Founded by two New York-based South Africans, Yoliswa Cele and Vuma Shongwe, The Meeting of The Minds event is proudly sponsored by Brand SA and it was created to support Africa's optimistic job creators towards success with the same passion and intent that propelled them into the arena of commerce, social enterprise, and industry.

“The Meeting of the Minds was birthed by a strong desire to see a shift in the international narrative on South Africa and its Youth. As South Africa’s diaspora we wanted to use our geographic positioning to develop this platform as an instrument to amplify the voices of young people that are taking the reins of job creation, economic empowerment, and their futures,” comments Yoliswa Cele, CEO and Co-founder of Ndosi Strategies.

“The vision is that this platform will expand opportunities and visibility for South Africa’s entrepreneurial start-up movement. Being the first step in international investor outreach and partnership cultivation,” adds Cele.

Thebe Ikalafeng, arguably the foremost global African brand and reputation architect, advisor, and author, will be the keynote speaker. Ikalafeng is the founder of the award-winning African brand and reputation advisory firm, Brand Leadership Group. He has worked on over 100 diverse brands across Africa, including Brand Ghana and Brand South Africa, Transnet in South Africa, University of Botswana, Zanaco Bank in Zambia, Mail & Guardian Africa in Kenya, the Africa Green Revolution Forum in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zambia, Banque Populaire du Rwanda, and several successful political branding and campaigns for, amongst others, the late President Atta Mills and President John Mahama of Ghana in 2008.

Steering the conversation for the evening as moderator is Yolanda Sangweni, deputy editor of ESSENCE.com and founder of AfriPOP. The South African based participants include: Siya Beyile, founder of The Threaded Man, one of Africa’s largest men’s fashion and lifestyle portal and agency who was recently listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 2016 list; Tennas Platinum, a blacked owned youth institution founded in Johannesburg, Gauteng that trains and educates the ordinary individual to make money in the biggest market in the world; and The Foreign Exchange Market (Forex). “These are some of the most ambitious and innovative South Africans of today,” explains Cele.

Meeting of the Minds: South Africa’s Enterprising Next Generation will take place on Saturday, 25 June from 16:00 to 19:00 at the Farm SoHo in New York City. Ndosi Strategies and Brand South Africa invites New Yorkers to come engage with South African youth entrepreneurs, both U.S. and South African-based - from a variety of industries, including; fashion, STEM, business, and finance about their ventures.

Other interesting topics to be discussed are the youth’s roles in South Africa’s development and the entrepreneurial movement as a tool to move the country forward. The conversation will be followed by a reception with appetizers and wine.

Tickets are available here at $35. There is limited seating and therefore booking is essential.

For more information, visit www.ndosistrategies.com or email ndodsistrategies@gmail.com.