to the World with Yavi Madurai: in conversation with MAVIS OWUSU-GYAMFI of ACET
The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) was founded in 2008, by Dr. K.Y. Amoako, with a central understanding – that Africa needs more than economic growth. Even as our continent makes steady economic gains, too many countries are not positioned to sustain their progress.
According to ACET, Africans continue to rely excessively on low-productivity agriculture for rural employment, and they have failed to develop strong manufacturing sectors. Exports are generally limited to a narrow range of agricultural commodities and natural resources, and businesses are difficult to open and operate, stifling the development of a vibrant private sector. Previous attempts to reform the situation through incremental poverty reduction backed by foreign aid have had limited success in addressing the underlying structural limitations facing most African economies.
ACET produces research, offers policy advice, and galvanizes action for African countries to develop their economies, reduce poverty, and improve livelihoods for all their people. They are the pre-eminent African organization advancing African solutions to African challenges.
In their view, growth is not enough. Africa must also transform through diversified production, competitive exports, increased productivity, upgraded technology, and improved human well-being.
From a PABWA perspective, we couldn’t agree more, and in galvanising our support, of the objectives of this visionary organisation, today we want to introduce our audiences to ACET’s newly appointed Executive Vice President, Madame Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi.
Madame Owusu-Gyamfi is definitely no stranger to Africa though.
Armed with an MPhil from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, she is a political economist by training and a private sector development specialist, who previously worked at the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where she led the creation and implementation of DFID’s first private sector development strategies in a number of countries. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi has an extensive career in international development that includes running economic and social development projects and programmes in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
In a previous role of Director of Investments at The Power of Nutrition where she oversaw rapid growth across a dozen African and Asian countries. Prior to joining The Power of Nutrition, she served as Director of Programme Policy and Quality for Save the Children UK, and was previously the Head of Profession for Private Sector Development at the UK’s Department of International Development.
With a stellar career already behind her, this Ghanian born national says of her new position, having joined ACET on 6 July 2020, and I quote “It is a privilege to join an African-led organization at such a pivotal time,” Mavis said. “Navigating the economic impact of COVID-19 is a new and immediate challenge. Through its staff of specialists and network of thought leaders, ACET is well positioned to assist African governments to build stronger economies that can better withstand future shocks. I am very excited to be a part of ACET and to contribute to that mission.”
Thank YOU Mavis for a seat at YOUR table
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The Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program (CELP) is a unique and fully funded leadership development opportunity that provides an experience to a multidisciplinary curriculum taught by Harvard University professors for students who are the first in their family to attend university. This program is for students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, are between the ages 18-26, and students must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate university program or a recent graduate from a university within the last three years.
The goals of the program are to create a diverse pipeline of future graduate students and to cultivate future leaders from across an array of socio-economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds, across the world.
The program began in 2017 and is now heading towards its 4th year. This program is an initiative of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University, and led by Harvard Business School Professors Tarun Khanna and Karim Lakhani.
Prof. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor, Harvard Business School & Director of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute says, "The idea is to find the ‘Hidden Ramanujans’ or the ‘Lost Einsteins,’ and to propel their careers forward, regardless of what field of human endeavor they wish to embrace. Talent is distributed all over, opportunity is not. As an educator, this is my duty to society."
The Application process consists of a few easy steps, with the first step literally taking 15 mins. If selected into the first stage, all applicants get access to a few HarvardX courses that are worth hundreds of dollars, with a certificate issued. The second stage is quite exciting as potential finalists will engage in an interdisciplinary seminar series featuring senior Harvard faculty across a range of disciplines, providing courses on the sciences, arts, humanities, and more.
And, if ever you wanted to be tested for your IQ by Harvard University, you’ll have to make it to the 3rd stage, for the Intelligence Test – students have the opportunity to undergo a psychometric and aptitude assessment to unlock their strengths and unique abilities.
The 4th stage is the virtual Interview – Successful candidates who passed the examinations and courses will undergo a video assessment with the Harvard team to get an overall sense of their base level capabilities.
Pre-Covid, you would have been invited to a week-long in-person Dubai Program for the ultimate Harvard Business School classroom experience, all fully funded, and led by Harvard Business School faculty. In a pandemic driven world though, virtual is the current go-to, but students will still access a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes a combination of case studies, small group discussions and mentorship on potential career paths for the year.
There are 100 finalists that attend the final programme every year, in an intensive finalist program with case-study-based curricula. This finalist stage also includes consideration for a 1,500 US$ student grant for internships/short courses in-region, and a competition for 10,000 US$ seed fund for innovative in-region initiatives, that will hopefully contribute to community progress & growth sustainability.
