Innovation Summit - Meridian International Center

Young African Leaders
INNOVATION SUMMIT
June 14-15, 2012

Agenda
Thursday, June 14, 2012
9:00am – 10:30am
National Room
Welcome and Summit Opening
With Emcee
Bruce Wharton
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy,
U.S. Department of State
Remarks by
The Honorable Wendy Sherman
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Eric Kacou
Co-Founder, Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners, LLC
Grant Harris
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director,
Africa, National Security Staff,
Executive Office of the President
10:30am – 11:00am
Coffee & Networking Break
11:00am – 12:30pm
National Room
Plenary Panel: Utilizing Technology & Media
to Advance Innovation
Moderator: TBD
Speakers:
Leslie Martinkovics
Director of International Public Policy and Regulatory
Affairs, Verizon Communications
Matthias Chika Mordi
Founder and CEO, Accender Africa
Andrew Roos
Senior Account Executive, Google
3

agenda
12:30pm – 2:00pm
National Room
Buffet Lunch
Introduction by
Ambassador Sharon Wilkinson
Diplomatic Advisor, Meridian International Center
Luncheon keynote speaker:
Dr. Steven Radelet
Chief Economist, U.S. Agency for International
Development; Author, Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries
are Leading the Way
2:00pm – 2:15pm
Transition to break-out sessions
2:15pm – 3:45pm
Business: Kreeger
Social: Corcoran
Break-out sessions:
Business: Access to Capital, Financial Sector
Development, and Promoting Foreign Investment
(Kreeger)
Moderator:
Eric Postel
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Economic Growth,
Education, and Environment, U.S. Agency for International
Development
Stephen Cashin
Founder & CEO, Pan-African Capital
Anne Marie Gulde-Wolf
Deputy Director, African Department, IMF
Social: Messaging and Branding 2.0 (Corcoran)
Moderator:
Katie Dowd
Innovation Advisor, U.S. Department of State
Julie Barko Germany
Vice President, Digital Strategy, DCI Group
Jackson Mvunganyi
Host-Producer, Voice of America
3:45pm – 4:00pm
Transition to plenary
4

Agenda
4:00pm – 5:30pm
National Room
Plenary Panel: Building Capacity Across
Sectors: Opportunities for Public Private
Partnerships
Moderator:
Thomas Debass
Director for Global Partnerships, U.S. Department of State
Speakers:
Art Collins
Founding Partner, Collins Johnson Group
Stanley Litow
President, IBM Foundation; Vice President for Corporate
Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM
Lynn Taliento
Principal, Social Sector Office, McKinsey
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Meridian International Center
1630 Crescent Place, NW,
Washington, DC 20009
Networking Reception
Introduction and welcome by
Ambassador Stuart Holliday
President & CEO, Meridian International Center
Remarks by
The Honorable Tara D. Sonenshine
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public
Affairs
5

agenda
Friday, June 15, 2012
9:00am – 10:30am
National Room
Plenary Panel: Pitch Session: Moving from
Challenges to Solutions
Facilitated by
Bonnie Shaw
Directory of Strategy, iStrategyLabs
10:30am – 11:00am
Coffee & Networking Break
11:00am – 12:30pm
National Room
Plenary Panel: Stories of Success
Moderator:
The Honorable Maria Otero
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy,
and Human Rights
Speakers:
Warren Brown
Founder & Owner, Cake Love
Linord R. Moudou
Journalist & Reporter, Voice of America; President & CEO,
LIRAM Global Communications
Rahama Wright
Founder & CEO, Shea Yeleen International
12:30pm – 2:00pm
Urbana
Networking Lunch
2:00pm – 2:15pm
Transition to break-out sessions
6

Agenda
2:15pm – 3:45pm
Business: Kreeger
Social: Corcoran
Break-out sessions:
Business: Financial Management Tools for SMEs
(Kreeger)
Moderator:
Sean Greene
Associate Administrator for Investment; Special Advisor for
Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration
Mary Hagerty Ehrsam
First Senior Vice President, Global Chief of Financial
Literacy, Operation HOPE, Inc.
Leànne Viviers
SME Toolkit Program Manager, International Finance
Corporation
Social: Expanding Networks, Building Communities,
and Cultivating Young Entrepreneurs (Corcoran)
Moderator:
Jonathan Ortmans
President, Global Entrepreneurship Week; Senior Fellow,
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Mari Kuraishi
Co-Founder & President, GlobalGiving
Ngozi Nmezi
Director, Washington DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs
TMS “Teddy” Ruge
Co-Founder, Project Diaspora
3:45pm – 4:00pm
Transition to plenary
7

agenda
4:00pm – 5:00pm
National Room
Closing Session: Beyond the Summit: Next
Steps
With Emcee
Bruce Wharton
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, U.S.
Department of State
Remarks by
Earl Gast
Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for
International Development
Ambassador Johnnie Carson
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S.
Department of State
5:00pm
Summit concludes
8

Speaker Biographies
Warren Brown left a career practicing law as a litigator for the federal
government to found CakeLove bakery in 2002. He has grown his organization
to include 6 retail storefronts and has been recognized for his entrepreneurial
spirit by local and national media including the Oprah Winfrey show, the
Today show, NPR, and national advertisement campaigns for American
Express and Dell computers. From 2005-2007 Mr. Brown was the host of
the television show “Sugar Rush” on the Food Network. He is the author of
three cookbooks to encourage others to bake from scratch: CakeLove in the
Morning which celebrates weekend brunch (2012), United Cakes of America
featuring recipes from every state in the Union (2010), and CakeLove-how to
bake cakes from scratch (2008). Mr. Brown serves on the board of Kid Power-DC. He partnered with
them to start Cookie-Time which is a seasonal cookie bakery operated by the youth in Kid Power.
Ambassador Johnnie Carson was sworn in as Assistant Secretary
of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, on May 7, 2009. Prior to this he
was the National Intelligence Officer for Africa at the NIC, after serving as
the Senior Vice President of the National Defense University in Washington
D.C. (2003-2006). Ambassador Carson’s 37-year Foreign Service career
includes ambassadorships to Kenya (1999-2003), Zimbabwe (1995-
1997), and Uganda (1991-1994); and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
for the Bureau of African Affairs (1997-1999). Earlier in his career he had
assignments in Portugal (1982-1986), Botswana (1986-1990), Mozambique
(1975-1978), and Nigeria (1969-1971). He has also served as desk officer in
the Africa section at State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1971-1974); Staff Officer for the
Secretary of State (1978-1979), and Staff Director for the Africa Subcommittee of the US House
of Representatives (1979-1982). Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Carson was
a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania from 1965-1968. Ambassador Carson is the recipient of
several Superior Honor Awards from the Department of State and a Meritorious Service Award from
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The Centers for Disease Control presented Ambassador
Carson its highest award, “Champion of Prevention Award,” for his leadership in directing the U.S.
Government’s HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in Kenya.
Stephen Cashin is the founder and CEO of Pan African Capital Group (PACG).
Mr. Cashin was founder, Managing Director, and head of the Washington
Office of Modern Africa Fund Managers, LLC from 1998-2004. Mr. Cashin
was employed by Equator Bank, a member of the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation from 1984-1996. He began his career as a Peace
Corps volunteer from 1979-1981 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Mr. Cashin serves
on such boards as International Bank (Liberia) Limited, DataBank (Ghana),
Feronia Inc, DiscoveryTel, Africare, Better Way Foundation, and the Jesuit
Refugee Service/USA. He is also a member of the Trade Advisory Committee
on Africa (TACA), the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bretton Woods
Committee. He was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and speaks
at numerous events focused on the development of Africa’s financial markets.
9

Speaker Biographies
Arthur Collins is a Founding Partner of the Collins | Johnson group. Prior
to founding the Collins | Johnson group in 2011 he served as Chairman
and CEO of Public Private Partnership, Inc. He previously worked for the
Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Department of Insurance, the
Florida State Treasurer and the IBM Corporation. Mr. Collins served as a
Senior Political Strategist for the current President of the United States during
the 2008 Presidential campaign and following the election as a Public Liaison
within the Presidential Transition Project. In 2004, Mr. Collins was Senior
Advisor to the Presidential Democratic Nominee. He has served and currently
serves as a Board member of numerous educational institutions, councils,
and corporations including the Congressional Black Caucus Political And Education & Leadership
Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine Board of Trustees, and Meridian International Center. His
industry concentrations include national security, energy, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare,
agriculture, information technology, transportation, finance and banking, telecommunications,
development, manufacturing, and consumer products.
Thomas Debass serves as Director for Global Partnerships in the Office of
the Secretary of State, responsible for the economic growth, global finance,
and entrepreneurship portfolio; as well as leading the Secretary’s diaspora
engagement efforts. His recent partnership accomplishments include: the
International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), the Accelerating Market-
Driven Partnerships (AMP), and Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations
(LIONS@FRICA) Partnership. Prior to joining State Department, he was
Lead Economist in the Office of Investment Policy with the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC) in Washington, DC. Mr. Debass also served
as a senior technical advisor in USAID’s Global Development Alliance and
Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade teams, where he developed USAID’s Diaspora Networks
Alliance (DNA) framework and the associated African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) competitions.
He also developed access to private capital partnerships, including the microRISK Alliance (MRA).
Prior to his development finance career, Mr. Debass worked on an agricultural research projects in
Bangladesh and East Africa.
10

Speaker Biographies
Katie Dowd serves as an Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. Department of
State. She works in the Secretary’s Office of Innovation, focusing on how
technology and tech based tools can be used to advance the Administration’s
foreign policy goals. Her portfolio focuses on overseeing the Secretary’s Civil
Society 2.0 initiative, technology in the advancement of women and girls,
Africa, as well as along with managing the Secretary’s digital strategy and
more. Prior to joining the State Department, she served as New Media Director
for Secretary Hillary Clinton managing the new media operations for her
presidential primary campaign and her political action committee following.
Before her work on behalf of Secretary Clinton, Ms. Dowd managed the
marketing program for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2004-2007. Ms.
Dowd also served as a senior member of the direct marketing team at the Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee from 2003-2004. In her career, she has worked for a number of Democratic
candidates throughout the years to help craft strategy to promote their communications and
grassroots fundraising efforts.
Mary Hagerty Ehrsam is the First Senior Vice President, Global Chief of
Financial Literacy for Operation HOPE, Inc. (HOPE). Prior to HOPE, Mrs.
Hagerty Ehrsam began her career in community economic development
and poverty alleviation with the Los Angeles affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
Mrs. Hagerty Ehrsam was one of four members of the 1995 Jimmy Carter
Work Project leadership team responsible for planning and constructing
twenty-one homes in six days with over twenty-five hundred volunteers. She
then expanded her focus to comprehensive inner-city revitalization as Vice
President, Chief of Operations for HOPE. In 2007, Mrs. Hagerty Ehrsam was
appointed to execute HOPE’s global expansion to South Africa and secured
a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, National and Provincial Government, Peace
Corps South Africa, and the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. She also serves on several Boards
with domestic and international focus.
11

