IN THE VALLEY 23. What's in store for NBA Africa's New Chapter with CEO, Clare Akamanzi?
Welcome "IN THE VALLEY" Season 2. We are happy to be back with an exceptional episode where we dive deep into the world of sports business, focusing on the incredible journey of the new CEO of NBA Africa, Clare Akamanzi, who recently received the 2024 Forbes Africa Investment Catalyst Award.
Join us as we explore how she revolutionized the sports industry in Africa and what to expect in the NBA Africa's upcoming chapter!
🎙️This conversation will take us through Clare's personal and professional journey as a refugee, a student, a lawyer, and a leader of international entities. Clare was the lawyer and one of the key masterminds behind the partnerships with the BAL, Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Bayern Munich. Having an African country-sponsored sports jerseys was never done before that. It was viewed at first as a "scandal". But Clare was never one to shy away in the face of a challenge or to seek permission from closed minds. She is a Harvard-trained forward thinker, a clear market disrupter, and understands the power of media rights like very few. She was also one of the driving forces for many of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) policy reforms and initiatives that led to significant investments and generated massive development of her home country, Rwanda.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:24 - Why it took NBA Africa so long to take a lawyer as a CEO?
6:55 - How did Clare manage to partner with Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich for the Visit Rwanda campaign?
13:25 - How did Rwanda use big funds to improve its economy?
17:23 - Why is it important to involve governments in sports development?
21:26 - Who is Clare? How did she overcome challenges to be a successful woman?
28:30 - Statement AD.
29:26 - What's Clare's plan to push the NBA Africa and sports business forward?
33:36 - What do you need to do to be a winner?
34:36 - What would Clare say to her younger-self?
38:20 - How The Kalahari Conference is proof that the BAL is expanding?
42:24 - What's the nicest thing that someone has ever done to Clare?
Subscribe to Ibrahim Sagna's newsletter:
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/in-the-valley-7087065335408828416/
Find us on social media:
LinkedIn : https://bit.ly/silverbacks-linkedin
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/in.the_valley/
TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@in_thevalley
Twitter : https://twitter.com/In_TheValley
Facebook : https://bit.ly/silverbacks-facebook
🖱️Click here to learn more about Clare: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-akamanzi-6a46a783/
📢Don't miss out on the latest episode. Subscribe now to stay updated on all things in sports, tech, media and entertainment, and more!
💬Leave us a comment and tell us what you think about this episode. We will wait for your questions and recommendations.
Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice.
IN THE VALLEY is where people across sports, tech, entertainment, and the creative economy get it done from Africa to the rest of the world. Join us every other week for a new episode.