Today, I have the pleasure of continuing the conversation with the Director of the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asian Institute at Harvard University, and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, Professor Tarun Khanna.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
In today's episode we are joined by Professor Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School & the Director of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
The Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program (CELP) is a unique and fully funded leadership evelopment opportunity that provides an experience to a multidisciplinary curriculum taught by Harvard University professors for students who are the first in their family to attend university. This program is for students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, are between the ages 18-26, and students must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate university program or a recent graduate from a university within the last three years.
The goals of the program are to create a diverse pipeline of future graduate students and to cultivate future leaders from across an array of socio-economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds, across the world.
The program began in 2017 and is now heading towards its 4th year. This program is an initiative of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University, and led by Harvard Business School Professors Tarun Khanna and Karim Lakhani.
Prof. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor, Harvard Business School & Director of The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute says, "The idea is to find the ‘Hidden Ramanujans’ or the ‘Lost Einsteins,’ and to propel their careers forward, regardless of what field of human endeavor they wish to embrace. Talent is distributed all over, opportunity is not. As an educator, this is my duty to society."
The Application process consists of a few easy steps, with the first step literally taking 15 mins. If selected into the first stage, all applicants get access to a few HarvardX courses that are worth hundreds of dollars, with a certificate issued. The second stage is quite exciting as potential finalists will engage in an interdisciplinary seminar series featuring senior Harvard faculty across a range of disciplines, providing courses on the sciences, arts, humanities, and more.
And, if ever you wanted to be tested for your IQ by Harvard University, you’ll have to make it to the 3rd stage, for the Intelligence Test – students have the opportunity to undergo a psychometric and aptitude assessment to unlock their strengths and unique abilities.
The 4th stage is the virtual Interview – Successful candidates who passed the examinations and courses will undergo a video assessment with the Harvard team to get an overall sense of their base level capabilities.
Pre-Covid, you would have been invited to a week-long in-person Dubai Program for the ultimate Harvard Business School classroom experience, all fully funded, and led by Harvard Business School faculty. In a pandemic driven world though, virtual is the current go-to, but students will still access a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes a combination of case studies, small group discussions and mentorship on potential career paths for the year.
There are 100 finalists that attend the final programme every year, in an intensive finalist program with case-study-based curricula. This finalist stage also includes consideration for a 1,500 US$ student grant for internships/short courses in-region, and a competition for 10,000 US$ seed fund for innovative in-region initiatives, that will hopefully contribute to community progress & growth sustainability.
Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming the Director of the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asian Institute at Harvard University, and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, Professor Tarun Khanna.
Welcome Professor to #PABWALand
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S3 Ep2 From AfRICA to the World with Yavi Madurai: in conversation with MAVIS OWUSU-GYAMFI of ACET
The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) was founded in 2008, by Dr. K.Y. Amoako, with a central understanding – that Africa needs more than economic growth. Even as our continent makes steady economic gains, too many countries are not positioned to sustain their progress.
According to ACET, Africans continue to rely excessively on low-productivity agriculture for rural employment, and they have failed to develop strong manufacturing sectors. Exports are generally limited to a narrow range of agricultural commodities and natural resources, and businesses are difficult to open and operate, stifling the development of a vibrant private sector. Previous attempts to reform the situation through incremental poverty reduction backed by foreign aid have had limited success in addressing the underlying structural limitations facing most African economies.
ACET produces research, offers policy advice, and galvanizes action for African countries to develop their economies, reduce poverty, and improve livelihoods for all their people. They are the pre-eminent African organization advancing African solutions to African challenges.
In their view, growth is not enough. Africa must also transform through diversified production, competitive exports, increased productivity, upgraded technology, and improved human well-being.
From a PABWA perspective, we couldn’t agree more, and in galvanising our support, of the objectives of this visionary organisation, today we want to introduce our audiences to ACET’s newly appointed Executive Vice President, Madame Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi.
Madame Owusu-Gyamfi is definitely no stranger to Africa though.
Armed with an MPhil from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, she is a political economist by training and a private sector development specialist, who previously worked at the UK Department for International Development (DFID), where she led the creation and implementation of DFID’s first private sector development strategies in a number of countries. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi has an extensive career in international development that includes running economic and social development projects and programmes in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
In a previous role of Director of Investments at The Power of Nutrition where she oversaw rapid growth across a dozen African and Asian countries. Prior to joining The Power of Nutrition, she served as Director of Programme Policy and Quality for Save the Children UK, and was previously the Head of Profession for Private Sector Development at the UK’s Department of International Development.
With a stellar career already behind her, this Ghanian born national says of her new position, having joined ACET on 6 July 2020, and I quote ““It is a privilege to join an African-led organization at such a pivotal time,” Mavis said. “Navigating the economic impact of COVID-19 is a new and immediate challenge. Through its staff of specialists and network of thought leaders, ACET is well positioned to assist African governments to build stronger economies that can better withstand future shocks. I am very excited to be a part of ACET and to contribute to that mission.”
Welcome Mavis ... to PABWALand and a seat at OUR table!
