FROM THE NEST | FALL 2024 | 33 MARCUS SMITH ’25 Several of the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellows—Africa’s brightest emerging business and community leaders—gather on the steps of the Alumni Memorial Building. This summer, the Iacocca Institute hosted the Mandela Washington Fellows—25 of Africa’s brightest emerging business and community leaders—providing leadership training, networking, professional development opportunities and exciting events and site visits. The six-week program included visits to New York City and Philadelphia, a team-building exercise with a NASCAR vehicle, tours of Lehigh Valley businesses, keynote remarks from a senior health official and a gathering with Mandela Washington Fellows from other universities. New York City Among the highlights was a visit to New York City that began at the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, where Fellows watched the opening bell ringing, toured the facility and were featured on a Times Square digital billboard. The Fellows also visited Three Hills Capital, a private investment company GLOBAL Lehigh Hosts Mandela Fellows The six-week program took 25 Fellows to Times Square and a summit at Rutgers University. that specializes in providing structured capital solutions and flexible financing to mid-market European businesses, particularly those led by entrepreneurs. Afterward, they traveled to the headquarters of the African Union Mission to the United Nations. “We had a fascinating discussion with the African Union team about the role of young leaders in shaping Africa’s future,” Marie Wade, a Mandela Washington Fellow and communications specialist from Senegal, said. Cultural exchanges and team-building Wade said one of the highlights from her time at Lehigh was a Cultural Exchange Share program hosted on campus. “We had a blast cooking dishes from our home country and sharing them with everyone,” she said. “It was a great way to showcase our unique cultures and traditions, and seeing pictures from everyone’s hometowns was truly eye-opening.” Mariam Nakigude, one of the Fellows and founder of Eduvantage Uganda Limited, said one of her favorite activities was the Pit Crew Challenge, a unique experiential learning activity in which participants learn concepts of high-performing cultures and teamwork by serving as a pit crew and quickly changing the tires on an actual retired NASCAR vehicle. A special breakfast was hosted by the Fellows in honor of Nelson Mandela International Day. They celebrated the spirit of Mandela by staging a simulated debate involving several of the Fellows, while also incorporating dance, poetry and reciting quotes from Mandela’s speeches. The Lehigh Fellows also attended a summit hosted by Rutgers University in New Jersey, which included Fellows from its own university, Drexel University and the University of Delaware. This included remarks from a leading health professional, as well as a hackathon in which teams brainstormed and proposed sustainable solutions to major health problems. Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 hosted the group for a dinner and networking event at his home, and the program concluded with a graduation ceremony.—Colin McEvoy “WE HAD A FASCINATING DISCUSSION WITH THE AFRICAN UNION TEAM ABOUT THE ROLE OF YOUNG LEADERS IN SHAPING AFRICA’S FUTURE.” —Mandela Fellow Marie Wade Mandela Washington Fellows attend an event on campus at Roemmele Global Commons in Williams Hall.
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