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Uzodinma Iweala
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Uzodinma Iweala is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and medical doctor. He is the CEO of The Africa Center in New York, promoting a new narrative about Africa and its diaspora through a focus on culture, policy and business. Uzodinma is the Co-Founder of Ventures Africa Magazine, a publication that covers business, policy, culture and innovation spaces in Africa. He is a member of the Presidents Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) for Jobs for Youth Africa (JfYA) at the African Development Bank (AfDB). He is also on the Board of the NewNow, a subsidiary of the Virgin Group’s charitable arm, Virgin Unite. He has written three books: Beasts of No Nation (2005), a novel also adapted into a major motion picture; Our Kind of People (2012), a non-fiction account of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria; and Speak No Evil (2018), a novel about Washington,
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Stephen Hendel
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Stephen Hendel graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He was a partner at Goldman Sachs, and went on to co-found Hartree Partners, LP, a global merchant commodities firm specializing in energy and associated industries.
Growing up, Stephen Hendel would spend his spare time in record stores to see what looked interesting. Decades later, having become a prominent commodities trader in New York, Hendel was scrolling through music on Amazon.com when he came across an unfamiliar name: Fela Kuti, the pioneer of Afrobeats and regarded as Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers”. Hendel’s love for transporting music took form with Fela, whose dramatic life as an African nationalist embedded in the lyrics of his pulsing songs was so inspiring to Hendel that he said to his wife, Ruth, a theater producer, that they should find a way to bring his music to a wide audience.
That endeavor led Hendel and his wife to producing “Fela!,” the Broadway show that tied for 11 Tony nominations – the most Tony Award nominations in 2010, including the leading contender for best musical.
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Misan Harriman
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Photographer & Filmmaker
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Ava Hall
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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The Empress of Global Entertainment & Culture
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Akinwale Goodluck
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
- Categories:
Akinwale Goodluck is the Head of the GSMA in Sub-Saharan Africa and has primary responsibility for the attainment of the GSMA’s objective in Africa of connecting everyone and everything to a better future. He leads GSMA’s objective to serve as a guiding beacon for the mobile industry in Africa, focusing on collaboration between mobile operators, governments and other ecosystem players to overcome the physical, social and economic barriers to GSMA’s vision for a better future. Akinwale joined the GSMA in February 2017.
Akinwale Goodluck is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and has had a career spanning Investment Banking, Legal Practice and in the last 15 years been engaged in the ICT & mobile communications sector working for MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for 14 years, 7 of which was at Executive level with primary responsibility for the management of the Regulatory, Commercial Legal, Reputation, Corporate Governance and Stakeholder management risks for MTN Nigeria. Akinwale provided leadership for the Regulatory objectives of the MTN Group Limited and all its 23 Operations spread across Africa and the Middle East. He was appointed by the GSMA to Chair the GSMA Chief Policy & Regulatory Officers Group Sub Saharan Africa, in January 2015 for a two-year term, providing Regulatory Policy and Strategy for mobile telecommunication companies operating in Sub Saharan Africa.
Akinwale has served on the Board of several Companies among which are the MTN Nigeria Foundation, Nigeria Internet Exchange Limited, The Digital Bridge Institute, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, the Lagos State Innovation Council and he continues to serve on the Board of the Redeemer’s International School and other private companies. Akinwale has been recognized as an authority, respected resource person and much sought after speaker locally and internationally in the realm of ICT Regulation & other utilities.
He is an alumnus of the Lagos State University, The Nigeria Law School and the Harvard Business School. Akinwale is an avid cyclist, a friend of the Arts particularly theatre and a firm believer in Social Responsibility.
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Marcus Glover
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Marcus is a successful entrepreneur, and consummate storyteller. His breadth of experience and expertise at weaving together relevant trends, cultural influences and technologies has made him a sought after advisor and speaker.
As the Founding Partner of the private equity firm M. Glover Capital and Board Chair of Defy Ventures, Marcus catalyzes change through social impact investment and criminal justice reform. Through close collaboration with local stakeholders, M. Glover Capital’s investments drive job creation to economic stability and wealth generation for systems affected communities. Through Defy Ventures, which fights mass incarceration and recidivism by building on the natural talents of incarcerated men, Marcus mentors youth and teaches yoga and meditation.
As a Global Creative Director and Chief Marketing Officer, Marcus produced some of the most memorable advertising campaigns within pop culture urban lifestyle, music, sports, entertainment, including an award winning Super Bowl commercial. Based on his agency experience, Marcus is highly active as a consultant for early stage ventures and leads workshops on brand and personal storytelling for founders and leaders.
Marcus has created successful ventures with some of the world’s most beloved celebrities and athletes as an agency owner. He has also served as executive producer on films such A Beautiful Game and Bilal, and served on the Board of Harlem Arts Festival and Liberation Prison Yoga.
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Yvette Gayle
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Yvette Gayle serves as COO and Head of Communications & Engagement for Africa Creative Agency, a pan african talent management firm with offices in Los Angeles, Kenya and South Africa. Gayle successfully bridges the continental gap between creatives and corporates wanting to align and do business in new territories. Her roster of clients include Nasty C, Pearl Thusi, Amanda Black, Sauti Sol, and Celeste Ntuli to name a few. Gayle’s noticeable successes also include launching the Jam Africa Stage at the 2019 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans whereby showcasing Africa’s biggest music clientele.
During a career that spans more than three decades, Mrs. Gayle has worked with many of the music industry’s biggest and brightest names. She served as Head of Urban Publicity for Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records from 2001- 2018, where she oversaw the day-to-day media and public relations efforts for such standout IGA labels including Aftermath Entertainment, G Unit Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Dreamville Records, 10 Summers, Zone 4 Records, and Mosley Music. Her notable accomplishments included crafting superior media campaigns for recording artists such as 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, The Game, Diddy Dirty Money, French Montana, MGK, Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson, Robin Thicke, and Timbaland to name a few.
