About the Conference
A graduate student-led conference co-organised by DAGPSA and the Business in Africa Club at Fuqua, exploring leadership, disruption, and collective futures across Africa and its global diaspora.
Fuqua School of Business · 100 Fuqua Drive, Durham, NC · April 10–11, 2026
Concept Overview
This graduate student-led conference, co-organised by the Duke African Graduate and Professional Students Association (DAGPSA) and the Business in Africa Club at Fuqua, explores how African and diaspora leaders across business, policy, culture, and academia are navigating a rapidly shifting global order. The conference will be held at HCA Auditorium, Fuqua School of Business, 100 Fuqua Drive, Durham, NC.
In an era defined by geopolitical fragmentation, DEI rollbacks, migration crises, and disrupted trade systems, Africa and its global diaspora face both uncertainty and opportunity.
The conference will convene thought leaders, students, and practitioners to interrogate the forces shaping our futures — and to ask: How do we lead through disruption? What does inclusive, cross-border leadership look like? How might we reimagine belonging, innovation, and collective progress in this global moment?
Themes
→ Global trade realignments and Africa’s economic positioning
→ Migration dynamics across borders
→ Multilateralism, governance, and Africa’s voice in global diplomacy
→ Literature, storytelling, and the politics of belonging
→ Diaspora identity and cross-border collaboration
→ Innovation, investment, and leadership futures
→ Education as patient capital
→ Pan-African unity and the AfCFTA
Who We Are
The Duke African Graduate and Professional Students Association (DAGPSA) is a community of African graduate and professional students at Duke University dedicated to fostering connection, academic excellence, and advocacy across the continent and diaspora.
dagpsa_official@duke.eduThe Business in Africa Club at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business connects students passionate about African markets, entrepreneurship, and business leadership — bridging academia and industry to drive impactful engagement across the continent.
business_in_africa@duke.edu