The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group, fall 2026; session six.
Co-hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government
From Soft Power to Economic Sovereignty: Culture, Commerce, and Africa's Global Influence
A conversation with Dr. Wilmot Allen
Dr. Wilmot Allen is an entrepreneur, investor, and political economist whose work focuses on market-driven development, economic sovereignty, and investment across Africa.
He is the Founder of VentureLift Africa, a holding company facilitating investment and trade between Africa and global markets. Through its Commerce Hubs and initiatives such as the Diaspora Angel Investor Network and International Writer's Lab, VentureLift Africa advances investment, entrepreneurship, and creative industry partnerships, including connections between African storytellers and Hollywood.
His work spans healthcare, finance, infrastructure, and entertainment. He currently serves as a Health Finance Advisor to the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), supporting the design of the Africa Health Sovereignty Fund in partnership with Africa CDC and the European Commission.
Previously, he held leadership and investment roles at the International Finance Corporation, JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch, Commonwealth Enterprise Fund, and The Walt Disney Company. He is also a minority owner of a Basketball Africa League team.
A life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Dr. Allen holds degrees from Yale University, Harvard Kennedy School, the Wharton School, and Georgetown University, where he earned his PhD in comparative political economy.
He is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, where his research examines the role of African sovereign wealth funds in advancing shared prosperity and economic development. He is also co-author of the forthcoming book African Sovereign Wealth Funds and New Directions in State Capitalism (Palgrave Macmillan).
Location: Hybrid — Harvard Kennedy School and Zoom
This program will be held in a hybrid format, with participation available in person at Harvard Kennedy School or virtually via Zoom.
In-person attendance requires a valid Harvard ID. All other participants are welcome to join virtually.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You will receive a confirmation once approved.
The Cultural Diplomacy Study Group is an initiative of the Cultural Diplomacy Project, an initiative under the auspices of Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft.
Founded by Ambassador Nicholas Burns, the Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft serves as a global hub for advancing the practice and study of diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft. The Cultural Diplomacy Project examines the importance of music, art, and cultural heritage in modern diplomacy, convening practitioners, scholars, artists, policymakers, and leaders from around the world.