Agenda

TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE GO TO WEBSITE: https://theafricasoftpowerproject.com/​



The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce Global Affairs Committee has partnered with the Africa Soft Power Series to offer a series of webinars starting 12th August to 29th August 2020.


These webinars will also provide attendees with an opportunity to raise related issues or questions you may have regarding trading in Africa.



CREATIVE POWER: CONTENT, CULTURE & PLATFORMS, WHERE IS THE MONEY? AFRICA SOFT POWER SERIES


More than ever, the cultural and creative sectors continue to shape the world around us, as their importance to society becomes even clearer, especially amid the economic devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 crisis and mass quarantines.

As the world's last large, underdeveloped market, the importance of the creative and knowledge industries takes on added significance when we consider that Africa will be home to more than a third of the world's population and half of the world's youth by 2100.


How can the continent optimize the creative and knowledge industries to propel itself forward?

The Africa Soft Power Series is the first of its kind virtual convening of industry thought leaders from across the globe passionate about Africa.


Session 8- RETHINKING THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY - SUSTAINABILITY, VISIBILITY & TRENDS

With increasingly sophisticated African consumers, international platforms, and a global pandemic, how can the African fashion and beauty industry effectively innovate and set trends in a world that has moved online?


  • Kwaku Bediako
  • Founder & Creative Director, Chocolate


  • Chid Liberty
  • CEO & Co-founder, Liberty & Justice



Date: Saturday 22nd August 2020, 5 PM WAT [12 PM EST]



FORMAT:

Introduction, Discussion, Q&A



TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE VISIT: https://theafricasoftpowerproject.com/​


THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON ZOOM

Speakers

    Kwaku Bediako, Founder & Creative Director, Chocolate

    Kwaku Bediako had his primary education at the University of Ghana primary school Legon. He then proceeded to Achimota school and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Archaeology and Information Studies at the University of Ghana.


    After graduating, he set up an idea company, Checkmate, which privileged marketing and business idea

    services.


    He evolved from a movie script writer to designing clothes after encountering Mr.Philip Ayesu. Later, Kwaku founded the company Chocolate Clothes.


    Kwaku is the creative director and founder of Chocolate Clothing. Chocolate Clothing started operating as a clothing line for women in march 2013 but grew into a men's wear and later got incorporated in 2018.


    Chocolate Clothing's mother-brand, FIGYINA YANKSON, is now capable of handling over 1000 orders a month. The name 'chocolate' represents the Afrocentric person; man or woman, and also resonates the cravings of its targeted clients.

    Chid Liberty, CEO & Co-founder, Liberty & Justice

    Chid Liberty is an award-winning social entrepreneur and impact investor. In 2010 he founded Liberty & Justice, Africa's first Fair Trade Certified apparel manufacturer. In addition to his work at Liberty & Justice, Chid served as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Liberia's Monrovia Business Startup Center (BSC). The BSC was founded by Spark, a Dutch NGO, for whom Chid managed the Ignite Fund – an equity investment fund that makes strategic investments in companies with high growth potential in conflict-affected states. He also speaks internationally on social entrepreneurship and impact investing – recently at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and Princeton Universities, as well as the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia and IE in Madrid, Spain. Chid is currently leading L&J through its rapid expansion and rebranding as Made In Africa.


    Chid was recognized by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in her 2011 State of the Nation Address for his leadership in shaping trade policy and indigenous Liberian entrepreneurship. He is a recipient of the 2018 Ashoka Fabric of Change Fellowship – a C&A Foundation sponsored grant awarded to social entrepreneurs pursuing systemic change in retail supply chains. He was also named by Quartz (a division of Atlantic Magazine) as one of 30 groundbreaking African Innovators of 2017. He was a 2014 Salzburg Global Fellow, a 2011 SVN Social Innovation Award winner, a 2010 Cordes Fellow, and a Yoxi Portfolio SIR (Social Innovation Rockstar). Chid also works as an advisor and board member to a number of high-impact organizations including B Lab, The Unreasonable Group and Unreasonable Capital, and, most importantly – the Georgie Badiel Foundation, which was founded by his wife, former Miss Africa, model, author, and activist Georgie Badiel-Liberty to bring clean drinking water to communities in her home country of Burkina Faso and her adopted second home of Liberia.