Testimonials - INSEAD Africa Initiative

Equity! That is the conversation we finally need to have about Africa and then take real action. Why must Africa continue to be treated as less than when Africa’s resources, both natural and human, have been the foundation of modern wealth for many? It is time for a new conversation.

The European Union and Africa have committed to an equal partnership to enable them to achieve the UN SDGs. Knowledge partnerships with the private and educational sectors are integral to this commitment and should be extended further. Institutions like INSEAD have the expertise to enhance the impact that well-chosen policies, strengthened institutional capacities, and more effective governance, will have on the challenges to economic and social growth and stability. Multi-lateral and multi-sectoral collaboration that build on past successes and correct areas of under-performance, notably in the organization of domestic and international financing resources and the regulation of trade relations, urgently need to be addressed.

Africa is on the move, making great strides to overcome its challenges and unlock its tremendous economic and business potential. Undoubtedly, the region will be the world’s next big growth market in the decades ahead. By launching the INSEAD Africa Initiative, the institution’s leadership demonstrates its confidence in the future of Africa and its commitment to be a key catalyst of its success.

Africa used to be called “the hopeless continent” by The Economist; it has now become the continent of “1.2 billion opportunities”. The most important opportunity is better education and a better life of the people on this great continent.

Data about people, who are most in need of help, are often scarce and lack quality. This should not deter research and innovation. Instead, we should seek to help others, make do with what is available now, and explain how current practices should be changed to support future research.

I am looking forward to teach for the first time in Rwanda in the Valuation and Risk Management Programme. I hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting engagement with the African continent.

Africa collective future needs innovation that takes place within the context of communities, experiments to find alternative strategies, while addressing social needs to unearth power of all people, fostering technology as enabler, and collaboration to learn from different worlds. Thought leaders serve to enhance engagement of professionals based on humanistic principles, that values individuality, integrity, and serving the community.

Demographically, Africa is China in 1965 and India in 1995. Nurture the youth of Africa over the next 20-30 years and they will solve the problems of the planet in the latter half of the 21st century. African youth are the future. How can we help them on their journeys?

Africa has so much richness, diversity as a source of learning, and people with talent and creativity to support opportunities for growth.

Economic growth, poverty alleviation, adaptation to climate change and integration into the global economy are key challenges for many countries in Africa. INSEAD’s Africa Initiative aims to shed light on these topics through the exchange of knowledge and the generation of practical policy solutions. This will be of great benefit to policymakers, businesspeople, activists, and researchers who are working to improve lives and livelihoods across the continent.

Although Africa has contributed the least to climate change, it faces some of its most severe impacts. At the same time, Africa is home to many transformative and innovative climate solutions – from livestock insurance for cattle herders to clean cookstoves that generate emission reductions credits. Integrating climate and development considerations is at the heart of the World Bank Group’s approach to climate action, and will be critical to meet the continent’s development and climate objectives.

ShEquity is committed to gender equity and invests in African female-led and owned businesses aiming for triple bottom-line: Profit, People and the Planet. African women are underestimated and underfunded, even thought they lead/own 40% of SMEs on the Continent. Closing the existing gender funding gap in Africa will benefit everyone and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

My first faculty position was at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and ever since then, I have loved Africa: her natural beauty, her wildlife, and the potential of her people. I am proud to continue to support education for Africans now, nearly 50 years after my first experience.

African sovereign investors have demonstrated their ability to develop and implement innovative mechanisms such as public-private partnerships across all kinds of sectors. Integrating climate finance constitutes yet another pillar for Africa’s sustainable development, a challenge for us all to rise to.

Honored to contribute to INSEAD Africa Initiative delivering our first Executive Education Programme in Rwanda in partnership with Brussels Africa Hub, Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda Finance Limited. A country of great ambitions for the whole African continent developing future Leaders in the financial sector.

Informal retailers serve the largest demographic in Africa but are themselves greatly underserved by the existing infrastructure. At Wasoko, we are empowering vital players in the market with access to quality products and streamlined services that help their businesses grow - ultimately driving the informal sector forward.

Driven by Africans for Africans and underpinned by African values, to stimulate businesses in addressing African systematic challenges by adding value to the continent and providing an opportunity for companies to access Sustainable Finance, there is an important need to drive ESG Frameworks and ESG Metrics in Africa.

Greening African economies offers a chance to tackle youth unemployment and environmental issues. Education and training programs can equip young people for these jobs, promoting inclusive economic growth with no one left behind. Therefore, tackling youth unemployment, climate change challenges and following a just transitions approach, can lead to a prosperous future for the continent.

