[PODCAST] BOLD THINKERS EPISODE 1: KINSHASA, The Rising Pulse of Africa’s future

In the first episode of the Bold Thinkers podcast, we journey to Kinshasa, the bustling capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a population set to exceed 58 million by 2075, Kinshasa is one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. Often seen through the lens of challenges, this episode shifts the narrative to uncover its immense potential. From energy innovation to the power of leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, and cultural resilience, this conversation is a deep dive into how Kinshasa’s trailblazers are imagining a more sustainable future.

 

Hosted by Fatou Ndiaye, this episode brings together diverse perspectives from an academic, a business leader, and an MBA student, all working towards Kinshasa’s transformation.

• Romaric Ngambo, MBA Candidate and Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and MBA Candidate at HEC Paris 
• Patricia Nzolantina, a social entrepreneur and investor. ICC WBO Executive Board Member. Co-chair Harvard CAS Leadership Council. Co-chair B20 Action for Africa.
• Héritier Mesa, a scholar in political and social sciences whose research focuses on topics at the intersection of economic and political Anthropology at Université libre de Bruxelles.
   

Together, they explore how renewable energy can unlock economic potential, the role of visionary leadership in building resilient communities, and the untapped power of women entrepreneurs in driving change. 

Listeners will also gain insights into Kinshasa’s rich cultural traditions and how they inspire collective identity and innovation. 

This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to rethink sustainability and embrace the bold ideas coming from one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to BOLD Thinkers. I'm Fatou, and in this first episode, we take you to the heart of one of the fastest-growing mega cities in the world. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

You're listening to BOLD Thinkers, a podcast series dedicated to the voices from regions where critical sustainability issues are most pressing.

The objective of this podcast is to bring these voices to the forefront of the thinking, planning, and action of today's leaders. Each episode will explore a different mega city, meeting some of its trailblazers.

Today, I'm going to explore three different, yet complementary perspectives on Kinshasa. I'm therefore, joined by three unique speakers: an academic, a business leader, and an MBA student, each engaged in the future of this extraordinary city. Heritier Mesa, Patricia Nzolantima, Romaric NGambo, and I will explore together some of the key forces that could be harnessed to positively shape Kinshasa's future.

With almost 20 million residents today, Kinshasa is projected to grow to over 58 million people by in 2075, making it the world's largest city. This exponential demographic growth represents significant opportunities, but also immense economic, social, and environmental challenges that will have a broad reaching impact. Therefore, we can no longer ignore Kinshasa. What will it take to address these challenges and unlock potential in longitudinal and sustainable ways?

Opportunity number one, energy

Fatou Ndiaye: Our discussion today begins with the idea that opportunity often emerges where challenges are most acute. Romaric Gambo, who is currently an MPA candidate and a Mason fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, as well as an MBA candidate at the HEC Paris, has been studying the key issues facing Kinshasa. He shared with me his insights on the city's biggest obstacle and potential solutions.

Romaric Ngambo

“The most pressing sustainability issues facing Kinshasa today are very large and can be summarized as follows. I see, firstly, rapid urbanization, secondly, water scarcity, thirdly, energy consumption, fourthly, waste management, and lastly, food security. If we have to dig deeper on those points, I can say that despite its proximity to the Congo Rivers, many residents in Kinshasa lack access to clean water. They have outdated infrastructure and inefficient water management systems, which are making the problem more and more difficult to tackle. Currently, the World Bank shares that only 47% of the population has access to clean water, which causes significant health risks.”

Fatou Ndiaye: Romaric highlights a crucial point. Water is not only essential but foundational for human well-being. And yet, nearly half of Kinshasa's population faces water scarcity. But water is just the beginning. Romaric also shared his insights on energy consumption, another critical issue that could either unlock Kinshasa's human and economic potential or hold it back.

“The energy infrastructure in Kinshasa struggling to meet a growing demand, resulting in frequent power outage that disrupt daily life and economic activities. So for me, investing in renewable energy sources like solar and hydroelectric power can be a game changer for Kinshasa.”

Fatou Ndiaye: Romaric's point is key. Energy is a catalyst that can drive broader developments. Currently, Only 7% of the DRC's population has access to electricity, with slightly better access in Kinshasa. Yet, power cuts are constant. Energy availability, not its transportation or distribution, is the root cause of this, and the tremendous gap between demand and supply is growing.

