Our guest is someone who works in Africa and across the Caribbean, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through business studios and incubators.

Chrystèle Sanon is a serial entrepreneur in her own right, supporting innovation and business incubation globally, with a concentration in Africa and the Afro-Caribbean. She is a founding member of United Afro Experts for Innovation, as well as the founder of QWAMPUS – Station F. QWAMPUS is a resource center for various stakeholders in business creation support. It enables them to quickly deploy their own digital incubator using the Incubation Management System software, educational formats to enhance their project leaders’ skills, and a library of branded videos and text content. Station F in Paris is the world’s largest startup campus. These are only two of many accomplishments.

Chrystele and I first met in Toronto in late 2023 at a conference on entrepreneurship and higher education hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We then had an opportunity to sit down for a long conversation in Paris in February, which led to the idea for this podcast. It was immediately clear to me that her work and story needed to be shared with new audiences.

The conversation touches on a range of topics, including her strategic choices to address the needs of business incubators and studios, the energy and potential advantages of entrepreneurs from less economically developed countries, and the role incubators can play in encouraging collective action among creatives.

This program was edited by William Edwards. The music was written and performed by Ronnie Malley. Support for this program was provided by the Board of Directors of the Institute for Work & the Economy. The accompanying transcript was lightly edited.