The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) is back bigger, bolder, and even more impactful. On Friday, August 8th, 2025, over 300 influential leaders across various fields will converge at the Silver Spring Civic Centre in Maryland.
Now in its third year, SLDIC is the premier platform for Sierra Leonean and American professionals, investors, and changemakers to align on one goal: driving inclusive and sustainable growth in Sierra Leone.
This year’s theme, “Preparing Diaspora Investors for Success Amidst Political and Economic Flux,” will focus on equipping participants with practical tools, investment-ready insights, and clear pathways to navigate complex markets and turn opportunities into impact.
Expect a power-packed day of strategic conversations, real-world success stories, and meaningful connections with a speaker lineup that spans international expertise and local leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned diaspora investor, a first-time entrepreneur, or development partner, this is where you belong.
Here’s a look at some of the distinguished speakers headlining this year’s conference:
1.Dr. Fatu Forna, Mama-Pikin Foundation, Co-founder and Executive Director
Dr. Fatu Forna is an OB/GYN, epidemiologist, and international expert in maternal and child health, with leadership roles at the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Kaiser Permanente in Georgia (KPGA). She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Mama-Pikin Foundation, dedicated to improving women’s and children’s health in Sierra Leone. Trained at Duke University School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the Emory University School of Medicine, and the CDC, she has developed innovative care models like the Cocoon Pregnancy Care Model. Under her leadership, Sierra Leone launched its first pediatric and OB/GYN residency programmes, graduating the country’s first specialists in 2024. She advises the WHO, writes on reproductive health, and is also the author of From your doctor to you. What every teenage girl should know about her body, sex, STDs and contraception and is the bestselling author of the Puppy Princess Sheba children’s series. Dr. Forna is a passionate advocate and internationally recognised speaker featured on CNN.
2.Dr. Nadia Marie Sasso, Creative Producer, Cultural Strategist
Dr. Nadia Marie Sasso is a first-generation Sierra Leonean-American cultural storyteller, strategist, and creative producer working at the intersection of identity, media, and innovation. She is the founder of Roots and Revelry, a documentary and experiential platform exploring Black womanhood, and creator of the acclaimed film Am I Too African to be American?Too American to be African? Which sparked global conversations of bicultural identity.
She leads The See Yah project, an edtech initiative focused on neurodivergence, mental health, and identity in Black and BIPOC communities. With a Ph.D in Africana studies and Film from Cornell, Nadia has been recognised by Katie Couric as a “Next Generation Female Leader” and honoured by President Obama for her contributions to media and civic innovation. Her work includes collaborations with the UN, Viacom, Issa Rae, and more.
Through storytelling, she continues to bridge cultures, challenge stigma, and empower communities across the African diaspora.
3.Gerald Baroudi, Small Business Lending Expert, Senior Vice President of Business Finance Group
Gerald Baroudi is a seasoned commercial lender with over 30 years of experience in banking and entrepreneurship. Specialising in SBA lending, he has helped businesses across industries and stages, especially start-ups, access the capital they need to grow.
A former business owner, Gerald brings a unique, practical perspective to his work, combining deep financial expertise with firsthand entrepreneurial insight. He has held leadership roles at major financial institutions including Bank of America and Wells Fargo and holds a Finance degree from the University of Maryland University College.
An experienced speaker, Gerald regularly presents business financing, finance growth, and access to capital. He is a graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel and was named Financial Services Champion of the year by the SBA Baltimore District Office in 2017. He is currently the Senior Vice President of the Business Finance Group.
4.Hollyandroo, CEO, By Hollyandroo
Born in Sierra Leone with roots in Liberia, Hollyandroo is a monumental force in Pan-African fashion. Through his brand BY HOLLYANDROO, he crafts custom leather jackets, baby tees for women, shirts, plus more that boldly represent each African nation— each piece a tribute, each stitch a story.
With a degree in Business Marketing and Management, he fuses strategy and style to elevate African history through high fashion. From dressing NFL stars like Alvin Kamara and Kwity Paye to NBA icon Joel Embiid, actor Jabari Banks, to Afrobeat Icon Davido, his impact is global.
5.Jemilah Alghali, Marketing Manager, BET Media Group
Jemilah Alghali is a strategic marketer, cultural dot connector, and creative force shaping the narrative of global Black entertainment through her work at BET Media Group. Since joining the company in 2019, Jemilah has led award-winning, multi-platform campaigns across BET and VH1, championing shows like the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, Love & Hip Hop Miami, and a host of Tyler Perry shows on the network.
As a Marketing Manager, she bridges the worlds of brand strategy, creative storytelling, and cultural insight—ensuring every campaign not only resonates with audiences but uplifts the communities these networks represent. From linear to digital, domestic to diaspora, Jemilah’s approach is both impact-driven and rooted in authenticity.
A proud Sierra Leonean-American and graduate of Lincoln University (HBCU love!) and Syracuse University, Jemilah has built her career around amplifying Black stories in all their complexity. Her passion lies in connecting brands with culture in meaningful, measurable ways—and creating opportunities for Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, to shine.
She’s currently focused on expanding BET’s global footprint by developing strategies that connect the network to the African continent and the broader diaspora.
When she’s not deep in a deck or brainstorming big ideas, Jemilah is manifesting global travel, generational wealth, and a soft life filled with joy, love, and impact.
6.Joe Hotagua, Founder, Authentic African Media LLC
Joe Hotagua is a seasoned Strategic Advisor with 18 years of experience across North America, Europe, and Africa. He helps startups unlock the value of their digital assets and supports Fortune 500 brands in reaching their target customers through digital media advertising. Joe is also the founder of Authentic African, a multimedia platform with over 800,000 followers. The platform connects the African diaspora to the continent and supports entrepreneurs through storytelling, digital tools, and global reach. His mission is to empower African-owned businesses and promote self-reliance across the continent and diaspora. Joe envisions a future where African brands are scalable, competitive, and globally recognized. Whether advising startups or building media platforms, he remains committed to Africa’s independence and economic growth.