Africa needs more good managers at all levels. Good management is key to getting things done. A staggering amount of money is wasted for lack of such skills, yet the development community does not adequately address the need to nurture locally relevant management schools. GBSN (www.gbsn.org) and MSWC (www.mswconline.org) are pleased  to collaborate with the INSEAD Africa Initiative for impact in this important aspect.

To realize Africa’s potential in the coming decades, institutions like Ashesi University must engage with Africa’s business leaders in ways that enable them to build and manage high trust, high-performance teams across a variety of disciplines. A collaboration with the INSEAD Africa Initiative would greatly enhance this work. 

By leveraging AI and machine learning, risk management with purpose can be enhanced across Africa by improving ESG disclosure and sustainability. Risk Insights prides itself as a leading data science company, dedicated to propelling Africa into a new era of governance through the use of innovative solutions and risk management tools. 

Africa is home to numerous innovative companies making significant strides in the digital world. These enterprises are leveraging technology to leapfrog traditional development stages, offering unique solutions in fintech, e-commerce, and health tech. Their success stories deserve recognition as case studies in business schools globally.

With hundreds of alumni leading the charge in enhancing education, healthcare, business, and policy across the continent, we are confident that our collective expertise and commitment place us at the forefront of driving sustainable development and transformative change. We are catalyzing Africa’s leapfrogging into the future to ensure a prosperous future for the continent.

Africa's greatest asset is Africa's talented young entrepreneurs and the future of Africa depends on them. The greatest opportunity in Africa is investing the right capital in these young talented African entrepreneurs so they can build African businesses that will unlock Africa's potential.

Africa’s path to economic prosperity is anchored in a sustainable transition led by visionary governments, where innovation, responsible governance, and strategic investments foster enduring growth. This transformation is already unfolding across the continent. As a global academic institution, INSEAD plays a crucial role in equipping Africa’s leaders with the essential skills for success.

Africa’s future will be shaped by how we tackle its greatest challenges - water, climate, and livelihoods; through solutions that are both practical and transformative. Our work at IRIBA is driven by the belief that when we empower local innovation and community leadership, we build resilience and unlock opportunity for all.

Africa’s greatest leap will not come from catching up, but from equipping our children to leap ahead — by nurturing problem solvers, innovators, and tech creators who are ready for a future driven by STEM education, digital and financial literacy skills.

Digital transformation in Africa’s agri-food supply chains offers unprecedented opportunities to bridge smallholders and global markets. Agridence is dedicated to providing traceability technologies that enhance market access, improve sustainability, and drive economic empowerment throughout Africa. We work closely with trusted local partners to ensure solutions fit on-the-ground realities to create lasting impact.

The strategic convergence of African brands, talent and innovation presents a powerful mechanism for articulating a coherent continent value proposition. Through deliberate collaboration and co-creation, developing policies that are favourable for Africa, Africa can project a unified narrative that positions the continent as a competent and reliable strategic partner in the global economy.

Africa holds all the ingredients for transformative growth: growing talent, maturing digital platforms, and unparalleled natural resources. Through the development of Songa Mobility, I witnessed this potential firsthand. When entrepreneurs, businesses, and institutions move beyond silos to build sustainable business models, capacity, and market linkages - starting with agriculture - scalable economic and social impact follows.

Africa's most pressing challenges, from financial exclusion to healthcare access, represent some of its greatest business opportunities. The continent must cultivate an environment where mission-driven founders receive not just capital but comprehensive support: mentorship, networks, and operational guidance. Solving Africa's challenges creates businesses with the resilience and ingenuity to succeed anywhere in the world.

Africa is at the forefront of global efforts to address climate change. From economies that run on clean power, to challenges in water and food security, the continent is key. African innovation, powered by African youth, leads the way.  They are building new strategies and technologies for both prosperous futures and sustainable communities.

Micro, small and medium enterprises are Africa's economic engine, yet they operate under severe constraints -- acute exposure to instability, resource scarcity, and geographic fragmentation, compounded by managerial capital gaps. My field experiments across Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa show something striking -- digital marketing technologies not only unlock dramatic and sustained business growth, they sharpen the entrepreneurs themselves, enhancing their cognitive abilities and decision-making. Investing in the continent's entrepreneurs, with the right evidence-based tools, may be the highest-return bet in African development.

Complexity defines Africa’s business education ecosystem, shaped by diversity, rapid change, and deeply interconnected economic and social dynamics. Embracing this complexity is essential to developing leaders who can think systemically, act adaptively, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. By fostering critical thinking, cross-disciplinary learning, and strong links between academia and practice, the ecosystem can become a powerful driver of innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth across the continent.