Over 90% of the population still relies on wood for energy. If this trend continues, 35% of the Congo Basin, our planet's second green lung after the Amazon, will disappear by 2050. However, if the DRC taps into its vast hydroelectric and solar resources, it could become Africa's largest exporters of power and water. Investing in renewable energies like solar and hydropower is not only a strategically environmental choice, but also an economic one. It will open up job opportunities in the green economy, enable new economic activities at all levels, and improve quality of daily life for millions. It will also help preserve the Congo Basin, which is so key to the world's environmental and climate balance. And this is something that concerns us all.

Opportunity two. Leadership

The path forward requires more than just large-scale infrastructure projects. Of course, the government of the DRC plays a critical role in shaping Kinshasa's future.

But leadership is not just about government policies, it's also about how communities and local leaders step up to meet the challenges. Communities need to be empowered to live, to participate, and to own the solution required to shape their future. Romaric shares thoughts on how local communities could play a central role in addressing existing challenges.

“The power of collective lies in the strength and resilience of communities working towards common goals. When people come together, they can pull resources, share knowledge, and support each other, creating a stronger and more resilient society This collective effort is essential for tackling complex issues like urbanization, water scarcity, and energy consumption. For example, community-driven projects can create in ends the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. In Kinshasa, local communities can participate in co-creating solutions that meet their specific needs. By evolving residents in the planning and implementation implementation of project, we ensure that these initiatives are culturally relevant and widely accepted. This approach not only impowers the communities, but also increases the likelihood of long-term success. In the second point, visionary leaders play a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring these collective efforts. Leaders who articulate a clear and compelling vision for the future can mobilize people and resources towards achieving that vision. They can foster a sense of purpose and direction, encouraging everyone to contribute to the common goal. A concrete example of visionary leadership can be seen in the successful Urban Resilience Project in Vietnam. I visited Vietnam three weeks ago, where leaders engage communities in developing flood management systems that were both effective and sustainable.”

Fatou Ndiaye: For instance, the Living with Fluids program in the MECON data has been highly successful. This program involved local communities in designing and implementing flood resistance, housing and infrastructure, which has significantly reduced the impact of seasonal flooding. This leadership is needed in Kinshasa to address the unique challenges the city will be facing.”

Empowering communities will be central to unlocking Kinshasa's full potential. As mentioned earlier, business leaders, investments, leadership, as well as the ability to develop new value sharing models will also be absolutely critical.

Business leaders in Kinshasa have an enormous role to play in shaping the future of the city. They need to be independent, future-fluent thinkers who collaborate to build a common compelling desired state to enable new possibilities.

Patricia Nzolantima, a social entrepreneur, investor, and business executive, shared her perspective on how leaders can guide Kinshasa through its rapid growth by focusing on long-term legacy and human-centered approaches.

Patricia Nzolantina

“And I think today, what can change completely the DRC will be the mindset. When you focus on the short term, you will never achieve your goal, and you will never leave a legacy because the short term push you to be corrupted, to walk away from your integrity, from the value the work ethic. You know, Fatou, being a leader, request, sacrifice, discipline, focus, and trusting the process. And the issue, the challenge, the big challenge, Most of entrepreneurs in the DRC, even in Africa, they don't trust the process. When you trust the process, you trust the good timing, because the process is where you figure out how you can manage some challenge, how you can overcome the issue or some challenge.”

Fatou Ndiaye: As Patricia shared, in a country as vast and full of opportunities as the DRC, leading a business is about vision, also about ensuring that people at different levels can thrive and succeed over time. It's about the legacy left behind and the people inspired and empowered along the way. Her message is clear, leaders are visionaries, but it's the people who bring that vision to life. Therefore, including concerned stakeholder and ensuring they believe and buy into the transformation process is a must. It's easier said than done.

“And as a leader, as It's no longer about us. I love to say my calling is bigger than myself. That is the reason why I'm focused on the people than in myself. And as a leader, it's when we focus on the people, because it's the people who work for us. We don't work. We are the visionary, but people work for us. How can we are empowering our team to be there? Even if tomorrow we are not there, money is good, success is good, but the legacy is the the biggest gift that you can give to the world. So this is what I will say, I will give to the leader. In terms of opportunity, the DRC, DRC is a huge country.”

Fatou Ndiaye: By moving towards a more community-focused engagement strategy and striving for joint decision making between stakeholders, including governments and business leaders, the city can develop a more resilient and adaptable system that are both effective and inclusive. Ultimately, leaders of companies who do business in Kinshasa, directly or indirectly, need to consider this. They can play a significant role in supporting the city's transformation if their decisions are more systemic.

