2026 African Women in the Diaspora Conference
Full Event Recap
3/9/20263 min read
The 2026 African Women in the Diaspora Conference brought together scholars, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders for a day focused on empowerment, leadership, and economic advancement across the African diaspora. The program opened with a warm welcome from Ny Whitaker, Founder and Chief Strategist of PROJECT NYNE LLC, who set the tone for a day centered on collaboration, visibility, and collective progress.
Opening Remarks
The opening session featured two high-level leaders whose remarks grounded the conference in global and continental priorities:
H.E. Mohamed Edrees, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, offered a brief background on the African Union’s mission. He emphasized the AU’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation in governance, economic development, and peace-building. His remarks highlighted the AU’s long-standing focus on unity, integration, and empowering African women as key drivers of sustainable development.
H.E. Cristina Duarte, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, spoke on the importance of policy frameworks that support women’s leadership and economic mobility.
Panel 1: Economic Power Building, Entrepreneurship, Capital & Financial Infrastructures
Moderated by Christelle N. Nkoume (Onwu), Founder of Express Connexion and former African Diaspora Advisor for the City of New York, the first panel brought together women who have built careers across consulting, global commerce, and entrepreneurship. The panel featured:
Dr. Corrine Graham, Global Peace Ambassador and President of GRAHAM International Consulting
Jyoti Jaiswal, Founder & CEO of OMSutra & Verizon Advocate
Abimbola Olurotimi, Senior Vendor Manager at Amazon
The panel explored how women navigate entrepreneurship, access capital, and build financial resilience. Speakers shared:
Their personal journeys into entrepreneurship and leadership.
The financial barriers they faced and how they overcame them.
The importance of understanding financial systems and building strong business infrastructures.
How community networks and strategic partnerships helped them scale.
Practical tips for women starting or growing businesses.
A recurring theme was resilience: continuing to build even when resources are limited, and learning to leverage every opportunity, relationship, and skill.
Panel 2: Women in Leadership - An Intergenerational Conversation
The second panel featured leaders from academia, corporate responsibility, and consulting. Moderated by Ms. Fatou Sombie, Gender & WPS Advisor to the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN and Coordinator of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), the discussion included:
Dr. Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede, Professor of Global Affairs and Political Science, Farmingdale State College
Chevelle Dixon, Founder & Managing Director of Pan-African Solutions Consulting LLC
Waheera Mardah, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at JPMorganChase
This discussion focused on leadership development, visibility, and the power of networks. Key insights included:
Networking as a strategic tool: It is not just about meeting people, but intentionally building relationships that align with one’s goals.
Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: Mentors guide you, but sponsors advocate for you. A sponsor is not necessarily someone who provides financial support, but someone who mentions your name in rooms you never imagined, creating opportunities you cannot access alone.
Digital access as a modern necessity: Using digital platforms to build a personal brand, showcase expertise, and expand professional reach is critical.
Clarity of identity and direction: Knowing where you are, what you want, and the type of partnership that will help you grow.
Strategic partnerships: Aligning with people and institutions that elevate your work and amplify your impact.
The power of persistence: The panelists emphasized that growth requires knocking on doors repeatedly, even when they do not open the first time.
Core Message of the Conference
A powerful theme echoed throughout the day: your identity is your strength. Whether in entrepreneurship, leadership, or community building, embracing one’s story and background is a source of power, not a limitation.