A powerful gathering of influential female leaders
The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is an event that brings together the who’s who of female leadership on the continent and beyond – from the world of business, politics, art, sports, civil society and life; a unique collection of female trailblazers who are distinct in their thinking but single-minded in their purpose – all for a new, equal and thriving world!
The 2024 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit
Since its inception, the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit has honored International Women's Day on March 8 as an annual celebration commemorating the achievements and resilience of women across Africa and the world.
The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is turning nine! What a time to be around, capturing the nuances of progress and Afro-optimism through the ideas and stories of our power-packed speaker line-up! As every single industry on the planet is undergoing tectonic technological shifts that only they can better decipher, what is the new rulebook for leadership to recalibrate for the opportunities ahead? See them, hear them, watch them live - unraveling their stories of grit and gravitas!
Women Unscripted: Powering Innovation and Impact in Africa
The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit will showcase its ninth landmark edition on March 8 2024 at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa. The much-anticipated and hugely successful annual must-do calendar event will honor International Women’s Day and the female leaders and luminaries going beyond the script for a new vision for Africa.
The day, featuring exclusive panels, talks, one-on-one interviews and fireside chats, will salute African ingenuity and the power of the female collective, connecting the dots, the doers and their doings. As innovative technology and artificial intelligence herald a new world order, the summit will address how we must take advantage of this changing paradigm to catalyze the role of women in the mainstream. How can tech upskill and educate women to leapfrog historic inequalities?
This is how change can be fast-tracked given that women are faster learners and early adopters. Additionally, the summit will examine the ideas and innovations coming out of Africa, and the pioneers leading the charge and disrupting the status quo. This is where you will meet them all, tenaciously talking triumphs and trends and the new leadership mindset to change the course. The summit will bring together the best and the brightest from across Africa and the world, igniting a new discourse, and the power of now!
What to Expect at this Year's Summit!
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is a one-day event taking place on 8 March 2024 at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
1000+
Attendees
50+
Countries
30+
Speakers
1 Day
Duration
2024 SPEAKERS
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Abiola Ijasanmi
Chief Operations Officer of CAF
Lineshree Moodley
Country Head, Visa South Africa
Alan Barr
Head of Private Enterprise for KPMG in South Africa
Alia Bare
Fashion Designer, Niger
Ama Qamata
South African actress
Arthi Govender
General Manager: Marketing,Air Products
Ayushi Chandaria
Student, Harvard Business School
Celina Lee
CEO and Co-Founder, Zindi
Desiree Ellis
Head Coach, Banyana Banyana
Flora Mutahi
CEO, Melvin Marsh International
Gaëlle Matumbu Munayi
CEO & FOUNDER, GM Anchor Group & Le Rein Dialysis Services
Jane Trembath
Retired senior airline captain and award-winner conservationist
Jennifer Bash
Co-Founder and CEO, Alaska Tanzania
Alhanislam
Nigerian multi-award-winning performance poet
Micaela Kleinsmith
South African accoustic singer and songwriter
MOE.
South African R&B singer-songwriter
Natasha Joubert
Miss South Africa 2023
Nirere Shanel
Rwandan singer and actress
Sabrina Elba
CEO: S'ABLE LABS, model and activist
Shekhinah
South African Pop/R&B vocalist and songwriter
Celeste Ntuli
South African comedian and actress
Dr Natalie Raphil
Founder of Robots Can Think
Edna Montse
Group Executive: Transformation & Sustainability at African Bank
Mo Abudu
CEO of EbonyLife Media
Oleksandra (Sasha) Romantsova
Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine
Sara Sabry
Egyptian-Lebanese engineer and astronaut
Unathi Mtya
Group Chief Information & Digital Officer at African Bank
Valdene Reddy
Director of Capital Markets, JSE
Zuriel Oduwole
Global education advocate, filmmaker, Presidential advisor
Last Year's Speakers
DR Naledi Pandor
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa
Thamani Thothe
Founder and Creative Director, White Label Fragrances
Aisha Ayensu
Founder & Creative Director, Christie Brown
Amina Mohammed
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group
Arunma Oteh
Nigerian economist
Ashira Solomon
Global Speaker, Running Start Advisor
Aya Chebbi
Founder, Nala Feminist Collective (Nalafem), Pan-African feminist and Tunisian diplomat
Ayakha Melithafa
South African activist
Clare Akamanzi
Leading Growth In Africa's Most Gender-Equal Country
Dr. Funmi Adewara
Founder/CEO Mobihealth International
