01
Beyond the success story
A safe space for honest reflection on mistakes, setbacks, and the lessons that shaped real careers.
00
Days
Counting down to the conversation
Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 5:00 PM EAT. Save your seat before we go live.
00
Days00
Hours00
Minutes00
Seconds
The initiative
Career Conversations
A candid, informal webinar series featuring accomplished professionals sharing authentic insights into their career journeys.
Career Conversations is a candid webinar series by The Career Cafe featuring accomplished professionals sharing undiluted, authentic insights into their career journeys: the mistakes, the pivots, and the lessons that do not make it into a LinkedIn highlight reel. No slides, no formal presentations, just honest conversation and practical lessons you can use.
Word from the moderator
"Today's discussion is not about how successful people became successful. It is about what they wish someone had told them much earlier."
Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain
Moderator and Convener
Core objectives
What this series is built to deliver.
Three things every episode is designed to leave you with.
02
Navigating modern challenges
How to adapt to technological disruption like AI, economic uncertainty, and evolving workplace dynamics.
03
Practical empowerment
Actionable insight on resilience, strategic networking, and lifelong learning to shape your own career.
Featured voices
The people leading the conversation.
Meet the voices leading the inaugural Career Cafe Conversation.
Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain
Physician, implementation research scientist, bioethicist, and Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences with over 15 years of experience advancing global health policy and leadership across Africa and globally. Senior Implementation Research Scientist at the University of Oxford, Founder of Global Health Otherwise, and Convener of The Career Cafe.
Moderator and ConvenerMrs. Susan Nkengasong
A leader whose career spans African and high income country institutions, championing what it takes for African women to provoke opportunity and thrive across cultures.
Session topicWhat it takes for African women to provoke opportunity, build global careers, and thrive across cultures.
Speaker
SN
Dr. Armand Mbanya
A leader across African and global institutions, focused on the unwritten rules of influence, leadership, and professional relationships every future leader should master.
Session topicThe politics and unwritten rules every future professional must know.
Speaker
AM
Prof. Keith Straughan
Leadership consultant, educator, and CEO of Imcon Consulting with more than 35 years advising senior leaders, governments, universities, and major organisations across Africa, the Middle East, and the UK. Interim Head of the BNR Academy at the National Bank of Rwanda.
Session topicWhy innovation needs innovation: rethinking how we build Africa's next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
Speaker
Dr. Obichi Obiajunwa
Physician, public health expert, innovation strategist, and governance researcher with over 15 years advancing health systems, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies across Africa. Executive Director of Hutzpa Center for Innovation and Development, leading work in AI governance, intellectual property, and research commercialization.
Session topicDegrees in the age of innovation and opportunity: do they still matter?
Speaker
Inside the 90 minutes
A moderated conversation, not a lineup of talks.
Each speaker gets focused time, then the floor opens for a live panel exchange and audience questions.
0 to 12 min
Welcome and opening reflection
Dr. Luchuo Bain sets the scene, then puts one question to every speaker at once.
12 to 25 min
Creating opportunity without borders, Mrs. Susan Nkengasong
What it takes for African women to provoke opportunity, build global careers, and thrive across cultures.
25 to 38 min
The politics nobody teaches, Dr. Armand Mbanya
The unwritten rules of influence, leadership, and diplomacy every future professional must know.
38 to 51 min
Innovation beyond the buzzwords, Prof. Keith Straughan
Why innovation needs innovation: rethinking how Africa builds its next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
51 to 64 min
Degrees, learning, and reinvention, Dr. Obichi Obiajunwa
Degrees in the age of innovation and opportunity: do they still matter?
64 to 80 min
Panel conversation, connecting the dots
All speakers build on each other live, from the skills every professional needs to whether AI widens or closes the opportunity gap.
80 to 88 min
Audience questions
Open questions from students, early career professionals, and entrepreneurs in the room.
88 to 90 min
Closing reflections
One final lesson from every speaker on what they hope you leave with.
Take home messages
What you will leave with.
Five ideas we hope stay with you long after the conversation ends.
01
Career success is no longer linear.
02
Technical excellence alone is no longer enough.
03
Innovation is about solving meaningful problems, not simply generating ideas.
04
Degrees remain valuable, but lifelong learning and adaptability matter even more.
05
The future belongs to those who create opportunities, build relationships, and keep learning.
In partnership with
Global Health Otherwise
Supporting honest, practical conversations on career growth and wellbeing across Africa.
Save your seat
Registration takes about 30 seconds. Space is limited to keep the conversation genuinely interactive.
Form not loading? Open registration in a new tab