Meet the Leaders Driving Sierra Leone’s Economic Future at SLDIC 2024

The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) returns on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

The one-day event will gather 200 leaders in business, investing, finance, policy, and development to advance Sierra Leone’s economic growth. It will be the largest gathering of Sierra Leonean-American entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers in North America. 

The speaker lineup is impressive, featuring individuals with international and local leadership experience at home and in the diaspora. 

Here are some of the speakers for this exciting conference.

1. Victor Williams, Managing Partner, Lions Range Group (Keynote Speaker) 

Victor Williams is a distinguished finance and sports business leader with over 30 years of transformative experience driving business growth across the U.S and Africa. As the former CEO of NBA Africa from 2020 to 2023, he spearheaded the league’s basketball and business development initiatives, significantly enhancing the NBA’s footprint on the continent. 

Before this role, Williams served as the Executive Head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) for African regions at Standard Bank Group, where he was instrumental in shaping the strategy, execution, and financial performance for the bank’s corporate, sovereign, and institutional investor client relationships in 19 sub-saharan African countries. 

His leadership in this pan-continental position fostered the growth of key business lines, including global markets and investment banking. He helped lead Standard Bank’s strategic expansion into Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Williams’ Leadership History in Africa

Williams joined Standard Bank in 2011,  leading the Corporate and Investment Banking in East Africa and later Nigeria. His previous experience includes a notable tenure as Managing Director at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he directed over $5 billion in mergers and acquisitions and provided critical advisory to senior executives and boards of directors on complex corporate transactions. 

Williams’s illustrious career also includes a significant tenure as Vice President of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where he delivered strategic insights to Fortune 500 companies on merger and financing analysis and execution.

Williams, a proud Sierra Leonean-American, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in math and economics from Brown University. He is an esteemed member of the Harvard Business School Africa Advisory Board. 

He has served on the boards of publicly listed companies and non-profit organizations across the U.S., Nigeria, and Kenya. Williams, a proud Prince of Wales School alumnus, embodies the school’s legacy of excellence and leadership.

2. Daniel Koroma, Business Liaison Officer, Montgomery County

Daniel Koroma is an advocate and organizer. He became an American citizen, a voter registrar, and organized voter registration events to activate our community. Koroma led community advocacy, testifying for a new early voting site in White Oak at County, State, and Assembly levels. 

He helped persuade lawmakers to establish the new site. In 2009, he became the first African appointed by then-County Executive Ike Leggett as Community Liaison for the African and Caribbean communities.

During the pandemic, he hosted virtual sessions on grants, financial capital, and ways for nonprofits and small businesses to access resources to survive the pandemic. Mr. Koroma earned a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, James A. Clark School of Engineering and graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Leadership program.

3. Dr. Rose Mary Garcia, Lead Economist, DT Global 

Dr. Rose Mary Garcia is a PhD Economist, specializing in development economics in the areas of policy reform, institutional strengthening, SME competitiveness, monitoring and evaluation, and digitization. 

Her career trajectory entails 25 years of experience in applied economic development. She has led Economic Growth and Monitoring and Evaluation practice areas for USAID, and MCC implementing partners. Most recently she served as Vice President of Economic Growth and Governance at DT Global. 

Currently, as DT Global’s Lead Economist,  she provides technical direction on project design, and technical capacity building on economic growth technical areas. Throughout her career, she has worked in about 21 countries, spread out in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

4. Hamid Marah, Market Systems Development Team Leader, Mercy Corps

Hamid is an experienced international development management practitioner with distinctive strategy development and full cycle project management expertise including various standards of monitoring, learning and controlling – MDF, DCED (M&E, MRM, MEL, MEAL). 

Distinguished by a fine balance of extensive NGO, public sector, multilateral organizations and private sector development experience including successful project delivery in RLDP, WEE, M4P, FSL, VCD, PSD, WASH, MSME, MSD, Nutr Health, Sustainable Livelihoods, etc.

5. Desmond Ellis, CEO, dotBleu

Desmond Ellis is the Founder and Managing Director of dotBleu LLC, an entrepreneur, CPA, and philanthropist. He founded dotBleu to provide secure, reliable, and affordable express air and sea freight services between the U.S. and Sierra Leone, overcoming the logistical challenges faced by diaspora communities.

With over 15 years of experience in business strategy, finance, and accounting, Ellis built dotBleu into a trusted courier service serving Sierra Leoneans both abroad and at home. His experience as a financial executive for U.S. law firms and as an Audit Senior Manager at a Big 4 Accounting Firm has been pivotal in developing dotBleu’s personalized shipping solutions that reduce costs and enhance accessibility.

A proud Sierra Leonean American, Ellis is committed to giving back. He co-founded the SierraLeonean Empowerment Network (SLEN) to support professional development and is involved in philanthropic efforts to promote education and entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone.

Ellis holds a Master of Accounting from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Case Western Reserve University. He is a member of the AICPA, LVN, and NABA, and serves on the Sierra Leone Grammar School Alumni Association of North America (SLGSAANA).

6. Yada Williams, Lawyer, Yada Williams & Associates 

Yada Williams is a distinguished legal professional with over 30 years of experience in Sierra Leone’s legal sector, specializing in corporate law, constitutional law, and human rights. He has significantly contributed to promoting good governance, accountability, and the rule of law in the country.

