Baobab Summit 2025 Reflections: The Power in Resilience

The Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Baobab Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, began with the Annual Flag Ceremony honoring the heritage and the global reach of the young Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni and the entire community of youth leaders.

By Mira German

The 2025 Baobab Summit, organised by the Mastercard Foundation, themed “Nurturing the Future Through African Youth,” reminded me and my fellow Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) Alumni, Lawrence Nii Kotey Neequaye from Ghana and Izeecta Martha Gbollie from Liberia, of the true strength found in resilience and growth. The three-day summit unfolded under the sub-themes Rooted to Rise, Rise to the Challenge, and The Power of Partnership. Each day’s sessions reflected the baobab tree’s symbolism of endurance, strength, and unity—inviting us to stay grounded in our values, grow through learning and innovation, and branch out through collaboration, while recognizing that Africa’s progress rests on the resilience and purpose of its youth.

Here are my takeaways.

Mira German, Lawrence Neequaye, and Martha Gbollie shared their reflections in a panel discussion on personal narratives and creativity fueling leadership for change, following the screening of ‘We Are Here’ on the evening of day one.

The Power of Storytelling

One profound moment was being invited to participate in a panel reflection of “We Are Here,” a documentary by the Mastercard Foundation. I sat with Lawrence and Izeecta, in front of an audience of more than 500 peers, sharing our thoughts and insights from the documentary. It reminded us how powerful storytelling can be — how our narratives can inspire change, create resonance, and encourage others not to be afraid to share their own journeys.

This sense of connection also reflected what we experienced as EPL fellows. During the panel, we shared our stories from public service, appreciating how our roots have shaped who we are as leaders. Anne Cole, the founder of CAMFED, echoed this sentiment perfectly — emphasizing storytelling as a key tool in bringing out transformative leadership.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni Josiah Muriuki, Mavis Anartey, Jane Kapenda, and Shamim Chuwe stand with Anne Cole, Founder of CAMFED, after an engaging dialogue on defining today’s challenges for African youth and leadership practices that sustain responses.

Education is Key
An outstanding thing was seeing Scholars from different university backgrounds excel in their spaces. Relatably, their education had empowered them to take on leadership roles, and like in my own journey, had opened doors to spaces like the Baobab Summit.

A fellow Malawian student, Shamim Chuwe, who is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar currently studying psychology at United States International University-Africa, truly impressed and inspired me. She saw a gap in her field and took it upon herself to provide counselling services to girls who lacked access. During the panel discussions, we also heard moments where other Scholars, such as Mavis Anartey, Jane Kapenda, and Josiah Muriuki, rose to meet the diverse challenges faced by their communities, taking on the mantle of leadership and driving meaningful change.

Meeting post Power of Partnership panel with Jeff Mote, Director of Content and Production at the African Leadership and Dialogue Institute; Chisom Ajuluchukwu, Communications Lead on the Mastercard Youth Advisory Committee; Mira German, Alumna of EPL Malawi; and Lawrence Neequaye, Alumnus of EPL Ghana, respectively.

Power in Partnership

Over the course of the summit, the lesson of partnership stood out the most to me. I felt the power of collaboration strongly among my fellow youth leaders, and witnessed it through the stories of stakeholders such as the InHive team, whose Chief Executive Officer, Kamini Paul, spoke about their program, Building Alumni Community and Impact Networks. This initiative beautifully highlighted how strong networks can contribute to systems of change and sustainable impact.

Equally inspiring was meeting Jeff Mote of ALADI – the African Leadership Dialogue Institution, which cultivates the next generation of African leaders through leadership development, intensive training programs, mentorship opportunities, and direct engagement platforms that empower young people to create change in their communities.

Hannah Tsadik, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Kenya, gave opening remarks at the 2025 Baobab Summit.

Learning from Amazing Leaders

There was a profound sense of humility and wisdom among the leaders who shared their insights at the summit. Hannah Tsadik, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Kenya, spoke passionately about the importance of humility, service, and gratitude in leadership. Her remarks reminded me that true leadership is not measured by titles or achievements, but by the impact we create for others and the grace with which we serve.

Reeta Roy, Chief Executive Officer of the Mastercard Foundation, left a lasting mark through her reference to Mary Oliver’s iconic quote:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Her words were a powerful invitation to reflect deeply on purpose and intention, inspiring many of us to consider how we can use our talents and opportunities to create meaningful change.

Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director of Education and Transitions at the Mastercard Foundation, also delivered an inspiring message on transformative leadership. She emphasized that we should not feel pressured to have it all figured out and reminded us that transitions are an essential part of growth. Tina encouraged us to engage with transitions, own them, and rise to the challenge, while staying firmly rooted in our vision and values. Her words reinforced that leadership is a continuous journey of learning, adaptation, and courage.

Mastercard Foundation CEO Reeta Roy moderated a hybrid, fireside conversation with Scholars: Dorcas Apoore, Joseph Munyabanza, and Shukri Ahmed. They reflected on pivotal early experiences and discussed long-term aspirations for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

In a Nutshell

The summit closed with a wonderful fireside chat with Reeta Roy and an incredible panel of Scholars and Alumni reflecting on their leadership journeys from early career to current leadership roles. It was a true reminder that leadership is a lifelong journey — one built on growth, service, and connection.

As an Emerging Public Leaders alumna, collaboration is at the heart of my work and that of my peers. The summit reaffirmed that real transformation happens when we work together — across borders, disciplines, and experiences — to shape systems that serve people better. The power of partnership extends beyond projects and programs; it’s in the shared ideas, the mentorship, and the mutual encouragement that keep us rising together.

Just like the baobab tree, our strength as leaders lies not only in our individual roots, but in the forest we form when we stand united — resilient, connected, and grounded in purpose.