Letshego Namibia CEO, Ester Kali and Bank Windhoek Managing Director, Baronice Hans have been named among Top 100 Women CEOs in Africa for their accomplishments as female administrative officers in charge of leading organisations on the continent.
The Top 100 Women CEOs in Africa is compiled by Reset Global People in partnership with the SDGS Office at the Office of the President of Ghana and Avance Media.
The list features leading African female CEOs from 21 African countries, heading various organisations that continue to excel under their leadership on the continent and beyond.
The list is also released ahead of the 2022/23 African Women CEOs Summit to be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Women are a powerful force for change. They’re one-half of the potential human capital in any economy. More than half a billion women have joined the world’s workforce over the past 30 years. In fact, a recent McKinsey Global Institute study found that global GDP could increase by US$12 trillion by 2025 by advancing women’s equality. These are extraordinary women who are leading the charge to transform our continent and deserve the spotlight more than anyone, ” Kwame Opoku, CEO of Reset Global People said.
Prince Akpah, MD of Avance Media speaking on the selection criteria said “the team considered the size and importance of the woman-led business in the economy, the health and direction of the business, the arc of the woman’s career (résumé and runway ahead), and social and cultural influence. Eligibility is also based on the geolocation of the business and also highlights profit, impact and sustainability and the overall influence of the individual women over their sector, industry and community as a whole.”
The 2021 top 100 Women CEOs in Africa list also features some prominent executives such as Albertinah Kekana of Royal Bafokeng Holdings Pty Ltd, Clare Akamanzi from the Rwanda Development Board, Juliet Ehimuan of Google Nigeria, Leila Fourie from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Mariam Kane-Garcia of Total Energies South Africa , Nunu Ntshingila-Njeke of Meta Africa and Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa of Shanduka Group among others.
The recognition of Kali and Hans, comes as Standard Bank Namibia Holdings (SBN) Chief Executive Officer, Mercia Geises and Nedbank Namibia Managing Director, Martha Murorua were named among top 50 Most Reputable Bank CEOs in Africa by Reputation Poll International in September last year.