Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen
Keynote Speaker: Strategic Leader in Tourism, Land Development & Economic Growth
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Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen Biography
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen is an Ethiopian entrepreneur, diplomat, and public servant. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, she has held various leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.
Mekonnen began her career as an entrepreneur, establishing her own startup. She later transitioned to diplomacy, working in the development sector with a focus on agriculture, institutional, and systems building. She has also consulted on projects aimed at improving livelihoods and communities.
In 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Mekonnen as the CEO of the Ethiopian Tourism Organization. During her tenure, she spearheaded a 10-year MICE strategy to promote business tourism, established a convention bureau, and initiated a strategy for stopover tourism. Mekonnen also advocated for comprehensive tourism resource mapping, destination optimization, and job creation within the tourism value chain.
In 2020, Mekonnen was appointed the founding CEO of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Land Bank and Development Corporation. In this role, she focused on accurate landholding information, project concept development, and strategic planning for large-scale development projects, including the ReVamping Sheger Project. She also organized the Invest Origins international investment forum to attract foreign investment in sectors such as housing, health, hospitality, education, and ICT.
Mekonnen returned to the tourism sector as a State Minister, where she revitalized the sector through social media campaigns and international collaborations. She played a key role in the development of the East Africa Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy, launched in Addis Ababa in September 2024. A strong advocate for Ethiopia's economic growth and development, Mekonnen believes that active citizenship and constructive dialogue are essential to realizing the country's potential. She is currently working on setting up a multifaceted independent consulting service.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen and other top speakers and celebrities.
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen Speaking Topics
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen's tenure as CEO of Tourism Ethiopia provided her with direct insight into the sector's capacity to transform lives and economies. The tourism industry possesses a unique grassroots reach, generating employment opportunities for a wide spectrum of individuals, regardless of their educational background. This inclusivity fosters social mobility and empowers communities. Furthermore, tourism significantly contributes to economic growth through foreign currency generation, positioning it alongside traditional export industries. This contribution is crucial for diversifying the economy and strengthening both the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. In essence, tourism serves as a powerful catalyst for integrated social and economic development.
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen's experience in land development, where the demand for hospitality investments reflected increasing global mobility, reinforced her understanding of the crucial link between human connection and peace. Tourism fosters intercultural understanding by facilitating direct interaction between people from diverse backgrounds. By exposing individuals to different cultures, lifestyles, and social norms, tourism promotes empathy, tolerance, and mutual respect. These shared experiences create lasting connections and build bridges across cultural divides, contributing significantly to regional, continental, and global peace.
Returning to the tourism sector in a ministerial role has underscored the importance of engaging youth in realizing this transformative potential. In our increasingly interconnected digital world, it is essential that young people recognize the multifaceted benefits of tourism, including its vital role in fostering peace and enhancing security, in addition to its economic and social contributions. By developing policies and regulations that prioritize youth involvement, we can ensure the sustainable growth of a sector that acts as a powerful force for positive change.
How do I book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen speak about?
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Social Activism, Female Leadership, Black Heritage, Entrepreneurship and Culture.
Where does Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen travel from?
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen generally travels from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Social Activism, Female Leadership and Black Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen generally travels from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cassie De Pecol, Jacqueline Novogratz and Ambriel Pouncy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen Speaking Topics
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1. The Social and Economic Transformative Power of Tourism
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen's tenure as CEO of Tourism Ethiopia provided her with direct insight into the sector's capacity to transform lives and economies. The tourism industry possesses a unique grassroots reach, generating employment opportunities for a wide spectrum of individuals, regardless of their educational background. This inclusivity fosters social mobility and empowers communities. Furthermore, tourism significantly contributes to economic growth through foreign currency generation, positioning it alongside traditional export industries. This contribution is crucial for diversifying the economy and strengthening both the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. In essence, tourism serves as a powerful catalyst for integrated social and economic development.
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2. Utilizing Tourism as a Peacebuilding Block
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen's experience in land development, where the demand for hospitality investments reflected increasing global mobility, reinforced her understanding of the crucial link between human connection and peace. Tourism fosters intercultural understanding by facilitating direct interaction between people from diverse backgrounds. By exposing individuals to different cultures, lifestyles, and social norms, tourism promotes empathy, tolerance, and mutual respect. These shared experiences create lasting connections and build bridges across cultural divides, contributing significantly to regional, continental, and global peace.
Returning to the tourism sector in a ministerial role has underscored the importance of engaging youth in realizing this transformative potential. In our increasingly interconnected digital world, it is essential that young people recognize the multifaceted benefits of tourism, including its vital role in fostering peace and enhancing security, in addition to its economic and social contributions. By developing policies and regulations that prioritize youth involvement, we can ensure the sustainable growth of a sector that acts as a powerful force for positive change.
VIDEO
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen Videos
FAQS
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How do I book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen speak about?
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Social Activism, Female Leadership, Black Heritage, Entrepreneurship and Culture. -
Where does Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen travel from?
Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen generally travels from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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Speakers Similar to Lensa (Aida) Mekonnen
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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