As a consultant and personal adviser to 50 Cent, Gayle was instrumental to the success of the mogul’s non music verticals including Vitamin Water, Reebok, G Unit clothing, SMS Audio, G Unit Film & Television and SMS Promotions.
Prior to joining Interscope Records, Gayle spent nearly ten years with Columbia Records Sony Music, where she worked with the label’s urban and jazz rosters including Destiny’s Child, 50 Cent, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, Nas, Kenny Lattimore, Nancy Wilson, Wynton Marsalis, Xscape, Bow Wow, Jermaine Dupri and so many more.
Gayle has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from West Virginia University.
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Amadou Gallo Fall
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Amadou Gallo Fall, a Senegalese native who joined the NBA in January 2010, helped open the league’s office in Johannesburg, South Africa in May 2010, and directed the NBA’s grassroots basketball development initiatives and partnerships with marketing, media and consumer product companies in Africa. He was named Basketball Africa League President in May, 2019.
In his previous role as NBA Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, Fall oversaw significant growth in the NBA’s business and basketball development efforts in Africa, highlighted by three sold-out NBA Africa Games – in Johannesburg in 2015 and 2017 and in Pretoria in 2018 – in support of charities including UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa.
Under Fall’s leadership, the NBA has expanded its grassroots and elite development efforts across the continent, including the Jr. NBA, Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa and The NBA Academy Africa. BWB, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has been held in Africa 17 times, with 10 former BWB Africa campers drafted into the NBA.
Fall was instrumental in opening The NBA Academy Africa in May 2017, where elite male prospects ages 14-18 have received scholarships and training after scouting programs conducted with local federations across the continent. Seven NBA Academy Africa graduates have gone on to commit to NCAA Division 1 schools.
Fall is a recipient of multiple leadership awards for his contribution to the growth of the game of basketball and youth development on the African continent. This includes Reputation Poll International’s 100 Most Reputable Africans (2020), New African’s 100 Most Influential Africans (2019), African Leader 4 Change (2017) and the South African Sport Industry’s Leadership in Sport (2018).
Fall previously worked for the Dallas Mavericks, starting as a scout in 1998 before ultimately becoming Director of Player Personnel and Vice President of International Affairs, when he served as the team’s international goodwill ambassador and oversaw scouting assignments. He helped start Basketball Without Borders Africa in 2003 and served as Camp Director until 2010.
Fall is also the Founder of SEED (Sports for Education and Economic Development), a global non-profit organization established in 1998 with the mission of using sport as a vehicle to inspire, empower and support the holistic development of promising African youth, preparing them to become global citizens.
He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he played center on the basketball team. In February 2020 he was inducted into the UDC Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Pauline Fischer
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Ms. Fischer is an industry leader with a proven track record of building strong and diverse slates, driving creative, and brokering some of the industry’s most groundbreaking and innovative deals.
Across previous roles, including Netflix and Paramount Pictures, she has established a reputation for taking creative ideas from concept to release and building cutting-edge businesses and initiatives. As an architect of the Netflix Original Film business, Ms. Fischer oversaw the acquisition, development and production of internationally acclaimed films including Okja, Bright, Beasts of No Nation, First They Killed My Father, A Very Murray Christmas, and Death Note. She also greenlit Klaus, The Two Popes, Murder Mystery, and Dolemite is My Name. Also during her tenure at Netflix, deals she brokered helped revolutionize the Netflix film brand including a four-picture deal with Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, a Pay TV deal between Disney and Netflix, and a franchise deal for the film Bright starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton. As vice president of acquisitions at Paramount Pictures International and Worldwide DVD, Ms. Fischer acquired film and television content globally and helped launch the company’s DVD Premiere Group. Currently, Ms. Fischer advises on content strategy, business development and global productions and co-productions through her company, PMF Media Group.
Ms. Fischer’s career has included leadership roles across strategic planning, business development, and content acquisition and production with both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. She is recognized for being a long-time advocate of creating opportunities for diverse creative voices and executive talent within the industry. Ms. Fischer is also a dedicated leader in the non-profit world serving as a founding board member of The Blackhouse Foundation established in 2006 and renown for increasing access to opportunities for Black independent filmmakers and executives and as Board Chair of Ednovate, an innovative charter school management organization formed with the USC Rossier School of Education to provide pathways for positive multi-generational change.
Ms. Fischer holds a JD and MBA from Harvard University and a BA in Economics/Business from UCLA. She was awarded a High-Tech Fellowship by Harvard Business School and is a member of the CA State Bar and the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS).
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Eryca Freemantle
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
- Categories:
Eryca Freemantle is one of the world’s leading makeup educators and researchers. A former makeup artist and advisor to London College of Fashion (UCL), she has worked with celebrities, mainstream brands and leading world renown beauty institutions. Recognized as a leading expert on diversity in makeup and beauty, she has been interviewed by Bloomberg TV and Forbes Magazine.
She believes diversity should be celebrated and should no longer be treated as a tick box exercise, statistical project, fashion statement or gimmick. Eryca is Founder of EATOW, a platform which celebrates successful black experts in beauty, fashion, entertainment and the creative industry across the globe.
She spent many years in Nigeria researching the beauty industry for the British government, sits on the board of Africa’s leading makeup organisation, Makeup Ghana and is a beauty business and life coach ambassador for ‘The Princes Trust.’ She recently spoke at Oxford and Cambridge university, Houses of Parliament and SOAS and was invited to Clarence House where she met The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
She is supported by Nat West Bank and Salon Services, a beauty campaign for women of colour and was recently appointed Governor for a prestigious UTC school in England.