About this speaker
Bassey "Vanessa" Akpanika is on a mission to transform how businesses think about people. A Human Capital Strategist and People Transformation Leader, she has spent over a decade building high-performing teams and reshaping workplace cultures across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets.
At the heart of her work is ECARG Advisory, the human capital firm she founded to help organisations reimagine how they attract, retain, and grow talent. Through ECARG Advisory, Bassey partners with businesses to design resilient people strategies, unlock leadership capacity, and embed inclusive cultures that power sustainable growth.
Her track record spans leading transformative talent projects for high-growth and global organisations, developing career pathways that future-proof skills at scale, and advising executives on aligning people-first strategies with business goals. Known for her ability to bridge strategy with execution, Bassey brings a cross-regional perspective that makes her a trusted advisor in dynamic markets.
Beyond her advisory work, she is a mentor and advocate for youth employability in Africa, committed to shaping the next generation of talent leaders who will redefine the future of work globally.