AUC Business Forum 2022 - Virtual

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For the third year in a row, The AUC School of Business is organizing its annual high-level Business Forum during March 14-17, 2022. The virtual forum will include roundtable discussions, where renowned and distinguished scholars, practitioners from business and industry, and policymakers from Egypt, Africa, and other parts of the world will discuss timely and relevant issues.

Held virtually, each roundtable will be conducted to tackle different issues relevant to doing business in Egypt and Africa. Topics will include: investing in tech startups, the future of corporate Learning and Development (L&D), the role of business schools in facilitating a just climate transition for Africa, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in fueling inclusive, sustainable development. 

The event will also witness the launch of the U.N. Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) Chapter Africa as well as the Egypt Impact Lab powered by the Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa at the American University in Cairo (J-PAL MENA at AUC), with roundtable discussions introducing both initiatives.

Check out the AUC Business Forum event agenda below:

Session I – Investing in Tech Startups: The Road Ahead

Monday, March 14, 2022
12 - 2 pm

A roundtable discussion on the growth of Venture capital (V.C.) and angel investment in technology-enabled startups in Egypt and the region, which is driven by a global increase in V.C. investments, as well as local acceleration of the entrepreneurship support system, enabling government policies, digital transformation, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.

Moderator: Ayman Ismail, Abdul Latif Jameel endowed chair of entrepreneurship and director of AUC Venture Lab, AUC School of Business, Egypt

Speakers:

• Ahmed Alfi, Chairman and Co-founder, Sawari Ventures, Egypt

• Amal Enan, Chief Investment Officer, AUC and Founder and Managing Partner, Lotus Capital, Egypt

• Hiroki Ishida, Director of AAIC Partners Africa Ltd, Kenya

• Rafeh Saleh, Founding Partner, Cubit Ventures, Egypt

• Basil Moftah, General Partner, Global Ventures, UAE

• Shehab Marzban, DFIN, Camel Ventures, Egypt 

Session II – The Future of Corporate Learning and Development

Monday, March 14, 2022
4 - 5:30 pm

A roundtable discussion on the challenges facing human resource professionals in the post-pandemic world, where they have been overwhelmed with finding innovative solutions for business continuity while maintaining the well-being of their staff over the past two years. The session discusses the role of executive education in providing solutions and draws on recent research. Register here.
 

Moderator: Ghada Howaidy, associate dean for Executive Education, AUC School of Business, Egypt

Speakers:

• Mohamed Kesseba, Senior Director of Programs, AUC School of Business Executive Education, Egypt 

• Hanan Moselhy, HR Director, Hassan Allam Properties, Egypt

• Emad Nasr, Chair HR Committee, The American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, and Human Resources Director, Lecico Egypt

• Tom Ryan, Independent Consultant, UK

• George Sedky, Chief Human Resource Officer, Ghabbour Group, Egypt

Session III – The United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) Initiative and PRME Chapter Africa Launch

Tuesday, March 15, 2022
12 - 1:45 pm

The session will provide background information on PRME, an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, before launching the PRME Chapter Africa, which is aimed at bringing PRME closer to the needs, aspirations, challenges and opportunities that are unique to African countries at a local and regional level offering a specific platform for dialogue, as well as supporting and promoting meaningful action towards tackling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through cooperation and partnerships between business schools and universities across Africa. Register here.
 

Welcome Note: Sherif Kamel, Dean, AUC School of Business, Egypt

Opening Remarks:

• Mette Morsing, Head PRME Secretariat, USA

• Morris Mthombeni, PRME Global Chapter Council, South Africa

Moderator: Sherwat Elwan Ibrahim , Associate Professor and Director of MBA Programs, AUC School of Business; Vice Chair of PRME Africa Chapter Founding Committee, Egypt 

Speakers:

• Sammy Bonsu, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and Chair of PRME Africa Chapter Founding Committee, Ghana

• Jill Bogie, Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa 

• Judy Muthuri, Nottingham University Business School, UK

• Rakeli Njoki Kuria, PRME Global Students Regional Lead Africa and Director Africa Young Trade Professionals, student at Strathmore University, Kenya

• Kemi Ogunyemi, Director of Christopher Kolade Center for Research in Leadership and Ethics, Lagos Business School, Nigeria

• Mumbi Wachira, Strathmore Business School, Kenya
   

Session IV – Just Transition for Africa: The Role of Business Schools

Tuesday, March 15, 2022
2 - 3:30 pm

A roundtable discussion on the impact of climate change and the energy transition (from an economy based on fossil fuels to the so-called ‘net-zero’ economy or low carbon economy) on people, the way of life and livelihoods of families and communities in Africa, drawing on the takeaways of COP 26 and the expectations for COP 27, which will be hosted in Egypt in November 2022. Register here.

Moderator: Ali Awni, professor of practice and director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business, AUC School of Business, Egypt 

Speakers:

• Frank Aswani, CEO of African Venture Philanthropy Alliance, South Africa

• Saliem Fakir, Chief Executive, The African Climate Foundation, South Africa

• Jacqueline McGlade, Professor in International Public Policy and Governance at Strathmore University Business School, Kenya; Professor of Sustainable Development and Resilience; University College London, UK.

• Youssef Nassef, Director of United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, Germany

• Roze Phillips, Executive Director, Adjunct Faculty and Associate of the Center for Business Ethics, GIBS Business School, South Africa

Session V – Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: A Catalyst for an Inclusive Sustainable Development

Wednesday, March 16, 2022
5 - 6:30 pm

This roundtable discussion seeks to address the challenges and opportunities presented in incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the daily practices of the private sector, universities and international networks, and explore ways of maximizing the societal impact of such procedures by sharing knowledge and experience about responsible business, climate change action and net-zero initiatives. The session will also explore ways to enhance collaboration between universities, research centers, the private sector, and international networks to contribute to the narrative on sustainable and inclusive development. Register here.

Moderator: Ahmed Abdel Meguid, associate professor of accounting, AUC School of Business, Egypt 

Speakers:

• Laila Iskander, Former Minister of State for Environment Affairs and Founder, CID Consulting, Egypt

• Ayman Ismail, Partner, Chairman and CEO, DMG - Mountain View Egypt and Chairman of the Board, UN Global Compact Network Egypt

• Dima Jamali, Dean, College of Business Administration, University of Sharjah, UAE

• Guy Midgley, Acting Director, School for Climate Studies, Distinguished Professor: Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

• Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa, South Africa

• Emily Waita, Africa Public Affairs Director,  Coca-Cola Africa, Kenya

Session VI – Launching Egypt Impact Lab to Strengthen Evidence-Informed Policy and Improve Development Outcomes for Egyptians

Thursday, March 17, 2022
10 am - 1:30 pm

This session will be the Egypt Impact Lab launch event, powered by The Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa at the American University in Cairo (J-PAL MENA at AUC). The lab aims to strengthen the effectiveness of Egypt’s poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising and innovative government programs and using results to inform scale decisions. Register here.

Keynote Speakers:

H.E. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Egypt

Ahmad Dallal, president, AUC

Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel Prize winner

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