7.Ali Kamanda, Co-Founder, Salone Rising
Ali Biko Sulaiman Kamanda is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and social entrepreneur. He was born and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa, until the age of 13 when his family moved to the United States. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Communications, moved to Los Angeles, and started his career in film under BIKO Studios, a cross-cultural media and film production company. Several years later, combining his passion for the arts and culture with a deep commitment to his heritage, he teamed up with his partner to launch Salone Rising.
The not-for-profit organization has two independent missions: wealth creation and a children’s village. To achieve the first objective, as Co-founder and Director of the organization, Ali has spearheaded micro-financing and mentoring resources to small business owners in rural Sierra Leone. Over the past 10 years, the program has helped over 350 grantees, many of whom are already positively impacting their community. To achieve the second objective, they started MamaLand, a nurturing home that provides a launching pad for empowered citizens of tomorrow. Now in its 8th year, MamaLand continues to support and guide 20 young girls and is looking to expand to include boys.
In recent years, Ali has co-authored 2 children’s books – Black Boy, Black Boy and its companion book Black Girl, Black Girl to inspire young children to reach for the stars. He is working on his next book, a novel for teens. When he is not in Sierra Leone, Ali and his family reside in Lancaster, PA.
8.Marie Harvey, Business Liaison Officer, Montgomery County Business Center
Marie Parker Harvey, MA is an accomplished educator, consultant, trainer, and coach with over 20 years of experience in the workforce and disability system. In addition to her business coaching, she specializes in supporting individuals of all abilities.
Marie’s extensive experience and expertise in business and the disability system has led her to deliver training and technical assistance locally, nationally, and internationally on customized employment, job development and business development strategies.
Currently, Marie is a Business Liaison with the Montgomery County Business Center out of the Office of the County Executive. The Business Center provides businesses and entrepreneurs with; tailored guidance through every stage of growth for their business, connections to essential resources, streamlined processes for licensing and permits (when needed), and funding opportunities.
9.Chef Niematulai DiGrazia, Owner, Abby’s Singer’s Bistro & Niema’s Cookery Corner
Chef Niematulai DiGrazia is a Sierra Leonean-American chef, entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador whose bold flavors and visionary leadership are redefining culinary excellence. She is the proud owner of Niema’s Cookery Corner, an Afro-fusion restaurant rooted in West African and Caribbean traditions, and Abby Singer’s Bistro, a Shreveport-based destination where Southern hospitality meets international flavor.
Her culinary journey began in Sierra Leone, where she watched her mother craft soulful meals with limited ingredients. That early foundation of resilience and love inspired Chef Niema to turn her passion into purpose, launching RNL Authentics, LLC, a cultural lifestyle brand that evolved from fashion fittings to a food truck, and ultimately, a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant.
In 2025, Chef Niema made national headlines as a winner on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, where her award-winning maafe (peanut stew) introduced millions to the richness of Sierra Leonean cuisine. Her historic win earned proclamations from the Louisiana Secretary of State and the Mayor of Shreveport, recognizing her for culinary excellence and cultural representation.
A recipient of Southern Living’s “Chefs to Watch” distinction and honored as one of North Louisiana’s Best Chefs by the Prize Foundation, Chef Niema has built a reputation for curating immersive dining experiences, including her signature Taste of Culture and Taste of Lion Mountain series. She has served dignitaries, celebrities, Mardi Gras krewes, and Fortune 500 clients across the United States and abroad.
Today, Chef Niema continues to lead with flavor and purpose expanding her brand, mentoring the next generation of chefs, and inspiring communities through the power of food and culture. Her work is not only about cooking; it is about creating legacy, connecting cultures, and building bridges through every bite.
About the 2025 Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference
The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) is back bigger, bolder, and even more impactful. On Friday, August 8th, 2025, over 300 influential leaders across various fields will converge at the Silver Spring Civic Centre in Maryland.
Now in its third year, SLDIC is the premier platform for Sierra Leonean and American professionals, investors, and changemakers to align on one goal: driving inclusive and sustainable growth in Sierra Leone.
This year’s theme, “Preparing Diaspora Investors for Success Amidst Political and Economic Flux,” will focus on equipping participants with practical tools, investment-ready insights, and clear pathways to navigate complex markets and turn opportunities into impact.
How You Can Be a Part of the Movement!
Registration is officially open for the 2025 Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference. Whether you are attending in person or tuning in virtually, there is a ticket option tailored for you.
To Bring your business to the conference here are the options:
Showcase your small business – $1,200
This allows you to attend as a vendor and a small-and-medium-sized business showcase to sell or market your goods and services. Position your business as a key player in Sierra Leone’s development. This premium package includes:
- One dedicated vendor space.
- Two VIP Business Leaders Conference tickets
- Two invitations to the VIP Networking cocktail
- A VIP conference tag for elevated access
- A half-page feature in the official conference programme
- One promotional article published on SwitSalone
- One social media spotlight post
- One-minute video ad spot to be aired during the conference (Must be submitted in advance)
- And more
Book a Vending Booth – $350
This ticket is ideal for solo vendors or small brands ready to make an impression. This includes:
- A vendor table at the conference showcase
- One VIP Networking Cocktail
- One bonus general admission ticket
- A feature in our “Sierra Leone Business Leaders Directory” within the conference programme
- And more
You can visit this link to get your tickets: https://checkout.eventcreate.com/sierra-leone-diaspora/select-buy
Spaces are limited! Secure your spot at the 2025 SLDIC today.
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