JOHANNESBURG—June 5, 2025—From township changemakers to continent-shaping visionaries, Season 5 of Dreaming in Color is here and shining a spotlight on African brilliance. Powered by The Bridgespan Group, Dreaming in Color is a podcast that elevates the voices and experiences of leaders of colour in the social sector. The launch of its fifth season today will see leaders from across the continent showcasing the brilliance African leaders have to offer.
While earlier seasons focused on pathfinders in the US, the latest season shifts to Africa, featuring leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia. Bridgespan Partner and host Darren Isom, alongside guest host and Johannesburg-based Bridgespan Manager Elisabeth Makumbi, traveled across the continent to engage with leaders who are advancing social change and positioning Africa as a rising force in global innovation and values-based leadership.
“These conversations are a powerful reminder that the future of global leadership is being shaped across the African continent,” said Isom. “Through Dreaming in Color, we’re not just sharing stories—we’re celebrating a movement of visionaries who are reimagining what’s possible for their communities and for the world.”
The season trailer, released on Africa Day (May 25), provides a glimpse into this season's themes, which include entrepreneurship and innovation, Indigenous knowledge, healing, and community power.
Episodes will be released every Thursday across all major streaming platforms. The guests, in order of appearance, are:
- June 5: Semhar Araia, Eritrean-American activist and CEO founder, Diaspora Academy
- June 12: Leila Ben Gacem, social entrepreneur and general director, Tunistoric (Tunisia)
- June 19: Legketho Makola, chief operations officer, The Market Theatre Foundation (South Africa)
- June 26: Tom Osborn, co-founder and CEO, Shamiri Institute (Kenya)
- July 3: Nwabisa Mayema, social entrepreneur (South Africa)
- July 10: Ore Disu, founding director, the Institute of the Museum of West African Art (Nigeria)
- July 17: Madji Sock, co-founder and president, Haskè Ventures (Senegal)
- July 24: Feven Teshaye, founder, Chakka Origins (Ethiopia)
- July 31: Farah Mami, president, Tunisia Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization
- August 7: Tijan Watt, co-founder and managing partner, Wuri Ventures (Senegal)
“We’re proud to spotlight exceptional African leaders whose voices too often go unheard on global stages,” said Makumbi. “What makes this season especially meaningful is its broad regional representation—from Anglophone to Francophone countries—connecting the global African diaspora to the continent through shared legacies and rich cultural identities.”
Learn more about Dreaming in Color: https://www.bridgespan.org/dreaming-in-color
About The Bridgespan Group
The Bridgespan Group (www.bridgespan.org) is a global nonprofit that collaborates with social change organisations, philanthropists, and impact investors to make the world more equitable and just. Bridgespan’s services include strategy consulting and advising, sourcing and diligence, and leadership team support. We take what we learn from this work and build on it with original research, identifying best practices and innovative ideas to share with the social sector. We work from locations in Boston, Johannesburg, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, and Washington, DC.
