Africa Business Forum

Africa Business Forum

Overview


2019 ABF Logo

The Africa Business Forum convenes global business executives, government officials, academic leaders, and Mandela Washington Fellows from across sub-Saharan Africa to discuss today’s business environment in Africa and opportunities for spurring economic growth, good governance, and private sector investment. The Forum reflects the diversity of backgrounds from which attending Mandela Washington Fellows hail: business, civic engagement, and public management. In light of increasing economic growth throughout the African continent and a rapidly expanding youth population, participants are encouraged to focus on how these essential institutions can partner together to ensure that African countries experience sustainable economic and societal growth going forward. The 2019 program included moderated panel discussions and lightning roundtables and was followed by the Presidential Precinct’s Salute Africa event.

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2019 Speakers


Scott Eisner
Scott Eisner

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Ramsey Day, USAID
Ramsey Day

USAID

Greg Fairchild, Darden School of Business
Greg Fairchild

UVA Darden School of Business

Lisa Schrotter
Lisa Schroeter

Dow Chemical

Roslyn Docktor, IBM
Roslyn Docktor

IBM

Sabrina Roshan, Andela
Sabrina Roshan

Andela

Sinethemba Thwala, South Africa
Sinethemba Thwala

Mandela Washington Fellow

Rick C Wade
Rick Wade

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Heather Kulp, Chevron
Heather Kulp

Chevron

Adam Hemphill
Adam Hemphill

Walmart

Alex Walden, Google
Alex Walden

Google

Abubakar
Abubakar Salim

Mandela Washington Fellow

Jonathan Eigege, Albright Stonebridge Group
Jonathan Eigege

Albright Stonebridge Group

Valerie Sinden, US Chamber of Commerce
Valerie Sinden

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Paul Burkhead, Eli Lily
Paul Burkhead

Eli Lilly

Leila Ndiaye, IGD
Leila Ndiaye

Initiative for Global Development

Teresa Jennings, Lexis Nexis
Teresa Jennings

Lexis Nexis

Caitlin McDonnell, Visa
Caitlin McDonnell

Visa

Megan Ekstrom, Procter and Gamble
Megan Ekstrom

Procter and Gamble

Ellen Szymanski, US Chamber of Commerce
Ellen Szymanski

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Susan Zimmerman, UPS
Susan Zimmerman

UPS

Brionne Dawson, US Chamber of Commerce
Brionne Dawson

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Ru Nyambuya, Standard Bank
Ru Nyambuya

Standard Bank

JamesBMurray
James B. Murray, Jr.

The Presidential Precinct

2019 Agenda


July 25

1:00-1:25PM

Arrival, Registration, Informal Networking

1:25-1:30PM

Welcome Remarks

Scott Eisner, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

1:30-1:40PM

Opening Remarks

Ramsey Day, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Africa Bureau, USAID

Watch

1:40-1:45PM

Administrative Introduction

Greg Fairchild, Professor of Business Administration, UVA Darden School of Business

1:45-2:30PM

Panel 1 | Workforce Development Across the Continent

Lisa Schroeter, Dow Chemical
Roslyn Docktor, IBM
Sabrina Roshan, Andela
Moderator: Sinethemba Thwala, Mandela Washington Fellow, South Africa

Watch

2:30-2:45PM

Special Presentation

Rick Wade, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

2:45-3:30PM

Panel 2 | Corporate Citizenship and Evolving Business Models: How Companies are Integrating CSR into their Bottom Line

Heather Kulp, Chevron
Adam Hemphill, Walmart
Alex Walden, Google
Moderator: Abubakar Salim, Mandela Washington Fellow, Kenya

Watch

3:40-5:10PM

Lightning Roundtables

Table 1 - Emboldening Smallholder Farmers and Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains
Jonathan Eigege, Albright Stonebridge Group

Table 2 - Public-Private Partnerships: NCDs as a Global Health Crisis
Valerie Sinden, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Table 3 - Africa by 2050: Contributing to Youth Employment
Adam Hemphill, Walmart

Table 4 - The Power of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Paul Burkhead, Eli Lilly

Table 5 - What Role Can Business Play in Advancing Positive Social Change?
Leila Ndiaye, Initiative for Global Development

Table 6 - Rule of Law and Business
Teresa Jennings, Lexis Nexis

Table 7 - Enabling Inclusion of Women into the Global Economy
Caitlin McDonnell, Visa

Table 8 - Business as a Driver of Inclusive Economic Growth
Megan Ekstrom, Procter and Gamble

Table 9 - The Importance of IP Protection in Enabling FDI and Promoting Innovation
Ellen Szymanski, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Table 10 - Supporting SMEs and Local Supply Chains
Valerie Sinden, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Table 11 - Africa Going Digital
Brionne Dawson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Table 12 - Payment Systems and Financing Mechanisms Across the Continent
Ru Nyambuya, Standard Bank

Table 13 - How to Promote Environment Goods, Services, and Processes Development
Lisa Schroeter, Dow Chemical

5:10-5:25PM

Lightning Roundtable Reflections

Greg Fairchild, Professor of Business Administration, UVA Darden School of Business

5:25-5:30PM

Closing Remarks

James B. Murray, Jr.The Presidential Precinct

Past Agendas


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