Nicola Kagoro (pictured) the young, pioneering vegan chef from Zimbabwe is among a cohort of young innovators and influencers who will be convening for the 3rd edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit Africa set to take place from May 5 to 8 in Gaborone, Botswana.
The inaugural summit was hosted in the Southern African country when the African edition made its debut two years ago.
According to forbes.com, featured speakers will include government officials, venture capitalists, CEOs and celebrities.
Activities will include exploration around Gaborone, taking in the scenery, music, cuisine, and local staples of the host country.
On the first day, attendees will meet and network during a cocktail event hosted at the vegan-friendly Main Deck restaurant and bar before gathering for a Pan-African welcome celebration in the open-air market and square at Main Mall.
This year's 30 Under 30 summit is headlined by American serial entrepreneur Nick Cannon.
Participants are divided into the following categories: business and technology, sports, creative entrepreneurship, health, and science.
A large portion of them is from South Africa and Nigeria, with the rest coming from Angola, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
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The list also includes entrepreneurs of African origin based in the diaspora.
South African musician and record producer Master KG, Nigerian award-winning Afro Soul artist Omah Lay as well as speakers from the Forbes magazine's editorial team, Randall Lane and Kristin Stoller are among some of the speakers and performers to grace the summit.
“I feel very proud to be representing Zimbabwe on a global stage in a positive way. Our country is filled with talent that deserves to be seen by the world. This recognition as a pioneer helps me in that my brand is given more credibility and respect, Kagoro told IndependentXtra in an interview. “It shows me that brands coming from Zimbabwe have the potential to go international.”
Chef Cola as she is widely known, is the founder of African Vegan on a Budget which she started in 2016.
Her childhood years in New York as well as time spent in Cape Town have influenced her worldview and work ethic.
She was introduced to veganism and began to train in plant-based cooking while working at one of South Africa's traditional restaurants. Her cooking is African-themed with elements of Western cuisine.
Her inclusion on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list reflects her goal of raising awareness of the vegan culture throughout Africa and providing people with the tools and knowledge they need to actively incorporate plant-based eating into their lifestyles. She will give a speech as well as a live cooking demonstration.
“It is a life-changing moment for me. I believe something great is going to come out of it in terms of networking and connections. I don’t know who is going to be watching and from where all I know is the room will be filled with movers and shakers who have power in their respective industries,” she said adding that this will be an opportunity to highlight some indigenous Zimbabwean dishes.
Forbes is an American business magazine that first launched the 30 Under 30 list in 2011 with a focus mainly on the US. The list is made up of 30 notable people under 30 years old in various industries. It is issued annually by Forbes magazine and some of its regional editions.
At last year's edition hosted at the Main Mall, Zimbabwe was represented by Paula Mazvita Marowa through her leather products brand Rukanda Pride.
Though a farmer at heart Chef Cola also has a passion for the creative space. She hosts and curates various artistic events and also dabbles in fashion through her line of customized chef jackets. “My goal is to get into the Zimbabwean tourism industry to showcase and highlight our beautiful country.”
