Afoali Ngwakum Akisa is a Montreal-based creative mind, storyteller, and founder of 9:16 Stories, a video production company specializing in emotionally resonant, goal-driven narratives. Inspired by her father’s love for capturing family memories, Afoali turned her passion for storytelling into a thriving career, helping businesses and creators cut through the digital noise with content that connects and drives results.
Her work has delivered measurable impact across industries. Afoali’s expertise helped Swab the World raise over $232,000 through social media campaigns, secured $614,000 in funding for Sayaspora’s mission to empower African women, and supported Juno in raising $300,000 to innovate menstrual health solutions. Known for blending creativity and strategy, Afoali ensures that her clients’ stories resonate and inspire action.
In her workshops, Afoali empowers participants to create engaging content that not only captures attention but delivers real results. By sharing practical techniques, creative insights, and actionable strategies, she equips business owners, marketers, and creators with the tools to stand out in today’s crowded content landscape.
Afoali Ngwakum Akisa


Dédy Bilamba is a high-level marketing manager with a rich and diverse background spanning three continents, known for his unique career path.
Throughout his journey, Dédy has demonstrated his versatility and creativity in diverse roles, including Partnership Manager at Stade de France, Communications Advisor at the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, and Brand Manager for KFC Côte d’Ivoire. His ability to thrive in different environments is driven by a consistent thread—his creative approach to tackling challenges.
A passionate advocate for culture, Dédy is also the author of three books and has written short film scripts.
For the past five years, he has worked in television and cinema in Quebec, contributing to prestigious institutions such as the Vues d'Afrique International Film Festival and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Quebec section).
Dédy also serves on the Board of Directors of the Dynastie Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to cultural advocacy and community impact.
Despite having lived in the diaspora from a young age, Dédy maintains a deep connection to Africa. In 2022, alongside his partner Éric M'boua, he co-founded Afro VFX, a groundbreaking initiative with the mission of revolutionizing African cinema and television.
Afro VFX aims to develop a competitive ecosystem for VFX (Visual Effects) on the continent, helping amplify African stories and bring them to a global audience.

Manuel Sainsily is a TEDx speaker and XR instructor at McGill University and the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Born in Guadeloupe and now a Canadian citizen based in Montreal, where he earned his Master’s degree in Engineering Science, he is a trilingual speaker, designer, and educator with over fifteen years of experience advocating for the responsible use and understanding of artificial intelligence.<br><br>From publishing an AI ethics course with MasterClass to speaking at global conferences on technology, film, and video games, Manuel has been recognized by NVIDIA, Mozilla Rise25, and SkillShare for his contributions to the field. He has also collaborated with Meta, OpenAI, and VIFFest to produce art exhibitions, amplifying discussions on cultural preservation and emerging technologies such as Spatial Computing, AI, real-time 3D, Haptics, and Brain-Computer Interfaces through powerful talks and meticulously curated events.

Ingrid is a brand strategist, ethnographer, and co-founder of Pre&ent. Driven by a deep curiosity for human nuances, she focuses on the motivations and concerns that drive change for brands, organizations, and individuals. Through ethnographic research, strategic planning, and both qualitative and quantitative analysis, this socio-cultural explorer delivers insights and recommendations shaped by diverse observations.
As a freelance consultant, Ingrid helps teams create meaningful socio-cultural anchors, working with organizations such as Collectif Bienvenue, Héma-Québec, Apple, and Hellmann’s. Through Pre&ent, which provides visual content, workshops, and research focused on representation, she explores ways to highlight authentic stories and their complexities. By leveraging engaging learning and observational techniques (A2C, Radio-Canada, Musée de la civilisation), she fosters a deeper understanding of narratives that truly resonate.

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