The Africa Story

This course is designed to introduce GSB students to the peculiar challenges of doing business in a continent, Africa , that shows tremendous promise and at the same time exhibits apparently great perils. How is it to be understood and analyzed? What is its reality? What is its future? What could be its future? How is a successful path to be built by business leaders in the midst of so much ignorance and competing narratives? This course will provide nuance and insight to students that have so far had to be content with sweeping single narratives. It is aimed at both students who have had extensive experience on the continent and those who have had no experience. Some of the lessons learnt will be applicable to other emerging markets. The course will draw upon the rich expertise and experience of business leaders who have spent their lives living and working on the continent. It will include panel discussions, frank conversations between business peers, live and written cases and vignettes.