The Bold New Normal Conference 2022 Recap

The Bold New Normal Conference 2022: Rethinking Opportunity Across Africa and the Diaspora

The inaugural 2022 Bold New Normal Conference convened by Lucy Quist, brought together hundreds of in-person and virtual attendees from across Africa and the diaspora with one clear purpose: turning ideas into actionable, long-term economic empowerment.

Core Theme and Vision

The conference was built around the theme "Rethinking Opportunity: How can we change our mindset to see opportunity and take action towards prosperity?"

Its objective was ambitious but grounded: to serve as a continental vehicle for moving Africans from passive survival to intentional prosperity. Rather than accepting traditional development constraints as fixed, the conference challenged attendees to leverage business innovation, strategic partnerships, and diaspora connections to chart a different path forward.

Featured Panelists and Leaders

The event featured a lineup of entrepreneurs and industry leaders who shared firsthand experience scaling regional ventures, including:

- **Charles Ofori Antipem** – CEO, Dext Technology Ltd - **Awurabena Agyeman** – CEO, Wear Ghana Ltd - **Dr. Yaw Bediako** – CEO, Yemaachi Biotech - **Julie Asante-Dartey** – Executive Director, Agri Impact

Key Takeaways and Masterclass Insights

**An Action-Oriented Mindset** Attendees were pushed to move beyond the standard "talk shop" conference format. Instead of leaving with abstract inspiration, participants walked away with concrete, personal action plans they could implement immediately.

Lucy Quist's Masterclass Drawing from her book, *The Bold New Normal*, Lucy Quist led a masterclass centered on practical frameworks. The session taught participants how to structure their businesses, navigate market barriers, and build long-term value chains rather than chasing short-term wins.

Diaspora and Ecosystem Engagement A recurring theme throughout the conference was the need to reframe diaspora relationships. Rather than treating diaspora contributions as transactional, one-off gestures, the conference emphasized structuring them as genuine business partnerships built for mutual, long-term value.

The Bold New Normal Conference continues to position itself as a platform where ideas meet execution, connecting African entrepreneurs and the diaspora around a shared vision of intentional prosperity