Speaker Biographies
Earl Gast was sworn in as USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Africa in
April 2012. In this capacity, he oversees a large and varied portfolio that
provided $6.4 billion in assistance to 49 African countries in 2011. Prior to this
appointment, Mr. Gast served as USAID’s Mission Director for Afghanistan.
After returning from Afghanistan, Mr. Gast served as Acting Mission Director
for Colombia. From 2005-2008, Mr. Gast was the regional Mission Director
for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, and from 2008-2010 he was USAID’s
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa. He served as the USAID
representative to the U.N. agencies in Rome in 2004. Mr. Gast was one of
the first USAID employees stationed in Iraq, where, as the Mission’s Deputy
Director from April 2003-March 2004, he played an equally important role in developing the postcrisis
strategy for Kosovo as deputy director from June 2002-April 2003. From 2000-2002, Mr.
Gast was the supervisory program officer for the USAID/Caucasus Regional Mission, following
his work assuming supervisory program officer responsibilities for the USAID/Ukraine Regional
Mission in 1996. In 1995, Mr. Gast was an advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Russia in a special
office created by the U.S. Ambassador. Mr. Gast began his career with USAID in 1990 as a project
development officer for USAID/Philippines. The 21-year veteran has received numerous awards
and commendations for his dedicated service. Most prominently, he received the Agency’s Award
for Heroism in 2004 and, in 2003, the Distinguished Unit Award for his work in Iraq. Mr. Gast also
received the C. Herbert Rees Award in 1999.
Julie Barko Germany is the Vice President Digital Strategy at DCI Group.
In 2011, she co-founded the mCitizen Summit with a group of mobilists in
government and advocacy. Ms. Germany is also the chairperson of the annual
CampaignTech conference, hosted by Campaigns & Elections magazine.
She previously served as the director of the Institute for Politics, Democracy
& the Internet, and director of marketing and communications for The George
Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. She is
the co-author of Putting Online Influentials to Work for Your Campaign, has
authored chapters in 4 books, and is the principal author and editor of several
publications. She has appeared in national and international newspapers,
magazines, and media, including MSNBC, C-SPAN, Fox News, CBS, and NBC. In 2008 Julie
was honored as a Rising Star by Campaigns and Elections’ Politics Magazine. She worked as
a writer, editor and program manager for international initiatives in Korea, Ukraine, Haiti and the
United States. Ms. Germany is a founding board member of Young Champions, a co-founder of
the Association of Social Media and Higher Education, and a founder of Mobile Monday DC. She
was a Pew Younger Scholar of Literature at the University of Notre Dame, and Fellow at George
Washington University.
12

Speaker Biographies
Sean Greene is the Associate Administrator for Investment and Special
Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He is
responsible for both the all Business Investment Company (SBIC) program
and the Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) program. He also leads
SBA’s efforts focused on stimulating high-growth entrepreneurship and has
been one of the leaders in the Administration’s Startup America initiative.
Mr. Greene has 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and
business strategist to the SBA. He was the founder and CEO of Away.com,
an online travel company that he sold to Orbitz. He was also a co-founder of
Rock Creek Ventures and LaunchBox Digital. Previously Mr. Greene was a
management consultant with McKinsey and Co.
Anne-Marie Gulde is Deputy Director of the IMF’s African Department.
She directly oversees the Department’s work on a number of Southern and
Central African countries, including South Africa. Before re-joining the African
Department in 2012 she held positions in the European and Monetary and
Capital Markets Departments. In her earlier tenure in the African Department
(2004-2007) Ms. Gulde was mission chief for the two monetary unions
(WAEMU and CEMAC) and coordinated the department’s financial sector
work. She has published widely on different topics in international economics,
with a focus on exchange rate regimes, currency boards, and financial
stability and development issues. Her publications on Africa include among
others The CFA Franc Zone: Common Currency, Uncommon Challenges (with H. Tsangarides, eds,
2008) and Sub Saharan Africa: Financial Sector Challenges (with C. Pattillo and J, Christensen).
Grant T. Harris currently serves as Special Assistant to the President
and Senior Director for African Affairs on the National Security Staff of the
White House. Prior to this position, Mr. Harris was Deputy Chief of Staff and
Counselor to Susan E. Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and
a member of President Obama’s Cabinet. Mr. Harris also served as Senior
Policy Advisor to Ambassador Rice and was a member of the Obama/Biden
Transition Team. Previously, Mr. Harris was an associate at the law firm of
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, where he focused on international
financings and business transactions. Prior to that, Mr. Harris served in the
African Affairs Directorate at the National Security Council at the White House
and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations during the Clinton Administration. His writings have
appeared in such publications as Yale Journal of Law & Policy, Berkeley Journal of International
Law, Israel Law Review (peer-reviewed), and The San Francisco Chronicle. He received the Francis
Lieber Prize from the American Society of International Law for outstanding scholarship in the field
of the law of armed conflict.
13

Speaker Biographies
Ambassador Stuart Holliday is President and CEO of Meridian International
Center. Ambassador Holliday served as United States Ambassador for
Special Political Affairs at the United Nations (2003-2005). Prior to serving
at the United Nations, Ambassador Holliday was Coordinator (Assistant
Secretary) of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Information
Programs and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. From
2000-2001, he was Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director
of Presidential Personnel at the White House. From 1998-2000, he served
as Assistant (deputy) Policy Director to then Governor of Texas. He has
also served as Executive Director of the Dallas Council on World Affairs and
as Regional Director for North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey at the International Republican
Institute (IRI). Ambassador Holliday served on active and reserve duty as an Officer in the United
States Navy (Intelligence) from 1988-1995 and was recalled to active duty for Operation Desert
Storm. Ambassador Holliday is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations; the education
chair of YPO’s Global Diplomacy and Policy Group; and on the Board of Directors for the Council of
American Ambassadors and IFES (The International Foundation for Electoral Systems). He is also
currently Co-Chairing the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress’s Strengthening
America’s Future Initiative. Ambassador Holliday is a frequent speaker on foreign affairs and
international institutions.
Eric Kacou is co-founder and CEO of Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners
(ESP), a firm providing entrepreneurs and leaders with the right mix of
insight and capital needed to generate prosperity. He is also the author of
Entrepreneurial Solutions for Prosperity in BoP Markets (2010), which has
already received coverage from international media such as FT, CNBC, and
SABC. Prior to starting this venture, he served as Managing Director of OTF
Group, a competitiveness consultancy focused on emerging markets. An
expert in business strategy and economic reconstruction, he led the Rwanda
National Innovation and Competitiveness (RNIC) Program. Mr. Kacou
also served CEOs and leaders of over a dozen developing countries and
international development partners. Mr. Kacou started his career as a strategy consultant with
Monitor Company advising Fortune 500 executives. He is a Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy
School and serves on the Wharton Executive Board for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The
World Economic Forum honored Mr. Kacou as a Young Global Leader.
14

Speaker Biographies
Mari Kuraishi is the co-founder and President of GlobalGiving. She joined
the World Bank in 1991 and served as country officer for Russia, and
subsequently oversaw strategy development, budget allocation, and change
management. She also created one of the Bank’s most innovative projects,
the first ever Innovation and Development Marketplaces. The Development
Marketplace has been recognized as a leading example of public sector
innovation in the Harvard Business Review. She was most recently named
as one of Foreign Policy magazine’s Top 100 Global Thinkers. She currently
serves as the chair of the board of the Global Business School Network, and
is on the board of Guidestar US. She has also served on various committees
of the Independent Sector.
Stanley S. Litow is the President of the IBM Foundation and IBM’s Vice
President for Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs. In this capacity,
he helped create IBM’s Corporate Service Corps, a corporate version of the
Peace Corps which deploys 500 IBM top emerging leaders in community
assignments in 30 countries of the developing world. Before joining IBM, Mr.
Litow served as the Deputy Chancellor of Schools for New York City. Prior
to his service with the City’s public schools, he founded and ran Interface,
the non profit “think tank” and served as an aide to both the Mayor and
Governor of New York. He has served as an adjunct faculty at New School
University, the City University of New York and Long Island University and
was voted CEO of the Year by Corporate Responsibility Magazine in 2009 and 2010. He served
on the President’s Welfare to Work Commission, and currently serves on the board of Harvard
Business School’s Initiative on Social Enterprise, Citizen’s Budget Commission, and The After
School Corporation (TASC). Mr. Litow is a recipient of the Council on Foundation’s prestigious
Scrivner Award for creative philanthropy and several other awards.
Leslie Martinkovics is Director of International Public Policy and
Regulatory Affairs for Verizon Communications. He is the company’s primary
point of contact to multilateral organizations such as the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), where he is the Vice Chairman of a study
group dealing with charging and tariffing issues. He also participates in
regional organizations in the Americas (CITEL) and the Asia-Pacific region
(APEC TEL), where he works on a wide range of Internet, spectrum, and
technology policy issues. He is a Vice Chair of the United States Council for
International Business (USCIB), and a member of the U.S. ITU Association
board of directors. Prior to joining Verizon in 1999, he was the Managing
Director of LJM International.
15

