Vice President, the Republic of Liberia
H.E Chief (Dr) Jewel Howard-Taylor is the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia and President of the Liberian Senate serving on several strategic committees. She is Liberia’s foremost advocate for increased and improved opportunities for women - a visible and very involved stateswoman; with a vision for affordable but quality education; a transparent justice system; an improved and accessible health system; women’s economic and political participation; and an accountable public service system – a critical voice on cross-cutting issues at many frontlines in the battle to reposition Liberia for vibrancy, productivity and democratic good governance. Chief Dr. Taylor currently serves in many capacities. As a result of her National impact, she is the recipient of many accolades, laurels and awards from Local, National and International Organizations, ranging from humanitarian awards to outstanding Leadership awards. She was often referred to as the “People’s Senator” and in confirmation of this title, Newsweek Magazine voted her the 2nd Most Powerful Female Politician in Liberia in 2011.
Founder & Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust
Dr. Neerja Birla is the founder and chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), a passionate educationist and a mental health champion, who positively impacts the lives of people from all sections of society and brings about progressive change in the field of education and mental health. Under the ABET umbrella and Dr Birla’s dynamic leadership: her organisation, Mpower is a revolutionary movement that has brought about a paradigm shift in India’s attitude towards mental health by spreading awareness, alleviating stigma, and providing holistic and quality mental health care to individuals from all walks of life. Dr. Birla is the recipient of a multitude of Indian and international awards, including the Pride of India Honour at the Society Achievers Awards 2022 in the space of Social Impact, Education and Mental health, Changemaker of the Year Award - Women Achievers Awards (2022), Most Powerful Woman in Business Award - Business Today (2022), Social Impact Leader & Changemaker of the Year Award – Mahatma Award (2021), Most Powerful Women in Business Award – Fortune India (2021).
President, UNSUGARCOATED Media
Aalia Lanius is an International Multiple Award Winning Novelist, Executive Producer, Publisher and host of the social-good talk show, UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia. As founder of UNSUGARCOATED™ Media, a 501(c)(3) media production enterprise, Lanius is creating social impact storytelling while building community, providing education, and ending isolation for trauma survivors. Lanius’s role extends to creative leadership in her approach to media, believing that artists are pioneers of the human mind with great potential and responsibility to positively influence society through proper representation.
Founder, The Jamison Group
SharRon Jamison is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, speaker, visionary, and life strategist teaching principles of love and self-empowerment for over 35 years. Her career journey has taken her from owning a fitness studio to managing multi-million-dollar accounts for an international biotechnology firm. She most recently founded The Jamison Group, a personal development company specializing in personal transformation, racial healing, and spiritual renewal. Her programs are expertly crafted to help people shed “societal shoulds,” challenge cultural paradigms and disrupt systemic barriers.
Founder, Ziva Voices
Dr. Kinga Mnich is an award-winning international social psychologist, educator, and speaker. Specializing in emotions, positive psychology, bio-hacking, and gender. Her work solves the myths of emotions by breaking down the complexity of social & cultural concepts tied up inside them. Through her extraordinary research, she brings new ways of understanding how we can use emotions to be who we want to be, to create impact and to flourish in life and business. Social justice and gender equality have been at the forefront of her work - in social entrepreneurship for almost 20 years.
CEO, Africa Tourism Association
Naledi K.Khabo is a global strategy leader with over 20 years of experience in Operations, Marketing & Technology. Having developed and implemented countless global multimedia brand initiatives. She is also CEO of the Africa Tourism Association (ATA) based in New York, a global trade organization promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Recognized by Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fast Company, and Mashable for developing innovative programs for DKNY; Awards and accolades include a Glossy Award, a Webby Award for Retail; and a Shorty Award.
CEO & Founder, FarmX
Maria Fernanda Reyes is a third-generation farmer, as well as a Global regulatory and sustainability expert working closely with USDA, US Congress and the EU to introduce a Biostimulant legislation to help farmers produce more sustainably. In 2009, she returned to her farming roots co-founding a biological Agtech startup, Bioderpac-Agrinos. A HITEC100, Top 100 Women in AG. Maria launched a non-profit organization (AdoptaHero) to support medical front-line heroes. She was awarded National COVID 2020 Superhero award by WHO and Hispanic Star in Action by Stanford University and We are all Human Foundation.
Founder, Zahara's Dream Inc
Verlaine-Diane Soobroydoo is an author, international strategist and public policy, and diplomacy professional. She currently serves as Gender and Development Consultant at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was Director for Leadership Engagement and Partnerships at WPL and previously served at the UN Women's Executive Office on Global and Africa Strategic Priorities. She was recognized in 2018 in the Top 100 list of Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in the Politics and Governance Category, and in 2019 in the Top 100 Influencers on Gender Equality and Diversity by Onalytica.
