February 2017 – Curious about Harvard?

We’re the recruitment firm for global Africans

We have just returned from the Harvard Africa Conference where it was encouraging to see a resounding commitment from top African talent to return home.

We are working on several exciting roles across the continent in a variety of industries. Make sure you have a look at our selection of pan-African job opportunities.

If you’re an employer looking for top professional skills, please get in touch.

Have an amazing month ahead.

Onwards & Upwards
The Homecoming Revolution Team

The room for the “Right Time to Move Back” panel was full packed to capacity with hardly any standing room space!

It was fantastic to interact with talent of all industries and exciting to see new Fintech, Financial Services, Consulting, Media, FMCG and Health Talent expressing an interest in returning home.

A key insight gained from the conference is that while South Africans are chiefly motivated to return home for friends and family, Nigerians and Kenyans want to return home for the right career.

We were particularly moved by Euvin Naidoo’s (Partner & MD at BCG) keynote address.“For African partnerships, there needs to be a healthy tension between the VALUE and your VALUES”. He added that local, on-the-ground knowledge is the biggest strength you can have as a business leader. Euvin was awarded the 2017 Harvard Business School Leadership Excellence Award from the HBS Africa Business Club.

Mohammed Dewji, President and CEO of METL Tanzania, spoke about his emotional homecoming journey and how apart from having a successful, diversified business, he has played a critical role in water sanitation in his home country.

Binta Toure Ndoye, Director General of ORAGROUP SA Togo, said it was important for her to return so she could transfer her skills. She told the audience the most important thing you need when returning home is to be passionate about Africa.

Seni Suliman, Country Director at Andela Nigeria, said he really got tired of being in a place that didn’t feel like home.“It felt far more gratifying to be on the African continent”. He said it is however critical to move back for the right reasons, stressing that many of his friends moved back for the wrong reasons.

Nadou Lawson, who was born in Togo, told the audience said passion is important when considering returning home. She also spoke about the unique opportunity to make a difference at home. “While you are in the US you are a businessperson. At home, you are a social entrepreneur.” She however cautioned the audience to not romanticize the return but at the same time, said life is too short to deliberate.“You have one wild and beautiful life – find your purpose. It will propel you to where you want to go.”

Sim Nwogugu, Executive Director at Junior Achievement Nigeria, said returning may not necessarily mean coming to your home country, but to another country on the continent.She echoed Nadou’s sentiments, urging the audience: “Instead of WHEN, ask yourself WHAT is the life you want to lead”.

Harvard Business School

Adam Ikdal (Managing Partner at the Boston Consulting Group) & Angel Jones (Homecoming Revolution CEO)

Angel Jones & Kim Thipe (Head of Marketing SAA)

Panel Challenge of Leadership in Africa: Ronak Gopaldas (Head of Country Risk at RMB), Paul Trustfull (Founding Editor Forbes Afrique), Graham Sinclair (Sustainable Investment Expert), Toyosi Ogunsiji (Founder & CEO Rise Networks)

Kwame Rugunda (MPA Candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government), Liz Ngonzi (CEO of Afrika Tikkun USA) & Euvin Naidoo (Partner & Managing Director at BCG)

Africa Tikkun’s Elizabeth Ngonzi & Homecoming Revolution Director & Shareholder Faye Tessendorf

Homecoming Revolution Director Faye Tessendorf with some of the top diaspora talent at the Harvard Africa Conference

Homecoming Revolution Director Faye Tessendorf

Angel Jones, Samuel Alemayehu (MD Cambridge Industries Africa) and Ethiopian Delegates

Faye Tessendorf, Alon Lits (GM Sub-Saharan Africa at Uber) & Harvard Delegate

Angel Jones, Ntombifuthi Mtoba (President & Founder of TEACH South Africa) & Faye Tessendorf

#HeartAfrica at the Harvard Business Conference 2017

Ashveena Gajeelee (Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government), Angel Jones (CEO of Homecoming Revolution), Anie Kharajian (Senior Director, New Markets, Executive Education at Harvard Business School), Ronak Gopaldas (Head of Country Risk RMB) & Faye Tessendorf (Director at Homecoming Revolution)

Homecoming Revolution CEO Angel Jones addresses the Panel of the Morning Keynote Address on Day 2 of the Harvard Africa Conference: Celestin Monga (VP & Chief Economist AFCB), Paul Hinks (CEO Symbion Power), Daniel Monehin (President Sub-Saharan Africa Mastercard), John Macomber (Senior Lecturer Harvard Business School)

We attended an inspiring, interactive event hosted by the African Leadership Union. The event, which was led by Vice Dean Catherine Duggan (a former Harvard Business School Professor, focused on the global economy & offered insights into opportunities and challenges in Africa’s constantly changing business environment.

James Earle (Principal Consultant at Ericsson Business Consulting) & Makhosazane Mtetwa (Recruitment Consultant at Homecoming Revolution)

Naomi Mamakiri (CA and Entrepreneur) & Makhosazane Mtetwa

Relebogile Khwela Entrepreneur & Penny Ntshingila (Recruitment Consultant at Homecoming Revolution)

Makhosazane Mtetwa, Attending LLB Student & Penny Ntshingila

• Marketing Executive with FMCG Exposure – International Beverage Company – Lagos
• CEO – Insurance Company – Nairobi
• Chief Executive Combined Portfolio – Financial Services Group – Johannesburg
• Managing Director Insurance – Financial Services Group – Johannesburg
• Head of Digital – Financial Services Group – Johannesburg
• IT Specialists – A leading Pan-African Financial Services Institution is looking for IT Specialists with various focuses including: Big data engineers, Senior Java Developers, Spare Engineers & Hadoop Developers
• Head of Product & Strategy – Credit Reporting Firm – Nairobi
• General Manager– Ellerman House – Cape Town
• .Net Team Lead – Financial Services Group – Johannesburg
• Marketing Professional FMCG – International Beverage Company – Maputo
• Commercial Director – Credit Reporting Firm – Johannesburg
• Pharmaceutical Executives – Global Pharmaceutical Firm – Accra, Johannesburg, Nairobi, & Abidjan
• Senior Director Internal Audit – International Bank – Johannesburg
• Operations & Data Analytics Manager- Pan-African Bank – Johannesburg
• .Net Developer – Financial Services Group – Johannesburg

South African Male – High-level ACI GM just returned home from Ghana

Kenyan Female – Development Management Specialist focusing on Advisory

South African & Nigerian Dual Citizen – Senior Data Analytics Executive with an MBA in Corporate Finance – Wants to Return home from New York

Nigerian Male – Top Tier Banking & Financial Services Specialist

South African Female – Business Development & Strategy Executive. Wants to return home from Switzerland

Ghanaian Male – Agricultural Economist

South African Male – Strategy & Business Development Expertise. Wants to return home from the Netherlands

Nigerian Male – Business Development Executive with strong media experience

South African Female – ACI International Relations & Marketing Strategy Specialist

South African Male – Finance Management Professional with 22 years’ experience

Ugandan Female – Seasoned Pan-African Development Advisor

South African Male – Finance & Marketing Professional within the FMCG industry. Wants to return home from London