Speaker Biographies
Matthias Chika Mordi is currently the Chief Executive and founder of
Accender Africa. Mr. Mordi spent over twenty years as a central, retail and
Investment Banker and co-led the team that built UBA plc from a troubled
small Nigerian bank to Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest financial groups with
over 14,000 employees in fifteen countries, in less than a decade. Matthias
has served on the board of twenty-two financial institutions across Africa
and the United Kingdom, several of which he incubated, including a bank
he turned around as Chief Executive. He has also served as the alternate
president of the West African Bankers’ Association, Chairman of the board
of West Africa’s first Credit Bureau and several government committees. He
is dedicated to reducing poverty in Africa and is a firm believer in Africa’s great potential.
Linord R. Moudou is the producer and host of Healthy Living on Voice of
America Telivision, and has worked as an independent journalist in Africa,
Europe and the United States. She created, produced, and hosted “Spotlight
on Africa,” a bilingual television and radio program. She has interviewed a
range of political figures and artists throughout her career. Additionally, she
is CEO and President of LIRAM Global Communications, a communication
consulting agency concentrated in International Relations, event planning,
and media productions. She has hosted many events in Africa, Europe and
the United States, including The World Bank/IMF Gala in Washington, DC,
the Kora All Africa Music Awards in South Africa, the Richard Bona concert in
Paris, and the Panafrican Music Festival in the Republic of Congo.
Jackson Mvunganyi is the host of Upfront a Youth oriented talk show on the
Voice of America. Mr. Mvunganyi engages African youth on issues ranging
from leadership, education, employment etc. His blog www.upfrontafrica has
been mentioned as one of the unique sources of information about Africans.
A native of Rwanda Mr. Mvunganyi has had a multi-faceted broadcasting
career so far, working in both radio and television, in Africa and the United
States. Mr. Mvunganyi is the co-founder and vice president of Rwanda
International Network Association. He serves on the board advisors for of
Indego Africa INDEGO AFRICA, and as a curator for Africa Gathering. He
has moderated numerous academic panels around the country on issues
ranging from Youth, Justice, Development, and Leadership.
16

Speaker Biographies
Ngozi Nmezi was appointed Executive Director of the Office on African
Affairs in May 2011. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Nmezi served as a riskmanagement
specialist for the Department of Real Estate Services. Previously,
she was a proposal coordinator and partner liaison for the internationaldevelopment
wing of the global support-services firm AECOM and a contract
coordinator with the Health Services for Children with Special Needs and
the HSC Pediatric Center in the District of Columbia. At Howard University,
she was a Graduate Research Assistant for the Genetics of Recurrent Early
Onset Depression (genRED) study, sponsored by National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH). Ms. Nmezi developed her capstone research project around a
mental health study targeting African immigrant constituencies in the greater Washington, DC area
titled, “A transgenerational study: acculturation and depression amongst African immigrants.”
Jonathan Ortmans is the President of Global Entrepreneurship Week on
behalf of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and also serves as a Senior
Fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as Chair of the Global
Entrepreneurship Congress. Previously, Mr. Ortmans served as executive
director of the Columbia Institute for Political Research, concentrating on
health care economic policy. Currently, he also serves as president of the
Public Forum Institute, an independent not-for-profit organization that enjoys
strong bi-partisan congressional support in fostering public discourse on
major issues of the day. He started his first business at the age of 19 in his
native United Kingdom, and his second at 34 following a stint on Capitol Hill
working for the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee focusing on trade
policy.
Maria Otero was sworn in as Under Secretary of State on August 10, 2009.
She also serves as the President’s Special Representative for Tibetan Issues.
Ms. Otero was formerly the president and CEO of ACCION International. She
is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on inclusive economic
growth, women’s issues and international development. Prior to ACCION, Ms.
Otero was the Economist for Latin America for the Women in Development
office of USAID. She also served for five years at the Centre for Development
and Population Activities (CEDPA). Ms. Otero was an adjunct professor
at Johns Hopkins’ Nitze School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
before joining the State Department. President Clinton appointed Ms. Otero
to the board of the United States Institute of Peace in 2000. In June 2006, Ms. Otero was appointed
by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors.
Ms. Otero has chaired the board of Bread for the World, and also served on the boards of the
Calvert Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation and BRAC Holding
of Bangladesh. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Among many of Ms. Otero’s
awards and recognition includes selection by Newsweek in October 2005 as one of the United
States’ twenty most influential women.
17

Speaker Biographies
Eric G. Postel is the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Economic
Growth, Agriculture, and Trade and Bureau of Economic Growth, Education,
and Environment, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Mr. Postel also serves as USAID’s coordinator for the government-wide
Partnership for Growth program. Mr. Postel is working to implement
President Obama’s call to “elevate broad-based economic growth as a top
priority” of U.S. overseas development efforts. Mr. Postel is the founder of
Pangaea Partners, an investment banking and consulting firm focused on
emerging markets. Throughout 2006-2007, Mr. Postel served as a Senateappointed
Commissioner of the U.S. Helping to Enhance the Livelihood of
People around the Globe (HELP) Commission. Previously, Mr. Postel worked as a Vice President at
Citibank Tokyo. Mr. Postel also has five years of experience working in biotechnology and providing
capital to clean energy start-ups and energy efficient projects in Wisconsin.
Steve Radelet is the Chief Economist for the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID). During 2010, he was Senior Advisor for Development
for the Secretary of State, and previously 2002-2010 he was a Senior Fellow
at the Center for Global Development, where his work focused on economic
growth, poverty reduction, foreign aid, debt, and trade. He served as an
economic advisor to the President of Liberia from 2005-2009, and was
founding co-chair of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network. From
2000-2002 he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Africa,
the Middle East, and Asia. From 1990-2000, he was a Fellow at the Harvard
Institute for International Development (HIID), Director of the Institute’s
macroeconomics program, and a lecturer on economics and public policy at Harvard University.
He served as resident advisor to the Ministry of Finance in Indonesia (1991-95) and The Gambia
(1986-88), and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Western Samoa. Among many other publications,
he is the author of Emerging Africa: How 17 Countries are Leading the Way (2010) and Challenging
Foreign Aid: A Policymaker’s Guide to the Millennium Challenge Account (2003), and co-author of
Economics of Development (6th edition, 2006), a leading undergraduate textbook.
Andrew Roos is the Account Executive for Elections and Issue Advocacy
team at Google, where he works with campaigns and political organizations
around the country to maximize the impact of their advertising dollars. Prior
to joining Google, Roos accumulated over a decade of experience working
on political campaigns around the country ranging from local candidates to
a presidential race. With a strong background in grassroots organizing he
has been the campaign manager on six campaigns, ranging from very small
to multi-million dollar budgets. He has worked on six gubernatorial races,
managing four of them, and been involved in a number of tough primary
battles. Notably, he was the Campaign Manager for former Democratic
Governors Association Chair Jack Markell’s upset win in Delaware in 2008.
18

Speaker Biographies
TMS “Teddy” Ruge is the cofounder of Project Diaspora. A technology
enthusiast, Mr. Ruge writes and speaks extensively on Africa’s current
renaissance driven by technology, youth and the Diaspora. He is a frequent
contributor to several online publications including CNN, New York Times,
PopTech, The Globe and Mail, and The Guardian. In January 2012, he
was awarded a ‘Champion of Change’ award by the White House for his
community development work in East Africa. His work includes serving as
a founding board member of Hive Colab in Kampala. As an active social
entrepreneur, he is a director and shareholder in Uganda Medicinal Plants
Growers, ltd. Mr. Ruge is also the host of The Digital Continent Podcast, an
interview podcast featuring the key innovators and entrepreneurs whose work is shaping the digital
economies of Africa. He currently serves as the Lead Social Media Strategist at the World Bank’s
Connect4Climate initiative.
Bonnie Shaw is the Founder of Snap-Shot-City, Founder and Dean of the DC
chapter of The Awesome Foundation, co-creator of the 24 Hour City Project,
organizer of the Digital Divas Dinners, and an honored Fellow of The RSA.
She also serves as the Director of Strategy at iStrategyLabs. Ms. Shaw has
over 10 years of international experience in urban design, civic engagement
strategy, experience design and campaign implementation. She has worked
with global consumer brands, media and broadcasting companies, real
estate and development agencies, non-profits and community service
organizations, and federal, state and local government agencies in Australia,
UK and USA. A serial social innovator, she is an expert at making meaningful
connection between people, place, technology and play to catalyze massively collaborative civic
innovations for tangible real world impact.
Ambassador Wendy R. Sherman was sworn in as Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs on September 21, 2011. Prior to this position, Ambassador
Sherman served as Vice Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, and a member
of the Investment Committee of Albright Capital Management, an affiliated
investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. Ambassador
Sherman served as Counselor for the State Department from 1997-2001,
as well as Special Advisor to President Clinton and Policy Coordinator on
North Korea. From 1993-1996, under Secretary of State Warren Christopher,
she was Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. Ambassador Sherman
served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Oxfam America. She also served
on the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board. In 2008, Ambassador Sherman was
appointed by Congressional Leadership to serve on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons
of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism.
19

Speaker Biographies
Tara D. Sonenshine was sworn in as Under Secretary of State for Public
Diplomacy and Public Affairs on April 5, 2012. Ms. Sonenshine was formerly
Executive Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Prior
to that she was a strategic communications adviser to many international
organizations including USIP. Ms. Sonenshine served in various capacities
at the White House during the Clinton Administration, including Transition
Director and Director of Foreign Policy Planning for the National Security
Council and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of
Communications for the NSC. Ms. Sonenshine has had a distinguished
career in communications and government, with high-level experience in
broadcast, print, and online media. Her broadcast career began at ABC News in New York, and
Ms. Sonenshine went on to become editorial producer of ABC News’ Nightline. She was also an
off-air reporter at the Pentagon for ABC’s World News Tonight. A former contributing editor for
Newsweek, Ms. Sonenshine is the author of numerous articles on foreign affairs published in the
New York Times, Washington Post, and other newspapers. She is the recipient of 10 News Emmy
Awards and other awards in journalism for broadcast programs on domestic and international
issues.
Lynn Taliento is a Partner in the Washington, D.C. Office of McKinsey &
Company. In 1999, Ms. Taliento co-founded McKinsey’s first group dedicated
to working on social sector issues, and she now leads McKinsey’s Social
Sector Office for the Americas. Ms. Taliento spent 2010 leading McKinsey’s
pro bono work with the Government of Haiti and President Clinton to create
the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, drawing on the Firm’s experience
building a similar entity after the tsunami in Indonesia. Ms. Taliento has
published many reports, including And the Winner Is… Capturing the Value
of Philanthropic Prizes, a seminal report on best practices in prizes, and
Engaging the Public in Social Issues. She also wrote Capacity Building
in Nonprofit Organizations, which includes an assessment tool that has been translated into 13
languages and is now being revised with the Gates Foundation. Ms. Taliento serves on the boards
of President Clinton’s Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and water.org, co-founded by Matt Damon.
Leànne Viviers is the SME Toolkit Programme Manager at the International
Finance Corporation Sustainable Business Advisory. She is an experienced
Project Manager and Management Consultant who has contributed to
transformational projects across a range of enterprises and organizations on
optimizing performance. Her MBA in Consulting and Social Entrepreneurship
from the University of Oxford significantly bolsters her ability to devise business
solutions that promote sustainable socio-economic change globally, with
particular concentration in private sector (SME) development in Africa.
20