Williams holds an LL.M from the University of London and an LL.B from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, along with a Barrister-at-Law qualification from the Sierra Leone Law School, where he won the Luseni Brewah Prize for his excellence in Criminal Procedure and Practice. Since April 2023, he has served as the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Sierra Leone, where he reviews and recommends updates to the nation’s laws, ensuring they meet contemporary standards.

Previously, Williams was Chairman of the Social Security Appellate Tribunal and a Director of the National Minerals Agency, showcasing his commitment to social justice and regulatory excellence. He has also lectured on various legal subjects at the Sierra Leone Law School and Fourah Bay College, shaping the next generation of legal practitioners.

In addition to his educational roles, Williams has a strong practice in arbitration and litigation, representing clients in numerous high-profile cases. He has received the Presidential National Award of Member of the Order of the Rokel for his dedicated service. His consultancy with the Truth & Reconciliation Commission further underscores his commitment to human rights and justice.

Williams remains a vital force in advancing Sierra Leone’s legal landscape, promoting justice, transparency, and the rule of law.

7. Chidi Blyden, American Foreign Policy Advisor 

Chidi Blyden is an American foreign policy advisor who serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 

Previously, Blyden was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs and has held various roles, honing her policy, national security, and practitioner skills throughout her career in the government, academia, and non-profit sectors.

8. Martin Michael, CEO, Mercury International

Martin E. Michael is a distinguished legal professional and accomplished Sierra Leonean business leader from Bo District. As the CEO of Mercury International, he has successfully transformed the company from the brink of bankruptcy into one of the largest and most profitable enterprises in the country, employing over 6,500 Sierra Leoneans. Additionally, Mercury provides $4 million annually in taxes to support the government’s national development plan.

Under his tenure, Mercury International has raised and set the bar for corporate social responsibility in Sierra Leone. They support the arts, media, and sports, elevating the nation’s brightest and best. Between 2008 and 2024, Mercury awarded over $2 million in scholarships and financed life-saving medical treatment for over 100 Sierra Leoneans who needed to travel to India for care. They’ve built two schools, including the Kadi Sesay Primary School in Port Loko and the Christ the King Pre-Primary School at Moyamba Junction.

His extensive experience in the legal field includes serving as a Senior Partner at Michael and Michael Barristers and Solicitors, a firm he co-founded in 2008, which has become one of Sierra Leone’s most reputable legal practices.

With an LLB (Hons) from the University of Manchester and a Degree of Utter Barrister from the Sierra Leone Law School, Martin has held various significant roles, including Senior Partner at Tejan-Cole Michael and Associates and Associate at Margai and Co. He has also contributed to legal education as a lecturer at the Sierra Leone Law School.

In addition to his roles, Michael has advised prominent organizations like Atlantic Hotel and Coca-Cola (Sierra Leone Bottling Company). His commitment to legal excellence and business development has positioned him as a key figure in Sierra Leone’s economic landscape.

9. Robert (Bob) Hornsby, CEO, Jobomax

Bob Hornsby is the CEO and co-founder of JOBOMAX Global, established in 2014 with Mamady Doumbouya and Jonathan Halloran. JOBOMAX Homes offers affordable housing solutions to the West African diaspora and regional markets. 

With over 25 years in West Africa, Hornsby has served in the Peace Corps and managed a fair trade import business.

Since 2014, he has led JOBOMAX’s financial strategy, securing over $1.5 million in seed financing and achieving consistent annual growth.

Hornsby holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA in African Studies and International Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS, as well as a BA in Economics from Davidson College. He resides in Philadelphia with his wife, two daughters, and two playful dogs.

10. Wala Blegay, Prince George’s County Council Member, District 6

Wala Blegay was elected to the Prince George’s County Council in November 2022, representing District 6. As Vice Chair, she championed a people-driven agenda, authoring legislation on development, limiting tobacco shops, and enhancing public safety. As Chair of the Council’s Board of Health, she addressed critical issues like nurse-patient ratios and mental health.

A passionate civil and women’s rights advocate, she hosts the “Chat With a Lawyer” show, providing legal resources to residents. Blegay is an adjunct professor, former staff attorney, and has received multiple awards for her service. She holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from American University. A first-generation Liberian and Nigerian American, she has lived in Prince George’s County for over 20 years.

11. Abu B. Yillah, Poet & Co-Founder, The Young Sierra Leonean CIC

Abu B. Yillah is a British-Sierra Leonean Filmmaker, Poet & Cultural Curator. 

His debut show ‘Somewhere Between,’ about a 3rd-cultured immigrant’s identity struggles, premiered in February 2024  to a sold-out audience. An updated version of the show returned at Poplar Union in June 2024 to many positive reviews.  

 Yillah co-curates the Sierra Leone Arts & Culture festival (#SLACfest) and is the self-appointed president of the Sierra Leone JC committee. 

He’s currently writing his second theatrical show ‘Instructions… for Dating A Baby-Daddy’ set to premiere in June 2025.

Here’s How You Can Join The Conference

Don’t miss the chance to forge valuable connections at the conference! This event offers a unique opportunity to network with fellow investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. 

Visit www.MakeSierraLeoneFamous.com to secure your tickets for in-person attendance. If you can’t join physically, you can get a virtual pass for full access to the livestream. You can have the chance to ask questions through the live chat during the Q&A sessions. The livestream link will be sent 72 hours before the event. 

Join us and engage in the conversation! Become a changemaker in Sierra Leone’s economic future- your next big opportunity is just around the corner!