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Living and working in Africa - have you ever looked for a picture of something to use in a presentation, a video... maybe in stock images or general online, only to find mainly white people represented, whether it be hands, face, body, or hair.
This is a direct result of algorithms being unintentionally or intentionally designed to be ‘blind’, but programmes written and designed by very little or no inclusivity of all types of humans of the human race, actually lead to online racism, discrimination, propaganda and even hate.
This is where Artificial Intelligence becomes central to this discussion.
Shaping intelligent technology around human and societal behaviours, norms, needs and current reality is the stage we’re at in human evolution with an anthropocentric view of technology. Technology SHOULD ALWAYS work for humans and not the other way around, and this means that there needs to be more inclusivity, more engagement and more representation when it comes to the technology industry.
I studied AI Ethics a few years ago, and essentially ethics are guidelines created by policy makers, but when those policy makers and architectures of society, especially the online one are not representative, then see constraints on the intersection of technology meeting the human world, in security, autonomy, explicitness and most critically justice.
Today is the international day of Social Justice and this years theme is A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy. In honour of this, I speak to Mutale Nkonde, the founding CEO of AI For the People (AFP) a non profit communications agency, an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center of Internet and Society at Harvard, a current fellow at the Digital Civil Society Lab at Stanford, starting her career as a broadcast journalist who produced documentaries for the BBC, CNN & ABC. Prior to all of this, Mutale worked in AI Governance. During that time she was part of the team that introduced the Algorithmic and Deep Fakes Algorithmic Acts, as well as the No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act to the US House of Representatives.
AFP’s mission is to eliminate the under-representation of black professionals in the American technology sector by 2030. They do this in three ways:
- Identifying, recruiting and developing technologists from traditionally under represented groups.
- Commissioning research on how technical systems impact Black people
- They then collaborate with journalists, television producers, film makers and artists to develop content designed to change tech neutrality narratives, and empower communities to advocate for the development of anti-racist policies to govern the design and deployment of AI systems.
Mutale, I have been looking forward to this day, with excitement, as your work speaks to my heart, my African dark skinned, woman heart specifically, welcome.
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In today's episode, we answer the question: What is the Africa the YOUTH want?
November is AfRICA YOUTH MONTH #AYM2020 - observing it in 2020 after a global pandemic has ravaged our continent - the time has come to reframe the narrative of Africa’s seamless rise, yet again, to ensure that the youth inherit an Africa THEY want.
In this week's episode of #FromAfRICAToTheWorld🌍 our ED Yavi Madurai chats to Karen Takondwa Mwendera - award winning journalist, Curator of the Forbes 30-under-30 list, lecturer, speaker, and MAPP Ambassador.
In every crisis there is opportunity, and in 'never letting a good crisis go to waste', Karen breaks down her ideas of how and where the youth should position themselves today (finding solutions for Africa's problems), for leadership tomorrow.
Let's create an AfRICA🌍 for the youth that we will be proud to hand over to them - afterall, we are merely borrowing it from them!
Five years ago, we held a clear picture of what an African century would look like. Today, in a post-Covid world, the picture has changed, and therefore the reframing will have to change yet again, but the goal remains the same – for an African Century to emerge with a water tight economic agenda, and one that simply must include women but, most importantly youth.
2021 will no doubt be a challenging year for those who have propped up the idea of Africa’s seamless “rise” in 2020. Being the youngest continent, the world’s future rests in Africa’s hands, and specifically in the African youth’s hands. McKinsey released a report last year, citing 1 in 4 of the global workforce will be from the African continent, by 2030.
That is just 9 years away, meaning that we have a lot to do to in terms of getting ready for Africa’s youth to participate in and lead global economies. It is now even more crucial, as the next decade will also be an action decade of recovering from the pandemic.
Added to this we have goals and targets set by the United Nations for the Sustainable Goals to be achieved by 2030, meaning we don’t have double the goals, we just have stretch goals and targets. Dr Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka says we must “build back better”, in her narrative of #Generation Equality and how we choose to recover.
In acknowledging that young people are at the very heart of Africa’s development agenda, the 2020 Africa Youth Month (AYM) theme is a clarion call to all youth development stakeholders - governments, international organizations, development partners, private sector, civil society, and all African youth on the continent and in the diaspora – to amplify and shine a spotlight on the voices, actions and engagements of African youth as they build a better Africa. The focus of the 1 Million by 2021 Initiative on Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement is underpinned by a firm foundation of strategic partnerships among stakeholders, and acknowledges young people beneficiaries and partners.
We are living in both times of crisis and opportunity. The crisis is clear, but the opportunities are generally only in the eye of the beholder.
Today's podcast explores a youth leader journalist on her views about the future of Africa, as it stands today, faced with both crisis and opportunity!