Opportunity number three, women

Effective leadership must be inclusive. It must strive to tap into the potential of all the citizens, particularly women, who are driving changes across communities, but too often in the background, without the appropriate recognition and without access to funding either. Patricia, who is an advocate for women's environment, takes us deeper into the conversation about the role of women entrepreneurs in transforming cities like Kinshasa.

“Let's say if you are in Senegal, you wake up in the morning, you will see in the corner a young lady, she's selling Bissab. Our mom is just selling food. Okay, why? Because we grow up to be entrepreneurs. All African women are entrepreneurs. We did not study entrepreneurship at the university. We are born as an entrepreneur, and then we try to improve ourselves to become our best person in term of doing business. Congolese women, they are facing, actually, like I say, has to have access to the good education, first of all, secondly, and the funding, because we don't have a fund for women in the DRC. They don't need to be empowering because we're already empowering. We have the power. But what we need, we need to be empowering financially. We need to be independently empowering financially because it's only a lack of finance.

Because like Fatou, why I will come to empowering Fatou? Fatou, she has a power.

How can you be a role model? How can you build a huge company. I got it only because I left the DRC, because I went to Dubai. Because I knew if I stayed in the DRC, I would never break the glass ceiling, and I needed to break the glass ceiling.

And the only reason for me, Patricia, to break the glass ceiling was leaving the earth and go out of my comfort zone and change the thing from outside. This is what I'm doing right now.”

Patricia raises an important point which investors should consider as a scout for local partners and opportunities to drive change in Kinshasa. Congolese women are inherently entrepreneurial. These women are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and carving out their places in the business world. Nonetheless, increased access to quality education, funding, and mentoring opportunities for them remain too few. This is part of the DRC's new government's agenda and a priority for the first woman Prime Minister of country, Judith Sminua, Tluka. Local and foreign businesses should intentionally invest in women and recruit women as part of their growth strategies. This may well be a key to tap into opportunities, scale businesses, and unlock economic opportunities for all.

Opportunity number 4, Tradition

Leadership in Kinshasa extends beyond economics. It is also embedded in the city's rich cultural traditions and social norms. Congolese artists and musicians are famous for their vividness, their flair, and their social reflection. They are thus broadly appealing and have become increasingly influential across the DRC and far beyond.

Romaric Ngambo
“Kinshasa culture is indeed a significant strength and plays a vital role in shaping its future. It is important to bear in mind that our identity is what defines us as individual and as a collective, preserving our authenticity in a diverse world. It is a foundation on which every generation must build, passing down, victories and essence of our heritage. Unfortunately, the new generation now in Africa, and in particular, Kinshasa, often struggles to connect with its heritage, evolving in this best direction. So this fragmentation limits our ability to unify towards a common objective. So therefore, we must focus on reinforcing our identity, celebrating our cultural uniqueness while fostering a collective vision for the future. So speaking about Kinshasa, traditional dances, festivals, and rituals are integral parts of Kinshasa's cultural fabric."

Fatou: The cultural heritage underlined by Romaric reveals how essential it is for shaping collective identity. But culture doesn't just preserve the past. It has the power to inspire progress. Romaric shed an example of a moment in history when music played a key role in shaping the country. In 1960, while Congo was gaining independence from Belgium, a famous Congolese band called African Jazz turned a celebration into music. The song, en De Promos Cha Cha, song for the first time in Brussels during the independence negotiations, became an anthem of freedom. It spread across Africa, making an evidence not just a political moment, but a joyful celebration everyone could dance to.

Romaric Ngambo “This independent Tcha-cha movement has also been a great part of the cultural existence of Congo. It can maybe lead to define the identity of that country by establishing a musical trend that will be used as a power element for the new generation in the upcoming years.

Music and artists have a unique ability to reach and influence people, making them powerful allies in promoting sustainability and community engagement. Firstly, artists can integrate sustainability themes into their music and performances. By singing about environmental issues and sustainable practices, they can educate and inspire their audiences to take action. Secondly, musicians can lead by example. They can adopt sustainable practices in their tours and concerts, such as using ecofriendly materials, reducing waste, and promoting recycling cycling. This set a powerful example for their fans to follow.”

Fatou Ndiaye: Romaric's perspective shed light on how Kinshasa's rich cultural identity and cultural pride is not just a symbol of the city's past, but a resource that can unlock immense human and economic potential. As Kinshasa navigates through the challenges of demographic exponential growth and fundamental disruption, these cultural pillars provide a foundation upon which the city can build resilient communication and engagement systems. By tapping into its diverse cultural strengths and their reach and influence, Kinshasa has the opportunity to harness goodwill, innovation, and investment to shape a future that is as dynamic and diverse as its tradition.

