UNITE. INNOVATE. DISRUPT: HOMEGROWN MODELS FOR AFRICA’S PROSPERITY, FEBRUARY 26-28, 2016 | HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
The 18th Annual Africa Business Conference at Harvard Business School is one of the most anticipated conference in the Cambridge, Massachusetts. The theme of the upcoming Harvard Business School “African Business Conference” is Innovate. Disrupt: Homegrown models for Africa’s prosperity” as it provides ample opportunity to celebrate and promote awareness of existing innovative solutions that have been deployed in Africa. This is also a great opportunity for the participants to start identifying and exploring more innovative solutions to overcome challenges faced in Africa.
This year’s speakers include in the following:
CLAYTON CHRISTENSEN, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. One of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth.
Professor Christensen holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University and an M.Phil. in applied econometrics from Oxford University where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He received an MBA and a DBA from the Harvard Business School, where he is currently the Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration. He also is a Senior Lecturer in Radiology at the Harvard Medical School. He is regarded as one of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth.
KHANYI DHLOMO, Founder and CEO of Ndalo Media.
Dhlomo began her media career as an award-winning television news and lifestyle anchor, followed by an eight-year stint as Editor of the women’s magazine True Love, during which she doubled the publication’s readership and circulation. In 2003, she was named one of the most influential women in South African media by The Media magazine.
Following her editorship of True Love, she spent 18 months in Paris, France, as Head of SA Tourism and then completed an MBA at Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She also holds a BA in Communications and Industrial Psychology from the University of South Africa and a certificate in Media Management form the University of Stellenbosch Business School, where she is a former Alumnus of the Year.
MAKHTAR DIOP, Vice President for Africa at the World Bank.
Makhtar Diop has served as the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa since 2012. Under his leadership, the World Bank Group committed a record-breaking $11.6 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa in FY 2015 to help tackle development challenges such as increasing food security and agricultural productivity; improving access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, creating economic opportunities for Africa’s youth; and responding quickly and effectively to emergency situations such as the recent Ebola epidemic.
ASHISH J. THAKKAR, Executive Chairman of Mara Sokoni and Founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation.
Ashish J. Thakkar is the Executive Chairman of Mara Sokoni, an African e-commerce platform with a focus on B2C marketplace for general merchandise. He is also the Founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation.
Ashish has driven the growth of the Mara Group from a small IT business in Uganda to the globally recognized multi-sector investment group that exists today. Through its investments, Mara Group now employs over 11,000 people across 25 African countries in sectors spanning technology, banking, real estate and infrastructure. Ashish serves as Chair of the United Nations Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Council and is the author of The Lion Awakes: Adventures in Africa’s Economic Miracle.
NEW IN 2016
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MYTAKES – THE INNOVATOR WITHIN : TED‐STYLE KEYNOTE SESSIONS
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STARTUP LABS : A DESIGN THINKING AND HANDS-ON PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKSHOP
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MARKET CREATING INNOVATION WORKSHOP LED BY A HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
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MEET THE PANELISTS : SMALL GROUP SESSIONS WITH SELECT PANELISTS
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INDUSTRY DISCUSSION/NETWORKING LUNCH SESSIONS
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NVC ON FRIDAY EVENING
Registration is available here or learn more on http://www.africabusinessconference.com.
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