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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world, according to the 2019 Forbes billionaires' list. With an estimated fortune of $131bn he is the wealthiest man in modern history. But he is by no means the richest man of all time.The richest man who ever lived was King Mansa Musa of Mali. In 2012, US website Celebrity Net Worth tried to estimate his wealth and came up with a figure of a mind-blowing $400bn, but economic historians agree that his wealth is impossible to pin down to a number. He made this money from Trans-Saharan trade of salt and gold, with Europe and the middle east. We all know the story of why Mali is now one of the poorest nations in the world today because of a combination of anti-unity, poor management, and competitor neighbouring trade centres. Today, intra-EU trade sits at an approximate 70%, while intra-Asia trade is approximately 60%, but set to grow even more since this past Sunday’s landmark signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by 15 Asia-Pacific economies, making it the world's largest free trade agreement, covering about one-third of the global population and GDP. Even with Brexit Europe’s intra-EU trade will not be significantly impacted as the culture of ‘buy local’ has been ingrained for generations. With Asia’s new partnership they are set to become the wealthiest and most powerful economies in the world as a collective. So, why not Africa? Why not our unity? Why not our AfCFTA? And why not now? Africa is the richest continent in terms of natural resources, yet our divideness and corruption make us a target for manipulation. Yes, the AfCFTA offers us an opportunity for unity, but more than that it offers us an opportunity for infrastructure development, investment, trade increases, intra-Africa trade to go from a measly 18% to approximately 65% in just a few years, taking almost 30 million out of poverty. The 20th November annually is observed as Africa Industrialisation Day, proclaimed by the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1989. The same date is also observed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) since 1989, as Africa Industrialisation Day. Since 2018, Africa Industrialisation Day has been commemorated in a weeklong event involving the private sector, diaspora, African governments, youth, women, international cooperation partners; among several other stakeholders. The 2020 edition of Africa Industrialisation Week started yesterday and will run as a virtual event until Africa Industrialisation Day. This year is particularly important, as it is exactly 45 days until the historical AfCFTA comes into effect – not only is it a tangible beginning of a dream of African unity realised, but that dream of unity is just a worthless dream if we donot invest ourselves into its success. That success will be defined by actions and converting policy into process and products into assets. This week is also Global Entrepreneurship week, observed annually, and it is not coincidence that this focus is all happening at the same time. The trade Agreement presents a unique opportunity to focus and build Africa towards the Africa we want, that is proclaimed in Agenda 2063. Entrepreneurship is the other side to this coin. Africa’s entrepreneurs, it is your time now to look at how to maximise the opportunities for Africa’s growth and in turn your growth. Always remember that without Africa’s growth, your growth as an entrepreneur is limited. Let us take lessons from China, India, and Europe – focus on building economies as a collective and your share of that is much bigger than when we only focus on building our own personal economies and bank balances – when you are focussed on growing everything around you, the value of everything goes up. If there is one lesson we should have learnt from china’s economy building trajectory, it is this. Focus inward, to grow outward! Industrialisation!
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Part 2: The conversation continues...
In conversation with RENE CARAYOL MBE
He is not just one of the world’s leading executive coaches, working with some of Fortune 500’s top CEO’s and their executive teams, but he has also been Chairman, CEO and MD of blue chip businesses.
In 2004, he was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire or MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for outstanding service to the business community.
We speak of none other than Rene Carayol, who specialises in delivering unforgettable and unmissable leadership sessions that are considered powerful performances, showing precisely how contemporary inspired leadership can electrify an audience through a powerful and authentic emotional connection.
René draws much from his own unique experiences on the boards of some of the biggest international organisations; from Marks and Spencer and Pepsi, to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.
Whilst he is a much-acclaimed Visiting Professor at the distinguished Cass Business School in London, and lecturing on their MSc in Management, René says he is no academic.
His book, SPIKE, is about what is called the ‘Strengths based Revolution’.
SPIKE is a journey of self-discovery. It will change your views of yourself and your teams.
“My experience of working with some of the world’s best leaders of this generation; from Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir Richard Branson, Nelson Mandela, and many others, informs me that none of them are flawless or ‘all-rounders’.
But they all tend to know 2 out of 3 of their SPIKES, and have taken the time and focus to fine tune them to near Olympian standards”.
René shares with us today his views of the world’s leadership, and the magic and simplicity of the compelling SPIKE philosophy. In his world of SPIKE, there are no losers anymore – everyone has something they are great at.
The new world order is struggling to deal with constant uncertainty, René provides a compelling approach to the future that is built on ‘managing a little less and leading a little more’.
We have all been engaged in the BLM movement or Black Lives Matter narrative. Rene has taken BLM into corporates to incorporate action into words and effect change on the ground. In Allyship he introduces a new powerful concept for some businesses. After the tragic murder of George Floyd, many people have embraced allyship and this has helped create an irresistible force for change.
