Leading Ladies Africa

Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks have made history! The two trailblazers have become the first Black women to serve in the U.S. Senate at the same time, representing Delaware and Maryland respectively. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware’s first Black female House member, and Angela Alsobrooks, the executive of Prince George's County, are breaking barriers and making their mark as the first Black women elected to the Senate from their states. President Joe Biden extended his congratulations, marking this as a proud moment for America. In her speech, Angela Alsobrooks said, “Now, it’s remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday, and in all those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate, and only three have looked like me,” Congratulations to these remarkable leaders! Your wins are a victory for representation. 👏🏾 #WomenInLeadership #BreakingBarriers #BlackWomenInPolitics #USSenate #LeadingLadiesAfrica

#LLAInterview “The push for equality is still vital; Fundamental rights for women, food security, social protection, access to equitable resources and healthcare remain a priority.” Meet Doreen Majala, a Kenyan lawyer, ADR practitioner, and former news personality who transitioned from a prominent media career to focus on law and philanthropy. As the Executive Chairperson of the Doreen Majala Foundation she leads initiatives that address girls' education, women's economic empowerment, and community development in rural Kenya. In 2015, Doreen undertook a research mission to remote villages, gathering insights on the challenges faced by girls and women. Since then, her foundation has partnered with organizations to improve access to education and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities. In this interview, Doreen shares her journey, her ongoing community impact, and what drives her commitment to social change in Africa. Read Doreen’s full interview through the link below https://lnkd.in/daueFe2V #AdvocateForEducation #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerCommunities #WomenInPhilanthropy #LeadingLadiesAfrica

Professor Olayinka David-West (she/her/hers) becomes Dean of Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University! She is the fifth Dean of LBS and the second woman to hold this prestigious position. Before her appointment, Professor Olayinka served as Associate Dean at LBS, where she led impactful academic and strategic initiatives. Professor David-West is renowned for her leadership of the Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Financial Services (SIDFS) program, which advances financial inclusion in Nigeria. Recognized for her significant contributions to the financial technology sector, she was highlighted in the Tech Women of Lagos exhibition as one of the trailblazing women in Nigeria’s fintech industry. She has also been featured in The Fintech Times as a leading financial inclusion expert in Africa. In addition, she also contributes her expertise to the boards of numerous organizations, including Sterling Bank Accion Microfinance Bank Limited, Stanbic IBTC and BusinessDay where her insights have been invaluable. Congratulations to you Prof. Olayinka David-West (she/her/hers) on your new role 👏🏾👏🏾 #ProfessorOlayinkaDavidWest #WomenInEducation #InclusiveLeadership #LeadingLadiesAfrica

Kemi Badenoch has won the race to become the new leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party. Ms. Badenoch, 44, whose parents were immigrants from Nigeria, becomes the first Black woman to head a party that has had three other female leaders — Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss. She succeeds Rishi Sunak, who became the first nonwhite British prime minister after taking over the Tories, Britain’s oldest party, in 2022. “It is the most enormous honor to be elected to this role, to lead the party that I love, the party that has given me so much,” said Ms. Badenoch after being announced the winner. “I hope that I will be able to repay that debt.” Having women in positions of leadership is absolutely important in nation building and business, so we say a HUGE congratulations to Ms. Badenoch, who has also been recognized previously as an #LLA 100 Women Nominee. #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #WomenWhoLead #KemiBadenoch #LeadingLadiesAfrica #UnitedKingdom #MajorityLeader

Abiola B. has been appointed as the Head of Brand Marketing for the innovative US skincare brand, Topicals as it expands into the UK and internationally! Abiola, a marketing powerhouse, brings years of experience, including roles as Marketing & Strategy Manager at Deloitte and Head of Social Media and Growth Marketing Strategist at Tortoise Media . Through her marketing company, Inner Circle Strategy, she has served top clients like Bianca Saunders, Netflix and Kai Collective. Topicals, founded by Olamide Olowe is celebrated for its inclusive, science-backed approach to skincare, targeting hyperpigmentation and chronic skin conditions. As one of the top skincare brands on social media, Topicals is revolutionizing the beauty industry, especially in Influencer Marketing. #AbiolaBabarinde #WomenInMarketing #TopicalsSkincare #LeadingLadiesAfrica

