The East Africa HR Symposium is organized by Rise & Learn Limited, a Human Resource & Leadership consulting firm committed to Leadership Development, Training in organizations and Outsourcing of Human Resource services to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
This year’s symposium (2022) was themed: Refreshing the HR Playbook for the Current & Future and took place at Gran Melia Hotel, Arusha from Wed. 19th October to Fri. 21st October. The symposium was held at the backdrop of post-Covid-19 and the never-ceasing war between Russia and Ukraine. The war has destabilized world economies which were reeling from the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. International supply chains have been so disrupted that uncontrollable inflation; rising interest rates and unstable exchange rates are fomenting a global recession. Yet, organizations are expected to stay afloat and thrive in these uncertain times. HR professionals find themselves on the spot to re-examine existing policies and processes and align them to meet the challenges of unexpected disruptions
During the 3-day conference, our delegates had the privilege of accessing Live2Lead content featuring the world’s leadership expert John C. Maxwell among other international speakers. Live2Lead is a leadership, and personal growth event hosted annually as a Live Simulcast from Atlanta, USA.
Managing Director, Geno Services Tanzania
Leadership & Personal Development Coach
Managing Director EMEA, Management Centre Europe (Brussels – Belgium)
Patrick Faniel is a Belgian multilingual executive and currently the Managing Director EMEA of Management Centre Europe (MCE), one of Europe’s leading organizations in agile people development and strategic talent consultancy. In this role, he supports multinational companies and mid-sized organizations in strengthening leadership capabilities, accelerating strategy execution, and building future-ready talent ecosystems. MCE delivers both public development programs and fully customized solutions across industries and geographies. Before joining MCE, Patrick served as CEO of two private universities — UBIS in Switzerland and LCIBS in London — where he built international academic partnerships in more than 30 countries, with a strong focus on emerging markets. He delivered numerous speeches on global job opportunities and the evolution of skills. Earlier in his career, Patrick held several senior leadership roles, including VP Sales EMEA for a global leader in executive education and strategy execution, and CEO of CERAN, the world leader in full-immersion language training, operating in eight countries and serving clients from over 40 nationalities. He also founded an outsourcing company specializing in expatriation, HR support, and cultural adaptation — giving him hands-on experience with global mobility, cross-cultural leadership, and international HR challenges. Across more than 25 years of global travel and executive responsibilities, Patrick has developed deep expertise in leadership development, organizational transformation, cross-cultural management, and strategic talent acceleration. His work has been recognized through multiple international awards, including the Communication Reward from EuroChallenge, Gazelle of the Year by TrendsTendances, Partnership Reward by RRI, and a Doctorate Honoris Causa from UBIS in Switzerland. He is also an Honorary Professor at Polonia University (Poland), the Saint-Petersburg Institute of Management and Law (Russia), and Hangzhou University (China). He is also the author of “What Leadership is For : identifying the three drivers for stand-out performance”. Today, Patrick is a frequent keynote speaker on leadership, AI and human performance, talent strategy, and the future of work. His interventions combine strategic insight, practical experience, and a global perspective shaped by decades of work with executives across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Ambassador and Director of International Trade and Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation – Tanzania
Founder, Rise & Learn Global
Emily Kamunde-Osoro is a seasoned HR leader, professional coach, entrepreneur, and leadership development specialist with over 20 years of experience across consulting, nonprofit, aviation, agriculture, and financial services. She currently serves as HR Director at TradeMark Africa and is the Founder of Rise & Learn Global and the InMySteps Foundation, a youth mentorship and employability initiative focused on preparing young people for the world of work. Emily is also the Founder of the East Africa HR Symposium, a regional platform that brings together HR and business leaders from across East Africa to exchange insights, explore emerging workplace trends, and advance the people and leadership agenda in the region. Throughout her career, Emily has championed organisational transformation, leadership development, culture, talent management, and coaching across diverse organisations and markets. She has served in Board and Council roles with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Pan Africa Christian University, and the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM). Emily is passionate about developing leaders, strengthening organisations, mentoring the next generation of professionals, and creating opportunities for young people to realise their full potential. Outside of work, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and taking long walks to recharge
A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
To take part in the symposium, all you need to do is register, free your schedule, and interact with professionals across the world.