In order to stop appeasing those that discriminate against us, we need the strength, commitment and influence of our allies. In this same line of conversation, we explore the future of leadership where collaboration is the new normal and women making their mark in the leadership sphere.
Yavi Madurai refers to Rene Carayol as a LEADERSHIP GRAND MASTER, and counts herself as one of his biggest fans.
He is a son of Africa, and this conversation was about using our podcast platform to pass on some of Rene's greatest philosophies and lessons to leaders around the world who may not have had the pleasure of experiencing this Grand Master's leadership lessons and guidance.
We thank you Mr Carayol for taking the time to chat to us - we are deeply grateful and forever in your debt.
www.pabwa.africa
www.carayol.com
@renecarayol on all social media platforms
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
In conversation with RENE CARAYOL MBE
He is not just one of the world’s leading executive coaches, working with some of Fortune 500’s top CEO’s and their executive teams, but he has also been Chairman, CEO and MD of blue chip businesses.
In 2004, he was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire or MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for outstanding service to the business community.
We speak of none other than Rene Carayol, who specialises in delivering unforgettable and unmissable leadership sessions that are considered powerful performances, showing precisely how contemporary inspired leadership can electrify an audience through a powerful and authentic emotional connection.
René draws much from his own unique experiences on the boards of some of the biggest international organisations; from Marks and Spencer and Pepsi, to IPC Media and the Inland Revenue.
Whilst he is a much-acclaimed Visiting Professor at the distinguished Cass Business School in London, and lecturing on their MSc in Management, René says he is no academic.
His book, SPIKE, is about what is called the ‘Strengths based Revolution’.
SPIKE is a journey of self-discovery. It will change your views of yourself and your teams.
“My experience of working with some of the world’s best leaders of this generation; from Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir Richard Branson, Nelson Mandela, and many others, informs me that none of them are flawless or ‘all-rounders’.
But they all tend to know 2 out of 3 of their SPIKES, and have taken the time and focus to fine tune them to near Olympian standards”.
René shares with us today his views of the world’s leadership, and the magic and simplicity of the compelling SPIKE philosophy. In his world of SPIKE, there are no losers anymore – everyone has something they are great at.
The new world order is struggling to deal with constant uncertainty, René provides a compelling approach to the future that is built on ‘managing a little less and leading a little more’.
We have all been engaged in the BLM movement or Black Lives Matter narrative. Rene has taken BLM into corporates to incorporate action into words and effect change on the ground. In Allyship he introduces a new powerful concept for some businesses. After the tragic murder of George Floyd, many people have embraced allyship and this has helped create an irresistible force for change.
In order to stop appeasing those that discriminate against us, we need the strength, commitment and influence of our allies. In this same line of conversation, we explore the future of leadership where collaboration is the new normal and women making their mark in the leadership sphere.
Yavi Madurai refers to Rene Carayol as a LEADERSHIP GRAND MASTER, and counts herself as one of his biggest fans.
He is a son of Africa, and this conversation was about using our podcast platform to pass on some of Rene's greatest philosophies and lessons to leaders around the world who may not have had the pleasure of experiencing this Grand Master's leadership lessons and guidance.
We thank you Mr Carayol for taking the time to chat to us - we are deeply grateful and forever in your debt.
www.pabwa.africa
www.carayol.com
@renecarayol on all social media platforms
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Nelisiwe Nxumalo is the anchor and co-host of the 2nd largest breatkfast TV show in the country, eTV's Morning Show which is based in South Africa, but has an African audience.
Neli, as her colleagues call her, is a young leader, an African mother, and a media activist who is passionate about the future of media in Africa, and how Africa is portrayed. Even more so, how African women and children are portrayed is very important to Neli.
Ms. Nxumalo tells you emphatically that as much as she has to pinch herself every morning now because she is in her dream job, the place that 'made her' was a 'grass roots' TV station called Soweto TV. Soweto is the largest township in the Southern Hemisphere and as such the audience is both large and varied.
Her passion for community media and where this interlinks with main stream and commercial media is something this podcast explores.
"The media has a massive role to play in changing the perception of Africa, and Africa’s women and children. And, we can't expect international media to change if our own media does not. It starts with us." - Nelisiwe Nxumalo
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Find the full episode here
https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/episodes/S2--Ep3-The-countdown-to-the-AfCFTA-has-commenced-with-H-E-Wamkele-Mene--SG-AfCFTA-eklqsj
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About the AfCFTA
- The Africa Continental Free Trade Area | AfCFTA is not simply just a free trade agreement, even though it's the 2d largest trade area in the world - but it definitively is a vehicle for Africa’s economic transformation, and the agreement is made up of 54 African countries merging into a single market of 1.3 billion people.