“I am building Nalafem, because young women need a support system and an affiliation that can act quickly, stand behind them and be the sounding board and action fuel for them to occupy and maintain the leadership positions they deserve.” Aya Chebbi is our #LLASpotlight for November! Aya is a revolutionary Pan-African feminist and advocate for African youth and women's liberation. She is also the founder of the multigenerational feminist organization, Nala Feminist Collective , where she has mobilized thousands of women across generations, creating a transformative feminist alliance that’s reshaping governance on the continent. Renowned for her fearless role in Tunisia’s 2011 Revolution, and becoming the African Union ‘s first Youth Envoy, Aya has redefined youth leadership and amplified voices across Africa and beyond. In this #LLASpotlight conversation, Aya shares her vision for a united Africa, the power of intergenerational co-leadership, and how Pan-Africanism and feminism intersect to drive positive change. Click the link below to read about Aya’s inspiring journey! https://lnkd.in/dq-NQufV #AyaChebbi #AfricanFeminist #YouthLeadership #WomenInLeadership #LeadingLadiesAfrica

Nolo Phiri , a South African actress and producer has launched a 10-part roundtable series titled “Leading Ladies, to empower South African women in the entertainment industry. As the founder of Girl Next Door Media, Nimi has committed her career to nurturing and empowering the next generation of creatives. Leading Ladies will feature insightful conversations with prominent women in South African television, who will mentor emerging talent by sharing their experiences, insights, and journeys through in-depth discussions. Phiri has previously produced a variety of documentaries and dramas, including Muvhango for SABC and has collaborated with networks such as Mzansi Magic, Showmax, ETV, Netflix and Paramount Through this project, she continues to inspire with her vision and dedication to championing women and young talent in the creative industry. #NoloPhiri #SouthAfricanFilmmaker #LeadingLadiesAfrica

Meet Mareme Dieng , a global Venture Capitalist redefining leadership and growth through her work as Partner in charge of Africa Regional Strategy at 500 Global. Since joining 500 Global in 2021, Mareme has been a key figure in the firm’s partnerships, programs, and investments. She has demonstrated remarkable leadership by championing the next wave of African innovation. Her efforts have included launching initiatives that highlight the vast opportunities within the African market. Before her role at 500 Global, Mareme Dieng served as Head of International Partnerships and Relations at Draper University and worked as an Investor Associate at Draper University Ventures. In these positions, she led investments and collaborated with founders from emerging markets. Her impressive work has earned her recognition from Forbes which named her one of the Forbes Afrique 30 Under 30. #InHerWords “As a Senegalese woman who has studied, lived, and worked abroad, my mission is to create growth opportunities for the next generation of young Africans. I want them to have access to quality education and economic opportunities without needing to leave their homes, as I did.” #MaremeDieng #AfricanBusinessLeaders #LeadingLadiesAfrica

Tori Bell Announced as Interim Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer at Nest ! Tori founded Inclusion Unpacked (Techstars '24), a DEI platform that reimagines diversity and belonging in the workplace. Before joining Nest, she had previously managed internal culture at Meta where she launched the employee resource group, Black Women at Facebook, growing it to over 3,000 members. Her work has been instrumental in building inclusive communities and fostering equitable practices that align with Nest’s mission to support makers and artisans globally. #InHerWords ““Everything I do centers around one goal: supporting underrepresented individuals in creating a more equitable and sustainable world, and I am excited to begin my tenure in this new role and further my personal mission with Nest!” #ToriBell #WomenInLeadership #InclusiveWorkplaces #LeadingLadiesAfrica

The World Bank Group is making strides toward gender equality with its new Gender Strategy 2030! Unveiled at the 2024 Annual Meetings, this strategy is focused on creating real economic opportunities for women by boosting access to broadband, social protection, and capital. Here’s are the goals to be achieved by 2030: ➡️ 300M women connected to broadband, unlocking essential services, financial access, education, and job opportunities. ➡️ 250M women reached through social protection programs, with a focus on the poorest and most vulnerable. ➡️ 80M women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses supported with the capital they need to thrive. According to the president of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, these efforts aim to boost women’s economic participation and in turn, lift families and communities worldwide. Read more about the Gender Strategy 2030 on the link below https://lnkd.in/dcY9XQ2v #WomensEconomicEmpowerment #GenderStrategy2023 #FinancialServicesForWomen #WorldBank #LeadingLadiesAfrica