About Me
BIO: G. Kofi Annan is a strategist, technologist, and writer. He helps brands like Puma and Pfizer translate business and consumer trends and craft culturally-relevant on and off-line experiences. Kofi has over 15 years of professional experience working with global brand teams at some of the top agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi and Ogilvy. He recently founded Afrimonitor, a boutique market research and intelligence service focused on emerging economies (Africa, China, India etc.).
A sought after writer and speaker, Kofi has presented his insights to audiences at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art, SXSW Interactive Conference, and at Harvard University. He is a contributor to The Global Post (international news agency), and Business Insider (business news and analysis website), writing on the topics of global business, innovation, technology, and emerging markets trends for an international business audience.
Kofi's professional work at the intersection of branding, technology, design, and innovation has been featured and cited in publications like Entrepreneur Magazine, Reuters, and the LA Times among others.
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I'd love to hear from you, whether it's to work together or to share ideas. Feel free to connect with me on Twitter, email me at info (AT) annansi (dot) com, or use the convenient contact form.
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~ Full CV
Some speaking Topics:
- Creativity and design for social innovation
- African youth and the African brand
- Mobile and technology in emerging markets
- The global digital revolution
- Consumerism in Africa
- Re-branding Africa in the 21st Century
- Consumer culture in emerging markets
- Rise of creative class in emerging markets
- Cross-cultural product/service design
- The Africa Brand Conference (2010) - "Youth and brand Africa"
- Harvard University (2010) - "Re-branding Africa through the Youth"
- SXSW Interactive Conference and Festival (2009) - "Breaking Boundaries: Mobile Web Access in Emerging Economies"
- Smithsonian Museum of African Art (2008) - "African Chic: Inspiring Global Fashion"
- SXSW Interactive Conference and Festival (2008) - "Africa 2.0: Affecting Change Using Technology"
- Google.org (2008) - "Who are African Consumers?"
Writing Credits:
- BusinessInsider.com (contributor)
- GlobalPost.com (contributor)
- Reuters.com (syndicated)
- AllAfrica.com (syndicated)
- "The Youth and Brand Africa" (presentation)
- NewAssignment.org (article)
- The Age of Conversation (book; co-author)
- The Age of Conversation 2: Why Don't They Get It? (book; co-author)
- Why Africa aid campaigns FAIL (ebook; editor)
- Exploring ChinAfrica: Trends in China’s 21st century push into Africa (trend brief)
Recent Press/Media Appearances:
- Entrepreneur Magazine (feature article: Brand New)
- Jamati.com (feature article: Interview with Socially Conscious and Innovative Designer/Writer G. Kofi Annan)
- Secrets of Social Media Marketing by Paul Gillin (book feature)
- LA Times (article: Called back to Africa by DNA)
- The Africa Report (article)
- Veoh Live at SXSW (interview)
- EvanCarmichael.com (listed: The Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs To Watch In 2009)
- Unstrung, the 4G Authority (article: Culture Moves Mobile Services)
- Reuters (various articles)
