We honour 20 trailblazing women leaders at the helm of country and regional offices of multinational corporations and organizations in Africa. These women are breaking barriers and leading as role models for emerging and future women leaders. Women CEOs in Africa are rare, occupying only 5% of the top positions, according to McKinsey’s Women Matter Africa report (2016). Africa’s Women’s Day is a day to honour and acknowledge the vital role women play as the backbone of our economies and their significant contributions to Africa’s inclusive growth and sustainable development agenda. Here are some of the phenomenal women leaders from across diverse sectors including, banking, technology and telecommunications who have made it to the top. See the full list: Dr Afua Asabea Asare – CEO Ghana Export Promotion Council, Ghana Dr. Asabea Asare led the development and launch of the National Export Development Strategy, targeting $25.3 billion in export earnings by 2029. Her leadership in GEPA has boosted Ghana’s export potential and empowered women entrepreneurs, contributing to economic diversification and growth. Funke Opeke – Founder & CEO of Main One Cable Company, Nigeria Funke founded MainOne, a key player in West Africa’s telecom sector, renowned for its $240 million undersea cable project. Despite challenges, she secured funding for transformative projects that boosted local tech growth. MainOne’s 2022 acquisition by Equinix highlights Opeke’s strategic vision for advancing Africa’s digital infrastructure. Ndidi Nwuneli – CEO One Campaign, Nigeria With 25+ years in international development, she focuses on agriculture, nutrition, and social innovation in Africa. Ndidi is referred to as a multilingual leader capable of bridging sectors and geographies. She aims to enhance financing, policies, and activism amidst economic and climate challenges. Diane Karusisi – Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Kigali Plc, Rwanda Dr. Karusisi stands out for her role in shaping Rwanda’s economic policies. Under her leadership, the Bank of Kigali, the largest bank in Rwanda, has achieved substantial growth through digital transformation and financial inclusion. She is also dedicated to mentoring young professionals and promoting gender equality. Catherine Lesetedi – Group CEO, Botswana Insurance Holdings Ltd, Botswana With over two decades of experience, Catherine has strengthened BIHL’s market presence through strategic vision, innovation, and customer-centric solutions, making it a leading insurance provider in Botswana. Her leadership and contributions have earned several accolades, highlighting her dedication to financial inclusion and economic development in the region. Dara Treseder – Chief Marketing Officer, Autodesk Dara has made significant contributions to global and African markets, previously holding key positions at Carbon and Peloton. Recognized as one of Africa’s top 50 Corporate and Career Women by Leading Ladies Africa, her work focuses on amplifying authentic diversity and inclusion efforts within organizations, and she advocates for the untapped potential of African consumers in the global market. Agnes Gathaiya – Country Director Google, Eastern Africa, Kenya Agnes has more than 23 years of progressive experience in organizational transformation, predominantly focused on developing strategy and providing commercial leadership in sales and business development. She was also recognized in 2010 as a Top 40 Under 40 Woman by Business Daily. Xoliswa Daku – CEO, Daku Group of Companies, South Africa Apart from running a 100% black-owned firm specializing in mixed-use property development and management, Daku launched the Daku Group Academy in 2017, focusing on mentoring women in business across South Africa and providing essential skills and opportunities. Through the academy, Daku aims to bridge the gap in business education and support, fostering a new generation of female leaders and entrepreneurs. Caroline Abel – Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, Seychelles Caroline Abel is the first woman to serve as…
We are proud to showcase 50 women impact entrepreneurs on MSME Day, which celebrates the contributions of smaller businesses to achieving the SDGs. Impact entrepreneurs are driving Africa’s development, finding creative solutions to tackle challenges, and making a real difference. Women, in particular, are making significant contributions through sustainable business models. By recognizing these 50, we aim to highlight the immense potential and achievements of women in spearheading positive change across diverse sectors, including tech, manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and finance. Join us in celebrating these remarkable Impact Entrepreneurs! West Africa Echika Obijiaku, Founder & CEO, Mwanga (Nigeria) Echika is pioneering debt recovery in Africa through Mwanga and has been recognized for her entrepreneurial impact on multiple start-ups. She serves as Nigeria’s Ambassador for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) Africa. Ifeoma Malo, Co-founder, Clean Tech Hub (Nigeria) Ifeoma Malo, a dedicated climate action champion, co-founded the Clean Technology Hub, which has significantly impacted 80 communities across seven countries. As the former Nigeria Country Director of Power For All, she spearheaded a campaign that substantially expanded the decentralized renewable energy industry within two years. Karima Grant, Founder, ImagiNation Afrika (Senegal) Karima founded ImagiNation Afrika, West Africa’s first children’s learning and innovation hub. It is revolutionizing Senegal’s education system by infusing creativity and self-reliance into learning, transforming traditional subjects into engaging games that make education enjoyable and impactful. Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja, Founder of Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services (Nigeria) Oluwayimika uses agricultural technologies to strengthen communities and serves as Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture to the Governor of Ogun State. She creates inclusive growth strategies for governments and organizations, focusing on women and youth empowerment. Carmelle Cadet, Founder & CEO, EMTECH (Ghana) Carmelle Cadet leads EMTECH, where she aids central banks in adopting inclusive and resilient financial technologies. A committed advisor to women and minority fintech entrepreneurs, Carmelle has earned multiple accolades for her leadership in the financial technology sector. Dr. Lydiah Kemunto Bosire, CEO & Founder, 8B Education Investments (Ghana) 8B Education Investments provides affordable loans for African students to attend top global universities. Passionate about the transformative power of education, Dr. Bosire believes it’s essential for solving African challenges and developing future changemakers, and has profoundly impacted countless lives. Yvonne Johnson, Co-Founder & CEO, Indicina (Nigeria) Yvonne Johnson’s FinTech company, Indicina, is at the forefront of developing technology infrastructure for consumer credit platforms and businesses across Africa. As an early-stage investor and advisor in Pan-African tech start-ups, she has also contributed to the success stories of notable companies like Andela and Flutterwave. Ngozi Nwabueze, Founder/CEO, PocketLawyers.io (Nigeria) Ngozi is revolutionizing the legal industry in Africa through the tech-driven solutions of PocketLawyers, Africa’s first fully integrated virtual law firm, offering quick, affordable, and premium legal services and solutions to SMEs and startups. Morenike Molehin, CEO, Oak and Teak (Nigeria) Acclaimed entrepreneur Morenike Molehin founded Oak and Teak, and also spearheads Grow With Renny, a mentoring program for African youths. In 2023, she was honored with the ELOY Award for Entrepreneur of the Year and is celebrated as one of “Africa’s 100 Most Impactful Women Founders.” Temilade Salami, Founder, Climate Education Leaders Fellowship (Nigeria) As founder and executive director of EcoChampions, Temilade leads one of Africa’s largest networks of young environmentalists. She’s at the forefront of driving climate education, leadership, and advocacy. She has collaborated with the UN and the World Bank on innovative climate change programs. Fatoumata Ba, Founder, Janngo (Senegal) Fatoumata leads Janngo Capital, which funds African tech startups with a focus on social and environmental impact. A Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 alumna amongst other…
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