OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

At the conference

At the afro-themed gala

With students from Kellogs Business School, Northwestern University

Name: Ugochi Obidiegwu

Degree Program: MPA IN PUBLIC & NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & POLICY

Specialization: PNP-Social Impact, Innovation & Investment

Conference Host Organization/Institution: Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

Conference/Competition Name: Columbia Africa Conference

Conference Term: Fall Conference Start Date: 2023-11-03 Conference End Date: 2023-11-04

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
1. Strategic public private partnerships will be critical as we work toward Agenda 2063
2. Education and digital transformation is important. Transform education to be fit for purpose.
3. Some things the VC panelists were excited about on VC in Africa are: growth of talent, inter-African trade, payment opportunity for smart Africans, and a better pan-African narrative.
4. Africa is doing well in terms of finding value and creating value in startups, but capturing value with exits is not yet happening at the scale it should. A great exit can be through strategic acquisitions.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
Attending this conference was really enlightening for me. The theme was "Strengthening our ties" and the panel sessions and keynotes were well curated. I learned a lot about infrastructure and financing options for businesses on the continent. This knowledge is really important to me because there is a shift towards Africa but Africans must be ready and equipped to take advantage of the opportunities coming. I also got an opportunity to connect with individuals from different business schools and also from industry. I can already see the opportunity to collaborate with some of the people I met.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
1. Set up meetings with some individuals aligned with my work to find possible collaboration opportunities.
2. Study some more and pay attention to my impact investment classes.
3. Share my knowledge with other Africans.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
1. Show up prepared to learn and take notes.
2. Carefully select conference sessions that align with your interests. This will ensure that you spend your time effectively and connect with like minds.
3. Be friendly and willing to meet new people

Wagner Areas of Impact: Education, Finance, International Development, Social Innovation