- This resource, with the merit of enhancing sustainable markets, could create an economic bloc with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion
- Once in place, intra-African trade is expected to grow by 33% and Africa’s total trade deficit is expected to be cut in half
- In addition, the AfCFTA could generate combined consumer and business spending of $6.7 trillion by 2030, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
- It’s an investment tool that could be considered one of Africa’s greatest assets in the economic recovery of the continent, per each country
- Through its various protocols, it would facilitate the movement of persons and labor, competition, investment and intellectual property
- An African Union summit to finalize tariff concessions in May has been postponed to December 2020, further delaying the AfCFTA’s start date
- The potential of the AfCFTA is to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty.
The Countdown has begun
- The AfCFTA secretariat recently announced that the new effective date will be 1 January 2021.
- PABWA launches a countdown campaign today in honour of the new 'GO LIVE' date.
- We caught up with the SG of the AfCFTA for a quick update on their new home at AfRICA Trade House and also a general sense of where things are at the moment.
- We'll bring you regular updates as part of this countdown campaign.
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S2 | Ep2 "How do create a feminist economy through activism, sisterhood, & collaboration" with Lucia O' Chan
Mrs Africa Globe 2019, CEO of Lucia O Holdings, Founder Lucia O Foundation, Brand SA Play Your Part Ambassador, Social Activist & philanthropist.
Lucia is a social media influencer through her philanthropic work, her Brand SA Ambassadorship and her social activism.
Yavi Madurai chats with her about all her different roles, her passions for women empowerment, upliftment of the 'rural women' in communities across the country and Africa.
They discussed the state of the informal sector, which women are the majority of this economic sector, winning Mrs Africa Globe 2019, and what she has seen through her philanthropic work. She lives in a 'small town' in South Africa, but has been able to touch the lives of women across the country and across the continent.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Full episode on this site - see dashboard
On the 7th July 2020, the International Trade Centre, a division of the World Trade Organisation launched SheTrades Outlook, a digital tool that allows governments and others to track progress on gender equality in trade, and progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 to empower all women and girls.
In 2019, the World Bank Group released a report that stated that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, with approximately 42 percent of the non-agricultural labour force classified as self-employed or employers.
Africa is also home to the world’s future. 19 of the top 20 youngest countries in the world are African. So, a focus on Africa’s women and girls are of paramount importance, not just for Africa, but to the world. Simply put, without Africa, the world has almost no future.
UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said at the launch of the UK funded tool “Africa has the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs in the world, but many have not yet realised their full potential.”
The project aims to increase the competitiveness of women-owned businesses in international trade, by improving the policy environment. According to the innovative digital tool, South Africa, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Samoa are among the countries that have designed leading policies that boost women's economic empowerment. In Africa, that is only 3 of 55 African states that assemble under the African Union. So, this is the first indication that we have much work to do on the continent as PABWA.
The SheTrades Outlook provides quantitative and qualitative data using 83 indicators across six policy areas. It contains more than 50 good-practice examples to spur policymakers worldwide to introduce and reform policies that support women in trade. These include Bangladesh's use of digital technologies to empower entrepreneurship for rural women, Canada's gender-based analysis of trade agreements, and Lesotho's grants to support women in the creative industries.
ITC's acting Executive Director, Ma’am Dorothy Tembo, said: 'With the SheTrades Outlook, ITC is contributing to making big data work for inclusive trade. The tool helps overcome a long-standing barrier to making trade policies work for women - the lack of quality data.'
SheTrades Outlook is based on women-in-trade data − 80% of which has never been collected before - from more than 500 government institutions and private sector organizations. The tool is set to be rolled out globally after launching with coverage of 25 countries. The first tool of its kind to make trade possible for women by promoting a more inclusive policy ecosystem. It provides comprehensive data and analysis on trade and women’s economic empowerment, and shares experiences from around the world.
Today, my guest is no stranger to PABWA audiences. She is a disruptor and a game changer on any given day. Founder of She Trades and Chief of Inclusive Value Chains at the ITC - the dynamic and astute Vanessa Erogbogbo.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
From Africa to the World: with Vanessa Erogbogbo
Founder: she trades | Chief: Sustainable & Inclusive Value Chains
_________________________________
On the 7th July 2020, the International Trade Centre, a division of the World Trade Organisation launched SheTrades Outlook, a digital tool that allows governments and others to track progress on gender equality in trade, and progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 to empower all women and girls.
In 2019, the World Bank Group released a report that stated that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, with approximately 42 percent of the non-agricultural labour force classified as self-employed or employers.
Africa is also home to the world’s future. 19 of the top 20 youngest countries in the world are African. So, a focus on Africa’s women and girls are of paramount importance, not just for Africa, but to the world. Simply put, without Africa, the world has almost no future.
UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, said at the launch of the UK funded tool “Africa has the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs in the world, but many have not yet realised their full potential.”
