Diana Mpyisi

Diana Mpyisi is a currently the Founder and CEO of Blue Oceans, a media and communications consultancy firm. Established in 2017, Blue Oceans conceptualizes and implements communication and media-based strategies for its clients in the private, public and civil society sectors. The creation of Blue Oceans was largely inspired by the need to create content by Rwandans about Rwandans; to be shared with the world. As of February 2018, to date, Blue Oceans produces The Square, a weekly current affairs English show on Rwanda Television, hosted by Diana. Diana has 23 years’ experience in demanding communication management roles, multi-skilling across a wide range of disciplines that range from Project Implementation; Journalism and Communication; Speechwriting, Knowledge Management in Youth Empowerment; Events and Protocol; High Level Conference Facilitation and Documentary and TV Production. Some of her previous professional roles include Director for Communication and Protocol in the Office of the First Lady of Rwanda (2007 – 2012), and English news anchor at Rwanda Television (2001 – 2003). She is a writer and has written for The New Times Newspaper (2002 – 2013), and various publications in Rwanda and on the African continent. Diana is passionate about youth empowerment, and is currently the Co-Founder and Organiser of Spoken Word Rwanda – a platform that promotes poetry and spoken word talent amongst Rwandan youth since 2011 to date. Diana is also the Founding Curator for the Kigali Global Shapers Hub – an offshoot of the World Economic Forum for youth across the globe based on their Global Shapers program. She is also a seasoned conference facilitator and technical advisor at major events such as Rwanda-Poland Business Forum 2024, Women Deliver 2023, Kwita Izina 2022, BPR Bank Merger Launch 2022, Kwibuka27, Rwanda Embassy in the Netherlands 2021, Africa Drone Forum 2020, Eisenhower Fellowships Regional Africa Conference 2019, Volkswagen Rwanda Launch 2019, Kenya-Rwanda Business Forum 2015, Transform Africa Summit 2013, to name a few. As a public speaker, some previous speaking engagements include: •African Women Storytellers – 2024, •Africa Leadership University – 2023, •Norrken, Women in Business – 2023, •Africa Communications Week, Rwanda – 2022, •MTN Rwanda Youth Mentorship (YOLO Be Great), Rwanda – 2020, •Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, Rwanda – 2019, •G5 Business Makers Program: Meet the Professionals, Rwanda – 2018, •Youth Connect Summit, Rwanda – 2017, •Imbuto Foundation, Office of the First Lady, Rwanda – 2016 & 2018, •Kigali Global Shapers, Rwanda – 2016 & 2018, •Gashora Girls Academy, Rwanda – 2015, •TEDx Kampala Youth Talk, Uganda – 2013, •United Nations Global Youth Forum, Kenya – 2012, •Tallberg Forum, Tallberg, Sweden – 2012. Diana undertook her undergraduate studies in Journalism and Politics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (2002). This was followed by her graduate studies at the University of Warwick, UK, with an MA in Creative and Media Enterprises (2009), where she was a recipient of the prestigious UK Chevening Scholarship. As of May 2017, Diana became an Eisenhower Fellow, awarded by Eisenhower Fellowships President George de Lama and its former Chair, the late Major General Collin L. Powell.