Speaker Biographies
Ambassador Sharon Wilkinson serves as Meridian International Center’s
Diplomatic Adviser having served as Senior Vice President and Deputy. Prior
to that she was the Assistant Dean for Global Engagement at Arizona State
University. She has also been a speaker on foreign policy issues at Syracuse
University and New Mexico State University. Prior to her assistant deanship
at ASU, she was President of the World Affairs Council of Arizona, where
she spearheaded a successful effort to increase visibility and membership,
create new programs, and expand and diversify International Visitor Program
professional resources. Ambassador Wilkinson’s Foreign Service spanned for
30 years culminating in successive ambassadorial appointments to Burkina
Faso and the Republic of Mozambique.
David Bruce Wharton joined the Bureau of International Information
Programs in August 2007. Prior to joining IIP, Mr. Wharton worked as a
senior-level career development officer in the Department’s Bureau of Human
Resources (2006-2007). From 2003-2006 he served as the Deputy Chief of
Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. Mr. Wharton entered the Foreign
Service in 1985 and has been posted abroad in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia,
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Guatemala, and served in Washington, DC
from 1992-1995. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Wharton worked in
professional theater in the Washington, DC area. He has received Superior
and Meritorious Honor Awards from the Department of State and the U.S.
Information Agency.
Rahama Wright was introduced to shea butter production in 2002 when she
worked as an intern for the Department of State at the American Embassy in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Soon after this, she committed to a two year
Peace Corps service in Mali. When Ms. Wright returned to the US in 2004 she
started the process of creating Shea Yeleen International, and in 2005 she
officially launched Shea Yeleen International, a 501c3 that helps women in
West Africa organize cooperatives, provides training on quality assurance and
micro enterprise development, and brings shea butter products to market.
Shea Yeleen is working to help over 700 women earn a living wage through
the production and sale of shea butter. Shea Yeleen has been featured in
Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, and Women’s Health Magazine, NY 1, The Washington Informer,
Rolling Out, Voice of America, and WPFW 89.3. In 2008 the White House Project and O, Oprah
Magazine selected Ms. Wright as a national leader. Ms. Wright has worked for Aguirre International,
Georgetown University, and the Department of State. She’s an avid traveler and visited and worked
in Afghanistan, Morocco, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya, Southern Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,
Tanzania, and Ghana.
21

Participant Biographies
Mr. Oumarou Aliou – Niger
President, The National Youth Council
As President of the National Youth Council, Mr. Aliou serves as a representative for the country’s
youth in national and international meetings, engages in dialogue with youth organizations across
all regions, and advocates for youth issues, including democracy and human rights. The National
Youth Council is the highest independent and nonpartisan decision-making body on youth issues
in Niger. Mr. Aliou passed on the opportunity to participate in the Nigerien delegation of the Rio +20
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take part in this program.
Mr. Atsutse Mawuenya Amevor – Togo
Territory Manager, Unilever
As the Territory Manager for Unilever, Mr. Amevor oversees territory coverage, sales growth,
distribution, merchandising, wholesale and retail management, and represents four Unilever
importers. Unilever is a multinational company that produces and distributes brands of nutrition,
personal care, home-care and food products in more than 180 countries. In addition to working for
Unilever, Mr. Amevor owns a small laundry business. He also wishes to implement a project that
would help conserve fresh tomatoes, and make them available at a reasonable price out of season.
Mr. Mamy Rija Herizo Andriamoria – Madagascar
Webmarketing/Web Development Manager, Mianjaika Innovation
In his position at Mianjaika, Mr. Andriamoria has gained significant experience using new technology
and the internet, having developed programs for NGOs, government and other institutions in
Madagascar. Mianjaika Innovation is a web marketing agency with a staff of seven employees.
Mr. Andriamoria serves as project leader, assisting clients to create a digital identity, websites and
disseminate information on behalf of the company. He is eager to gain knowledge and experience
in new technologies and share it with other young people in Madagascar, especially through the
new Youth Civic Center recently created by the U.S. Embassy.
Mr. Arthur Tumusiime Asiimwe – Uganda
Teaching Assistant, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Researcher, Centre for
Research in Transportation Technologies
Mr. Asiimwe serves as a teaching assistant for the Centre for Research in Transportation Technologies
(CRTT), which was established in 2009 to champion the research and development of eco-friendly
transportation solutions. The CRTT, the home of the KIIRA EV (a two-seater electric vehicle), is
leading the way with technological innovations aimed at enhancing environmental stewardship and
transportation sustainability. Mr. Asiimwe participated in the development of a proposal for which
the President of Uganda committed funds, leading to the realization of the KIIRA EV. Mr. Asiimwe
also co-authored a paper entitled “The Design and Implementation of an Electric Powertrain for
the KIIRA Electric Vehicle,” which was presented at the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los
Angeles in May 2012. CRTT is currently undertaking the development of a commercially viable
green solution to facilitate public transport – the KAYOOLA, a plug-in electric 28-seater solar bus.
22

Participant Biographies
Mr. Joaquim Ulisses Catinda – Angola
Chief Executive Officer, KixiCredito
Mr. Catinda is the CEO of KixiCredito, an emerging microfinance institution that has quickly become
the leading provider of microfinance services in Angola. KixiCredito is currently implementing a
microfinance project funded by USAID that aims to increase access to sustainable sources of
financial services, such as loans and savings, in the active segments of the informal economy in
Luanda, Cabinda and Soyo provinces, where access to conventional banking services is limited. Mr.
Catinda is also a local board member of the international NGO Development Workshop in Angola.
Ms. Tshepang Lerato Chilume – Botswana
Treasury Sales Manager, Barclays Bank
As the Treasury Sales Manager of Barclays, one of the four big banks in Botswana, Ms. Chilume’s
responsibilities include daily interaction with clients to provide updates on markets, and pricing and
booking profitable trades. Ms. Chilume is also in the process of acquiring a franchise from a health
fast food outlet based in South Africa called Kauai. In addition, she and a partner have a company
called “Symbiotic Lifestylz” that hosts lifestyle events. Ms. Chilume and her business associates are
working to acquire a car wash in Gaborone. In addition to her many business ventures, Ms. Chilume
is interested in volunteerism, especially raising awareness about people with physical disabilities
and working with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mr. Thierno Mamadou Diallo – Guinea
Political Desk Officer and English Language Programs, Radio Horizon FM
Mr. Diallo is particularly well-known for his investigations into drug trafficking as a media professional
with Radio Horizon FM. Radio Horizon FM was established in January 2007 during the dictatorial
regime of the late General Lansana Conte to address the marginalization of youth and opposition
parties from the state media. The station achieved local and national notoriety. In 2010, following
the first-ever democratic presidential election in Guinea, the station was awarded a trophy for
excellence and community spirit. Mr. Diallo wants to link media services to the farming sector
by establishing a farm radio station that operates for, and by, the community. He also works with
an NGO that is involved in increasing youth political and civic activism by encouraging youth to
participate in service organizations and take leadership roles in and outside of the school structure.
Ms. Wafa El Muaiz Elsaied Abd Elraziq - Sudan
Manager, Megamix Business Solutions
As the production manager at Megamix Business Solutions, Ms. Elraziq’s responsibilities include
managing client relations, developing advertising plans, and producing advertisements. Megamix
Business Solutions is a company that specializes in marketing communication services for large and
mid-sized enterprises. During her tenure, Ms. Elraziq has demonstrated creativity and imagination
in advertising that has not only led to an established client base but a 50 percent increase in
revenue for her firm. Over the past three years, Ms. Elraziq has planned, established, and launched
two communications companies in Sudan.
23

Participant Biographies
Mr. Abib Dit Biba Fall - Mauritania
Co-founder and Shareholder, Oxygene
Mr. Fall manages and oversees administration and training processes for Oxygene, a communication,
marketing and information technology company based in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Mr. Fall is
experienced in the field of information technology and has worked to establish computer networks
for the South African embassy in Nouakchott, as well as for several prestigious hotels. He is also a
member of a young entrepreneurs organization that focuses on collective action and mentoring. In
his spare time, Mr. Fall volunteers as a caregiver for senior citizens.
Mr. Andrew Stanley Giahquee – Liberia
Program Officer, Skills and Agricultural Development Services
Maintaining institutional memory and relationships with donors is an essential aspect of Mr.
Giahquee’s role at the Skills and Agricultural Development Services (SADS). SADS implements a
wide range of programs that are targeted at promoting community-based projects for sustainable
development, such as environmental education, natural resources management, human rights, and
health promotion. Mr. Giahquee is responsible for submitting project, meeting and financial reports as
required by donors; developing work plans and evaluating performance of all field assistants at pilot
sites. Mr. Giahquee also leads a program that helps vulnerable youth to engage in environmentallysustainable
livelihood activities such as beekeeping, rattan product development, and country cloth
spinning weaving in Gparpolu, Bomi, Nimba and Lofa counties. Mr. Giahquee hopes to use his
participation in this program to learn innovative approaches for linking environmental management,
the conversation about biodiversity, and economic opportunities.
Mr. Ken Mwenda Gikunda – Kenya
Managing Director and Co-Founder, eMobilis
Mr. Gikunda is the managing director of eMobilis, a technology training institute that equips youth
with skills in mobile software development and network infrastructure management. The institute’s
mission is to provide Kenyan youth with the skills that Kenyan companies need to take advantage
of the mobile and digital revolution. eMobilis also helps software developers market their products
to domestic and foreign companies. Mr. Gikunda sees himself as one day heading a $5-10 million
enterprise in mobile technology training and mobile software development. This company will
impact the lives of over 1,000 Kenyan youth annually by providing them with skills and enhancing
their ability to be globally competitive, entrepreneurial, and innovative in solving problems in their
communities through mobile applications.
24

