Exploring the Impact:
The President's African Diaspora Engagement Council

In a groundbreaking move, the White House unveiled the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in September 2023. This executive order aims to enhance dialogue between U.S. officials and the African diaspora by fostering collaboration, partnerships, and community-building within the United States at a global scale, involving Africa and other nations.
Dive into this conversation as we introduce the distinguished members of the advisory council, representing diverse sectors including government, sports, creative industries, academic social work, and faith-based institutions. The question arises: How can these accomplished individuals leverage their expertise to offer invaluable guidance, strengthening cultural, social, political, and economic ties between the U.S. and Africa?
Join us in exploring the multifaceted role of the Council. In doing so, we open up an exciting opportunity to exchange ideas on how this collaboration can promote trade, investment, and educational exchanges between the United States and Africa. Let’s delve into the ways this Council can become a catalyst for transformative change and contribute to the shared prosperity of these nations.

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Speakers

Deniece Laurent-Mantey

Deniece Laurent-Mantey

Executive Director, President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (Moderator)

Deniece Laurent-Mantey serves as the Executive Director of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States and the senior State Department representative for the U.S.- Africa Leaders Summit. From April 2021 – February 2023 she served as the Director for Africa at the White House National Security Council where she led over 18 U.S. government agencies and coordinated with various stakeholders to execute President Biden’s priorities for the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and was the policy architect behind the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement.

Mimi Alemayehou

Mimi Alemayehou

Founder and Managing Partner, Semai Ventures LLC

Mimi Alemayehou is the Founder and Managing Partner of Semai Ventures LLC, which collaborates with mission-driven enterprises to advance sustainable development in emerging economies. She is also a Senior Advisor of the Three Cairns Group, an investment and philanthropic firm working to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Previously, she was Senior Vice President for Public-Private Partnerships at Mastercard where her portfolio included initiatives designed to catalyze social impact and financial inclusion in emerging markets. As Managing Director of the Black Rhino Group and Chair of Blackstone Africa Infrastructure, she advanced major energy and infrastructure projects across Africa.

C.D. Glin

C.D. Glin

President, PepsiCo Foundation, Global Head of Social Impact, PepsiCo, Inc.

C.D. Glin is President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact for PepsiCo. In this role, Glin leads the organization’s social- and community-driven impact efforts and a portfolio of global employee engagement programs. Glin oversees the Foundation's strategic direction, leading internal and external engagement around The PepsiCo Foundation's three core pillars of creating equitable access to nutritious food, safe water, and economic opportunity. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Glin began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa during the Mandela administration. He also served as President and CEO of the U.S. African Development Foundation, Associate Director of The Rockefeller Foundation and Vice President for Business Development at PYXERA Global.

Almaz Negash

Almaz Negash

CEO and Founder of ADN

Almaz Negash, a prominent trailblazer in Silicon Valley, has been recognized as one of the 12 inaugural members of President Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. Leveraging 25 plus years of experience in international trade, business management, and social innovation, Negash is able to build successful partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, including Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs based in the USA and around the world. In 2010, Almaz founded African Diaspora Network (ADN) to inform and engage Africans in the diaspora and facilitate direct collaboration with social entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders to invest and improve the lives of everyone on the continent. She has also been named as one of Silicon Valley 100 outstanding Women of Influence for her significant contributions to social innovation.

Ham Serunjogi

Ham Serunjogi

Co-founder & CEO of African fintech giant, Chipper Cash

Ham Serunjogi is the Co-founder & CEO of African fintech giant, Chipper Cash. As CEO, Ham heads the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for leading the company’s overall direction and strategy. After graduating from Grinnell College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Ham began his career at Meta (formerly Facebook) where he worked in their Dublin, Ireland office responsible for building partner relationships with some of Facebook’s biggest UK advertisers. Ham was appointed by President Biden to serve as a Member of the inaugural President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE).

Impact

Since 2016 ADN convenings have reached...