Founder, Ignite Youth Organization
Tadzie Madzima is an award-winning life coach and founder of IGNITE Youth, an organization in Zimbabwe that provides young people with career guidance and coaching. In 2018, she was selected as a Fellow of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. In 2020, she was one of the honorees of JCI Zimbabwe Top Outstanding Young Persons. She also won the Youth Mentorship Award in Shield Foundation’s 2020 Zimbabwe Women of Excellence Awards and was featured as one of Zimbabwe’s 25 Influential women. She was also named one of the Young Iconic Pacesetters in Zimbabwe.
Human Management Specialist
Luisa Bernhardt is a Business administrator with a Master's in Social Responsibility; Business and Economic Relations and Human Management. She is also Chief Happiness Officer, International Speaker, and has written articles for the Dinero Mujer Magazine and the Diario Libre newspaper on Human Management. Recognized as the #1 HR influencer in 2022 for Central America and the Caribbean. She is an advocate for Organizational Well-being, helping with better employee experience and capacity building through consultations, team training, and conferences. Her motto is "Creating incredible places to work".
Communications Director, GE Africa
Anne Ezeh serves as the Communications Director for GE Africa and Chief Diversity Officer for GE Gas Power, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In both roles, she leads the strategic communications and operations function, implementing initiatives to drive targeted business outcomes for internal and external audiences. With over 18 years of experience from her roles at GE, Schneider Electric, Agence France Presse, and the Consulate General of France, she has a track record of developing innovative strategies for performance, brand reputation, employee engagement and leadership communications.
Director, Regalo Hope Foundation
Chinenye Onuorah is a youth empowerment advocate who drives change through education and technology. She is the Project Director at Regalo Hope Foundation where she promotes digital and vocational training by equipping young people with these skills for entrepreneurial pursuit and to help them survive/compete and stay relevant in the global marketplace. She works at the intersection of development, business and inclusion with experience in designing and implementing social impact programs and services targeted at promoting development.
Actress & Founder, Adiva Networks
Stella Damasus is a critically acclaimed Actor, Singer, Podcaster, Speaker, Acting coach, Publisher and Film Producer with over 20 years as an entertainer and over 100 films as an actor. She has won many awards globally like the Award for Best Actress at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards (2007) and Best Actress at the Golden Icons Academy Awards in Houston, Texas (2012) amongst others. Stella has been a strong voice for the education of women. She fights against injustice towards women and young girls. She is the Founder and CEO of ADIVA Networks.
Managing Consultant, Cuanu Consult
Nonye Umahi is the Managing Consultant of Cuanu Consult Ltd; a firm for Training, Recruitment and Consultancy services. As an Entrepreneur, she has trained Medical Laboratory Scientists, SMEs, and Youth and Women groups on Entrepreneurial opportunities in the Medical Diagnostic Industry and the health sector. She consulted for the World Health Organization on the First National Essential Diagnostic List Development for Nigeria. She is a Cherie Blair Foundation Mentor Alumnus and one of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women.
Director, Women Working for Change (WFC)
Coralie Elsa Loliot is the Director of Women Working for Change - WFC, the leading network of top female business leaders in Africa (powered by Jeune Afrique Media Group). Since its creation in 2015, WFC has been a catalyst and trusted partner, in the lives of +4200 Top African businesswomen, Directors and CEOs. As a former Consultant at UNESCO, she facilitated the work of the UNESCO International Commission on the Futures of Education (presided over by the President of Ethiopia, H.E Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde).
Managing Director & Co-Founder, GOGE Africa
Amb. Nneka Isaac-Moses is a Destination Promoter and Co-founder of Goge Africa World Wide Limited. She is a renowned speaker, cultural curator, TV presenter, and award-winning documentary writer and content producer. She has a deep passion for promoting the beauty and potential of Africa to the world. With her husband Amb. Isaac Moses, co-founded the "Goge Africa" TV program in 1999, which has become a respected culture and tourism brand in Nigeria and Africa, with a combined viewership of over 40 million people globally.
National President, Women in Energy Oil & Gas
Dr. Oladunni Owo is currently the National President of Women in Energy Oil and Gas (WEOG) Nigeria and a member of Global Women Network for Energy Transition (GWNET). She is a multi-award-winning author of the Blackgold Refinery Business Made Easy. Oladunni Owo is an international corporate speaker and trainer, a versatile business expert and a management consultant with over 2 decades of vast professional experience in the Energy, Oil and Gas industry spanning the upstream, midstream, downstream renewables and future energy.
Founder, STEMi Makers of Africa
Amanda Obidike is an accomplished non-profit leader and Data Scientist with 11 years of experience in directing social enterprises, start-ups and complex organizations in Africa, Europe and MENA Nations. She is a member of the Chatham House, a Fellow at the British Academy of Management, an International Partner with the World Business Angel Investment Forum and serves as an Advisory Council member at WiSTEM. In 2022, she became a Techwomen Awardee, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and a Global 20 Goldman Sachs Fellowship Winner in 2021.
