Speaker · Founder · Former diplomat
Policy.Capital.Culture.
CEO and Founder of Next Narrative Africa and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Akunna speaks on how investment, trade and storytelling build Africa's next economy.
About
Akunna Cook represents the intersection of policy, capital, and culture.
She is the CEO and Founder of Next Narrative Africa, a multimedia production company and investment fund building the financial infrastructure for the next century of African storytelling. Bridging high-level diplomacy, economic policy and entertainment, Akunna is launching the Next Narrative Africa Fund, a blended finance fund designed to capitalize the global Black narrative. She is also the creator and executive producer of The Bridge, Next Narrative Africa's annual concert at Harlem's Apollo Theater during the UN General Assembly.
Akunna served in the Biden-Harris Administration as a presidential appointee. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, she oversaw U.S. bilateral relations in Southern Africa and spearheaded the U.S. government's commercial engagement strategy for Africa, facilitating investment into the creative industries, digital technologies and infrastructure. She led high-level trade and commercial delegations to Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia.
Earlier, Akunna was the inaugural Executive Director of the Black Economic Alliance, where she raised more than $6 million in its first year and organized the first televised presidential forum focused on Black economic progress. She practiced corporate governance and public policy law at Covington & Burling LLP, and began her career as a State Department diplomat in China, South Africa, Iraq and Washington, DC.
Akunna graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University with a degree in economics and business, and is a wildly proud HBCU alumna. She holds a master's in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a J.D. from Yale Law School. She was named among New African Magazine's 100 Most Influential Africans of 2025, serves on the board of Harambeans and the advisory board of Keseb. She is a former board member of the Alliance for Justice and a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Akunna is proud of her Abia State, Nigeria and Somerset, New Jersey roots. When Akunna is not traveling and working, she enjoys spending time with her adult children and taking long walks with her labradoodle, Coco. Akunna can generally be persuaded to leave her home in Maryland with a live performance and a decent Hugo spritz.
Speaking
Akunna brings the view from the State Department, the boardroom and the writers' room. Audiences leave with a clear picture of where capital is moving on the continent and why culture is leading it.
From inside U.S. foreign policy, Akunna watched aid, investment and partnership decisions about Africa get shaped by stories Africa didn't tell. Whoever controls the story controls what is possible.
For policy, diplomacy and global affairs audiences
Global demand for African content is outrunning supply. How to finance African film and television as a serious asset class while creators keep ownership of their work.
For investor forums, media and entertainment summits
Lessons from leading U.S. commercial engagement strategy for Africa and trade delegations to Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia.
For trade, development and business audiences
How Akunna built the Black Economic Alliance from the ground up, raising more than $6 million in year one and staging the first televised presidential forum on Black economic progress.
For universities, ERGs and leadership programs
Advisory
Akunna advises governments, philanthropies and corporate clients on strategy.
Advisory work on Africa's film, television and creative industries, including international co-productions and helping African governments expand their countries' potential as international production destinations.
Advises corporate, philanthropic and government clients on African investment and policy strategy, culture and creative industries, and diaspora engagement.
Work
Financial infrastructure for the next century of African storytelling. Next Narrative Africa pairs a philanthropic Institute with a blended finance Fund.
Its first slate, announced in March 2026, includes nine projects chosen from more than 2,000 submissions across 80 countries, with talent including Trevor Noah, Thuso Mbedu and Rapman.
Visit Next Narrative AfricaVisit the Next Narrative Africa Fund
Philanthropic
A nonprofit venture studio that develops African creators and their projects.
Commercial
Finances African film and television production at scale.
Creator and executive producer
A concert and celebration of African and diaspora power, creativity and narratives, held at Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theater on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Each year The Bridge brings the UN General Assembly to the people, pairing performances by artists from across Africa and the diaspora with conversations with leaders from government, business and entertainment.
Now
Next Narrative Africa
Leads the Next Narrative Africa Institute and is launching the Next Narrative Africa Fund, a blended finance fund for African storytelling.
Now
Drake Road Strategies
Advises corporate, philanthropic and government clients on African investment and policy strategy, culture and creative industries, and diaspora engagement.
Most recently
U.S. Department of State
Served in the Biden-Harris Administration as a presidential appointee. Oversaw U.S. bilateral relations in Southern Africa and spearheaded the U.S. government's commercial engagement strategy for Africa, including investment in the creative industries.
Executive
Black Economic Alliance
Built a non-partisan coalition of business leaders from the ground up, raised more than $6 million in its first year, and organized the first televised presidential forum focused on Black economic progress.
Law
Covington & Burling LLP
Practiced corporate governance and public policy law.
Diplomacy
U.S. Foreign Service
Postings in China, South Africa, Iraq and Washington, DC.
Service
Harambeans · Keseb · Alliance for Justice · Council on Foreign Relations
Board member of Harambeans. Advisory board member of Keseb. Former board member of the Alliance for Justice. Former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Appearances
Interviews, conversations and press on U.S.-Africa policy and the business of African storytelling.
Television · Airs December 6
A sit-down interview filmed at Howard University's Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center.
Coming soonStage · New York · September 2026
Convened by the UN Secretary-General and the African Union Commission, organized by the UN Global Compact.
Event pagePanel · New York · September 2026
A UNGA week panel on investment, global partnerships and African storytelling.
ReadStage · Martha's Vineyard · August 2026
A convening of African and diaspora leaders on business, investment and opportunity across the continent.
Stage · Abu Dhabi · December 2025
Speaker at the Milken Institute's annual summit.
Event pagePodcast
Center for Strategic and International Studies
WatchProfile · October 2023
Semafor, an interview with Akunna by Yinka Adegoke.
ReadInterview
The Africa Report
ReadPress
The Hollywood Reporter
ReadConversation
Atlantic Council Africa Center
WatchTelevision
Channels TV
WatchVideo
YouTube interview
WatchVideo
YouTube interview
WatchPodcast
Change Africa Podcast
ListenPress
The Guardian Nigeria
ReadWork with Akunna
Tell us what you have in mind. Every inquiry goes straight to Akunna's team, who will reply about availability and next steps.
Media kit
Approved bios and photos for programs, introductions and articles.
Akunna Cook is the CEO and Founder of Next Narrative Africa, building the financial infrastructure for the next century of African storytelling, and is launching the Next Narrative Africa Fund, a blended finance fund for African storytelling. She previously served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and as founding Executive Director of the Black Economic Alliance. She holds degrees from Howard University, Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Law School, and was named among New African Magazine's 100 Most Influential Africans of 2025.
Our next speaker sits at the intersection of policy, capital and culture. A former career diplomat and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, she now leads Next Narrative Africa, building the capital to finance the continent's next great stories, with creators keeping ownership. Named one of New African Magazine's 100 Most Influential Africans of 2025, please welcome Akunna Cook.
Commentary on Africa's creative economy, trade and investment, and the people building it.
