INVINCIBLE
EMPOWERING WOMEN,
TRANSFORMING AFRICA
African Women: Agents of Economic Change
Watch the video of the event below:
Sunday, September 22, 2024
2:30 PM EST/6:30 PM GMT
In partnership with
EXPERIENCE THE FUTURE OF
AFRICA’S ECONOMIC POWER
Invincible will bring together an exclusive number of global leaders, policymakers,
top investors, industry leaders, and innovators to explore how empowering young
African women can revolutionize the continent’s financial landscape. This high-
level event will unveil bold strategies to redefine the cost of capital, unlocking
unprecedented financial growth and showcasing how investing in young women can
unlock the untapped potential of Africa’s greatest asset – its women.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Inspirational Keynotes
Hear from invincible women
who have defied the odds to
build successful businesses.
Dynamic Panels
Engage with experts on
reimagining and transforming
Africa’s financial systems.
Spark Talks
Young changemakers share
inspiring stories and innovative
solutions.
Impact-Driven Solutions
Actionable recommendations
for policymakers, financial
institutions, and development
organizations.
Networking
Connect with influential leaders,
visionaries, and trailblazers.
Interactive Dialogue
Engage in real-time discussions with satellite-linked participants worldwide, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving.
WHY THIS
MATTERS
- Maximize Returns: Empowering young women can add $287 billion to Africa’s GDP and create 23 million jobs by 2030.
- Investment Goldmine: High-growth sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and technology are ripe for investment.
- Drive Innovation: Leading entrepreneurs are revolutionizing industries and fueling economic growth.
- Financial Inclusion: Addressing that 63% of African women are unbanked can unlock significant economic potential.
- Shape Policy: Collaborating with policymakers creates sustainable policies that foster economic stability and reflect the realities of young women.
PANELS
*Speakers and schedule are subject to change
2:30 PM – 2.36 PM : “Art for Empowerment”
A performance highlighting young women as agents of economic change, setting an energetic and engaging tone for the event.
We will connect and coordinate spoken word presentations in NYC and at a satellite location in Nairobi.
-
Fanta Ballo
-
Rix Poet
2:36 PM – 2:38 PM : Welcome and Context Setting
A brief introduction to the event’s themes and objectives.
-
Julie Gichuru
Founder & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
2:38 PM – 2:46 PM : “Insights and Impact: Gender Report Findings”
Introduction to key findings of the Mastercard Foundation gender report which emphasizes the critical issues of financial barriers and support needs for young female entrepreneurs.
-
Marieme Esther Dassanou
Director Gender, Pan African Programs, Mastercard Foundation
2:47 PM – 2:57 PM : Inspirational Keynote: Delivered by an influential, young African woman.
Showcasing the achievements and resilience of African women, tying them into the report’s highlight on women’s economic contributions which emphasizes the report’s findings on the potential of women to drive economic growth.
-
Hon. Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim
Honorable Minister for Youth Development, Nigeria
2.58 PM – 3:03 PM : Spark Talk: “Story of Change”
A 5-minute ignite talk by a young woman changemaker. Provocative and personal stories of change and resilience that align with the report’s findings on young women’s impact.
-
Areej Noor
Founder, CEO at STATEMENT
3:04 PM – 3:22 PM : Panel Discussion: “Visionaries in Conversation: Charting New Paths”
Delving into strategic insights that drive change and enable women. This aligns with the report’s focus on creating and implementing inclusive policies that accelerate young women’s ability to contribute to Africa’s economic growth.
-
Moderator: Redi Thlabi
Journalist, Producer, Author
-
Dr. Jemimah Njuki
Chief, Economic Empowerment, UN Women
-
Nathalie Akon Gabala
Global Director for Gender and Economic Inclusion,
International Finance Corporation (IFC) -
Deniece Laurent-Mantey
Executive Director of the
President’s Advisory Council on
African Diaspora Engagement
in the United States
3:30 PM – 3:35 PM : Spark Talk: “Story of Innovation”
A 5-minute ignite talk by a young woman innovator who will be sharing innovative solutions and success stories.
-
Thembiso Magajana
Co-Founder, Social Coding
3:35 PM – 3:53 PM : Panel Discussion: “Revolutionizing Access to Affordable Finance”
Connecting financial solutions to the needs and realities of young women, the report focuses on actionable recommendations for financial inclusivity, reflecting its insights into advocating for innovative financial solutions and inclusive policies to support young female entrepreneurs.
-
Moderator: Julie Gichuru
Founder & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
-
Rukayat Bello(video)
CEO, Regxta
-
James Mwangi
CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited
-
Tolulope Lewis Tamoka
Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs and Africa, UN Global Compact
-
Jules Ngankam
CEO, African Guarantee Fund
-
Sabine Mensah
Deputy CEO, AfricaNenda
3:58 PM – 4:03 PM : Keynote: “The Choking Debt”
Keynote exploring how global debt crises choke off opportunities for women in Africa. Byanyima will address the structural inequalities fueled by debt and policy violence, which exacerbate barriers to healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship for African women. Her address will challenge stakeholders to reimagine a more equitable global financial system that empowers women to thrive.
-
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
4:05 PM – 4:10 PM : Call to Action: “Commit to Change: Pledge for Progress”
Key statements encouraging concrete commitments and actions from participants to support women’s economic empowerment, driving home the report’s call for actionable commitments and systemic change.
-
Monica Geingos
Former first lady of Namibia
-
Sanda Ojiambo
Assistant Secretary General & CEO, UN Global Compact
-
Baroness Valerie Amos
United Nations Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
-
James Mwangi
CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited
-
Myriam Sidibe
Founder, Chief Mission Officer and Author of Brands on a Mission
-
Wendy Teleki
Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Secretariat, housed in the World Bank
-
Julie Gichuru,
Founder & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
-
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of UNAIDS and an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
4:11 PM – 4:16 PM : Concluding remarks
Final words from the day’s discussions and reaffirmation of the collective commitment to empowering women across Africa
-
Hannah Tsadik
Acting Country Director, Kenya Programs, Mastercard Foundation
-
Julie Gichuru
Founder & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI)
4:10 PM – 6:00 PM : Networking
Opportunity for attendees to network and discuss ideas informally.
SUBMIT A QUESTION
FOR OUR SPEAKERS
