My dear YELP fellows and friends,
It has been refreshing to see you all today. We came together under the theme “Leadership at Crossroads – Reflect. Reconnect. Recommit.” And throughout the day, we reflected on why we gather and why we grow; we reconnected with old friends and new faces across cohorts; and now, in this closing moment, it’s time to focus on how we recommit.
We started with honest reflections about our experiences, we broke out into our class groups to share stories from the road, and we delved into inspiring ideas – including a letter that took us all the way to the Cathedral of Milan. We’ve heard insights from the founders of our institute and the youngest fellows alike. We’ve laughed, we’ve reminisced, and we’ve been challenged. It’s been a full day of learning and remembering. Importantly, it’s been a day of coming home to this community.
I want to applaud the power of reconnection we’ve felt here. Many of us had not seen each other in years; some of us met for the first time today. Yet the moment we sat together, it was as if no time had passed – the spark was immediate. That bond we share as YELP fellows is strong. It crosses borders and generations of cohorts. We’ve been sharing stories of projects and passions, picking up right where we left off. This reminds us that the fellowship we built isn’t just about an event– it’s alive in this very room. Reunion
is not just about nostalgia; it’s about energy and solidarity. Reconnecting has recharged our sense of purpose and reminded us that none of us walks this leadership journey alone. As one of the inaugural YELP Class of 2017, seeing all of you here – from my fellow pioneer classmates to the fresh faces of recent classes – fills me with pride and hope.
Eight years ago, in 2017, I sat in a room much like this as a new YELP fellow. Never in my life had I encountered a group of young Africans so passionate and determined to see a better Africa. We came from different countries and backgrounds, each carrying unique dreams, talents, doubts and confusion. Yet we spoke a common language of vision and possibility. I was humbled and inspired by how boldly everyone shared their ideas, and how deeply we respected each other’s perspectives. That inaugural cohort set a high bar we forged friendships and ideals that have guided us since.
Fast-forward to 2025, here we are: multiple cohorts strong, an entire network of leaders who have come through this fellowship. Some of my classmates are now at the helm of important initiatives, mentoring others, even helping shape this very program today. And our newer fellows, like those from the Class of 2023 and 2024, have already begun to shine and take up the mantle. This is continuity in action and is proof that our fellowship evolves and endures.
But a reunion cannot only be about looking back or feeling good about the past. Reflection alone is not enough. We must ask the tough question that has been echoing all day: What good is reflection without action? Yes, we’ve reflected. Yes, we’ve reconnected. Now I pose to each of us the leadership question: What are we committing ourselves to – beyond this room and beyond today?
To help us find the answer, let’s draw on one of the powerful metaphors we explored today. I’m talking about the story of the Cathedral of Milan that Bill Shore wrote about – the cathedral that took five centuries to build.
Think about those cathedral builders and what they teach us. They began construction in 1386 and generations labored until the cathedral was completed in the late 1800s. Most of those builders knew they would never see the final masterpiece finished in their lifetime, yet they devoted themselves to the work with passion and excellence anyway. Why? Because they were driven by a vision of creating something enduring, something that would stand for ages and inspire people they would never meet. In the same way, each of us is contributing to a cause, the cause of a better, stronger Africa, whose ultimate fulfillment we might not witness in our lifetime. We commit to the long term, because we believe in the generations to come. We plant seeds knowing others will enjoy the shade.
Each of us here has different skills, backgrounds, and roles in society, and alone, none of us can solve the challenges our continent faces. But together, sharing our strengths, supporting one another, and combining our expertise, we can build something truly great. Our collective strength is our cathedral.
Those builders also knew how to build on foundations. The Milan Cathedral was literally built upon the ruins of an older church from the 4th century – they didn’t discard the past; they built upon it. Likewise, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before. The work of the inaugural 2017 fellows became the foundation for the Classes after.
I was also struck by how cathedrals, once built, generated their own support. They became self-sustaining centers, drawing people in, creating community, even generating income. For us, the parallel is that we must make our network self-sustaining by investing in it. We – the fellows – are the stewards of this community. If we want YELP to thrive for the next generation, we each have to put in the effort to keep it alive:
The stained-glass windows of Milan Cathedral, for example, portray stories that instill values and inspire awe to this day. In our context, we are the living symbols. Our lives, our leadership, are the story that carries the values of this fellowship. What we do in our communities should reflect the ideals we learned here, so that others can see and be inspired.
My friends, we stand at a crossroads in leadership. Our generation is facing enormous challenges and opportunities. The world around us is changing rapidly, and so must our leadership evolve. That’s why what we do after today matters so much. We can draw inspiration from the cathedral builders: think long-term, work together, build on what came before, sustain our community, and live our values out loud. If we do that, we will indeed create something that endures.
So now, I want to extend a heartfelt call for recommitment. We’ve reflected on the past and learned from it; now we turn our eyes to the future we will create. I invite all of you, here and now, to recommit to the ideals that brought us together in the first place and to the actions that will carry those ideals forward.
First, let us recommit to the values that define YELP: integrity, empathy, service, and courage. These four words are the bedrock of our fellowship. And they are not abstract – they are profoundly practical.
Next, let us recommit to being active participants in shaping the regional and global leadership conversations. Each one of us has a voice and a sphere of. We cannot afford to be silent or passive observers of the issues that matter.
Third, let us recommit to supporting one another as a living network – not a nostalgic one. This fellowship is not just a collection of fond memories or a directory of names; it is a living, breathing community.
Finally, let us recommit to turning this fellowship from an experience into an ongoing practice of leadership. YELP may have started as a training program or a series of seminars we attended, but its true value is in how we live what we learned. In short, let’s live out the credo that “YELP is not a one-time experience, but a lifelong commitment to lead.” If we do this, then five or ten years from now, we won’t just be remembering what we did during the program – we’ll be seeing the real-world results of having embodied those lessons over time.
We have reflected, we have reconnected, and we are now actively recommitting. And in doing so, we truly honor the purpose of this reunion. This is not the end of a great day – it’s the beginning of a new chapter in our collective leadership story.
Thank you all for being here, for listening, and for choosing to lead. Thank you for your recommitment and your courage. Now, together, let’s step forward and build that better future.
Thank you – and let’s go make our commitments real.
