Panelist
speaker
Moderator
conference Team

Jesse Rannells

Partner / Head, IFFAC Ventures
Jesse Rannells

Jesse Rannells is a distinguished professional with a profound impact on the dynamic realms of technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative sectors. Her career trajectory reflects a fervent commitment to nurturing innovation, empowering startups, and championing the creative economy.

With a  portfolio that includes initiatives such as the UNICEF Startup Lab, the Pan-African Fintech Accelerator, Tech by Her, and the Smart Cities Innovation Programme, Jesse has consistently been working to foster innovation and supporting early-stage startups. However, her most recent role as Partner at IFFAC (Impact Fund For African Creatives) / Head of IFFAC Ventures marks a strategic shift towards the creative spaces, where she focuses on fund management and business support programming.

Jesse's pivotal role extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She is actively involved in providing mentorship to fashion and tech startups, leveraging her wealth of experience to guide and empower emerging talents. Furthermore, her impactful speaking engagements center on critical topics such as circular fashion and intellectual property rights for African creatives. These engagements underscore her commitment to promoting sustainability, innovation, and the creative industries, making Jesse an influential advocate for the advancement of the creative economy in Africa.

Agenda

More Info
Breakout 1
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Saturday
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10:15 am
Aldrich 112
Culture
Navigating Global Fashion Markets with African Identity
How can African brands build sustainable business models that enable their products to be accessible to local and global clientele?
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Navigating Global Fashion Markets with African Identity

The past few years has seen a renewed focus on African arts on the global stage: Afrobeats, Nollywood on global streaming platforms, African fashion being shown at various global fashion weeks and carried by global retailers. How can African brands leverage this momentum to build sustainable (economically and ethically) business models that enable their products to be accessible to local and global clientele and withstand the test of time? What are the opportunities to innovate across the value chain and what unique competitive advantages do we have on the continent? This panel will dive into these questions through the lens of various ecosystem stakeholders - designers, retailers, investors, manufacturers - at the forefront of innovating African fashion and bringing it to the global stage

America/New_York
Feb 17, 2024 10:15 AM
Aldrich 112