Participant Biographies
Ms. Matilde Clementina Gomes Mendes - Guinea-Bissau
Advisor, Agriculture/Value Chain Development, SNV Company
Ms. Gomes Mendes’ role in SNV includes value chain analysis and strategic planning, as well as
providing technical assistance in design and implementation of agricultural diversification programs.
SNV is a voluntary program established in 1963 as a cooperative venture between the Government
of the Netherlands and private organizations. Currently, cashews are the most important cash
crop in Guinea-Bissau, contributing to over 90 percent of export revenue. As a result, Ms. Gomes
Mendes is encouraging development of an agro-industry program focused on integrated use of
cashew nuts, developing strategies for market access, and participating in advocacy for legal
reforms in the cashew industry. Ms. Gomes Mendes plans to invest in the cashew industry, and
become the founder of one of the first woman-led businesses in this industry in Guinea-Bissau. Ms.
Gomes Mendes is also an AIDS activist and volunteers to promote youth peace building.
Ms. Mouta Ali Zezerti Hanane – Chad
Customer Service Director, Airtel Chad
Ms. Hanane manages Airtel stores and a call center run by Spanco, a partner company. Airtel Chad
is a leading telecom company in Chad and part of the Bharti Group which operates in 17 African
countries. With annual revenue of $60 million, Airtel has more than 150 direct hire employees
and contractors working for its partners, which include IBM, Ericsson and Spanco. Separately,
Ms. Hanane is also starting her own business, a lingerie shop. The shop intends to fill a need of
local consumers since many women in Chad are forced to leave the country to buy lingerie. In
concurrence with opening her shop, Ms. Hanane also wants to begin an association to aid in the
economic and social development of Kanem, the western region of Chad.
Ms. Clarisse Karungi Iribagiza – Rwanda
CEO, HeHe Limited
As CEO, Ms. Iribagiza is in charge of overall strategy and company development of HeHe Limited.
Founded in 2010 out of the college classrooms of the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology,
HeHe is now at the forefront of the technology revolution and has quickly become one of East Africa’s
leading mobile development companies, providing powerful new technologies for businesses. For
instance, despite having only four full-time staff and annual revenue of $25,000, HeHe has managed
to build mobile technology solutions for organizations like the Nike Foundation. Ms. Iribagiza was the
recent winner of a reality TV show, “Inspire Africa,” a 13-week “Apprentice”-style show that brought
together 24 young Rwandan, Ugandan, Kenyan and Tanzanian entrepreneurs. The contestant with
the best business management skills won $50,000 in start-up capital.
25

Participant Biographies
Ms. Fatmata Gbatay Jalloh - Sierra Leone
Owner and Director, TIC Cleaning Enterprise and Accent (Home Design) Ltd
Ms. Jalloh is the owner and managing director of two companies in Sierra Leone. TIC Cleaning
provides professional cleaning and fumigation services to corporate institutions and businesses.
Accent is an interior decorating business that provides various residential and commercial furniture
and design services. Ms. Jalloh is also a lead consultant with Creatin Links Company Ltd., a
consulting firm specializing in Information Technology, human resources and social development
needs.
Ms. Jacqueline Kamsu Souobu – Cameroon
Founder & CEO, Beads Space
Ms. Souobu is the founder of Beads Space, a Common Initiative Group, dedicated to promote
youth self-reliance and financial sustainability, with a particular focus on training young women to
produce and market recycled paper crafts and bead products worldwide. Established in 2006 in the
North West Region of Cameroon, Beads Space currently employs 13 single mothers. Ms. Kamsu
Souobu’s vision and entrepreneurial spirit have significantly impacted women in her community and
promoted economic prosperity. Through her leadership, and with limited means, Ms. Kamsu Souobu
has trained over 50 young women and girls. Based on her efforts, five women are now operating
their own businesses and many have begun pursuing additional educational opportunities.
Mr. Adon Hermann Madi – Republic of Congo
Co-founder and CEO, National Express Cleaning
Mr. Madi is the CEO of National Express Cleaning, a company that provides professional cleaning
services using the latest technologies, cleaning methods and cleaning equipment. The company
has trained about 40 staff and the number is expected to increase significantly over the coming
months. Mr. Madi studied at the University of London and has been professionally trained by Amtech
UK. He believes his company can benefit the community by expanding employment opportunities
to a large segment of the population as well as improving health and environmental standards. Mr.
Madi is also a semi-professional soccer player and active in his Christian church.
Mr. Manasseh Mathiang – South Sudan
CEO, Marketing Solutions Co. Ltd.
Mr. Mathiang is CEO of Marketing Solutions Co. Ltd., a registered firm in South Sudan that offers
marketing services, including promotion, printing services, branding, events management and
other related services that help clients create visibility for their products and services. The company
is known for event management and production services for programs such as Investor’s Night,
an event promoting investment in South Sudan, and the Juba Marathon, a charity event benefiting
children’s health care in South Sudan. Mr. Mathiang wants to use his company’s event management
skills to raise money for children’s health initiatives. In 2012, his firm began working with the Al
Sabah Children’s Hospital, the only pediatric health facility in South Sudan, to build a much-needed
waiting room.
26

Participant Biographies
Mr. Ramahooana Peter Matlosa – Lesotho
Founder and National Coordinator, Crossroads Lesotho
Mr. Matlosa founded Crossroads Lesotho, a non-governmental organization that provides
psychosocial support, sports and recreational programs, food packages, and income generating
activities to the Lesotho community. Crossroads Lesotho aims to cultivate a generation of youth
who are creative and proactive, innovative leaders, and passionate about community development.
As administrator of the organization, Mr. Matlosa conducts trainings and youth workshops that
aim to equip young leaders with skills to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention in their communities.
Mr. Matlosa’s overall project objective is to build a training, sports and recreation center for
underprivileged children. He has also lobbied with international organizations to pay more attention
to the HIV/AIDS crisis affecting young people in his country. Mr. Matlosa is active in local politics,
serving as chairman of the youth league of a local political party.
Mr. Simbarashe Mhungu – Zimbabwe
Founder and Managing Director, Harvest Fresh
Mr. Mhungu is the founder and managing director of Harvest Fresh, a progressive fresh produce
processing and marketing company founded in 1993 as BonneZim PVT Ltd. Through his whollyowned
subsidiary Harvest Fresh, Mr. Mhungu bought BonneZim PVT Ltd. out of bankruptcy in
October 2011 with the aim of restructuring its business model to fit the new global agro-processing
paradigm. Mr. Mhungu hopes to learn and adopt food processing technology from U.S.-based
companies to ensure that Harvest Fresh remains on the cusp of new food growing and processing
technologies. Mr. Mhungu is also an African Leadership Academy mentor and co-founder of the
program Africa Readers to Leaders.
Ms. Jacqueline David Mkindi – Tanzania
Executive Director, Tanzania Horticulture Association
As Executive Director of Tanzania Horticulture Association, Ms. Mkindi serves as a key official on
the TAHA Board of Directors, manages day-to-day operations, and establishes key alliances with
strategic government, development and private sector partners. Tanzania Horticulture Association
(TAHA) is an organization composed of members from the private sector including farmers, service
providers and exporters, created to develop and promote the horticulture industry in Tanzania.
Through her efforts, Ms. Mkindi has helped transform the horticulture industry in Tanzania from
a mere non-traditional sub-sector to the fastest growing sub-sector in the Tanzanian economy,
generating over $354 million today, compared with $1.4 million in 2003. Ms. Mkindi wants to
start a Woman in Agribusiness Mentorship and Business Advisory Program, which would provide
mentorship and advisory services to women group leaders in agribusiness, especially horticulture.
27

Participant Biographies
Ms. Innocentia Itumeleng Greta Motau – South Africa
Director and CEO, XPanse Investment
As Director and CEO of XPanse Investment, Ms. Motau formulates company strategy, manages
investments from conceptualization to implementation, and oversees company development.
XPanse is an investment bank with clients in a wide range of fields, including maritime and logistics,
mining, property and renewable energy. While Ms. Motau focuses on corporate finance and
investment banking as part of her “day job,” her after-hours passion is to promote opportunities
for youth, especially girls, in the business world. As President of the South African Chapter of the
G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance, she is concerned that South Africa, the powerhouse of Sub-
Saharan Africa, lags behind on some key Millennium Development Goals. As a board member for
the National Youth Development Agency (an appointed position), she is proud of her work to help
fund cooperatives in rural areas that benefit women in particular, and has lobbied successfully for
increased government support for micro-finance loans to rural communities.
Ms. Mwaka Mukwasa – Zambia
Spokesperson, Young African Leaders Initiative
Ms. Mukwasa serves as the spokesperson for Zambia’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a
coalition of young leaders in Zambia inspired by U.S. President Barak Obama’s Forum for Young
African Leaders held in August, 2010 in Washington, D.C. YALI’s mission is to engage, support and
empower Zambian youth and young leaders to enhance civic engagement through promotion of
education, good governance, principled leadership and business skills. YALI’s vision is a Zambia
anchored in a vibrant generation of young leaders in the private and public sectors that effectively
contribute to good democratic governance, justice, peace and economic development. Ms.
Mukwasa’s role in the organization includes engaging media on issues affecting youth, preparing
media advisories and issuing press statements, calling press conferences and handling questions
from the media. Ms. Mukwasa plans to begin a program to help girls continue their education
beyond grade 7, when it is no longer paid for by the government.
Mr. Muhammed Njie – The Gambia
Senior Executive Trainer Financial Control Department, Bank PHB
Mr. Njie works in the finance department of Bank PHB Gambia preparing periodical financial
statements, managing accounts and preparing regulatory returns for submission to the central
bank of the Gambia. Bank PHB Gambia employs about 148 staff with an annual budget of $1.5
million (PBT). In addition to his banking background, Mr. Njie has developed a business plan to
employ modern techniques and the latest technologies to process locally grown fruits into fruit
juices, thereby reducing the high waste of fruit due to spoilage. Mr. Njie was one of the top finalists
in a contest sponsored by the local American Chamber of Commerce for writing this comprehensive
business plan. Mr. Njie’s business plan was also selected among the top five in Gambia that was
later showcased at the ECOWAS Business Forum in Nigeria.
28

