AFRICANISTS@WORK: Translating your Africa interest into a non-academic career
Meet three successful CEOs who have transformed their interest in the continent into a substantial career outside of the academy. This student-only professional development event is designed to give you direct access to public and private sector experts with leadership experience in the U.S. State Department, the Office of President of the United States, the U.N., the U.S. Senate, the African Development Bank, leading foreign aid organizations, industry, private consulting and more. Bring your questions (and maybe your business cards…). Light refreshments served. RSVP to join!
DATE: Wednesday, March 21st
TIME: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
LOCATION: Ingraham Hall (1155 Observatory Drive), Room 206
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
GRANT HARRIS
Grant Harris is CEO of Harris Africa Partners LLC and advises companies on doing business in Africa. From 2011 to 2015, Harris served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the White House. Prior to this position, Harris was Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Previously, Harris was an associate at the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. Prior to that, Harris served at the White House under President Bill Clinton. Harris holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, an M.P.A. from Princeton University, and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. (Note that Harris will present on “Why Africa Matters to U.S. National Security” at Africa at Noon earlier in the day)
Learn more about Harris Africa Partners LLC
STEVE WALLACE
Wallace founded Omanhene, and in 1994 it became the first company to sustain exports of premium chocolate manufactured entirely (bean-to-bar) in Africa. He is also one of three partners in NuMedika, LLC whose flagship product, Teledokta, is a telemedicine primary healthcare delivery platform providing continuity of care using Ghanaian medical providers (doctors, laboratories and pharmacies). Teledokta also creates an electronic health record for each patient. Teledokta, recently completed a successful pilot with MTN, the largest mobile network provider in Africa. Wallace holds degrees from Brown and the University of Chicago Law School and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Learn more about Omanhene and Numedika
ROGER ERVIN
Roger Ervin, is the President and CEO of Blumont, Inc. (formerly International Relief and Development). Ervin was appointed by President Clinton as the U.S. Commercial Envoy to Africa. He has also served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State and a Senior Policy Advisor in the United States Senate, as well as a Regional Director of the African Development Bank. He began government service as an economic policy advisor for Joseph R. Biden. Closer to home, Ervin served as Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Revenue for State of Wisconsin from 2007 to January 2011. Ervin received an MBA from UW-Madison.
Learn more about Blumont, Inc