Between 19-28 March 2025, the CSC’s global conference, Interchange25, brought together over 400 scholars and alumni from 45 countries for a series of expert panel discussions and interactive sessions on the theme, ‘Entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation’.
The virtual event, which ran across six days, featured panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking opportunities that connected participants from across the Commonwealth.
Unlocking entrepreneurial potential
The conference panels were led by Commonwealth Alumni with diverse backgrounds and experiences in entrepreneurship.
The opening panel, titled ‘From Cradle of Empowerment to Innovation’, explored how educational foundations and early career experiences shape innovative leadership. Discussions examined the journey from initial empowerment to creating breakthrough innovations and how mentorship cultivates the mindset needed to drive meaningful change. Alumni speakers included Dhanshree Chavan (2018 Professional Fellow, India), Senior Programme Manager, Under the Mango Tree Society, Jo-Nelle Walsh (2016 Shared Scholar, Antigua and Barbuda), Counsellor, Mental Wellness Consultant and Psychologist, Winfred Nyokabi (2020 Distance Learning Scholar, Kenya), Director, STEAM Mashinani, and Brian O Otiende (2007 Shared Scholar, Kenya), Certified Leadership & Team Coach.
In the panel, ‘How to Build Tomorrow’s Businesses’, speakers discussed key strategies for building sustainable and innovative businesses in our rapidly evolving global landscape. They shared insights on digital transformation, emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and changing consumer behaviours that are reshaping entrepreneurship. Experts included Shalabh Sahai (2003 Professional Fellow, India) Co-Founder & Director of iVolunteer, Dr Badziili Nthubu (2017 Scholar, Botswana), Lecturer, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Dr Michael Ngala (2023 Distance Learning Scholar, Kenya), Director, Institute of Open, Distance and Electronic Learning (IODeL), and Hauwa Liman (2022 Scholar, Nigeria), Technical Adviser to the Vice President of Nigeria on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact.
In a separate reflective session, Commonwealth Alumnus Paballo Chauke (2015 Scholar, South Africa), Training Coordinator at Wellcome Sanger Institute, provided a compelling account of life as a leading entrepreneur, sharing challenges faced, key decisions that led to success, and insights into the entrepreneurial journey.
Shaping the future
Day three of the conference introduced a future looking theme to the later conference sessions.
In the panel discussion, ‘Youth Changemakers: Shaping a Better Future’, speakers explored how young leaders are driving innovative solutions to global challenges, from climate action to social justice. The panel discussed strategies for empowering the next generation of changemakers to create meaningful impact in their communities. Speakers included Bidisha Pandey (2021 Scholar, India), Director – Trade Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Babajide Macaulay (2012 Shared Scholar, Nigeria), Lecturer, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Henry Bortey Otchwemah (2015 Shared Scholar, Ghana), Consultant – Environment, Climate Change, Development, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Nelson Amo (2010 Shared Scholar, Ghana), Executive Director, Innohub Foundation.
A personal entrepreneurial journey was shared by Manzil Maqsood (2007 Shared Scholar, Pakistan), Founder and CEO of Oxbridge Innovative Solutions.
Building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems
Alongside sharing experiences and challenges in building businesses, speakers also highlighted the importance of developing businesses that give back. The day four sessions explored the topic, ‘Giving Back: How to Balance Profit and Purpose’, with speakers drawing on their personal experiences and motivations in successfully integrating social impact initiatives while maintaining profitability. Discussions addressed the key challenges in balancing stakeholder interests while creating sustainable business models.
Speakers included Dr Biswajit Debnath (2018 Split-site Scholar, India) Assistant Professor New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTech), Arthur Bright (2012 Scholar, Uganda), Country Director, Acadia Infosec Solutions Ltd, and Esther Kalenzi (2014 Distance Learning Scholar), Team Leader, 40 Days over 40 Smiles Foundation (4040).
Further sessions also explored ways of harnessing skills, talent and positive thinking to achieve entrepreneurial ambitions. Dr Natasha Salifyanji Kaoma (2019 Scholar, Zambia), Chief Executive Officer at Copper Rose Zambia, delivered an inspiring presentation on ‘Ways to Ignite Entrepreneurial Spirit in the Youth’, sharing practical approaches to developing innovation skills and entrepreneurial confidence in young people. Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga (2017 Distance Learning Scholar, Pakistan), Cofounder & COO of Sehat Kahani c/o Community Innovation Hub Pvt Ltd, shared her journey as ‘An Alumnus who Dreamt, Dared and Did It’, discussing the career progression and strategic decisions that shaped her professional path.
The conference concluded with a lively discussion exploring, ‘Would AI Support Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Job Creation?’. The panel featured Yaruq Nadeem (2015 Scholar, Pakistan), Innovation & Partnerships at National Science and Technology Park (NSTP), Jonas Kgomo (2021 Scholar, South Africa), Founder and Director, Equiano Institute, and Ayodele Odeogbola (2017 Distance Learning Scholar, Nigeria), Co-founder, TedPrime. The panel examined how artificial intelligence is transforming business creation and influencing the future of work. This was followed by an enlightening presentation from AI scholar, Professor Lucy Graham (2002 Scholar, South Africa), Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg.
The event concluded with a plenary by Fatemah Habib, Commonwealth Scholarship Project Manager, in which she reinforced the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in addressing global challenges.
Throughout the six-day program, participants engaged in knowledge exchange and built connections that extend beyond the event itself.
Recordings of all sessions are available on the CSC’s YouTube channel.
