What does a connected future look like? It is about reinventing manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare, and other industries as our consumers are empowered, connected and enabled with a new form of lifestyle management that we’ve never witnessed before. The future belongs to those that can act fast, that are agile and that are not bogged down and held back by age old business rules that cannot change.  The system change we need.

Dare I say that the 2022 Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVLS) delivered alongside MWC Africa in Kigali was a true reflection of what is needed to create a connected future and a true demonstration of the future belonging to those that can act and move fast.

This year’s collaboration was a first for the global Shared Value community. The purpose of delivering these two flagship events alongside each other was to create a platform where we can convene industry experts, business leaders, governments, interested parties from across all sectors to form collaborative ecosystems and partnerships to build a more prosperous Africa for all.

The conversations and discussion of the ASVLS focused on how we as a collective can influence, motivate, and take conscious action to bring about change. The intention was also to create an understanding that without connectivity and the intentional creation of profit with purpose, real tangible progress that will change lives and bolster economies will remain unobtainable.

As the Shared Value Africa Initiative, we believe there is no greater barrier to Africa’s economic growth and a connected future than the lack of connectivity and affordable broadband for all. We cannot expect economic growth if we do not empower and equip our people and especially our women and young leaders through providing information and education that will help with making more informed decision. Technology, connectivity, and affordable access for all is the game changer for Africa.

As a pan-African organisation, the SVAI continues to advocate for the adoption of the Shared Value Business Management concept across Africa. Staying true to our purpose to build Africa’s most impactful business network. The ASVLS again aligned  to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the belief that conversations on technology, digital inclusion and value creation need to lead to action – now more than ever before.

It is my opinion that what we saw and experienced in Kigali and looking at the programmes and content that  MWC Africa delivered there was a sound confirmation of  technical innovation,  progress, programmes,  and approaches needed to create this connected future for all Africans.  Whilst the Africa Shared Value Leaderhsip Summit sessions unpacked, discussed and reconfirmed the connectivity requirement from a human centered, collaborative and ecosystem approach to deliver a connected future.

One aspect that stood out at the 2022 ASVLS was the participation of our young leaders. They demonstrated their own thought Leadership and, as the future leaders of this continent, I have no doubt that our youth dividend will not let us down.

It yet again illustrated that we need to create platforms for our young leaders to participate on the same stage as our global and continental leadership to find solutions as a collective. We need to include the participation of young leadership without questioning the validity of their contributions, as they are the ones that will ultimately create the Africa we want.

Again, a note of thanks goes out to our sponsors that made the 2022 ASVLS possible – Absa Bank Kenya, Visa, Old Mutual Group, Abbott, and UN Global Compact.

All the session and discussions are available on our YouTube channel.

 TIEKIE BARNARD
 Founder & CEO