The project aims to increase the competitiveness of women-owned businesses in international trade, by improving the policy environment. According to the innovative digital tool, South Africa, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Samoa are among the countries that have designed leading policies that boost women's economic empowerment. In Africa, that is only 3 of 55 African states that assemble under the African Union. So, this is the first indication that we have much work to do on the continent as PABWA.
The SheTrades Outlook provides quantitative and qualitative data using 83 indicators across six policy areas. It contains more than 50 good-practice examples to spur policymakers worldwide to introduce and reform policies that support women in trade. These include Bangladesh's use of digital technologies to empower entrepreneurship for rural women, Canada's gender-based analysis of trade agreements, and Lesotho's grants to support women in the creative industries.
ITC's acting Executive Director, Ma’am Dorothy Tembo, said: 'With the SheTrades Outlook, ITC is contributing to making big data work for inclusive trade. The tool helps overcome a long-standing barrier to making trade policies work for women - the lack of quality data.'
SheTrades Outlook is based on women-in-trade data − 80% of which has never been collected before - from more than 500 government institutions and private sector organizations. The tool is set to be rolled out globally after launching with coverage of 25 countries. The first tool of its kind to make trade possible for women by promoting a more inclusive policy ecosystem. It provides comprehensive data and analysis on trade and women’s economic empowerment, and shares experiences from around the world.
Today, my guest is no stranger to PABWA audiences. She is a disruptor and a game changer on any given day. Founder of She Trades and Chief of Inclusive Value Chains at the ITC - the dynamic and astute Vanessa Erogbogbo.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/support
Angelle Kwemo
Ms. Kwemo is President & CEO of Astrategik Group, a firm that provides international trade advisory and strategic advice to multi-dimensional entities willing to engage with Africa and emerging markets. ASG is now present in Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon. Ms. Kwemo was Managing Director for Africa for Washington Media Group, a full services media, strategies, communication and government relations firm with offices in Washington, DC, Silicon Valley, China, and Qatar.
As a dedicated advocate and philanthropist, she Founded Believe In Africa, an organization aiming at promoting the role of the African private sector in Africa transformation and empowering Women and youth. She hosted the first Africa women in agriculture congress that led to the creation of African Women in Agriculture and Art that is now (AWAA) a plate-form to support African rural women graduate from subsistence to commercial farming and handicraft. She has since trained women in Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Mali and registered nearly 600,000 women in rural areas across 22 African countries.
A native of Cameroon, she started her career in France at Bestaux Law firm. In Douala, Cameroon, she served as the Chief of the Maritime Claims and Disputes Department, and later as the General Counsel for Bollore Technology Group and Geodis Overseas.
She worked for seven years in the U.S. Congress as Legislative Counsel for two members of the House of Representatives, including Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Senior Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Ms. Kwemo was instrumental in the U.S. Congress and played a key role in policy formulation on issues affecting the global economy. She worked tirelessly on the passage of legislations to increase U.S. – Africa trade relations that led to the first African Leaders Summit under President Barack Obama. Ms. Kwemo was President and Founder of the Congressional African Staff Association, which aimed to educate Members of Congress, Senators and their staff on the positive progress of Africa. She draft the African Diaspora and Investment Act (AIDA) and handled the African diaspora’s mobilization that led to the creation of the State Department’ International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) and to including African diaspora language into President Obama’s Africa policies priorities.
Ms. Kwemo has received a number of recognitions for her exemplary work, including the DC Government’s Public Service Award, a citation from Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley, the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business Leadership Award” by the Minority Business Magazine, and was named one of the “World’s Most Influential Africans in the Diaspora” by Paris based Africa 24 Magazine and 50 most Inspiring African by Inspire Africa Magazine. She is author of the book "Against All Odds: How to Stay On top Of the Game" and is regularly published and featured in international news, including Forbes Afrique, Africa Report, Le Point, Voice of America TV (VOA), BBC, TV 5 TV, France 24 TV, Africa 24 TV, Comcast TV, China Daily, Inspire Africa and Africa Report. She was recognized at the “African Change Maker of the Year” by African Achievers Awards.
Ms. Kwemo was on the advisory board of the corporate Council on Africa Small Business Initiative, the Democratic Republic of Congo Investment Fund and on the Selection Committee of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program. She co-chaired Executive Women for Hillary for the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia during 2016 US presidential elections.
She holds a Bachelor’s and a LLM degree in Economic Activity Law from the University of Rouen in France and a LLM degree in International Business Transactions and Human Rights Law from Washington College of Law at American University in Washington D.C.
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Tracy Garley is a Liberian born New York City based entrepreneur and tech start-up global founder and CEO.
She is a city girl with big dreams and a big appetite. Owner of West African Lifestyle Brand, Zarkpa’s, the founder of a West African Catering company called 'Culture in a Bowl', founder and CEO of City Girl Big Dreams and most recently, she is coFounder and CEO of GoFundHer.com.
