We were able to recruit experienced personalities from Europe and Africa for our advisory board:

Natalie Schrogl | Strategic Advisor, Systems Leadership & Africa–Europe Partnerships Natalie Schrogl is a systems strategist and advisor working at the intersection of economic equity, institutional development, and Africa–Europe cooperation. With over a decade of experience spanning finance, leadership consulting, and policy advisory, she brings a grounded ability to connect strategic vision with implementation. As a member of the Africa First Network Advisory Board, Natalie contributes strategic insight on how to position African enterprises within broader investment and development frameworks. She plays a bridging role between African opportunity and European capital, supporting German and international stakeholders in navigating local contexts, identifying credible partners, and structuring investments for long-term value. Her work includes convening partnerships across governments, investors, and development actors, aligning commercial ambition with inclusive outcomes and strengthening the foundation for trusted, cross-continental cooperation. She has supported a high-level working group convened under the Presidency of H.E. President William Ruto, focused on forging partnerships that create markets, increase trade, and advance investment in the Kenyan coffee sector. This reflects her commitment to initiatives that are both economically catalytic and equity-led. Natalie has contributed to global policy arenas, including Davos, the UN General Assembly (UNGA79), and the G20 Compact with Africa. She brings systems strategy expertise across economic equity, global development, and Africa–Europe cooperation. She is currently recognised as a Top Leadership Voice on LinkedIn and a Luminary Thinker by RedBoxMe in collaboration with Cartier.

Dr. Caspar Schauseil is working with companies throughout their digital transformation journey - always focusing on the intersection of industrial DNA, technology and the customer. With more than 15 years of professional experience, he previously worked as Head of Product Management at Amazon, Assistant to the Chairman of Georgsmarienhütte Holding and M&A Consultant at Solon Altman. He also served as advisor to Airbnb, the European Commission and the BDI. As Managing Director of the Knauf Digital Hub, Caspar ramped up the company's first digital offering. He has been active as VC investor looking for entrepreneurial engagements in Western Africa. Caspar is a graduate of Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, Bauhaus Universität Weimar, Bocconi and HEC. He was named '40 under 40' by Capital magazine and 'Young Leader' of Atlantik Brücke. He is a fellow at the Aspen Institute Germany and a scholar at Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft.

As an Africa-based partner in Kearney’s strategy and organizational transformation practices, Theo Sibiya says he takes joy in bringing global perspectives to the continent’s most pressing issues. “It’s a global contest, and our clients like having Kearney come with perspectives developed in other parts of the world and see them applied in their region,” Theo says. “We’re able to tap into our global network and develop robust localized and customized solutions—that’s critical for our clients’ success.” Based in Johannesburg, Theo has industry and consulting experience with senior executives across a broad range of industries, supporting them in large strategic transformation projects, business and operating model reviews, business productivity improvement initiatives, and targeted strategy interventions such as commercialization strategies and turnarounds. Theo is particularly passionate about his work in Africa and his contribution to solving the African problems. He currently serves as co-chair of the African Regional Business Council of the World Economic Forum, actively engaged on the critical topics impacting Africa, including empowering Africa’s youth and preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “As much as we want to run a successful commercial business, it’s equally important that you’re socially responsible,” Theo says. “That resonates quite well with the kind of organization that Kearney is and what we prioritize.”

Marco Spinger, lawyer, worked for the leading association of the German trade fair industry in various functions for 25 years. Most recently, as Director of the Global Markets and IT Division, he was responsible for export promotion and trade fairs abroad. He has been successfully involved in various committees and working groups of the Federal Ministry for Economics, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Foreign Office, the state agency for foreign trade "Germany Trade and Invest" and numerous associations of German industries in the interests of international cooperation.

Estifanos Samuel is an investor and investment advisor with over a decade of experience of trade promotion and investment consulting; with a special focus on the East African Investment and Trade market. Through his investment consulting firm, EAP, He has contributed significantly to German-Ethiopian economic relations including private partnerships and public-private partnerships. He is also an official representative of Baden-Württemberg to East Africa. Mr. Samuel studied Economics at RFH—University of Applied Science in Cologne.