By Simi Nwogugu, President & CEO, JA Africa
That thought kept running through my mind as I visited student exhibition stalls and witnessed the entrepreneurial spirit of young innovators from across Europe at JA Europe’s GEN-E event in Athens, Greece.
Just like their African counterparts do every day, these young entrepreneurs reminded me of what’s possible when we invest in the dreams and ideas of the next generation. I congratulate my colleagues at JA Europe for hosting such a magnificent event!
We managed to squeeze in a JA Worldwide Board of Governors meeting during my time in Athens, where we approved our exciting and bold new global strategy “Thrive”, which will propel us to deliver 30 million learning experiences to youth around the world annually by 2028. JA Africa has committed to 10% of that target by reaching three million youth annually by 2028.
I am grateful to be part of this wonderful JA family and to have had the opportunity to spend time and learn from the CEOs of all the European chapters, my fellow regional CEOs, Akef Aqrabawi of Middle East and North Africa (JA MENA), Noël Zemborain of JA Americas, and Maziar Sabet of JA Asia-Pacific.
The “more alike” thought continued as I went from attending GEN-E in Europe to attending JA USA’s National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Cleveland, Ohio. Like my colleagues in Europe, the leaders of JA USA gathered to share strategies for delivering more impact across the United States, and I was privileged to be in the room to learn from and contribute to the discussions.
During my panel session with JA Worldwide CEO, Asheesh Advani, and Chief People Development Officer, Erin Sawyer, I discussed the power of global collaborations within JA, citing the example of a former JA Houston president, Jerry Mutchler, who escorted me to Nigeria in 1999 to kick off JA operations in Nigeria. By introducing me to the oil companies in Nigeria with headquarters in Houston, he helped develop a strong, sustainable base of support for JA Nigeria, from which we continue to benefit 26 years later!
The thought followed me to Aspen, where I participated in the Resnick Action Forum and sat in seminar rooms for three days with leaders from Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, India, El Salvador, and many other conflict zones around the world, including the previously high-conflict zone of Watts in Southeast Los Angeles. Hearing the stories of the leaders from these zones made it clear to me that we are all human beings who want to be seen, validated, and loved.
During the Forum, I was delighted to lead a discussion on AI and the digital divide alongside an incredible panel of global leaders, Jocelyn Mangan (CEO & Founder, Illumyn Impact), Sharmi Surianarain (Chief Impact Officer, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator), and Thomas Harwell (Head of Talent Engagement & Diversity Recruiting, EMEA at Google).
We explored practical, actionable ways to bridge the technological divide in schools, workplaces, and boardrooms, especially in the global south, and how to ensure that AI becomes a force for inclusion, not inequality.
I was invited to share my thoughts at the closing plenary, during which I made a commitment to bring more young African female leaders to spaces like Aspen, where they can learn from global leaders and participate in shaping solutions that improve their future. I am grateful to Dar Vanderbeck, Anan Kittana, Margot Pritzker, and everyone who made the experience possible for me.
I am leaving Aspen re-energized and optimistic. Together, let’s build a future where every young person knows their dream is valid and within reach.
Warm regards,
