By Jessie Taylor
African women are increasingly asserting their presence in business leadership, bridging historic divides and rewriting norms. The continent leads the world in female entrepreneurship – women comprise 58% of African entrepreneurs, and the IFC estimates female entrepreneurial activity at 24%. Representation at the highest levels remains limited, particularly in tech, where only 11.1% of African tech startups have women as CEOs.
However, systemic gaps persist. Women hold only 22% of board seats and just 7% of executive director roles in South African companies; only 10% of CEOs are women, and JSE-listed companies know only 2.2%. Additionally, the tech sector lags with just 11.1% female CEOs. Bridging these divides requires institutional support, mentorship networks, and structural reform.
Despite challenges, several exceptional women have emerged across sectors, each transforming their fields and inspiring the next generation. Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa (South Africa) At the helm of one of Africa’s largest media and technology investment groups, Ms Mahanyele-Dabengwa became CEO of Naspers South Africa in July 2019 and an Executive Director on the Naspers board from April 2025. Her earlier roles include CEO of Shanduka Group and cofounder of Sigma Capital. She also served in senior project finance roles at the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Fieldstone in New York. Recognised for her leadership, she earned multiple distinctions, including ForbesWoman Africa Businesswoman of the Year and inclusion in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list. Her leadership merges financial expertise with advocacy for youth, governance, and dignity—making her an icon for women in African boardrooms.
Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita (South Africa) An engineer turned business strategist, Ms Nyembezi-Heita assumed the role of Chairperson for both Standard Bank Group and Standard Bank South Africa in June 2022. Her earlier executive career includes CEO positions at IchorCoal and ArcelorMittal South Africa and nonexecutive board leadership at Anglo American and JSE.
With a BSc (Hons), MSc in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA, she brings technical depth and governance excellence to Africa’s largest banking group. She exemplifies women’s rise in traditionally male-dominated sectors, demonstrating how technical and executive prowess can drive strategic transformation.
Kanayo Awani (Nigeria) As Executive Vice President of the Intra-African Trade Bank at Afreximbank from 2022, Ms Awani is instrumental in operationalising intra-African commerce under AfCFTA. Her leadership helped grow Afreximbank’s assets from US$1.4 billion to US$30 billion by 2022, while facilitating record-setting trade fairs and launching infrastructure like the Creative Africa Nexus and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System. She has been recognised with prestigious awards such as the AFIS Woman Leader Award and inclusion among Forbes Afrique’s 50 Most Influential African Women. Ms Awani successfully blends institutional expertise and foresight, driving financial inclusion and industrialisation across Africa.
Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh (Ghana) Ms Kyerematen-Jimoh made history as IBM’s first female Country Director in Africa and the first African woman regional GM, overseeing IBM’s operations across North, East and West Africa from 2020 to 2021. With a BA in Marketing and French, and executive education at Harvard Business School, she also served on the Bank of Ghana’s governing board and founded Brainwave Tech Africa, a technology company promoting innovation on the continent. Her career bridges technology, education and entrepreneurship—demonstrating how African women are shaping the digital future of the continent.
Ibukun Awosika (Nigeria) A business magnate, author, and motivational speaker, Ibukun Awosika made history as the first female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria. Her leadership extends into board roles, including Binance’s Global Advisory Board. She continues to inspire through media presence and support for women entrepreneurs, symbolising the transformative rise of women in African finance.
These women’s journeys are more than personal achievements; they signal critical shifts in the African business landscape. Despite entrepreneurship being female-led across the continent, their ascendancy to the top demonstrates rare yet vital breakthroughs in corporate leadership. Each woman brings her own blend of expertise:
Their visibility has societal impact: they offer powerful narratives that respect economic inequality and gender barriers, yet show what is possible.
While Africa is rich in female entrepreneurial activity, women-led leadership at corporates remains comparatively rare. Yet, figures like Phuti MahanyeleDabengwa, Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita, Kanayo Awani, Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, and Ibukun Awosika show what leadership looks like when women rise, and lead with competence, vision, and resilience.
Source: Verve Africa | Disrupt Africa Report | IFC | SA BRICS Business Council | Standard Bank | Afriwis | Afreximbank | Bain & Company | BWASA credit: https://issuu.com. image:online
