The Remarkable African Women’s Leadership Conference was one of three key events at the Africa Soft Power Summit 2023; the others being the Creative & Innovative Industries Conference, and the Africa Soft Power Gala & Awards.
Powered by African Women on Board and showcasing leading female and male voices alike, from minute one, the RAW conference pushed the reset button on traditional gender discourse. If DEI had been invented TODAY, what would we do differently? How would we think about, or communicate, or move towards, greater equality in both the workplace and society at large? If we began with a blank canvas in 2023, what would true global diversity, equality, and inclusion look like?
8:30am-8:50am
Arrival/Registration
8:50am-9:00am
Welcome Remarks
9:00am-9:55am
Revolutionizing Systems: Women’s Leadership as the Catalyst for Change
- Amb. Amina Mohamed, Fmr. Minister for Sports, Education & Foreign Affairs, Kenya
- Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)
- Chike Obianwu, Senior Partner, Templars
- Clare Akamanzi, CEO, Rwanda Development Board
- Michelle Moore, Author & UK’s 50 Most ‘Influential Women in Sports’ (Moderator)
10am-10:55am
ESG: The Time is Now! Why the Private Sector is Key to Achieving Gender Equity
- Kaniaru Wacieni, Senior Investment Director, Africa50
- Adebola Toyin Oruma, Group Head, Gender Business Group, Bank of Industry
- Rosa Nduati Mutero Managing Partner, Anjarwalla & Khanna
- Zano Mataruka, Regional Representative, International Finance Corporation
- Rosemary Akpo, Managing Director, EXP Marketing Nigeria (Moderator)
11:00am-11:15am
Spotlight: Made in Kenya, The story of Africa’s only running shoes company by Christopher O.H. Williams, Chairman, Enda Athletic Inc.
11:15am-11:30am [Short Break]
11:30am-12:25pm
Money Talks: Achieving Gender Parity through Funding & Investment [in Women]
- Aaron Craig Mitchell, Co-Founder & CEO, PVSC
- Amma Mensah, Founder & CEO, Reign Rum
- Christopher O.H. Williams, Chairman, Enda Athletic Inc.
- Gwladys Watrin, Investor Relations & BD – Europe, North-Africa
- Tolagbe Martins, Founder, Wynton 45 Limited (Moderator)
12:30pm-1:25pm [LUNCH BREAK]
Book Signing: Real Wins by Michelle Moore
1:30pm-2:25pm
Cannot Lead?: Unravelling the Paradox of Women’s Numerical Advantage and Exercising Real Power
- Faith Odhiambo: VP, Law Society of Kenya (LSK)
- Loretta Aniagolu: CEO, F.I.T. Group; Fmr. Gubernatorial Candidate
- Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Executive Director, National Basketball Players Association Foundation & Fmr. Mayor of Baltimore
- Abosede George-Ogan, Founder, Women in Leadership Advancement Network (Moderator)
2:30pm-3:25pm
Hidden in Plain Sight: Knowledge Production, How Bad Data Erodes Equitable and Sustainable Growth
- Bruno Akpaka, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Migo
- Daniel Manjarrés, Institutional Relations Advisor, PretaHub
- Nkiru Balonwu, Founder & Creative Director, Africa Soft Power
- Mercy Akamo, Chief Communications Officer, Mara
- Carol Abade, Group CEO, EXP (Moderator)
3:30pm-3:55pm
Culture is no Excuse – Challenging Africa
Conversation with:
- Ozonnia Ojielo, Resident Coordinator and Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Rwanda
- HRH Nnaemeka A. Achebe, King of Onitsha/Chairman, Unilever Nigeria
4:00pm-4:55pm
From Awareness to Action: How Changemakers Harness Media and Technology
- Farai Ncube, Regional Arts Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council
- Ego Boyo, Founder, Temple Productions
- Balkissa Idé Siddo, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Meta
- Pauline Fischer, Founder & Principal, PMF Media Group, Inc.
- Anita Erskine, CEO, Anita Erskine Media (Moderator)
4:55pm-5:00pm Closing
