The 2022 Annual Leaders Gathering will take place between 25-27 November, bringing together emerging leaders within the LéO Africa Institute network across Africa. Participants will reflect on the challenges facing society today and how different networks of innovators, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers in the public sector can come together to address them.
Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer, Mastercard Foundation
"Julie is the Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer at the Mastercard Foundation" overseeing corporate, programmatic, policy & thought leadership communications, and a team spanning Africa and Canada. Prior to her role at the Foundation, Julie had a two decade career in the fields of broadcast, print, digital media and development communications.
At the start of her career Julie pioneered investigative news television and programming. She conceptualized and launched numerous top news and current affairs shows and developed the pan-African television show, Africa Leadership Dialogues. Following the 2007 elections, Julie’s peace specials resonated with viewers. As a result of her calls for non-violent action in 2008 she was awarded the Martin Luther King Salute to Greatness. Following this pivotal period, determined to contribute towards a more informed and responsible generation, Julie established the Great Debaters Contest, a high school debate platform focused on teaching students that differences need not result in conflict and violence. Her career focus then shifted to curating impactful engagements and driving conversations focused on African leadership, growth, and development.
Over the past decade Julie has worked with key institutions, including the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, various UN agencies, and the World Economic Forum. Julie is part of a number of Fellowships, including the Tutu Fellowship, the Aspen Global Leadership Network/Africa Leadership Initiative and is an alumni of the Young Global Leaders under the World Economic Forum.
Julie has received numerous awards and recognitions. Avance Media listed her as one of the 100 Most Influential African Women of 2019, and New African listed her as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2019. Julie was born in Nairobi, Kenya. She attended university in the United Kingdom where she earned her LLB Law and MBA from Cardiff University’s Law and Business Schools respectively. Julie is a dedicated wife and mother and a passionate afro-optimist
Chairman Board of Directors, LéO Africa Institute
Carl Manlan is Vice President, Social Impact for Visa Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Carl's focuses on enabling community impact with local, regional, and global partners, co-creating partnerships that support Small and Medium Businesses, Individuals, and households to thrive in the CEMEA region.
Carl volunteers to support non-profit organizations' leadership on their social impact journey.
He is Chair Board of Directors of the LéO Africa Institute and an Aspen Institute New Voices Senior Fellow.
Founder, LéO Africa Institute
Awel Uwihanganye is the Founder & Senior Director at the LéO Africa Institute. He is a privileged Board Member Global Health Corps, a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative—East Africa, and a Member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network.
Awel is passionate about media production and communications, entrepreneurship, personal and leadership development, psychology and mental health, international relations and diplomacy, travel, and reading. He believes in the power of people and networks to change lives, shape society, and advance development.
He envisions Africa as a frontier for opportunity and growth with a confident, self-aware generation of rising African leaders at the center of this renaissance.
Musical Performance
Lagum The Rapper
Chairperson Board of Directors, LéO Africa Institute
Carl Manlan
In Conversation with
Hosted by Awel Uwihanganye, Founder & Senior Director, LéO Africa Institute
Hashim Wasswa Mulangwa
Liz Muange
William Babigumira
Awel Uwihanganye
Musical performance by Lamu
Lamu
Corporate Social Investments Manager at Stanbic Bank Uganda
Barbara Kasekende
Panelists
Hosted by Isaac Rugamba, Senior Analyst at Vanguard Economics & YELP Fellow Class of 2017
Cleofash Alinaitwe
Mohamed Okash
Malath Ochieng
Isaac Rugamba
The theme for the 2021 Annual Leaders Gathering, Building Resilient Lives and ‘Imagined Communities’, was inspired by the need to re-imagine our sense of community in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
