Lauder Africa Futures Conference

Africa Futures with the Lauder Institute features insights and analysis of a continent on the move. Featuring multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary conversations between business leaders, innovators, development practitioners, policy makers, and academics, this annual event provides a platform for the exchange of extraordinary ideas and making connections.

Mar 18th and Mar 19th

8AM - 3PM Philadelphia | 3PM - 10PM Nairobi | 2PM - 9PM Johannesburg

1PM - 8PM Lagos | 12PM - 7PM Dakar

Maintenant avec des traductions françaises

Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer que cette année, les francophones pourront assister à tous les événements en sélectionnant une interprétation en français.

Look forward to...

A vibrant schedule

Get ready for two half days of ideas and insights - we’re really proud of the speakers, panels and activities we’ve put together.

Self-guided

With multiple thematic tracks you can pick and choose what sessions you want to join and create your own schedule.

Audience participation

Live Q&As, in-session chat, polls, music, and a celebration of the future in Africa. Thought this was going to be only about watching people talk? Think again.

Food for thought

By the end of the event, we want you to be thinking about what you consider progress and prosperity in Africa and take away next steps for how you will contribute.

Meaningful connections

Be ready to meet other brilliant minds, exchange ideas, network and lay the foundations for new, fruitful partnerships thanks to our Networking area and affinity groups.

Extra content and recordings

You’ll have access to all recordings after the event is over, so you can go back an rewatch the sessions you didn’t catch live.

Speakers

Nnamdi Oranye

Founder and Author, Disrupting Africa

HE Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

First Female President of Mauritius

Honorable Ronald S. Lauder

Co-founder and Chairman, The Lauder Institute

Martine Haas

Lauder Chair Professor of Management at The Wharton School, Director of The Lauder Institute

Dina Sherif

Executive Director, Legatum Center Senior Lecturer, Sloan School of Management

Liz Grossman Kitoyi

Co-Founder and CEO, Baobab Consulting

Mimi Alemayehu

Senior Vice President, Strategic Growth at MasterCard

Hassan El-Houry, WG’07

Group CEO, National Aviation Services (NAS)

Prof. Izael Da Silva

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation Strathmore University

Ruthie Rosenberg

Director of Citywise Advisory Services, Sanergy

Sharon Wekwete

Regional Knowledge Development and Research Advisor, SNV Zimbabwe

Irfan Keshavjee

Founder, Karibu Homes

Alex Ezeh

Dornsife Professor of Global Health, Drexel University

Olufunmilayo Arewa

Shusterman Professor of Business & Transactional Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law

David Strelneck

Founder and Global Chair, Nourishᶰ

Tidjane Deme

General Partner at Partech

Dr. Dipo Awojide

Founder BTDT Hub

Kevin Hickey, Ph. D

Associate Professor, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Seth Asumah, Ph. D.

Chairperson of the Africana Studies Department, SUNY Cortland

Lara Abiona

Director of Partnerships and Advancement

Xiaoyu Feng

MA Candidate at The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania

Saphir Esmail

MA Candidate at The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania

Mwalimu Musheshe

Co-founder and Chairman of Uganda Rural Development and Training Program

Lillian Nduati

Deputy Director UK-Kenya Tech Hub at FCDO

Garnett Achieng

Data and Digital Rights Researcher

Sarah Odera

Director, Strathmore Energy Research Centre

Benson Ireri

Africa Lead for energy access work in Africa, World Resources Institute

Geoffrey Ronoh

Technical Director, OFGEN Africa

Chinedu Azodoh

Co-Founder, Max

Brukty Tadesse

Owner, Whiz Kids Workshop

Affiong Williams

Founder and CEO of ReelFruit

Adebayo Alonge

Co-Founder and CEO, RxAll

Ehi Binitie

CEO, :brij and Founder, Clear Space Labs

Lynsey Farrell

Senior Lecturer, Anthropology and Faculty Lead for Africa General, The Lauder Institute

Amini Kajunju

Chief Operating Officer at EJS Center

Lambert Akwa

Senior Communications Manager, Twitter West Africa

Marc Pape

Lecturer in Foreign Languages in French, Lauder Institute

Vincent Odhiambo

Regional Director at Ashoka East Africa

Dr. Albert Luswata

Senior Lecturer and Director of the Institute of Ethics, Uganda Martyrs University

Tupokigwe Isagah, PhD

Technology Strategy Researcher, Mzumbe University

Claudine Lim

Manager, Principles for Digital Development at Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL)

Dr. Florian Fabian

Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Dodoma

Mohamed Araki

Musician

Schedule highlights

Partners

About the Lauder Institute

The Lauder Institute’s Africa program focuses on understanding the factors shaping Africa’s business environment, including culture and history, comparative politics, and political economy. The program combines an exploration of contemporary issues, trends and opportunities in Africa, home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a dynamic pool of youth talent. Students are equipped with a deeper understanding of the diversity, nuance, and contexts that create Africa’s dynamic business environment today.