Migration Leads to Innovation

Our societies are stuck in humanitarian and securitarian narratives of the migrations. One major threat relies on the depletion of the social cohesion, an obvious symptom of the job insecurity of locals and newcomers. What if we could unite locals with newcomers? Simple fact-checking and advocacy don’t seem to counteract the political polarization nor foster impactful policies. Alice Barbe and Mathias Dufour successfully contribute to the future of our society! Their respective bottom-up initiatives, Singa and #Leplusimportant, design meaningful alliances to unleash an untapped power of innovation. They will highlight how reviving universal concepts consistently lead to inclusive and resilient economies, and offer a new democratic project in the context of global crises like the Pandemics or Global Warming.

SPEAKERS Alice Barbe is the co-founder and global CEO of SINGA, a global movement connecting migrants and host societies and supporting migration led entrepreneurship. SINGA exists in 10 countries, involving 50 000 members, and running 8 incubators supporting 200 entrepreneurs each year. SINGA is today an award winning organization, having received many distinction, such as Ashoka Fellowship, Forbes 30-under-30 Social, the Global Pluralism Award by the Aga Khan network, the medal of honor of the City of Paris, the Intercultural Award of the UNAOC, or the German Integration Prize. In 2018, Alice was part of the first cohort of the Obama Foundation Scholar program at Columbia University supporting civic leaders. She graduated in law and political sciences at the Universities of Montpellier and Siena. Before SINGA, Alice has worked as a CSR consultant and was collaborating with the United Nations, Save the Children, or Central School of Paris. She has co-founded other non profits related to civic engagement, such as #StopStreetHarassment in France or the Crazy Toad Initiative that has led her to work with the Dalaï Lama in 2018 on migration and its links to artificial intelligence.

Mathias Dufour is founder and chairman of #Leplusimportant (#Themostimportant). #Leplus important is an innovative and independent think tank & action lab. We put into action a committed community of experts and professionals of all ages and backgrounds to empower people and promote a more inclusive society. We promote the development of the capacities and skills of the middle classes and low skilled workers to meet the social challenges of the digital economy. Our think tank inspires and shares concrete solutions with public and private decision-makers. Our action lab advises and boosts pro bono the growth players of the social and solidarity economy.

COO of RadicalxChange bio from LinkedIn: Empowering People, Building Smarter Cities and Resilient Infrastructures by Maximizing Innovative Technologies For the Greater Good. Splitting my time between Barcelona, Spain & the Bay Area SF. An entrepreneur with more than 18 years of experience working with international, regional and local entities in Latin America, Europe and Asia. She has professional experience in operations, digital transformation, blockchain, smart cities, finance, government contracting, international diplomacy, commercialization of technologies, environmental planning, sustainable building, zoning, land use, mobility, public engagement and infrastructure development. She was the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, serving as Obama’s Presidential Appointee from 2011-2017, responsible for delivery and management of small business programs, development initiatives and financial assistance & lending, throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Olson-Urtecho oversaw 180 SBA offices; Business Development Centers and other resources while managing a field staff of finance, business, and community outreach specialists. She worked with local lenders and successful firms across the region, overseeing more than $34 billion yearly in federal government contracts. Managed the region’s loan program supporting $8 billion in small business loans and $2 billion in grants. - She was appointed to the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board to advise Congress & the White House on competitiveness and innovation. She served on the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and Zoning Code Commission boards. Recognized as a “Latina Powerhouse” in Maryland, one of Delaware Valley’s (NJ, PA, DE) Most Influential Latinos, Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Awardee and receiving the Women of Distinction Award for her work in growing the green economy and sustainable infrastructure. - A triathlete who has climbed Kilimanjaro, Everest, Machu Picchu, loves scuba diving & hiking with her Australian Shepherd. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."