Laureen Kouassi-Olsson is the founder and CEO of Birimian Ventures, a financial institution dedicated to the sustainable development of African heritage brands. With over 15 years of experience in the African financial services and private equity industries, she has a proven track record of investing in private companies and financial institutions on the continent, generating positive social and environmental impact, and fostering innovation and growth.As a recognized leader and change maker in her fields of expertise, she serves as a non-executive director or an advisory board member to several prominent institutions, such as the Bank of Africa-BMCE Group, FISEA (private equity investment vehicle of the Agence Française de Développement), ARISE Integrated Industrial Platform (Arise II P), Union Bancaire pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (UBCI- Ex subsidiary of BNP Paribas Groupe in Tunisia), Bridge Bank Group, Orange Abidjan Participations and the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance. She leverages her expertise and network to support the development of the continent’s industrialisation, digitalization and financial inclusion. She is also passionate about shaping the African fashion industry and has been ranked among the most influential leaders of the fashion industry worldwide by The Business of Fashion and Vogue Business. She has been identified several times as one of the top 100 most influential african business leaders. She is the author of « Iconic Africa » published by the French editing house Débats public, a book advocating for the transformation of the african creative potential into a sustainable economic powerhouse.