Speakers
Global Manager for Manufacturing and Trade Supplier Finance, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Femi leads a $4.5B investment team at IFC, focusing on manufacturing, decarbonization, and supply chains.
Visionary, Global Strategist & Systems Thinker
Shanthi Annan is a strategic visionary who develops organizations and mobilizes communities to drive lasting change.
President for Global Public Affairs and Engagement, Gunster Strategies Worldwide
Former Ambassador of the Republic of Benin to the U.S., Mexico, and the former Representative of the country to the World Bank, IMF and OAS.
Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Côte d’Ivoire
The Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Mr. ASSAHORE Konan Jacques was born on July 8, 1961 in Sinfra.
Minister of Finance and Planning, South Sudan
Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater is the Minister of Finance and Planning for South Sudan, appointed in July 2024.
Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, has over thirty years of experience in economic and development management at national and international levels.
President, The Greater Washington DC Chamber of Commerce
Aisha Bond has lead the GWBCC since 2022, advocating for economic equity and Black entrepreneurs in the DC area. She holds a JD from Georgetown University.
Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, Maryland
Campbell is a recipient of the Order of the Oak Leadership Award and recognized as 1 of the 100 most influential Caribbean-Americans.
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Center for Cyber Diplomacy and Leadership
Dr. Pape Cissé is a seasoned executive and cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in technology management and leadership.
Chief Operating Officer, Stellenium
Nancy Coblenz is a first-generation Egyptian-American and Chief Operating Officer of Stellenium, a global innovator in AI data centers and energy production.
Minister of Finance and Budget, Côte d’Ivoire
Appointed Minister of Economy and Finance on September 4th, 2019, Mr. Adama Coulibaly is a university lecturer.
President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Charles H. DeBow, III is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The National Black Chamber of Commerce® (NBCC).
Psychologist
Dr. Ky Dele is a multi-award-winning psychologist and community engagement strategist with a distinguished record of driving transformative impact.
Ambassador, South Sudan
Dr. Dicken is a distinguished diplomat and author best known for advocating for South Sudan's independence through self-determination.
Deputy Chair, Department of Management, GW School of Business
Ayman El Tarabishy, Ph.D., is a distinguished teaching professor and Deputy Chair, Department of Management at GW's School of Business.
Founder and CEO, NGSER
Sébastien Ellepo is a visionary entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of NGSER (New Generation of Services).
Vice President and Minister of Finance, Botswana
Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe is a Botswana economist and politician, currently serving as Vice-President of Botswana and Minister of Finance.
Director of Research Technology Services, GW
At GW, Clark is pivotal in aligning IT operations with advancing research needs, overseeing high-performance computing systems while ensuring compliance.
Vice Provost for Academic Budgets, GW
The Vice Provost for Academic Budgets works with university leadership to promote and sustain academic and research excellence at GW.
Chairman, Global Solutions Institute
Mr. Grobmyer is a lawyer specializing in international and financial services law.
Senior Director, SAIC
Bernard Height is a commissioned minister, military chaplain, business leader, motivationprenuer, saxophonist, leadership coach, soldier, and family man.
Vice Dean, GW School of Business
George Jabbour is the Vice Dean for Executive Education/Programs, Professor of Finance, and Director of the Master in Finance Programs at GW School of Business.
Founder and Managing Partner, Solomon Group, LLC
Johnson, a self-described "lawpreneur," leads a consulting and law firm specializing in social impact and legal services for minority and women entrepreneurs.
Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Côte d’Ivoire
Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, Côte d’Ivoire
Founder & CEO, Collaborative Cash Flow Optimization (C2FO)
Sandy is the founder of C2FO, the largest working capital financing platform. He is also an active venture investor and serves on several corporate boards.
Advisor to the CIO, S.K. Hart Management
As a member of the Semnani family, Bauback Bobby Kia, is Advisor to the CIO for S.K. Hart Management.
Minister of Digital Transition and Digitization, Côte d’Ivoire
Ibrahim Kalil Konate is an Ivorian political figure and technocrat.
Professor of International Business and International Affairs, GW
Professor Leipziger teaches International Business and is a former World Bank VP who led Korea’s 1997 bailout and advised South Korea, Vietnam, and others.
President, Black Professionals in International Affairs
Alexandria J. Maloney, MPA is a global leader designing future-ready institutions to equip leaders for complex challenges through cross-sector collaboration.
Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning, Kenya
John Mbadi is the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for The National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Senior Director, International Business Development and Strategy, Nextracker
Craig O’Connor leads international sales at Nextracker, the world’s premiere supplier of solar trackers. Previously, he worked at EXIM Bank for 31 years.
Founder & Chief Global Strategist, Defined Impact Group (DIG)
Abbey Ogunwale leads Defined Impact Group (DIG), a global consultancy fostering collaboration among governments, corporations, and multilateral institutions.
MD/CEO, Bank of Industry
Dr. Olasupo Olusi, a transformative leader, distinguished economist and seasoned development finance expert serves as the MD/CEO of the Bank of Industry.
CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc
Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, a foremost financial institution.
Interim Dean and Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy, GW School of Business
Vanessa Gail Perry, MBA, PhD is Interim Dean and Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy at GW School of Business.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Corina R. Sanders is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with two decades of diplomatic experience.
Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Côte d’Ivoire; VP, Intl. Foundation for Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change
Ivorian Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy and Vice President of the International Foundation for Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change
Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone
Dr Ibrahim Stevens currently serves as the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, a position he has held since November 2023.
Executive Governor and Chairman of the Board of Governors, Central Bank of Liberia
Jolue Aloysius Tarlue, Jr., is the Executive Governor and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Liberia.
Minister of Industry & Small and Medium Enterprises
Born in 1962 in Kinshasa, His Excellency Eng. Louis Watum Kabamba has held numerous positions, including Operations Director at the Yatela gold mine in Mali.
CEO, Stellenium
Slava Yanson is an enterprise technologist and visionary leader in AI data centers and energy.
Founder & Executive Chairman, Grand Squared Corporation
Milion Zeleke is a strategic leader and entrepreneur with over eight years of experience in advisory, technology, and public-private partnerships.