We are pleased to invite you to a special evening focused on one of IESE’ s most strategic initiatives: the IESE Africa Initiative.

Africa is undergoing rapid demographic and economic change—by 2050, one in four people worldwide will be African, and many of the fastest-growing economies are already on the continent. These shifts make Africa a key region for global growth and a vital arena for responsible leadership and innovation. IESE has long invested in developing leadership capacity in Africa, and the Africa Initiative is our most ambitious effort yet to expand this impact.
Against this backdrop, we are pleased to host a panel discussion on:

“Between Philanthropy and Social Impact Investing: The Africa Case.”
Africa is increasingly attracting philanthropists, foundations, and investors seeking both social impact and sustainable returns. Impact investing is accelerating across sectors such as fintech, agriculture, logistics, and digital health, driven by strong entrepreneurship and purpose-driven leadership. IESE’s research also highlights the growing role of family businesses and institutional investors in shaping long-term, inclusive growth.

This discussion is highly relevant for our alumni community in Germany, where the intersection of philanthropy, responsible investing, and global development is gaining strategic importance among corporates, family offices, and individual leaders.

Program 
18:30h  Registration & Welcome
19:00h  Opening Remarks by Heike-Maria von Joest, Member of the Board, IESE Stiftung Deutschland
19:10h  The Why, What and How of the IESE Africa Initiative by Ermias Mebrate Mengistu, MBA-06 Ex. Director, IESE Africa Initiative  
19:30h  Panel Discussion  “Between Philanthropy and Social Impact Investing: the Africa Case”, moderated by Prof. Thomas M. Klüter 
20:15h  Q&A
20:45h  Networking Cocktail
21:30h  End 

Panelists:  
- Tobias Thelen MBA-06, Board Member of various Foundations and Donor  
- Katharina Klohe MBA-22, Investor
- Anton Hieber EMBA Munich -26, Co-Founder of Azurit Foundation & Investor 
- Ermias Mebrate Mengistu MBA-06, Ex. Director, IESE Africa Initiative