Dr. Helena Ndume
Head of Ophthalmology Department, Windhoek Central Hospital
Edna Montse
Group Chief: Transformation & Sustainability Officer, African Bank
Eliane Umahire
Rwandan Actress
Elke Brink
Director, Wealth advisor PSG Wealth, Moneyweb advisor
H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Former President, Liberia
Elsa Majimbo
Kenyan comedian living in LA
Fatima Babakura
Creative Director and Founder, Timabee Inc
Funeka Montjane
Chief Executive Officer for Consumer & High Net Worth Clients, Standard Bank
Hajer Sharief
Libyan Human Rights and Peace Activist
Hellen Dausen
Founder, Nuya's Essence & Former Miss Universe Tanzania
Irene Kiwia
Co-Founder and CGO, Adanian Labs
Naseem Banu Lahri
Managing Director, Lucara Diamonds, Botswana
Lehlogonolo Machaba
First openly transgender woman to enter Miss South Africa
Maureen Williams Mtonintshi
Director of Operations, McDonald's SA
Melanie Campbell
Marketing Director at Edward Snell & Co
Nomcebo Zikode
South African Grammy Winner, Singer Songwriter
Louisa Mojela
Co-Founder and Group CEO of WIPHOLD
Naana Frimpong
Partner, DLA Piper’s White Collar Defense Group
Dr Nataliey Bitature
Chief Of Staff, SIMBA Group
Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni
Managing Director, RichAfrica Consultancy
Nikita Kering
Kenyan musician and actress
Nolitha Fakude
Chairman of Anglo American’s Management Board in South Africa
Nonkululeko Gobodo
CEO of Awakened Global
Nongcebo 'Noni' Langa
Winemaker at Delheim
Palesa Mokubung
Founder and Creative Director, Mantsho
Patricia Scotland
The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC Commonwealth Secretary-General
Patricia Obozuwa
Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Africa, Coca-Cola Company
Patricia Pillay
CEO, Beer Association of South Africa
Salima Mukansanga
Rwandan Referee
Dr. Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa
Founder, Chil Group companies
Sima Sami Bahous
Executive Director of UN Women
Singhita
Singer-songwriter, model, actress and avid equestrian
Yolenda Jawe
Founder, Yolz Beauty
Tasneem Karodia
COO and co-founder at Mzansi
Thami Nkadimeng
The Message Architect
Thami Banda
Brand Ambassador - Africa, The Macallan
Thembi Kgatlana
South African Soccer Player
Tumi Morake
Award winning comedian, actor, writer and producer
Tunde Oyeneyin
New York Times Bestselling Author, Peloton Instructor, Nike Athlete, Motivational Speaker, Host and Correspondent
Unathi Mtya
Group Chief Information & Digital Officer, African Bank
Vimbai Masiyiwa
Executive Director, Batoka Hospitality Limited
Wouter Kellerman
2x GRAMMY winning South African Flautist, Producer and Composer & Musician
Yvonne Themba
Chief People Officer at McDonald’s South Africa
Kaitlin Rawson
Tik Tok Influencer
Speakers From Past Years
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Sheikha Hend Faisal Al-Qassimi
Royal Princess, Emirati Business Woman, Author and Artist (UAE)
Tanya van Lill
CEO of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA)
Oti Mabuse
Dancer, South Africa
Ilwad Elman
Somali-Canadian Activist & Director, Elman Peace Centre, Mogadishu, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Ebehijie Momoh
Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa, Mastercard
Alek Wek
British-Sudanese Model
Shudufhadzo Musida
Miss South Africa 2020
Bonang Matheba
South African television presenter, radio personality, businesswoman, producer, model and philanthropist.
Caitlin Rooskrantz
South African Artistic Gymnast
DJ Zinhle
South African DJ
Dr Jaishree Naidoo
Paediatric Radiologist and CEO, Envisionit Deep AI
Dr Judy Dlamini
South African Businesswoman and Author
Dr Naledi Pandor
South African politician, educator and academic serving as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Ibukun Awosiwa
Nigerian business woman, motivational speaker, and an author
Leila Lopes
Angolan actress, TV host, Model and Beauty queen
Lira Molapo
South African Singer
Malaika Uwamahoro
Rwandan-born actress, poet, singer, and social justice activist
Folorunsho Alakija
Entrepreneur & Vice Chair of Famfa Oil, Nigeria
Zozibini Tunzi
Miss Universe 2019
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
British / Hollywood Actress
Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
Saray Khumalo
South African Explorer and Africa’s first black woman to summit Mount Everest
Patricia Scotland - Abbasi
Commonwealth Secretary General to Africa
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit Over the Years
Gallery
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA AWARDS | Past Winners
Celebrating the courageous accomplishments of female leaders whose dedication and selfless impact will inspire future generations.
The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards celebrates the continent’s most inspiring women excelling in different sectors and industries across Africa. These are women who have dismantled stereotypes to create a new narrative in entertainment, sport, business, finance and science. They have challenged authority to bring about change and created a new discourse that will enable future generations to live in a better and more equal world.
