On this MSME Day, we celebrate some powerhouse women CEOs in the AWCN community, building businesses, creating jobs, and driving grassroots change across Africa. They are proof that when women lead, economies thrive.
Mahlet Berhe Yohannes, Charter, Sales & Leasing Consultant
Mahlet Berhe Yohannes, a seasoned aviation professional and Charter, Sales, and Leasing Consultant, brings a wealth of knowledge in sales, chief compliance, and marketing strategies. She is passionate about excellence in aviation operations and is driving growth and innovation within the sector.
Prof. Myriam Sidibe, Founder & Chief Mission Officer, Brands on a Mission
Prof. Myriam Sidibe is a global health expert and the visionary behind Brands on a Mission, helping companies drive impact through hygiene and social purpose, and aims to generate $1 billion in sustainable business investments to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
During her time at Unilever, she led a global movement that successfully changed the handwashing habits of 1 billion people worldwide (achieved in 2019). She was pivotal to establishing the Global Handwashing Day, now celebrated in over 100 countries, and her TED Talk, “The Simple Power of Handwashing,” has over 1 million views.
Ndeye Birame Sock, Founder and CEO, Kwely Inc
Ndeye Birame Sock is a tech visionary and entrepreneur and the founder of Kwely, a game-changing innovative platform and the first of its kind global B2B wholesale marketplace for made-in-Africa products. She is also the Co-Founder of Haske Ventures, a venture-building and fund focused on the development and support of high-impact startups in Francophone Africa.
She was the winner of the 2010 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award for North America and served as a member of the North America Jury from 2018 to 2020.
Olatokunbo Ige, Founder, TOGOMALL & UTRADER
Olatokunbo is the founder of TOGOMALL—a trading platform dedicated to showcasing products made in Togo—and Togo Business Angels Network (TOGOBAN). She is a serial entrepreneur with a focus on developing SMEs and startups in Togo.
Pumela Salela, CEO, Global Invest
Pumela Salela is a global strategist and the CEO of Invest Global. She connects high-level investors with Africa’s dynamic business landscape, unlocking opportunities through strategic international collaborations. Committed to fostering sustainable growth and bridging global markets, Pumela brings extensive experience from roles at the World Bank in Washington, DC, The Rockefeller Foundation in New York, and Country Head for the United Kingdom (UK) under Brand South Africa.
Chada El Islam Benmahcene, Founder & CEO, ENTROGX Ventures
Chada El Islam Benmahcene is a global tech product leader and CEO of ENTROGX Ventures, delivering AI solutions to CleanTech and EnergyTech. Chada mentors young entrepreneurs, women in STEM, and tech enthusiasts in the Middle East and North Africa. She was named among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Dubai for 2023 by WomenPreneur.
Mampho Sotshongaye , Founder and Managing Director, Golden Rewards 1981cc
Mampho Sotshongaye is an award-winning South African entrepreneur and the founder of Golden Rewards 1981cc, a road maintenance and construction company. She’s known for her work in empowering women and disadvantaged communities within the construction industry.
Malaika Najem, Co-Founder, Flowershop Café
Malaika is the co‑founder of Flowershop Cafe (Lagos), a space that seamlessly blends a flower shop with a cosy café. An entrepreneur at heart, she began her journey with Malaika Najem Jewelry, where she serves as Creative Director, crafting stunning contemporary pieces. Ms. Najem encourages creativity and cultural expression through her unique jewellery design and lifestyle brand building in Nigeria.
Diana Owusu-Kyereko, Former CEO, Jumia Ghana, Co-Founder and CEO, MAKA
Diana Owusu-Kyereko is a prominent figure in the African tech industry, known for her role as the co-founder and CEO of MAKA, a notable fashion & beauty marketplace facilitating direct sales from creators to consumers through live-streaming, on-demand videos, and catalogs. Before this, as CEO of Jumia Ghana, she led a team of 300+ people overseeing e-commerce, on-demand, and JumiaPlay businesses.
Moyo Makanjuola, Founder and Managing Director, Tangram Energy Ltd
Moyo Makanjuola is the founder and MD of Tangram Energy, a company breaking down barriers to clean cooking through innovative, scalable, and affordable solutions, bridging the gap between clean energy tech and communities in need.