As we close this episode of BOLD Thinkers, Let's zoom in on a specific part of Kinshasa. Its central market, a vibrant yet complex microcosm of the city's broader infrastructure challenges, social dynamics, and opportunities. One of our guests, Eritier Mesa, a scholar in political and social sciences, whose research focuses on topics at the intersections of economics and political anthropology, explains how this central market reflects the infrastructural gaps in city. But before we explore its current role, let's take a look at its rich history.

Héritier Mesa

“The first market was built in the European quarter, but for a practical reason, there was need to move it a little bit south so that it will be at the border, like in the frontier between the two quarters, between the Belgian and the Covalent's quarter. That was in 1925. It started moving down south of the center of the city of Kinshasa. Back then, again, the market was like a place of in contact. It was a meeting point for different people because although the city was very much segregated, the marketplace, it was a place where the boundaries between race and even social status became a little bit blurred, where people from different backgrounds, different race, would go to shop in the central market of Kinshasa.”

Fatou Ndiaye: Heritier as been researching social inequality through the ethnography of the central market of Kinshasa. He studies this market because it represents an entry point to understand broader social dynamics in Kinshasa, such as social inequalities. His account of the central markets shed light on its history, but also illustrate how the market is more than just a place of trade. It is also a place of opportunity and social inclusion. It is a place where talent converges services and where it can thrive.

Heritier Mesa “But at the same time, the market also challenges those gender norms and gender stereotypes, in which sense, for example, there are women who do work in the market that are usually perceived as being the work done by men. For example, women selling hardware. If you go all around the central market of Kinshasa, we see a lot of women, they are selling hardware stuff. They might be selling electric cable or they might be selling and construction materials. That's the general understanding of people in Congo or even in Kinshasa, it is perceived as the work of men. But women, they are not just selling it, but they are also learning how it works so that they can explain that to their customers when they come in.”

Fatou Ndiaye: The market has become a social and political space that connects a different part of this enormous and siloed city. It is a vital economic hub which connects people of very diverse backgrounds who will never meet otherwise.

Heritier Mesa “It will occupy a very center position in the economic life of Kinshasa and the neighboring provinces. Because of all of that, it also started having a more social symbolism, a social significance. One of which is that because it's a place where many people would meet, it's also a place where the rumors will start to circulate from the market. Information would circulate starting from the markets to different parts of the city. So it occupies not just the economic, but the economic function of the market. It actually translated to very much social symbolism of the market of Kinshasa.”

Fatou Ndiaye: The central market's unique commercial dynamics and diversity of products, ranging from construction materials to electrical appliances to food to computers and their accessories, is a bridge between in the past and the future. It establishes a potential new hybrid model of digital and physical trade. The central market is also a place that catalyzes information, trends, and innovation. For global companies that want to be legitimate as they enter the DRC, this is a place that cannot be ignored.

Today in Europe and beyond, the DRC and Kinshasa are defined by a single, one-sided story that emphasizes poverty, conflict, and corruption. Although local challenges are unique and significant, there are also enormous human, environmental, and economic opportunities.

Therefore, it is critical that the narrative on the DRC in Kinshasa evolved to be more multidimensional, forward-looking, and focused on the possibilities that should and could exist.

As our journey through Kinshasa comes to a close, one thing is undeniable. This city is a microcosm of the possibilities and challenges that mega cities across the globe are facing. The way these challenges and possibilities are addressed now will shape a common interconnected future.

No one is equipped to address the new world challenges being faced in Kinshasa and other mega cities. Neither the best CEOs in the world, nor the world best academics, nor the best scientists.

But what we've learned from Romaric, Héritier, and Patricia is that the solutions may lie in understanding the challenges through new lenses. Solutions require a listening and embracing the bold collective actions being led by the people of Kinshasa themselves.

At the Impact Company Lab, we believe that by building new social bridges, growing our cultural fluency, and adopting deeper multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary perspectives will make better, more informed decisions.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Stay tuned for our next episode of BOLD Thinkers, where we continue to explore the voices of mega cities that will be a critical part of our collective future.

For more information on the HEC Paris Impact Company Lab, or if you're interested in collaborating with us on learning, testing, and scaling impact solutions in the mega cities of the global south, please visit us online or contact us at impactcompanylab@hec.fr. Thank you.