Early Life and Educational Foundation
Magatte Wade was
born in Senegal in 1976 (age 49 years) and was raised biculturally in
France, forming the way she looks at the world and her ambitions as an
entrepreneur. She was always motivated by a basic question that would guide
her: “Why are some nations poor, while some are rich?” The knowledge she gained
about economic disparity between countries would become the main focus of her
career.
As she was educated in France and speaks Wolof, French, and
English, she has a special perspective that links her African background with
knowledge of Western businesses.
Entrepreneurial Success and Achievements
How Adina World Beverages Found Success with Bissap
In 2004, Wade decided to make a soft drink company called
Adina World Beat Beverages that included ingredients commonly used in Africa.
Adina World Beverages gave Senegalese bissap to Americans by distributing it at
Whole Foods Market, Wegmans and United Natural Foods, Inc.
The firm was a real success in its industry. She started
selling an African thirst quencher in America and made a profit of $3.2M.
Before leaving Adina, Suzanne brought together an executive team composed of a
former co-founder of Odwalla, CEO of SoBe, and ex-co-Chairman, which proved
that she is capable of working with excellent talent and expanding her
business.
Tiossan: Bringing Change to African Cosmetics
Magatte is the person behind and runs Tiossan, a skin care
label based on recipes and ingredients from her native Senegal. With Tiossan,
Gesse sent skin care recipes from Senegal to beauty stores in America and
through the famous Nordstrom chain.
Recognition and Professional Standing
Forbes magazine listed Magatte Wade among its “20 Youngest
Power Women of Africa” for standing out as a leading African entrepreneur
across the globe.
Advocacy and Thought Leadership
The TED Talk That Changed Everything
In 2017, she made a TED Talk that brought her initial recognition,
in which she spoke about the strict regulations in Africa that force young
people to emigrate because of economic difficulties. Thanks to her passionate
talk, many people across Africa called for change that would make starting a
business easier.
Current Mission and Role
Magatte Wade is America’s leading presence who champions
prosperity in Africa. As well as being an entrepreneur, she gives keynote
speeches and has written the book The Heart of A Cheetah. Unlocking prosperity
in Africa is Magatte’s long-term dream as the Director of the Center for
African Prosperity at Atlas Network.
Core Philosophy and Message
Her opinions are based on facts and things she has gone
through personally. Five topics she is enthusiastic to discuss are: how free markets
overcome poverty, the function of enterprise in facing social problems, and the
area of teaching entrepreneurial skills.
The main argument of Wade’s work goes against the typical
version of Africa’s past. She points out that African entrepreneurs are
prevented from making money and growing their businesses by strict regulations
and a weak government. She concentrates on breaking down these kinds of
barriers so that economic growth and prosperity become possible.
"The Heart of A Cheetah" - Her Memoir
More than personal anecdotes, Wade’s account acts as a guide
for African nations to change their economies. In this moving memoir, Wade
encourages Africans to change the way they see themselves and drop the idea of
inferiority to remember their brilliance. The book encourages others in Africa
and works as a hands-on guide for them.
Business Philosophy and Approach
Magatte Wade is driven to start new high-end brands from
Africa and change the way people see this continent. She shows that using
African tradition and ingredients can create valuable products that are famous
in the international market.
Global Impact and Influence
Besides driving business gains, Magatte Wade is known for
speaking out on important policies and leading business discussions. She
frequently attends conferences worldwide to give her views on how rules should
be changed in Africa and connects them with global opportunities. Her efforts
aim at improving the main reasons behind economic migration by suggesting
measures that help young people in Africa create profitable local businesses.
Her activities as a business owner, speaker, and advocate
have made Magatte Wade
recognized as an important leader for Africa’s economic development, joining
real success with strong advocacy for change.
 and was raised bi-culturally in France, forming the way she looks at the world and her ambitions as an entrepreneur.)
