ÿþ<html> <head><title>Welcome to Tadias.com</title> <body background="back4.jpg" vlink="#000000" alink="#000000" link="#000000"> <body> <table width="700"><tr><td><a href="../index.html"><img src="intro-banner.jpg" border=0></a></td></tr><table> <table width="900"><tr><td> <a href="advertise.html"><img src="advertise.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="archives.html"><img src="archives.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="toc.html"><img src="current.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="service.html"><img src="customers.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="events.html"><img src="events.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="subscribe.html"><img src="subscribe.jpg" border=0></a> <a href="guide.html"><img src="guide.jpg" border=0></a> </td></tr></table> </head> <body> <table width=800><tr><td align="left" VALIGN="top"><img src="current-cover.jpg"><br> <a href="toc.html"><img src="toc-button.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="editor.html"><img src="editor.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="contribute.html"><img src="contributors.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="letters.html"><img src="letters.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="townbeat.html"><img src="townbeat.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="hotshots.html"><img src="hotshots.jpg" border=0></a><br><a href="advertisers.html"><img src="advertisers.jpg" border=0></a> </td><td align="left" VALIGN="top" width=350><font face="Arial" size="4" color="#000000"><b>Business & Finance:</b></font><br> <font face="Arial" size="2"><b>African Business Conference & Interview with Co-Presidents of the Africa Business Club- Isis Nyong'o and Danladi Verheijen </b></font><br><br> <img src="business1.jpg"><br><font face="Arial" size="1">African Business Conference 2005. Photo by Danladi Verheijen.<br><br> <font face="Arial" size="1"> Last February, the Africa Business Club (ABC) at Harvard Business School held its annual African Business Conference in which over 600 African students, prospective students, business professionals, and friends of Africa participated in a three-day program of workshops, panel discussions, and networking events. This year s theme entitled  Beyond Natural Resources: Developing Africa s Competitive Advantage highlighted the importance of nurturing competitiveness and breaking the cycle of poverty by avoiding complete dependence and exploitation of Africa s natural resources. Four keynote speakers addressed the participants, and a variety of panel discussions were held on topics such as venture capital & private equity, multilateral institutions, entertainment, news media, oil, gas & energy, tourism and technology outsourcing. <br><br> The African Business Conference continues to garner increased interest and participation among Africans and friends of Africa in the Diaspora. Mindful of its successful promotion of the ûow of ideas among individuals in the education and business sectors, Tadias interviewed the current Co-Presidents of the Africa Business Club, Isis Nyong o and Danladi Verheijen, who offered an inside perspective on up-and-coming African economic leaders and their vision to change the nature of business in Africa.<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Tadias:</font> Can you give us a brief summary of your background and what inspired you to serve as co-presidents of the Africa Business Club?<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Isis:</font> I m a Kenyan national. I was previously involved in the Stanford African Students Association (SASA) as an undergraduate student. After working as a marketing manager at the leading online job site in Kenya, myJobsEye Kenya, and as a senior marketing specialist at Charles Schwab I decided to attend business school. After graduation from Harvard Business School I want to focus my work in the marketing role with a view of moving back to Africa in within 2-3 years. I wanted to be Co-President of the Harvard Business School Africa Business Club because of my desire to help build a strong and vibrant African community on campus. <br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Danladi:</font> I m a Nigerian national. I completed my undergraduate studies at Calvin College and obtained a Masters in Engineering from Stanford where I was also involved with SASA. Prior to attending Harvard Business School I worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company as well as with an investment holding company in Nigeria, Ocean & Oil Holdings. After graduation I will be returning to work at Ocean & Oil Holdings. I wanted to be Co-President of the Africa Business Club because it provided the opportunity to have a moderate but positive impact on the continent via the annual conference program.<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Tadias:</font> What are your main areas of interest in the business sector as it relates to Africa?<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Isis:</font> Service.<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Danladi:</font> Financial Service.<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Tadias:</font> Are there any other African-centered business clubs set up at other schools that you network with?<br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Isis & Danladi:</font> Not as much as we would like and this is an area of improvement in future years for the club. However, via the Harvard African Network (HAN), an umbrella organization for Africa-oriented clubs at different Harvard graduate schools, which ABC spearheads, we are able to interact with Africa-oriented clubs at Harvard s Kennedy School of Government, Law School, Public Health, School of Education, etc. ABC networks with the Wharton African Students Association (WASA) at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently helping the African students at MIT to set up an Africa Business Club there. <br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Tadias:</font> What message do you want to share with current and future African business leaders? <br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Isis & Danladi:</font> There is a large and growing cadre of young Africans in the US who are:<br> 1) Extremely optimistic about the prospects for the continent <br> 2) Enthusiastic and committed to sharing in the work that needs to be done by returning to Africa and contributing to building sustainable businesses and effective social institutions. <br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Tadias:</font> What kind of follow-up is done after each conference to further develop and work on issues and projects presented at the conference? How will individuals have access to information presented at the conference? <br><br> <font color="#ffffff">Isis & Danladi:</font> The conference is structured to allow a lot of informal interactions among all attendees (keynote speakers, panelists and participants). Our hope is that individuals will network, share ideas and projects, exchange contact information, and continue the dialogue after the conference. Videotapes of the keynote speakers are also available on our conference web site. <br><br> <i>Tadias Magazine salutes the achievements of the Africa Business Club and looks forward to their growing inûuence on African business ventures. <br><br> To learn more about the Africa Business Club and participate in the annual African Business Conference please visit the following web site: www.hbsafricaconference.org </i> </font> <td VALIGN="top" width=5><img src="divider.jpg"><br><img src="divider.jpg"><br><img src="divider.jpg"><br><img src="divider.jpg"><td VALIGN="top" width=250><br> <font face="Arial" size="3"><b> Links:</b> <br></font> <font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="http://www.hbsafricaconference.org" target="_new">African Business Conference<a/></font><br><br> <img src="business2.jpg"><br><font face="Arial" size="1">Isis Nyong'o & Danladi Verheijen</font><br><br> </tr></table> <p> <center><font face="Arial" size="-2">Tadias.com. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2005</font></td></center> </body></html>