From career-oriented to entrepreneurship, to cultural identity — our events are designed to allow the members of the diaspora to engage, inspire, and share their unique perspectives.
An ongoing monthly discussion series. Join a safe and trusted space to discover, learn, and share knowledge about our African culture, identity, and history.
April 2021
This edition stretched across two days and engaged audiences across numerous continents.
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March 2021
This 3-hour event amplified the voices, energy, and talent of bicultural students of African descent and introduced Nike’s 2021 internship program. Nike’s leadership spoke about the future of work, attendees were able to connect, network, and apply for internships.
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February 2021
Our first edition of the Talent Lab was packed with career opportunities, insights on recruitment best practices, and discussions with adidas leadership about values, representation, and opportunity.
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November 2020
When we no longer define ourselves through borders, we can unlock our bicultural potential. Let’s draw on our collective wisdom and unique experiences to inspire a new generation of changemakers.
October 2020
We discussed how the African diaspora, across multiple generations, see the bicultural workforce showing up in the next few years.
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July 2020
During this special edition of Under the Baobab, we organized a wider discussion about the next steps of the Black Lives Matter Movement. We brought together community leaders who shared their perspectives and highlighted their work fighting racism and discrimination in the Netherlands.
April 2020
In this session, José Cabaço, Adidas Global Brand Director of Storytelling, took us through his journey from Mozambique to Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, and the US. He reflected on how his childhood experiences became the foundation for his career in creativity and multidisciplinary approach.
April 2020
How does culture inform your craft and creative work? How do we develop our voice while living in multiple cultures? We invited creatives, organizers, educators, and academics to help explore these questions and speak about their personal experiences around the world.
October 2019
For Black Achievement Month, we brought together entrepreneurs in FoodTech, MedTech, AI, and Clean Energy to share success stories, best practices, and discuss practical solutions on how we can best support each other.
In June 2019, Omek brought together African diaspora organizations and leaders in The Netherlands from all backgrounds and industries to begin to connect the dots.
MARTHA MGHENDI-FISHER
Founder and CEO
Interested in participating?
If you’d like to be a speaker or volunteer at a future event, please drop us an email.
KEMO CAMARA
Founder
Omek
Kemo has more than 20 years of experience in community organizing and bringing people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together. He has co-founded multiple businesses and non-profit organizations and has professional experience in leadership and management working for multinational corporations including banks and manufacturing companies in the US.
VERONICA SAFOA OWUSU
Founder
VPower Coaching
With her Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences and over 10 years of experience working as a Educator, Veronica has created hundreds and hundreds of lesson plans and courses, designed dozens of programme development schemes and executed Educational programmes that have helped achieve targeted skills in students and adults.
SERGIO PANDAY
Co-Founder
Roots Inspire
After an international career as a banking executive, Sergio is now determined to increase the ethnic diversity across the senior corporate layers. Together with 50+ mentors coming from ethnic minority backgrounds themselves, Sergio co-founded the Roots Inspire platform to accelerate ethnically diverse talent into senior corporate positions.
JONAS TESFU
Co-Founder, CEO
Pangea Accelerator
Jonas is a strong voice in the Norwegian and African startup scene. He currently works with 100+ African tech companies based out of the Pangea Accelerator in Nairobi, Kenya. A life-long entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience with building startups in the Tech sector, food industry and impact startups.
SHENIN LEBRUN
CEO
Hustle & Heart Consultancy
My name is Shenin Lebrun and I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur. I am a (business) coach, a mentor, a speaker and a TV / Film story producer. My professional career started at Nike 17 years ago. Now as the founder of Hustle & Heart Consultancy, it’s my goal to inspire & share my knowledge so you feel empowered and reach your maximum potential.
SHENHAT TEDOS
Head of Committees
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Shenhat, I am 21 years old and I am currently in my third year of a Global Law Bachelor. I work in activism and community organizing besides ASAT.
MARIA TOKO
Chairwoman
Tribez Student Association
As the former Student Chair of the University Council of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, I participate and co-decide on important developments and on the policy of the university. As the Chair of the Student section I am inspired by the students I represent. Besides, I focus on better Diversity and Inclusion policies in higher education and sustainability policies that empower this generation and the next one. I am involved in topics on society, art and culture by co-organising and co-facilitating events with among other Het Nationale Theater.
