Tumi Makgabo
Tumi Makgabo is the Founder and Executive Director of Africa Worldwide Media, a company active in broadcast production, publishing, communication strategy, and strategic events. She is also the founder and director of Kutlwano Realty, a real estate investment business based in Johannesburg, and serves as a Non Executive Director on several boards. Her portfolios have included risk, audit, infrastructure, marketing, and social and ethics.
Tumi is a former CNN International anchor and has hosted multiple programs for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. She led International Affairs and Communications for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She has contributed to WEF Global Agenda Councils on Women’s Empowerment, Africa, and the Gender Gap.
At BRIDGE Summit, Tumi will discuss African media narratives, leadership on the global stage, and how strategic communication can support growth and representation across the continent.
Tumi Makgaboat BRIDGE
- Creator Economy Panel 9 December 4:15 - 4:40PM
Creators Go From Lights, Camera, to Business
The creator economy is transforming media, with top creators now rivaling traditional studios in both revenue and cultural influence. In 2024, MrBeast’s empire generated over $470 million across YouTube, Amazon Prime, and consumer products. As creators become the next generation of media moguls, what best practices define who rises to the top?
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- Media Fireside 10 December 10:00 - 10:30AM
Advancing Human Possibility in the Agentic AI Era
Exploring the Agentic AI Era, where AI reasons, adapts, and collaborates with humans to transform media and business. This fireside examines how AI amplifies human empathy, creativity, and storytelling while safeguarding authenticity, equity, and trust.
Central Stage - Technology Panel 10 December 11:10 - 11:40AM
Innovation, Expansion, and the Global South’s Digital Shift
AI is reshaping how emerging markets innovate, scale, and compete—positioning the Global South as a driver of the next digital era. This session explores how advancements in robotics, platform ecosystems, and cross-border growth models are transforming opportunities across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The discussion will examine how AI-enabled innovation is lowering barriers to expansion, accelerating new industries, and creating a more multipolar digital economy.
Central Stage - Music Panel 9 December 4:40 - 5:05PM
The Future Sounds Like This
Behind every breakout artist, songwriter, and producer is a blueprint. In this session, music executives break down what it really takes to go from zero to a million streams. From storytelling and distribution to publishing, touring, and fan discovery, they share the playbook for scaling talent and building sustainable careers in today’s attention economy.
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- Media Fireside 10 December 10:30 - 11:00AM
New Formats for New Voices
As influence moves from traditional media gatekeepers to millions of independent creators, a defining question emerges: who gets to shape narratives, and on what terms? This session explores how emerging formats, from hyper-short video to participatory storytelling and community-rooted audio, are redistributing visibility, expanding representation, and reshaping how audiences connect with the world.
Central Stage - Marketing Panel 9 December 9:30 - 9:55AM
Culture as the Bridge of Understanding
In an age defined by fragmentation, culture remains the thread that connects humanity. Through music, film, design, and storytelling, it shapes how we see ourselves, and one another. This session explores how cultural understanding has become a strategic asset for nations, brands, and creators alike, fostering empathy where politics and economics fall short. As the world grows more divided, how can we harness culture not just to entertain, but to unify?
Explore by InstagramSpeakers
- Media Panel 8 December 2:55 - 3:20PM
Money Talks: The Power Sources of Modern Media
Media today is powered by a complex mix of hedge funds, billionaires, global conglomerates, and platform-era kingmakers. Each is shaping not only what gets made, but what gets seen. From entertainment mergers to private-equity rollups of local outlets, the incentives behind media ownership increasingly influence creative choices, cultural priorities, and public trust. As financial influence deepens and independence is tested, this session asks: what funding models and accountability mechanisms can keep our modern media, across news, entertainment, and creator platforms, serving audiences and culture, not just its proprietors?
Forum StageSpeakers