CEO, Top3 Solutions
Fatoumatta Gaye is an award-winning ambassador and diplomat, actively representing the interests of The Gambia. Her company, TOP3 SOLUTIONS, is an independent data-driven consultancy firm assisting public and private sectors to flourish in The Gambia and internationally; through sustainable solutions in investment, agriculture and energy sectors. She is also an active member of different global institutes around the world. In 2018, she founded a Lingerie brand providing plus-size women with affordable undergarments. In 2019, she founded the International Young Mothers Association (IYMA), encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership among young women.
Founder, Ferrazo Resources
Ifeoma Okafor is a highly sought-after Transformational Coach, Author & Speaker. She is the Founder & CEO of Ferrazo Resources, a Professional Coaching & Consulting Company that works with individuals to maximize their potential. She is a member of the ForbesWomen Forum, Association of Business Women in Commerce & Industry (ABWCI) and Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). She was recently recognized as a Top 20 MSME Founder by MSME Africa. Ifeoma hosts a podcast, UNLEASH! With Ifeoma and is the author of several books and resources including a Tech Guide.
Managing Director, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Nigeria
Tokunboh George-Taylor is the pioneering Managing Director of Hill+Knowlton Strategies Nigeria, one of the world’s leading global communications companies. As MD of H+K, she is responsible for driving growth in Nigeria and providing strategic insight and counsel to clients. She is well-versed in the business operating landscape in Nigeria. Tokunboh has over 28 years of experience and her areas of specialization include Public Relations, Advocacy, Public Affairs, Community Relations, Marketing and Branding in the Telecoms, Information Technology, Finance, Education, Energy, and Oil & Gas sector.
Founder, InPassion Coaching
Tania Castilho (Author name: T. C. Aeelah), is the founder of InPassion Coaching - a Safe Space for the reunion of Human and Divine, through which she shares the Compassionate Breath and provides Isness Mentoring. She worked as an English teacher, Creative Director and head of Communications at a language school for 25 years, has a degree in Communication Sciences and is a postgraduate Health and Fitness expert. She is an award-winning International Inspirational Speaker and Author. She also enjoys developing Collaborative Educational Projects and Human Development Programmes, Educational Consulting and is an active Social Entrepreneur.
Founder & Director, Vessels of Virtue
Precious Nyarambi is a Social Entrepreneur, International Speaker, Coach, Mentor and Author. She founded Vessels of Virtue, an organization that holistically empowers and transforms youth and women, especially those from previously marginalized backgrounds. Precious was bestowed with the humanitarian engagement as a Special Representative to the Vice President of Southern Africa with a special focus on the implementation of the UN SDGs, and WHC Development Priorities and Global Goals. Vessels of Virtue has an academy for entrepreneurs and other projects under it. She is also the Managing Director for Elohay Cleaners & Prember Holdings.
CEO, Varanaa's Health Care Research
Dr. V.V. Manjula Kumari is an Award-winning, medical management professional offering 17+ years’ of extensive experience in leading the comprehensive provision of physiotherapy and healthcare services for optimal patient care. Fellow of Royal Society for Public Health, FRSPH, Medical Cosmetology FMC, IAP, ACHE, APTA, and WICCI. She is a solutions-oriented leader adept at creating awareness around physiotherapy and conservative management of obesity, acute therapy programs, and enhancing adaptations to healthy lifestyles. She is a Motivational speaker and educator leveraging vast expertise in human anatomy, and the internal body structures.
CEO, 69 Fitness Street
Precious Nyarambi is a Social Entrepreneur, International Speaker, Coach, Mentor and Author. She founded Vessels of Virtue, an organization that holistically empowers and transforms youth and women, especially those from previously marginalized backgrounds. Precious was bestowed with the humanitarian engagement as a Special Representative to the Vice President of Southern Africa with a special focus on the implementation of the UN SDGs, and WHC Development Priorities and Global Goals. Vessels of Virtue has an academy for entrepreneurs and other projects under it. She is also the Managing Director for Elohay Cleaners & Prember Holdings.
COO, Tressor Women Warriors
Nenneh Freda Gomez is the Chief Operating Officer of Tressor Women Warriors based in Gambia. She joined the advocacy for the employment and inclusion of women in leadership roles. She was the Group Head of Marketing responsible for Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, and Public Sector Banking Units and was also tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the Corporate Banking Unit at Skye Bank Gambia Ltd. She is regarded for her strong leadership, excellent communication skills, competence, attention to detail, dutiful respect for compliance in all regulated environments, as well as supervisory skills including administrative tasks.
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