An invitation-only evening recognizing exceptional leadership and convening influential decision makers from across Africa and the global African diaspora to strengthen relationships and explore new opportunities.
Africa is now.
Across the continent, governments, businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs are creating new opportunities for growth, investment, and collaboration.
From finance and technology to infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and the creative economy, Africa is attracting increased global attention and investment.
Africa's economic growth is creating unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and collaboration. Entrepreneurs are building transformative businesses. Governments are pursuing investment. Investors are seeking credible opportunities. Corporations are expanding into new markets. Institutions are looking for trusted partners.
Too often, these opportunities remain disconnected. The African Leadership Roundtable exists to close that distance.
The Roundtable convenes in the places, spaces, and moments where leadership, influence, and capital converge. During the United Nations General Assembly, it brings together a highly curated group of approximately 75 ministers, investors, corporate executives, philanthropic leaders, and policymakers to mobilize investment, deploy capital, and strengthen long-term economic partnerships.
Direct engagement with heads of state, CEOs, and investors, the people deciding where policy, capital, and commerce move.
Candid perspective on where capital is moving and what leaders are prioritizing, shared by the people making those decisions.
Curated introductions that become collaborations, sustained by relationships that deepen year round.
Relationships that compound. Deals, alliances, and ideas take shape within the network and mature into lasting value.
Global capital · Public and private. Government, multilateral organizations, institutional investors, private equity, and family offices.
Presented in conjunction with the African Leadership Roundtable, the African Leadership Awards honor exceptional leaders whose vision, achievement, and influence are expanding opportunity, strengthening institutions, and creating lasting value across Africa and throughout the global African diaspora.
Recognizing exceptional leadership that has elevated Africa's influence on the global stage.
Honoring leaders whose vision and action have accelerated progress, inspired collaboration, and created new opportunities.
Recognizing bold ideas and breakthrough solutions that are transforming industries and expanding opportunity.
Honoring leaders whose enduring contributions have strengthened Africa's institutions, culture, history, and legacy.
Recognizing extraordinary individuals whose influence, achievement, and leadership have left an indelible mark on Africa and the world.
For more than two decades, Aba Blankson has advised Fortune 500 executives, senior government officials, investors, and civic leaders on reputation, growth, and engagement, building relationships that expand investment and strengthen institutions across Africa and the global Black community. She serves as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the NAACP, the nation's foremost civil rights organization, and is the founder and convener of the African Leadership Roundtable.
Her experience spans international development, higher education, technology, and nonprofit leadership. She has supported USAID initiatives across West Africa, collaborated with ECOWAS and regional institutions, led digital innovation at Cornell University, and worked with governments, multinational corporations, universities, philanthropies, and civic organizations. She was recognized by Nasdaq as a leader driving change and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Hood College.
Her ability to convene decision makers in government, business, philanthropy, and civil society has made her a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
The most consequential partnerships begin with a conversation. They are built by leaders who understand that opportunity is not inherited. It is created.