African Business Conference Highlights Opportunities for Investment and Business Growth in Africa

COLLECTIVE ACTION 

Danquah was among 10 undergraduate students from ASA who planned and managed the conference, growing the speaker lineup to 10 this year following just three last year. The event attracted attendees from Bentley and beyond, with Tufts University student Kristen Barth among them.  

“The keynote address delivered by Jean-Paul Adam provided a comprehensive perspective on policymaking, international collaboration and fostering unity among African nations — a topic particularly resonant for me as a student passionate about policy advocacy,” Barth said following the conference. “I extend heartfelt gratitude to the Bentley African Student Association team for orchestrating such a phenomenal event that not only fostered learning and connection between students like myself but also ignited a renewed commitment to contributing meaningfully to the development of my homeland, Ghana, and the African continent at large.” 

That kind of impact stems from the commitment of ASA student teams that planned the conference, including marketing, outreach and operations. They covered aspects like budgeting, securing speakers, sponsors and facilities and conducting promotion and outreach for the event. Early in the planning process, they met with Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite.  

“Being able to host the African Business Conference — to create a platform to foster conversation not just among students, but with alumni and professionals — was so much easier having a sense of support from Bentley leadership and faculty,” Danquah said. “Knowing that President Chrite supports us essentially means that we have the ability to grow beyond where we are at right now. The future looks bright for the conference to become much bigger.”