What would you suggest entrepreneurs do before they visit the continent during the pandemic?
During the pandemic or any other time if someone is planning to travel to the continent and if they are interested in investment opportunities in the continent, the first thing they should do is check out the U.S. government website, prosperafrica.gov, to look at the types of sectors available in those countries. Obviously, they should also check in with the State Department’s website to see if there are any travel advisories for those countries and make sure they have the right documentation and testing and whatever they may need to be as safe as possible. They also should research the country and look at the sectors in which we see African entrepreneurs thriving on the continent. They should look and seek out those entrepreneurs who are off the beaten path who really would benefit from some engagement from members of the African diaspora from the U.S.
If you were giving a speech at your alma mater, Spelman, or another HBCU, what would the title of your speech be and what would you tell them?
As a Spelman graduate whose career in international affairs began at Spelman, because of the opportunities, I had the fortune to take advantage of because of the advisers and the mentors along the way, I truly am, because they were. So I think the title of my speech would be that I am where I am because I stand on the shoulders of those who mentored me and nurtured me at my HBCU, those who encouraged me to never be afraid or concerned about when and where I enter because as a Black woman preparing to be a diplomat I was equipped with the skills, knowledge, and opportunity to afford [me] this position.