GoFundHER.com empowers girls and women to create a steady monthly income from online fundraising and repeat donations.Donors/Supporters can donate once-off or set up monthly repeat donations to you for as low as a $1. Businesses and non-profit organizations can also take advantage of repeat donations with a free GoFundHER.com account.
Giving access to women around the world - Tracy Garley is our African Leader that is leading with African Excellence, and African Inspiration.
From Africa to the World
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We ask the question to the then VP Africa of HP, now Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity & Equal Opportunities, the illustrious Hon. Elisabeth Moreno - "is a women economy, BY women, FOR women, possible?"
Ms. Moreno is highly respected for her work in gender equality and spearheading education initiatives with UN Women and the African Union for African women and girls - from the continent of her birth. She was in Africa for a very short time, as VP of Lenovo, but her impact on Africa will be felt for generations to come, let alone the work WE KNOW she must already be doing in her new French government role.
At the time of this interview she was still VP of Lenovo Africa, and a few days later, on 6 July 2020, was announced as the Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister in the French government of Prime Minister Jean Castex.
Her passion for gender parity and education of the girl child towards science and technology (STEM), is clear in this interview.
When I introduced her, I said "She is nowhere near done in making a global impact on the world." I didn't realise at the time, how right I was!
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The full episode is too good to be missed. Please click on the link below for the full episode https://anchor.fm/fromafricatotheworld/episodes/Ep3-Do-we-dare-to-have-a-feminist-economy--with-Hon--Elisabeth-Moreno-eifbi7
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Dewunmi Alugbin is the Head of Partnerships at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Dewunmi is a Sustainable Development Champ passionate about the Economic Development of Africa. Having worked as a Development Programme Manager and Sustainability Consultant with Governmental & Community Relations over the past 7 years, she has gained experience across several industries.
Currently heading Partnerships at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she works to forge local and international strategic partnerships to scale the $100m TEF Entrepreneurship Programme across Africa.
She works with Development Organisations & Finance Institutions, Multilateral Organisations and the Public & Private Sector to promote and support an enabling environment for entrepreneurship in Africa through a concept she calls collaborative philanthropy.
Dewunmi is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation and is a firm proponent of the principle that the empowerment of African entrepreneurs to participate in and contribute to the private sector holds the key to sustained socio-economic development for the African continent.
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In a special youth edition of #FromAfricaToTheWorld in honour of #InternationalYouthDay on 12 Aug, this week, our PABWA ED Yavi Madurai asks Dewunmi Alugbin, Head of Partnerships at Tony Elumelu Foundation, based in Lagos, Nigeria - What is #TheAfricaTHEYWant in terms of the youth as a response to the African Union's Agenda 2063 positioning of #TheAfricaWeWant
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Anne Githuku-Shongwe's 1 message to all women across Africa "You are ENOUGH!"
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Executive Director of PABWA, Yavi Madurai explores the concept of 'a women or feminist economy' with UN Women SAMCO Representative, Ms. Anne Githuku-Shongwe
"If there's something I want every African woman to know: You are ENOUGH" ~ Anne Githuku-Shongwe
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Note from Yavi
Anne Githuku-Shongwe defines the by-line of this podcast series, she is everything:
AfRICAN Excellence.
AfRICAN Leadership.
AfRICAN Inspiration.
AfRICA is abundant in born leaders, talented individuals, & inspirational human beings. Anne is one such person.
The dynamic Ms. Githuku-Shongwe is not only the UN Women Representative at SAMCO, but she is also the multi-award winning founder of Afroes, an edu-tech platform that has garnered awards, accolades, and clients all over the world.
In her UN Women role, she is responsible for women's empowerment and gender equality in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia as well as South Africa, where the office is based. Anne also brings to her role 20 years of experience as a senior international development professional including with the United Nations Development Programme across Africa and managing US Scholarships for African Graduate Scholars.
A social entrepreneur, she is also a thought leader on Digital & Gamification Learning and the Future of Learning.
Anne and Afroes received multiple awards including the prestigious Schwab Foundation/World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Award and a National Award – the Order of the Grand Warrior from the President of Kenya. Other awards include the PeaceAPP award of the UN, MEFFYs Award, London UK and Netexplo Award, Paris to name a few.
Anne is a Board Member and Grand Juror of the World Summit Awards for the UN Information Society, a Board Member of CHESTRAD International and I WILL GIVE – a new innovative domestic financing vehicle for African development.
She has a Masters’ degree in International Development from The American University; a certificate in Social Innovation from the University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, a certificate in The Art of Large Scale Systems Change for Social Entrepreneurship from Harvard University and a Management Certificate from Jones International University.
Thank you Anne for all you have done in encouraging, supporting, and affirming PABWA, in our short 6 months of existence - we intend to make you proud and carry the light you have given us with fortitude, in the struggle for 'economic gender parity in our lifetime'.
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