Africa's Wealth: 50 African Women Who Inspire Me

(image source: www.pzimedia.com)

Africa has a great wealth of incredible women who are passionate, driven and audacious. These women have broken glass ceilings, climbed up corporate ladders, entered unventured territories in business and have brought heels and pencil skirts into the boardroom. Some of these women are self-made dollar billionaires and what they all have in common is that they are African.

I have always been obsessed with powerful, inspirational and successful women in Africa and to my delight more publications have risen to the occasion and have shared their stories. There is power in representation. The 50 women I have listed below have broken barriers in the private and public sector, they have carved niche markets and have shown the world that it is a better place with a woman leading it.

I have followed most of their careers and business ventures and I have featured some of them on my blog already. In the near future, I will write a post on their profiles. In the meantime, please refer to the list below of my top 50 African women.

1.       Grace Matsho – South Africa, My Mother

2.       Nondumiso Mzizana – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Sikelela Medical

3.       Phuti Mahanyele – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Sigma Capital

4.       Wendy Luhabe LVO – South Africa, Entrepreneur, WIPHOLD

5.       Ipeleng Mkhari – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Motseng Investment Holdings

6.       Basetsana Khumalo – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Tswelopele Productions

7.       Futhi Mtoba – South Africa, Board Chairperson: Deloitte South Africa

8.       Danisa Baloyi – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Black Business Council President

9.       Dr. Judy Dlamini – South Africa, Chairperson: Mbekani Investment Holdings

10.   Nonkuleleko Nyembezi-Heita – South Africa, CEO: IchorCoal N.V.

11.   Bridgette Radebe – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Founder: Mmakau Mining

12.   Majorie Ngwenya – South Africa, Group Executive: Strategy at Liberty Group

13.   Folorunsho Alakija – Nigeria, Entrepreneur, Second Richest Woman in Africa, Founder: Executive vice-chairman of FAMFA Oil

14.   Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – South Africa, Former Deputy President of South Africa, Executive Director: UN Women

15.   Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura – Senegal, Fifa Secretary General

16.   Salukazi Dakile-Hlongwane – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Chief Executive of Nozala Investments

17.   Precious Moloi-Motsepe – South Africa, Entrepreneur and Doctor, Executive Chairperson of African Fashion International

18.   Sibongile Sambo – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Founder: SRS Aviation

19.   Khanyi Dhlomo – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Founder: Ndalo Media

20.   Dr. Victoria Kisyombe – Tanzania, Entrepreneur, Founder: Selfina

21.   Uche Pedro – Nigeria, Entrepreneur and Author, Founder: BellaNaija

22.   Isabel Dos Santos – Angola, Entrepreneur and Investor, Richest Woman in Africa

23.   Swaady Martin-Leke – Ivory Coast , Entrepreneur, Founder: Yswara

24.   Hajia Bola Shagaya – Nigeria – Entrepreneur, Managing Director: Practoil Limited

25.   Ngina Kenyatta – Kenya – Former First Lady of Kenya, One of the richest women in Africa

26.   Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube – South Africa, Entrepreneur,  Founder: Mjoli Development Company

27.   Vika Shipalana – South Africa, Prestige Director: Pernod Ricard SA

28.   Fatima-Zahra Mansouri – Morocco, Lawyer and Politician, Former Mayor of Marrakesh

29.   Amy Jadesimi – Nigeria , Managing Director: LADOL

30.   Yasmin Belo-Osagie – Nigeria, Social Entrepreneur, Co- Founder: She Leads Africa

31.   Afua Osei – Nigeria, Social Entrepreneur, Co- Founder: She Leads Africa

32.   Tebogo Mashego – Entrepreneur, Founder: Ditsogo Projects, a metal manufacturer and supplier of steel engineering services

33.   Irene Koki Mutungi – Kenya, Pilot, The First Kenya Airways-Dreamliner Captain

34.   Alengot Oromait – Uganda, University student and youngest member of parliament in Africa

35.   Mimi Alemayehou – Ethiopia, Development Finance Executive

36.   Sibeth Ndiaye – Senegal, Communications Advisor, Press Relations Officer of Emmanuel Macron during his presidential campaign

37.   Dambisa Moyo – Zambia, International Economist and Author

38.   Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Nigeria, Economist, Former Finance Minister of Nigeria

39.   Daphne Mashile-Nkosi – South Africa, Mining Magnate, Founder and Chairperson of Kalagadi Manganese

40.   Siza Mzimela – South Africa, Entrepreneur, Founder: Fly Blue Crane (Airline)

41.   Dolly Mokgatle – South Africa, Executive Director of Peotona Group Holdings

42.   Iman Abdulmajid – Somalia, Model, Entrepreneur, Founder: Iman Cosmetics

43.   Linah Mohohlo – Botswana, Banker and Former Governor of the Bank of Botswana

44.   Susan Mashibe – Tanzania, Entrepreneur, Founder: VIA Aviation

45.   Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu – Ethiopia, Entrepreneur, Founder: soleRebels

46.   Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Nigeria, Writer and Speaker

47.   Isis Nyong’o – Kenya, Entrepreneur, Co-founder and Principal of Asphalt & Ink

48.   Magatte Wade - Senegal, Entrepreneur, Founder: Adina World Beat Beverages

49.   Nunu Ntshingila - South Africa, Head of Facebook Africa

50.   Lynette Ntuli - South Africa, Entrepreneur, Founder: Innate Investment Solutions

(image source: www.azquotes.com)