Participant Biographies
Mr. Jean Claude Ntakarutimana – Burundi
Executive Director and Co-Owner, the Computer Services Company
The Computer Services Company was founded in 2007 by Mr. Ntakarutimana and his brother to
take advantage of the growing market for computing products. Since its inception, the company
has been able to capitalize on the growing interest in computer technology as Burundi strives to
catch up with its neighbors in the East African Community and the rest of the world. The company
has become a primary vendor of desktops, laptops, photocopiers, cartridges, toners and other IT
equipment in Bujumbura and in the region of Lubumbashi of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company is the main equipment provider for Microsoft Burundi and Maison Vision, an ondemand
printing company. Mr. Ntakarutimana is also the president of the Cibitoke English Club. As
current president of the club, he has helped create one of the most effective and diverse community
organizations in the Cibitoke neighborhood; an area that was heavily impacted by civil and post-war
conflict between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.
Ms. Lufinama Patricia Bibiche Nzolantima – Democratic Republic of Congo
Partner and Country Manager, Exp-Communicart
As the Country Manager of E Exp-Communicart, Ms. Nzolantima has been responsible for
developing and executing brand strategies for Nesle, Airtel, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Procter and
Gamble, Samsung, MTV Africa and various local clients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Exp-
Communicart is Africa’s largest experiential marketing agency with offices in 15 countries on the
continent. Before Exp-Communicart, Ms. Nzolantima worked as a marketing manager for several
local and international companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Congo-
Brazzaville.
Ms. Rusia Orikiriza – Uganda
Founder and Managing Director, Oribags Innovations U Ltd
Ms. Orikiriza founded Oribags, a social and environmental enterprise, in 2007. The company
manufactures innovative, handmade paper products such as eco-bags, cards, visitor books and
stationery from local agricultural wastes and natural fibers such as cotton waste, banana fiber,
wheat and rice straw and elephant dung. Oribags sustainably recovers agricultural waste and
makes it into eco-products suitable for the local market and provides an eco-friendly alternative
to the environmentally hazardous polythene bags. Oribags empowers women and youth in skills
development for community change. As the leader of the organization, Ms. Orikiriza oversees all
aspects of the business, including marketing and product development, resource mobilization,
networking with partners, report writing, financial management, staff training and supervision, and
monitoring and evaluation.
29

Participant Biographies
Mr. Marlon Brandon Parker – South Africa
Founder & Project Manager, RLabs
Mr. Parker founded RLabs, a partnership between the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, a
community organization called Impact Direct Ministries (IDM), and the Bridgetown Civic Organisation
based in the township of Athlone in Cape Flats. One of the goals of RLabs is to drive social change
through innovation and entrepreneurship. Mr. Parker develops social media applications and training
courses for social change, including for the “Mom 2.0 Project”, a program for unemployed women
in the community, and programs within the “Advice Support Network”, which integrates mobile
and other social media technology with social causes, including the “Drug Advice Support” (DAS),
“Career Advice Support” (CAS), “Positive Advice Support” (PAS), and HIV and AIDS programs. Mr.
Parker is a community organizer at heart and his tool is technology.
Ms. Saraha Ny Rasoambolanoro – Madagascar
Manager, Youth Civic Center
Ms. Rasoambolanoro is the manager of The Youth Civic Center, a space funded by the U.S.
Embassy’s Public Affairs Section to promote civic engagement among youth and democracy in
Madagascar. Ms. Rasoambolanoro has daily contact with youth to assist them in exploring new
technologies and internet and social media resources that will help them to expand their vision for
national development. Ms. Rasoambolanoro also belongs to the Girl Scout Association at Chieftain.
Apart from continuing to mentor young people through the Youth Civic Center and her Girl Scout
association, Ms. Rasoambolanoro is planning to open a youth center with a focus on technology in
a northern province of Madagascar.
Mr. Abdool Kureem Rossaye – Mauritius
Director, ArchNet Ltd.
Mr. Rossaye is the director of ArchNet Lt.d, a company that provides an internet platform called
Castafire Platform, which helps to build websites ranging from small sites to the most complex
portals. The platform comes equipped with ready-to-use software including an e-commerce
module, a sales tracking system, and a simple accounting tool, among others. The company also
provides hosting services and training for its customers. The platform allows small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) to have access to enterprise web technologies easily and cost-effectively. Mr.
Rossaye is already sharing his unique platform with SMEs in his country.
Mr. Assane Diene Seck - Senegal
Director, Djanoa
Mr. Seck is the director of Djanoa, a cloud SMS messaging platform for the creation of SMS-based
applications. Mr. Seck is among the winners of the 2011 Apps4Africa competition, which rewards
African technologists for developing creative solutions to some of the continent’s most challenging
issues. Mr. Seck is also interested in learning more about environmental issues and has a keen
interest in environmental protection. As a volunteer for EcoFund.org, Mr. Seck created a geolocalized
web community that helps individuals and communities working on sustainable resource
management in Africa share their experiences and best practices.
30

Participant Biographies
Mr. Frederick Tonyi Senayah – Ghana
Managing Director, Horseman Shoes Limited
Mr. Senayah began designing his own shoes while attending university. He established Horseman
Shoes Company Ltd. on a very small scale by taking orders from fellow students and professors. He
then started buying shoes from manufacturers and retailing them to customers, until he set up his
own workshop in Kumasi in August 2010. Currently, he employs 10 craftsman and designers and
produces on a pre-order basis. He has supplied school sandals to various boarding schools, and
his company makes shoes for high-profile personalities in the business and corporate world. Mr.
Senayah hopes to establish designer menswear and wristwatch lines to complement his existing
footwear line, and establish Horseman Ltd. as a fashion brand over the next five years. Mr. Senayah
was the Global Professional Achievers Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.
Mr. Segun Michael Shetan – Nigeria
Chief Executive Officer, Bravehearts Entertainment Kulture
Mr. Shetan is the CEO of Bravehearts Entertainment Kulture, an event and project management
firm with a staff of eight young Nigerians. The mission of the organization is to be a first class event
and project management firm. Mr. Shetan is also the founder of Bright Youth Organization (BYO),
an initiative committed to inspiring and empowering high school students to become leaders. BYO
establishes school clubs that provide a platform for students to bond and receive guidance. To date,
over 5,000 students in Ajegunle and Ajeromi Ifelodun have directly benefitted from the program.
Through BYO, Mr. Shetan also seeks sponsorships for academically talented students who are
unable to pay for their educational costs. In addition to these projects, Mr. Shetan has established
a laundry service through which he employed disadvantaged youth from his community. Through
this venture, he is funding his university education, which he is pursuing on a part-time basis. As
a result of his work and its impact, Mr. Shetan was the recipient of the 2008 Annual Nigeria Youth
Leadership Award sponsored by LEAP Africa.
Ms. Pennipher Vida Sikainda – Zambia
Senior Business Reporter, Muvi Television
Ms. Sikainda runs the business desk for the Muvi Television headquarters in Lusaka, investigates
and writes economic stories from the public and private sectors, and contributes political and
environmental stories to the station’s Current Affairs Division. Established eight years ago, Muvi
Television is Zambia’s first and largest private television station whose primary reporting focus
is local news. Before joining MUTI-TV, Ms. Sikainda worked at Radio Phoenix, Zambia’s largest
privately-owned radio station, with a listening audience of over 4.5 million. Ms. Sikainda’s work
has been recognized by Africa Interactive – Africanews and she is also on the production team
for a popular current affairs program, “The Sunrise Breakfast Show.” The Zambian Young African
Leaders Initiative has awarded Ms. Sikainda associate membership. She is also an active member
of the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zambia Chapter (MISA) and the Zambia Media Women
Association (ZAMWA). Ms. Sikainda is working on creating a program called “Uplift the Girls,” a
skills development and personal empowerment project for girls and women.
31

Participant Biographies
Mr. Josemir Alcides Efraime Taimo – Mozambique
Business Development Director, eRevolution Partners
Mr. Taimo serves as the Business Development Director of eRevolution Partners. The company is a
youth development, finance and business consulting firm that was launched under a broad-based
empowerment initiative to spearhead SME development and foster youth entrepreneurship and selfemployment
in Mozambique. eRevolution Partners, which has a staff of three, relies on government
cooperation since it is not profit driven. Mr. Taimo is responsible for business development; including
identifying sources of revenue and funding; growing the mentor, corporate sponsorship, and training
and development support networks; and overseeing government relations. Mr. Taimo is committed
to developing a business model that will help strengthen and provide opportunities for Mozambican
youth.
Ms. Fitsame Teferra Woldemichael – Ethiopia
Founder, Habte Books and author/publisher of children’s books
Ms. Woldemichael is founder of Habte Books, a multi-lingual children’s book publisher based in
Addis Ababa that publishes books for Ethiopian children around the world. The books teach about
Ethiopian culture and history in various languages (Amharic, English, Afaan Oromoo, French, German
and others). Currently, Habte Books has a team of two writers, three illustrators, two designers, two
editors and one distributor. Ms. Woldemichael had been buying children’s books and reading them
to children in orphanages every week, when she realized that children would be more motivated
to read if they could find books to which they could relate. To address this need, she began to
write her own books in different local and international languages, using local examples that the
children could easily understand. Through the over 30 books that she has authored and the book
publishing company she founded, her work has already had a huge impact on Ethiopian children.
Ms. Woldemichael has established connections with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education for future
collaboration.
Mr. Hallelujah Lulie Wondimu – Ethiopia
Junior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies
Mr. Wondimu works as a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a pan-African applied
policy research and training organization headquartered in South Africa with offices in Kenya,
Ethiopia and Senegal. The Institute advances human security in Africa through evidence-based
policy advice, technical support and capacity building. The ISS conducts research and compiles
reports for the African Union and the African community in general. Mr. Wondimu is passionate about
popular participation in politics, public dialogue and debate, and democracy and governance. As
the Ethiopian chapter coordinator for the African Unbound movement, Mr. Wondimu plans to use
a weekly radio show to disseminate ideas and to facilitate dialogue and debate. He also plans to
establish a formal platform which would function as a knowledge sharing hub where Ethiopian youth
could gather to exchange ideas and inspire, challenge and encourage each other. Mr. Wondimu is
leader of various volunteerism institutions such as Rotract, Subsidiary of Rotary International, where
he presided for the year 2010-11.
32

