Dr. Jatali Bellanton Hosts Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at Her Brilliant Minds Dinner Series During UNGA 2025

During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dr. Jatali Bellanton, Cape Verdean-British financial strategist, angel investor, global finance educator, and founder of Brilliant Minds with Dr. Jatali, hosted the inaugural Brilliant Minds Dinner Series in honor of Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, Africa’s first elected female head of state,and Nobel Peace Laureate.

Produced by Barkue Tubman-Zawolo and MBL Intl Group, the private evening brought together a distinguished cross-section of leaders to celebrate President Sirleaf’s legacy and spotlight the importance of women’s leadership, storytelling, and global collaboration.

A Celebration of Legacy & Leadership
The dinner honored President Sirleaf’s extraordinary journey and her continued commitment through the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center). Established in Monrovia, Liberia, the EJS Center is dedicated to advancing women’s public leadership and social development across Africa.

Its flagship program, the Amujae Initiative, equips and elevates women to serve at the highest levels of public leadership while sustaining Sirleaf’s legacy of breaking barriers and creating pathways for the next generation of African women leaders.

“It is Africa’s time,” President Sirleaf shared in her remarks, emphasizing how African leaders are now shaping their own collaborations while inviting global partners to engage in meaningful, equitable ways.

Guests included an intimate mix of policymakers, investors, and cultural leaders such as Ashley Bell (Redemption Bank), Mona Scott-Young (Monami Entertainment), Alvin Bekoe (Sanbra City), Rachel Nordlinger (Actum), Adeola Oredola (Global Business Development, WME), Dora Whitley (The Continental Collective), and the Vice…