SHANICA ROMNEY
Board Member of Activities
Tribez Student Association
Raised on the beautiful island of St. Martin, Shanica Romney is a community builder and a European Studies student. She is the co-founder of her platform called Say Less Sis, which serves as a safe space to highlight and discuss taboo topics while advocating for the people of St. Martin.
ABIGAIL VLOET
Vice President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
I am Abigail, Ethiopian (originally), with Dutch nationality, and an international upbringing. I am a pan-Africanist who is studying International Law at Tilburg University.
SEHAAM ABDULE
President
African Student Association of Tilburg (ASAT)
My name is Sehaam Abdule and I am 21 years old. I am Dutch and Somali. I am currently a third year law student at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. I am passionate about Black Empowerment as well as pan-Africanist.
KIZA MAGENDANE
Writer and Policy Entrepreneur
Kiza Magendane is a writer and policy entrepreneur with a special focus on citizenship, identity, globalization, technology and the position of Africa in the world. He studied political science in Amsterdam and Antwerp and works as a knowledge broker in international development. He writes essays and reports for NRC and De Groene Amsterdammer.
MIKAL TSEGAI
Member of the City Council in The Hague
Former Candidate to the Parliament
MPANZU BAMENGA
Member of City Council in Eindhoven, Co-Founder
Incleaders
Bamenga is the Co-founder of the Inclusion Leaders Network (INCLEADERS), an organization that provides opportunities for information sharing, leadership development, and networking opportunities for emerging and established leaders.
MILKA YEMANE
Member of Groenlinks
Milka Yemane is a Political Scientist and she ran for member of Parliament in March 2021 for the Green left party. She is an advocate for humane migration policies and advocates for more Diaspora involvement. She is the founder and Director of the Lemat foundation, an organization that works towards better integration policies for newcomers.
SAMIRA RAFAELA
Member of the European Parliament
Samira Rafaela is a Dutch Member of the European Parliament for the social-liberal political party D66. As such she is part of the Renew Europe Group. Rafaela ran on the promise to fight for a strong, social and secure Europe. She strongly believes that the EU is at its best when we work together to diminish inequality and celebrate our diversity.
INDIGO JANKA
Communications Officer
Wetlands International
JOAN MWANGI
Community & Programs Manager
Pangea Accelerator
A design professional and creative with an interest in social impact and business development, I am always looking for new ways of providing solutions to challenges. Currently passionate about building Inclusive Africa a platform to catalyze systemic change for inclusivity and diversity on the continent. It has been a growing and exciting process.
MICHAEL KITTICAI
Founder
Nairobabe
I’m a Creative Designer with a passion for arts, music, and street fashion. It’s this moment that gets me to put my head down and think out of the box.
ANNE LAWI
Managing Director
Pangea Accelerator
Anne Lawi Is a Managing Director for Pangea Trust catalyzing innovation through social businesses that stimulate economy in Africa by creating enabling environment to harness skills, provide technical expertise and capital, to spur and accelerate social-economic transformation, increased job creation and improved quality of life at the base of the pyramid.
HEAVEN BEREKET
Senior Project Manager
Pangea Accelerator
Heaven is ranked top 33 Female Tech Leader in Sweden and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 with an incredible background growing up in the countryside in the north of Sweden with roots from East Africa. Heaven is a prominent Business Advisor contributing to Africa’s and Europe’s start-up and Tech scene.
RENATE MATROOS
Founder
Twenty 6 Consultancy
I’m a creative mind who wants to help every entrepreneur perform to the best of their ability and become more successful. As a Digital Learning Designer and Facilitator I create and develop interactive workshops and programs.
KWANZA MUSI DOS SANTOS
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
DIversity Matters
Italian-Afrobrazilian activist and intersectional feminist raised in Rome, co-founder of QuestaèRoma: an association against discriminations since 2013. Degree in political science, she organizes workshops about diversity, inclusion and anti-racism for several different organizations. Recently, she joined the board of the Union of Justice.
KEOSHA LOVE
Writer, Activist & Wellness Educator
Keosha is a multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and educator that intersects art and wellness to promote positive mental health in BIPOC communities and empower women.
SASKIA JEANNE DURE
Anger/Activism Coach
The Angry Black Life Coach, Toking Travel International LLC
30-year-old femme with a degree in International Relations. I use my coaching practices to support other Black gender marginalized people embrace anger and other uncomfortable emotions. I am currently living in Spain and operate this company remotely.