Participant Biographies
Mr. Marc Arthur Zang Adzaba - Cameroon
Founder & CEO, Himore Medical Company
After witnessing a need for improved medical equipment in Cameroon, Mr. Adzaba founded
Himore, a company that produces medical technologies and equipment. Mr. Adzaba oversees
the conception, design and quality control of all products, including his first invention known as
the “Cardiopad”, a touch screen medical tablet that conducts heart examinations in remote,
rural locations and wirelessly transfers the results to specialists for interpretation. Himore Medical
Company has a small operating staff of seven researchers and engineers and an annual budget
of $20,000. Under Mr. Adzaba’s leadership, the company has received supplemental funding from
the Cameroon government and local donors, as well as endorsements from the Prime Minister and
Minister of Health.
Ms. Aisha Jore Ali – South Sudan
Founding Director, Samahi Research
Ms. Ali is the founding director of Samahi Research, a private research and consultancy firm
comprised of a network of consultants from South Sudan, East Africa, and around the globe. Ms.
Ali is also starting another venture called Mcash South Sudan, created to make mobile financial
services secure, easy to use and timely. Mcash will build on the existing mobile telecommunications
and banking infrastructures to serve the un-banked population of South Sudan, ensuring that they
have access to standard financial services. The population of South Sudan that uses a mobile
phone is high and growing, but 80 percent of the population still has little or no access to banks
or financial services. Mcash seeks to engage this population in conducting financial services using
their mobile phones.
Ms. Eileen Almeida Barbosa – Cape Verde
Adviser to the Prime Minister of Cape Verde
Ms. Barbosa advises Prime Minister of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, on economic policies and
issues. Prior to this advisory role, Ms. Barbosa has held key positions in a number of governmental
and economic organizations and has a strong background in tourism promotion and sustainable
economic development. Ms. Barbosa is also a published author with a book and multiple poems
in anthologies, as well as the author of a blog with over 35,000 followers. Ms. Barbosa spreads her
message not only through her work at the highest levels of government, but also through her writing
and outreach efforts aimed at all levels of society.
Mr. Ismael Omar Chirdon - Djibouti
Owner, ZIPZAP
Mr. Chirdon is a restaurateur and owner of ZIPZAP near the Port of Djibouti, a new tourist
neighborhood in the capital city. ZIPZAP provides a unique experience in Djibouti by providing
big screen TVs and gaming computers to view sports events and host PC gaming tournaments.
His objective is to leverage the growing tourism sector in Djibouti, including expanding his current
restaurant concept to two additional sites and to import North American standards of customer
service.
33

Participant Biographies
Ms. Orokiata Cisse – Burkina Faso
Associate, Bank of Africa
Ms. Cisse serves as a customer service liaison for clients employing credit/debit cards and ATMs
serves at Bank of Africa (BoA) Burkina Faso. BoA Burkina Faso offers financing, discounts,
exchange, trading, underwriting, purchase, sale and placement of all securities holdings, unions of
portfolio management and investment funds, provides commercial or financial advice, and issues
bonds or debentures. Ms. Cisse is also a leader at a local and national level through organizations
such as Junior Chamber International. Ms. Cisse is working on a business venture to process shea
nuts into shea butter. This project would benefit woman in rural areas, allowing them to undertake
activities that will generate revenue as well as benefit the environment, since the tree planting helps
balance the eco system.
Mr. Philippe Tegawende Diendere – Burkina Faso
Commercial and Public Relations Manager, Agence Efficience
As the Commercial and Public Relations Manager at Agence Efficience, Mr. Diendere works to
design sales and marketing strategies and assist with the implementation and coordination of
trade and public relations policies. Agence Efficience is a communications firm that specializes in
advertising, publishing, as well as communications research and training. Mr. Diendere recently
became the Executive President of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in 2012. JCI organizes
trainings and workshops for young Burkinabe. Mr. Diendere has also organized many events,
including blood drives, and a presentation about traffic accidents for high school students. He is
developing a project to increase agricultural production in Burkina Faso that will help provide food
sufficiency through researching and experimenting with new techniques to enrich the soil and by
experimenting with seeds specially adapted to the soil.
Mr. Donatien Lhye Dioumy Moubassango – Gabon
Secretary General, National Convention of Young Volunteers
Mr. Moubassango serves as Secretary General of the National Convention of Young Volunteers, a
non-governmental organization that aims to give Gabonese youth a voice in their communities and
promote democracy by fostering youth solidarity and responsibility. The NGO has 40 active members
who work with local schools throughout the country, allowing it to extend its reach to approximately
1,000 young Gabonese a year. Mr. Moubassango serves as the NGO’s spokesperson, coordinates
with local authorities to plan and implement the organization’s activities, and oversees its goals and
mission. He is regularly solicited to work with UN agencies such as UNDP and UNFPA. He also
works with the Presidency on several issues related to youth empowerment and democracy.
34

Participant Biographies
Mr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Ali Elshaikh - Sudan
Senior Financial Analyst, Kenana Engineering and Technical Services Ltd.
Kenana Engineering and Technical Services Ltd. (KETS) is a subsidiary owned by Kenana Sugar
Company. Comprised of 185 employees, KETS provides consultancy and project management
services to the agro-industrial sector. Mr. Elshaikh’s role in the organization is to prepare strategy
plans, assist in contract negotiations and supervise projects. Mr. ElShaikh is also developing a
consultancy firm, called MIC, which will operate as a one-stop service center catering to international
investors coming to invest in Sudan. MIC will dedicate up to 25 percent of its profits to autism
research, as part of the organization’s commitment to social responsibility.
Ms. Addisalem Tesfaye Gebrekidan – Ethiopia
Consultant for the Humuda Initiative, Social Development Network
The Social Development Network (SODNET) is a non-governmental organization based in Nairobi,
Kenya that strengthens the role of citizens and civil society by the strategic use of technology.
A collaboration between SODNET and UNMC, the Humuda Initiative has created a tool that
enables the deployment of a web and mobile-based platform that aggregates citizen concerns
and observations submitted through various social media technologies, including SMS, voice, and
video, and channels them directly to authorities for redress. Ms. Gebrekidan’s role is to assess the
tool’s practicality within Ethiopia’s technical, legal and political context, map out key partners and
develop communication strategies. Ms. Gebrekidan has also co-founded and manages a platform
called “Speak Africa” which maps youth organizations and networks from across the continent
using the latest available social media tools to create maximum impact. Similar platforms modeled
after “Speak Africa” are being set up at national levels around the continent (e.g. “Speak Ghana”
and “Speak Ethiopia”). In addition, she has traveled around the continent championing youth
development in Africa.
Mr. Heristraton Genesis – Tanzania
Performance Analytics Manager, Barclays Bank
Barclays Bank Tanzania is a subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC UK. It has operated in Tanzania since
2000 and has 32 branches and 52 ATMs across the country, with over 750 employees and 120,000
customers. Mr. Genesis has a background in agribusiness and service industry banking, which
makes him well-positioned to promote the expansion of Tanzania’s exports and develop local and
international networks to promote and attract foreign investment. Mr. Genesis is also developing a
project to build a community library since the majority of Tanzanian schools do not have functional
libraries and lack the resources to overcome this problem.
35

Participant Biographies
Ms. Fadumo Cismaan Hadji Cabdi – Somalia
Manager, Department Store
Ms. Cabdi runs a local department store with her mother and is a member of the Partnership for
Economic Growth (PEG) Program sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID). PEG partners with authorities and private sector groups to develop the private sector
through skills development and improved access to financial services, and to advance opportunities
for women entrepreneurs through business associations and better access to business development
and financial services. With the help of this initiative, Ms. Cabdi hopes to expand her store by
identifying and supporting small businesses in outlying villages in order to sell their commodities.
Ms. Cabdi also volunteers at a local NGO, Somaliland Association for Youth Salvation (SAYS),
which provides educational programs for youth.
Mr. Muzi Wandile Hlatshwayo – Swaziland
IT Projects Officer, Standard Bank
Mr. Hlatshwayo oversees all of Standard Bank information systems projects in Swaziland. Standard
Bank has a 150-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise in the rest of Africa in
the early 1990s. It currently operates in 18 countries on the African continent, including South Africa,
as well as in other selected emerging markets. Standard Bank’s strategy is to build the leading
African financial services organization and focus on delivering superior sustainable shareholder
value by offering first-class, on-the-ground operations. In addition to his work at Standard Bank, Mr.
Hlatshwayo is committed to youth empowerment and community development. He is committed to
self-enrichment through leadership and life coaching courses and he reaches a nationwide audience
through his weekly columns and radio programs with messages of creating positive change for
individuals and communities. Mr. Hlatshwayo started a “Young Climbers Fund” as an expansion of
a motivational radio program to raise money for children to continue with their education.
Mr. Francois Xavier Burume Kabema – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Commercial Director, GBS Enterprises Incorporated
Mr. Kabemba manages sales teams and successfully launched new products and services in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo markets for GBS Enterprises Incorporated (OTCBB: GBSX).
GBS Enterprises is the parent company of GROUP Business Software AG (GBS), which is a global
software and services company specializing in cloud automation and IBM Lotus Notes and Domino.
He also prepares, executes and evaluates annual marketing plans as well as managing agencies in
different fields (administration, finance, human resources, communication and sales).
36

Participant Biographies
Mr. Hebloundessou Anicet Konan – Côte d’Ivoire
Director of Information and Innovation Systems, New Generation Services; and Director of
Operations, Regulatory Authority for Restaurants and Food Service Providers
Mr. Konan founded New Generation Services in 2009 as an IT company that develops software
and networking capabilities for government, civil society and private sector entities in Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr. Konan is guiding the expansion of his company, drawing on the skills and energy of a dynamic
young team of programmers, software developers and managers, to engage in innovative product
design and meet the evolving information needs of medium and large-scale enterprises, including
the Ivorian Post Office. In addition, Mr. Konan founded the Regulatory Authority for Restaurants
and Food Service Providers (ARRMA) in 2011, which now employs six full-time employees and
25 field agents. ARRMA works with restaurants and food service providers to improve financial
and economic performance as well as environmental and health standards. Prior to being an
entrepreneur, Mr. Konan held positions with the World Food Program and the UN.
Mr. Gayet Anselme Landry Kuyo – Côte d’Ivoire
Senior Legal Adviser & Editor, Villenette
Mr. Kuyo provides legal counsel and analysis for Villenette Ivory Coast, a firm that began as a
private sector company in the legal sector. Since 2012, it has expanded into publishing with the
production of an online magazine, “Christian Reports” which deals with the current events of
religious communities in the Côte d’Ivoire and French-speaking West Africa. In addition to his role
as legal advisor, Mr. Kuyo serves as the editor of the online magazine, and is currently working to
expand and create a print version. Mr. Kuyo is also the founder and manager of the environmental
NGO “La Main Verte,” which works to preserve green spaces and raise awareness of environmental
issues in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ms. Omotenioye Majekodumni - Nigeria
CEO and Founder, EcoXchange Limited
Ms. Majekodumni is the founding director of EcoXchange Limited, an environmental consulting
firm focused on climate change and liaising with bio-fuels producers and farmers associations. The
company has a staff of approximately 18 employees. Ms. Majekodunmi is actively involved in the
climate change arena, operating a carbon credit trading and UN Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) programs. Ms. Majekodumni is also a published author and sought after speaker on climate
change.
37

