On October 1, 2024, Wharton CEO partnered with Afrika Tikkun to host a panel discussion Empowering Youth through Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Sustainable Future for South Africa. Moderator Dr. Fareeda Griffith guided the conversation through a series of questions, focusing on economics, education, population growth in South Africa, and healthcare in Rwanda. The panelists discussed the inequities in economic and political power resulting from the legacies of injustices like apartheid and colonialism across the African continent.
The inaugural Wharton CEO’s Global Speaker Series event was packed with insights from seasoned practitioners and distinguished professors from the University of Pennsylvania. We share the top three with you below.
1. Youth development models must engage the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to maximize impact.
Afrika Tikkun is a multipronged organization comprised of a private equity investment holding company whose net revenue funds its youth development nonprofit and its enterprise and placement firm. This model has created over 30 years of success for the organization’s “Cradle to Career” program in South Africa, which supports children from age 3 through education, skills training, and employment opportunities into adulthood. Late South African President Nelson Mandela championed Afrika Tikkun’s work, stating, “It is my belief that Afrika Tikkun represents the best of what civil society can offer in partnership with Government’s considerable efforts.” (Marc Lubner)
Marc Lubner
Executive Chairman of Afrika TikkunBio
Marc Lubner, Executive Chairman of Afrika Tikkun, lives by the adage made famous by Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Recognized as one of South Africa’s leading NGOs, Afrika Tikkun supports the development of over 40,000 children a year from early infancy until the time they find careers and jobs. It has a non-profit development entity, an enterprise & placement business unit, and a private equity investment holding company, and all net revenue flows toward funding the non-profit. As a leader who is passionate about service to others, Marc’s daily activities include his responsibilities as past CEO of Afrika Tikkun, Executive Chairman of SMILE foundation, Executive Chairman of SAICC (South African Israeli Chamber of Commerce), and advisor of his family’s global investment portfolio. Marc sits on a number of Boards, including more recently the Presidential Initiative focused on solutions for Youth Unemployment. Marc originates from a business background, having completed his MBA at Kellogg School of Management. Thereafter following a successful commercial career until determining that applying a business acumen to the philanthropic / social impact sector would offer greater rewards.
2. Governmental embrace of technological advancements can help bypass traditional infrastructure and development stages.
Through a public-private partnership between the Rwandan government and American delivery drone company Zipline, Rwanda was able to decrease its rate of postpartum hemorrhage mortality by 8% by using Zipline’s on-demand logistics to deliver blood to rural areas. The lack of an extensive roadway system was no longer an impediment to serious healthcare challenges like maternal mortality. (Professor Claudio Lucarelli)
Claudio Lucarelli
Associate Professor of Healthcare Management at The Wharton School at the University of PennsylvaniaBio
Claudio Lucarelli, PhD is an Associate Professor of Healthcare Management at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the industrial organization of health care markets, with a focus on the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. He has been recognized for his work on Medicare Part D, a federal program delivered through the private sector, showing in a series of papers that Medicare beneficiaries are able to navigate a complex array of choices and to learn over time. He is the recipient of the 19th National Institute for Health Care Management Research Award and Honorable Mention in its 22nd version.
3. Educating women can remedy the downhill effects of apartheid.
It is a misconception that high population growth is responsible for high levels of poverty across the African continent, which largely stem from the uncorrected impacts of apartheid and colonialism. While countries like South Africa are currently struggling with high unemployment due to their growing population, the upside is that increasing education and training women and other marginalized groups across the African continent can benefit the world through emigration. An additional upshot is that for countries with decreasing populations to adapt and survive, they will need to integrate immigrants who can fill their employment shortfalls fully. (Professor Tukufu Zuberi)
Tukufu Zuberi
Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, and Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at the University of PennsylvaniaBio
Tukufu Zuberi is the Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations at the University of Pennsylvania, the founder of the TZ Production Company, and the writer, producer, and director of African Independence. Dr. Zuberi is dedicated to bringing a fresh view of culture and society to the public through various platforms such as guest lecturing at universities, television programs, and interactive social media and exhibitions. Currently, he works on human rights initiatives by participating in public speaking engagements, international collaborations with transnational organizations, and individuals dedicated to human equality. For more information on his current and past projects, please check out www.sas.upenn.edu/tukufu-zuberi.