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- info@mentorafro.com
Do you sometimes wonder, as an Afro-descendant, how you can reach the top of the world and make a positive contribution to the development of a better world? Well, hang on, I may have the beginnings of an answer…
In multinational or local companies, talent development programmes are not always accessible to everyone. To be selected for these programmes, you have to be recognised as EXCELLENT in terms of both WHAT (technical skills and annual objectives) and HOW (behavioural skills / soft skills). Unfortunately, this approach leaves out a large part of the population in search of professional and personal growth.
I was lucky enough to join various multinationals such as Unilever (€60 billion turnover) and Friesland Campina (€12 billion turnover), where I took part in and succeeded in talent development programmes. In these programmes, I had the right to training and work experience in demanding international environments, coaches who helped me develop my technical skills and mentors who helped me grow in the behavioural and business management aspects. I went on to have a successful international career, but I was always shocked to find that I was very often the only Afro-descendant in the room or in the team…
The Global Talent Index confirms this finding: Africa is the continent with the least talent in terms of quantity and quality compared to the rest of the world. Yet this continent has been blessed with fertile soil and natural wealth, a young population, and a population that will account for a third of the world’s population by 2100.
That’s why I believe it’s imperative to start transforming Afro-descendants into an “ASSET” rather than a “PASSIVE” and I asked myself how I could create the maximum possible number of Afro-descendant talents, because an identified and developed talent doesn’t migrate illegally to Europe or engage in criminal activities. On the contrary, they demonstrate on a daily basis the values of WORK, INTEGRITY and EXCELLENCE… and contribute, wherever they are in the world, to creating the conditions for a better world.
Let’s imagine for a moment that we do nothing to create Afro-descendant talent over time. What will it be like in 2100 when the African population represents a third of the world’s population?
As Nelson Mandela said so well: “Education is the only weapon to change this world”, and to change the world in 2100, I decided to create Mentor Afro, a mentoring and coaching platform aimed at transferring technical and behavioural skills and strong values to Afro-descendants, from generation to generation.
Join us and support Mentor Afro, the Afro-descendant talent factory, and together we can build a better world by 2100.
Growth & Impact
Annual subscriptions to the MentorAfro community
Join the Afro-Excellent community, develop yourself and others.
Growth
Individual mentoring
Benefit from personalised support in soft skills or behavioural competencies to strengthen your leadership.
Growth
Professional coaching
Need to develop your functional or hard skills? Opt for individual or group professional coaching.
Event
The Night of Afro-Excellence
Book your place at our annual event, which takes place in Abidjan at the end of each year.
Who is Wilfried ASSI?
Course
- Founder – MentorAfro.
- Director of Strategic Initiatives – Vlisco Group (Vlisco – Uniwax – Woodin – GTP…)
- Director of Marketing, Communication, Claims and Customer Satisfaction – Banque de l’habitat de Côte d’Ivoire (BHCI).
- Global Marketing Director / SVP –lead Transformation –TRACE Group.
- Marketing Director, West and Central Africa – FrieslandCampina.
- Regional Marketing Manager – Unilever Africa.
- Assistant Strategic au VP MARKETING AFRICA – Unilever Africa.
- Regional Brand Manager Skin Cleansing & Marketing Head (Cameroun) – Unilever South Africa.
- Management Trainee/ Brand Manager – Unilever West Africa.
Professional achievements
- By 2022, the Vlisco Fashion Fund will have hired 1,400 African designers, compared with 700 in 2019.
- Achieved 82% and 92% of employee commitments post a liquidity crisis and successfully redefined the Values, Vision and Mission of BANQUE DE L'HABITAT DE CÔTE D'IVOIRE.
- Successfully redefined the TRACE Group's Mission and launched 4 TRACE TV channels in the UK - TRACE.
- ~Zero rébus vs the rebranding of a brand with 41 references, in 16 European and African countries, from 6 different production hubs - Friesland Campina.
- Passed the Bonnet Rouge / powdered milk brand from position #5 to position #2 in 4 years - Friesland Campina.
- Won the employee of the quarter award in Q4- 2017- Frieslandcampina Africa.
- Doubling the size of the Peak dairy brand in Ghana in 1 year - Frieslandcampina Africa.
- Won the overall responsibility award with successful local production of dairy products - Friesland Campina.
- Influenced the organisation to strengthen the Signal toothpaste formula from Cameroon for countries in the Maghreb, Middle East & Africa - Unilever Africa.
- Africa wins silver medal in global handwashing competition - Unilever
- Successful launch of Lifebuoy and Knorr brands in Ethiopia and quadrupling of sales forecasts - Unilever Africa.
- Developed a guide to changing consumer habits in Africa - Unilever Africa.
Awards and distinctions
- 2023: Ranked 32nd among the top 100 leaders and entrepreneurs in French-speaking Africa on social media by FAVIKON.
- 2023: Voted LinkedIn Influencer of the Year with almost 17,000 votes (58% of votes). The second candidate received 6,000 votes...
- 2021 : Award for contribution to the mission of safeguarding the operations of the Banque de l'Habitat de Côte d'Ivoire.
- 2021 : Award for contribution to the mission of safeguarding the operations of the Banque de l'Habitat de Côte d'Ivoire.
- 2017: Employee of the Quarter Q4-2017 at FrieslandCampina Africa for resilience and performance.
- 2017: Employee of the Quarter Q4-2017 at FrieslandCampina Africa for resilience and performance.
- 2016 : Global Responsibility Award at FrieslandCampina for the successful transfer of milk production from the Netherlands to Côte d'Ivoire.
- 2012: Unilever Global Silver Medal for impact and synchronised supervision in the hand-washing campaign (with soap and water) in 11 African countries.
Mentoring and coaching
for developing skills and building talent
"We match mentors and coaches who have tangible evidence of success and learning in demanding environments with mentees and coachees.
