Bahia Akerele, Presenter and International Speaker
On Saturday March 9th, 2024, the Law Office of Edward W. Neufville had the privilege of attending and presenting at the annual Wafamba Wapota Consulting African Women’s Power Brunch in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD). The annual event drew together African women business owners to celebrate the theme #InspireInclusion, empowerment, inspiration, and networking to help African women in the Diaspora achieve their business dreams and aspirations.
Our Chief Operating Officer, Bahia Akerele, MSW delivered a speech discussing what inclusion looks like in the creative and television industries, particularly from the African Diaspora’s perspective and how Diasporan business women can be a part of this to advance their products and services.
As defined by the International Women’s Day website, the 2024 “Inspire Inclusion” theme centered on the notion that “when we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”
For the discussion, Ms. Akerele drew from the #IWD2024 definition of inclusion to emphasize the power of media in global perceptions and cultures and how taking action can change one’s perception overall and bring business people to the market. The presentation discussed the historical underrepresentation of Black talents in the creative industry and the effects of stereotypical portrayals of Africans in the mainstream media. However, Ms. Akerele further stated that despite these challenges, the African Diaspora in the United States and around the world have created their own inclusion within the creative space, reshaping their cultural landscape in the United States. One example of many that Ms. Akerele discussed was the example of Afrobeats artists and how they have paved the way for powerful and important representations of African culture through the globalization of their music. Reshaping the landscape allowed for a transformative impact on perceptions, attitudes, and aspirations.
In the discussion, Ms. Akerele suggests that inclusion requires fostering a culture of belonging where individuals feel valued and empowered. The current media landscape, where media is in the hands of the ‘people,’ provides just the opportunity for the African Diaspora to engage. Ms. Akerele suggests various actions for fostering inclusion for businesses such as:
- Create – Businesses and organizations must actively create content, products, etc., to be present in the market. This will ensure that a diverse perspective is shared and represented.
- Presenting – Participate in forums and workshops as speakers or contributors to the discussions. We have something to say, and this contributes different ideas and products to the market.
- Social Media– Leverage the various social media platforms to amplify your voice, products and businesses. Share inclusive messages that will help to build a community around your work. Use images and engage and respond to your audience.
- Knowledge– Understand your area of subject or product inside and out. Be sure you are an expert in your arena. Study your product and or service.
- Business Plan – Write your business plan (being sure to revise it as things change). Your business plan is your blueprint for where you are going. At this point (post pandemic), we all need to review our business plans and make adjustments to this newworld.
- Partnering Up– Being a part of a network is important and vital to your success. Join your associations and chamber of commerce organizations and the like. At the events, be sure to see who you might be able to work with on your business or service.
- Marketing Plan– Write your marketing plan. Your plan will help you identify who your customers are and what their interests, likes, and needs are. Your marketing plan will also allow you to know which mediums to focus on etc and how much money to budget etc
- Listen to one another – Be in places that will allow you to understand the market and see what is happening and what the trends are. Listening also allows you to understand who you can and cannot work with.
- Competition-Watch your “so-called” competition to understand your market—Watch what others similarly situated are doing. Look at their market share and understand where and how you will join them. “Spoiler alert”- there is enough business for everyone.
- Humble – Be open to new information, new people, and different ways of living that are unlike yours. The world is big enough to share with others.
- Understand AI – Understand AI as it offers opportunities to improve accessibility and personalize experiences. By using AI responsibly, organizations can ensure that their technologies are designed and deployed in a way that promotes fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Other speakers at the event were Tariro Kandemiri , Management Consulting Manager at Accenture, Laverah Olukune , US Oncology Commercial Health Equity and Inclusion & Diversity Leader at AstraZeneca and the Founder of All You Branding, and Eze Okwodu, an award-winning and well-known and accomplished Real Estate agent who explained how inclusion relates to their fields.
Tariro Kandemiri delved into the intersection of inclusion in the technology industry and the nuanced impact of artificial intelligence on individuals of Black heritage.
Laverah Olukune shared her perspective on the importance of fostering inclusion within the healthcare sector.
Lastly, Eze Okwodu explained the world of real estate and how that can pave the way for success and inclusion for the African Diaspora here in the Washington DC area and abroad.
The event served as a crucial platform to understand the importance of discussing inclusion in all spaces. It emphasized the necessity of supporting and uplifting one another in our collective pursuit of personal and professional growth.
We extend our gratitude to Wafamba Wapota for organizing this event, showcasing African women’s remarkable ability to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
Together, we pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
For information about Bahia Akerele, MSW or the Law Office of Edward W. Neufville, III, LLC please contact contact@neufvillelaw.com or 301.562.7995
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