IVY IRUNGU
Operations Associate
Pangea Trust
Pangea Trust was registered in 2019 and was initiated by Pangea Accelerator as they identified a big need for a non-profit organization that could focus on building the innovation ecosystem and mobilizing resources from the African Diaspora.
MARIA KLINT
Project Manager
Sida
Maria Klint is a service designer and facilitator at Antrop with the main focus on solving complex sustainability challenges. At the moment she’s working with global aid issues and building an innovation lab at SIDA and she’s focusing on circular design and to build circularity into e-commerce.
OLUBUNMI OKOLOSI
Founder, CEO
Kajola
Bunmi has worked with some of the world’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and entrepreneurs. Former clients include Arabica Food & Spice Company (Time Out London’s Best Restaurant), Lima London (1-star Michelin restaurant), and The Student Hotel (international hospitality start-up). With Kajola, Bunmi can lend his passion and expertise to those who are eager to make their mark in the food and hospitality sectors.
FOLASADE AYOOLA
Co-Founder
Electric Fish
Folasade is Co-Founder of ElectricFish Energy Inc., an energy storage company providing grid resilience and EV ultrafast charging. She is also a Ph.D. researcher focused on the deep decarbonization of large-scale energy systems, exploring low-carbon transition pathway alternatives for oil-dependent countries, specifically Nigeria.
HASSAN DIRISU
Founder
Kakanda
A lawyer and social entrepreneur seeking to make financing and greener supply chains more available to artisanal and small scale miners in West Africa.
KOBI AMPOMA
Talent Lead
Otrium
Kobi is a Talent Acquisition Lead. He has an educational background in Human Resources. Having worked in the HR function as an HR Generalist, International Mobility and Talent Acquisition. Kobi is a big advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in recruitment. He has worked in the FMCG, Retail, Sporting Goods, Fashion, and Technology industry for 20 year.
GEORGE D. WILLIAMS
Founder, Managing Director
Diversity Global Institute
George manages an organization that provides access to global education and language acquisition. He has experience as a political consultant, interpreter, and startup founder, among others. Some of his other projects include sustainably developing a boutique international real estate portfolio, and designing and executing political events.
GERALDINE MOODLEY
Operations Manager, Lawyer, Mediator
I am a human rights lawyer, former operations manager and team leader. I have worked in various international organisations with multicultural teams. I am of African descent and mix cultures which have worked for me and in my current work as diversity equity and inclusion adviser, trainer and consultant bringing much-needed change to organisations.
MOHAMED ZAHIR ALIMOHAMED
Director of Research and Training, Lecturer, Scientist, Medical Geneticist
Mohamed worked for the RND section of the Genetics department in NL. His PhD focused on using NGS to diagnose (genetic) diseases in the clinic. He is a co-founder of the Tanzania Society of Human Genetics and is currently based in Tanzania and serves as the Acting Director of Research and Training at the Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital.
RAISA GHAZI
Founder
SkillGenie
Raisa Ghazi is a political scientist and the founder of SkillGenie, an e-learning platform with courses which aim to reduce inequality in the workplace. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and is committed to the emancipation of minorities, especially in tech. She’s always on the hunt for new ways to improve herself, her organisations or the world.
WEINI SMON
Yoga Teacher
Weini Smon is a certified Ashtanga and Vinyasa teacher from the Sampoorna Yoga Teacher Training School in India. She has a background in Banking but has always had a passion for Yoga and all things Wellness. As she deepened her Yoga practice, she wanted to share the benefits of Yoga and Wellness with more people and in particular the black community.
ANTHONY HARRISON
CEO & Founding Member
Impact X Capital Partners
Eric is a VC serving on boards & the C-Suite of fast growth tech cos since 2001. Eric’s experiences include digital, mobileAI, SaaS based & health tech companies. He’s exited businesses to listed cos like MSFT & Nuance. He was named one of the most powerful Black business people in the UK by the FT & Powerlist. Eric hosts The Profit on UK’s Ch 4.
ERIC COLLINS
CEO & Founding Member
Impact X Capital Partners
Eric is a VC serving on boards & the C-Suite of fast growth tech cos since 2001. Eric’s experiences include digital, mobileAI, SaaS based & health tech companies. He’s exited businesses to listed cos like MSFT & Nuance. He was named one of the most powerful Black business people in the UK by the FT & Powerlist. Eric hosts The Profit on UK’s Ch 4.