Participant Biographies
Mr. Limbikani Makani – Zimbabwe
Founder & Managing Editor, TechZim
Mr. Makani is the founder of TechZim, Zimbabwe’s leading technology website featuring product
reviews and local IT news. With 3,000 page views per day, TechZim has set its sights on building a
culture of start-ups and innovation in Zimbabwe. Mr. Makani is a fixture in the Zimbabwe online and
technology community, writing, speaking and appearing at all of Harare’s main technology events.
Working with so many smart, young technology entrepreneurs, technologists, and developers led
him to launch the JumpStart Community Initiative. JumpStart is meant to help this new crop of
techies and entrepreneurs find ways to advance their skills, receive mentorship, and collaborate
on ideas. So far the community initiative has been a success and has received support from local
established businesses.
Mr. Erikson Malwa – Namibia
Technical Product Development Manager, Namibia Dairies (Pty) Ltd and Founder, Talamo Foods
Mr. Malwa is founder of Talamo Foods, a family-owned and operated business employing five
people. Talamo Foods is a food processing company that procudes sauces and condiments for
distribution. Currently, the company distributes about 240 bottles of sauces to four local supermarkets
in Windhoek. In a recent newspaper profile, Mr. Malwa revealed his view of how individuals can play
a role in Namibia’s economic development, saying “I promised myself that one day I will reverse the
situation of Namibia being a net importer of sauces to being amongst the exporters of sauces and
condiments.”
Mr. Kenneth Nickson Oliko – Nigeria
Communication and Advocacy Associate, Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal,
Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa (housed within the African Union Commission)
Mr. Oliko has created an online presence for an international and multi-institutional campaign on
Accelerated Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) as part of
his portfolio with the African Union Commission (AUC). The AUC is an inter-governmental, regional
organization with approximately 1,500 staff and estimated annual budget of $250 million. In 2009,
Mr. Oliko worked as the Creative Project Coordinator of the Future Project, organizing the Future
Awards which is one of Africa’s largest youth events. He also planned and executed The Future
Enterprises Support Scheme (TFESS), a program for young Nigerians to take classes and receive
training in TV presenting, writing, acting, directing and entrepreneurial studies. Mr. Oliko is planning
on starting a community-based education and vocational training center.
38

Participant Biographies
Ms. Dorinda Saawah Saah – Ghana
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dream Environment
Established in 2010, Dream Environment aims to help protect the environment from the harmful
effects of poor waste oil disposal through offering education and training in the areas where scrap
dealers operate. With a permanent staff of four and annual budget of $200,000, Ms. Saah is the
main strategist, mobilizer and fundraiser for the NGO. The organization hopes to eventually develop
an integrated waste management system to serve as a blueprint for waste management disposal
in Ghana. Dream Environment is also currently working with several rural communities to promote
the use of green stoves as an alternative to wood as a source of energy supply. In addition to her
NGO, Ms. Saah played the lead role in developing the program and organizing the summit on
“Empowering Africa to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals” in Kumasi (April 2012). She has
also been invited to South Africa to participate in the Ecovillage Design Education Train-the-Trainer
Program. Ms. Saah is a recipient of a State Department Young African Women Leaders Grant,
which she used to organize a “Clean Up your Corner” campaign engaging students, community
and religious leaders in environmental protection.
Ms. Refiloe Seseane – South Africa
Founder of 18twenty8
18twenty8 is an award-winning non-profit organization that empowers young women from
disadvantaged backgrounds by developing strategies for their educational and personal
development. Ms. Seseane oversees the organization and leads its fundraiding activities. Ms.
Seseane also has had several lead acting roles in South Africa’s top television soap operas. She
previously worked as a business news anchor for CNBC Africa and a resident voice-over artist for
a number of programs and commercials on both television and radio. She was named one of the
Top Young South Africans by the Mail and Guardian Newspaper in June 2011and participated in
the 2011 Young African Women Leaders’ Forum with First Lady Michelle Obama.
Ms. Rachel Chavula Sibande – Malawi
Deputy Chief of Party & Market Information Systems Specialist, The Market Linkages Initiative-
Bridging Activity Project
Ms. Sibande is one of the few young Malawian women in the ICT field. Market Linkages Initiative-
Bridging Activity Project is a USAID-funded project aimed at supporting the ongoing transformation
of structured and transparent commodity trading systems in Malawi. The project has five permanent
staff and three short-term consultants. She led the roll out and implementation of the first-ever web
to SMS Market Information System Platform in Malawi using the Esoko platform. Currently, over
4,000 farmers are receiving price information through this system. She is also lending support to
commercial technology through the Agricultural Commodity Exchange.
39

Participant Biographies
Mr. Ngarsault Sorongope-Zoumandji – Central African Republic
Founder and Manager, Société Agro Pastorale et Industrielle (SOAPI) Ltd.
SOAPI is located in Damara, 75 kilometers from the capital, Bangui. The company has 12,350 acres
on which it grows corn and rice, and is starting wood processing for export. It has 25 employees
and an annual budget of $40,000. Mr. Sorongope-Zoumandji hopes to expand his company and
offer internship programs to youth so that they may gain practical work experience. Mr. Sorongope-
Zoumandji is one of the emerging young entrepreneurs who serve as role models to the new
generation of students and young professionals in Central African Republic.
Ms. Awa Diop Sylla – Senegal
Student/Youth Activist
Ms. Sylla is a student at University Cheikh Anta Diop, Department of Sciences, and a Community
Leader at the Yoff Community Association. She is actively engaged in academics, youth outreach,
community events, sports, and development projects. She stands out as a community leader,
female role model, and activist.
Mr. Curtiss Guy Enagnon Dakpogan – Benin
General Manager, Operations, COMAN S.A.
As head of the Operations of COMAN S.A., Mr. Dakpogan manages more than 200 employees.
COMAN S.A. is a stevedoring company in the Port of Cotonou and part of the APM Terminals
Group. APM Terminals is part of the Danish conglomerate AP Moller Maersk, and specializes in
port and container terminal management. COMAN S.A. is the leading terminal operator in Benin,
with 65 percent market share of the containerized volume handled by the Port of Cotonou and a
yearly throughput of 250,000 TEU. Mr. Dakpogan intends to develop the technology and innovation
aspects of the company, particularly through implementing an automatic data dispatching system
that captures and transfers information on all operations in COMAN’s terminal. Mr. Dakpogan is also
an active member of the Junior Chamber International, Benin Chapter, which is a non-profit youth
service organization of 200,000 young professionals, aged 18 to 40 in over 100 countries around
the world united for positive change. As a member of this organization, Mr. Dakpogan is currently
developing a project to provide classrooms in the furthest regions of Benin, utilizing the containers
from COMAN S.A.
40

About the Organizations
About the Young African Leaders Innovation Summit
and Leadership Development Program
The U.S. Department of State in collaboration with implementing partner, Meridian International
Center is hosting more than 60 young African social and business entrepreneurs in the U.S. for
a summit and leadership development program. The Innovation Summit will build on previous
youth engagement, including the President’s Young African Leaders Forum (August 2010), First
Lady’s Young African Women Leaders Forum (June 2011), and more than 2,000 subsequent youth
programs conducted by the Department of State in Sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s program will
reinforce the United States’ commitment to supporting African responses to Africa’s challenges,
emphasizing young Africans’ ability to generate innovative solutions for their communities.
With an overall goal of emphasizing the importance of creating economic opportunity for young
people and strengthening economic ties between the U.S. and Africa, the Summit includes highlevel
speakers from the U.S. government and private sector, as well as foundations, think tanks and
NGOs. In addition to focusing on trends in entrepreneurship and innovation, the two-day conference
features break-out sessions to highlight best practices and challenges in both the business and
social sectors.
After the Summit, participants will travel to business internships in Seattle, Charlotte, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Miami, Huntsville, Denver, Chicago or Cincinnati for the Mentoring Partnership with
U.S. companies and non-profit organizations. The two weeks in U.S. cities will provide a hands-on
experience in the American workplace and exposure to cultural aspects of American life. Closing
ceremonies will take place in Chicago on June 29 and 30. The Innovation Summit and Mentoring
Partnership will stress social and business entrepreneurship as a tool for harnessing Africa’s
intellectual capital to create jobs and sustainable, equitable opportunities. Looking to the future,
these programs aim to enhance a U.S. - Africa collaboration to promote business innovation,
investment, and social responsibility activities in Africa.
41

About the Organizations
About the U.S. Department of State
American diplomacy in the 21st century is based on fundamental beliefs: our freedom is best
protected by ensuring that others are free; our prosperity depends on the prosperity of others; and
our security relies on a global effort to secure the rights of all. The history of the American people is
the chronicle of our efforts to live up to our ideals. In this moment in history, we recognize that the
United States has an immense responsibility to use its power constructively to advance security,
democracy, and prosperity around the globe. We will pursue these interests and remain faithful to
our beliefs. The U.S. Department of State’s mission is to shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous,
just, and democratic world and foster conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the
American people and people everywhere.
The Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State is committed to fostering a dynamic
community of development and democracy that builds on Africa’s traditions and advances U.S.
interests by creating an environment in which freedom, prosperity and security become the
benchmarks for success in the U.S.-African partnership of the 21st century.
About Meridian International Center
Meridian International Center is a non-profit organization that promotes global leadership through
the exchange of ideas, people, and culture. Meridian creates innovative exchange, education,
cultural, and policy programs that advance three goals:
Strengthen U.S. engagement with the world through the power of exchange
Prepare public and private sector leaders for a complex global future
Provide a neutral forum for international collaboration across sectors
42