Hello friend!

What does rewriting the rules look like for you?

What if it doesn’t always look like a revolution? What if sometimes, it is simply choosing differently? Across work, money, relationships, leadership, and life, African women are making choices that look a little different from what was expected of them. We started August by spotlighting two phenomenal women whose stories show us exactly what that can look like.

Brenda Msangi-Kinemo is a Tanzanian healthcare and governance leader, and the CEO of Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation Tanzania (CCBRT), one of East Africa’s largest specialised healthcare institutions. She is also the founder of Dear Girl Child BMK, where she is helping to shape the next generation of African women leaders.

In conversation with us, Brenda reflects on navigating spaces where women have historically been underrepresented, and the responsibility that comes with influence. Read the full conversation here.

Omawumi Ogbe is the Founder and Managing Partner of GLG Communications and Editor-in-Chief of GLAZIA. She is also the creator of the PR Power List, celebrating excellence in strategic communications across Nigeria.

In conversation with us, Omawumi shares what it took to build GLG Communications from the ground up, protect her vision, and create space for others to be seen. She also speaks about finding her voice, valuing her work, and using influence to create opportunities for others. Explore the full conversation here.

For our Take The Lead feature, we sat with two powerhouses, Wangari Muchiri and Boipelo Mabe.

Wangari Muchiri is the CEO of RE.Think Energy and Advisor to the Global Wind Energy Council, shaping Africa’s energy future and why the continent must have a bigger voice in creating it.

In our discussion, Wangari shared what it means to be an African woman in global energy spaces, the connection between energy access and women’s liberation, and what she wants young women in STEM to know about taking up space. Read more here.

Boipelo Mabe is the Senior Digital Communications Manager at Telkom Group, with previous leadership roles at Cell C and FNB. Born and raised in Alexandra Township, she is also the founder of #Binspired, a platform focused on the power of exposure and access.

In this conversation, she speaks to girls growing up in townships about seeing beyond their circumstances and believing that they belong in rooms they once thought were out of reach. Dive into the full conversation here.

Our She Leads Business feature introduced us to Ntsiki Biyela, the first Black female winemaker in South Africa and founder of Aslina Wines, a globally recognised brand named after her grandmother.

Ntsiki shared what it took to build in an industry where she had never seen anyone who looked like her, the courage it took to bet on herself, and why her beginnings have never been a limitation. Read full conversation here.

There are some dreams you can’t inherit a blueprint for. You simply have to build one. Karen Kaphale did exactly that, becoming Malawi’s first-ever racing driver after finding her own way into a sport with no established pathway back home.

In her Lead Out Loud feature, Karen talks about being underestimated on the track, representing a country where no one had done it before, and pursuing a dream that many people around her didn’t understand. Dive into the full feature here.

August has been a month of conversations, new perspectives, and women choosing to do things a little (or a lot more) differently. From the women we spotlighted to the stories that made us pause, think, and even rethink what’s possible, there was plenty to take with us.

Before we move on to what September has in store, let’s take one more look at some of the moments that made August.

• Dr. Anita Nyanjong Appointed First Director of the Ipas Collaborative Fund

• Maryam Shehu Cannot Write Her Finals Today Because She Is Still in EFCC Custody: Five Years of Work, 35 Days of Detention

• UN Officially Recognizes Reproductive Violence As A Distinct Form Of Gender-Based Violence

• Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses Win Their First-Ever WAFCON Title After a Remarkable Road to the Final

• Roxana Ravjee Appointed CEO Africa at Havas to Lead the Group’s Growth and Expansion Across the Continent

• THE FUNKE AKINDELE PLAYBOOK: 12 Lessons on Building a Powerful Brand

You know those pieces of advice that somehow hit you at every phase of your life?

This post, 11 Things Every Woman Should Know, Regardless of the Season of Life She’s In., brings together timeless lessons from the women who joined us on Season 1 of Women Leaders Unscripted, the kind you’ll find yourself returning to at different points in your journey.

But don’t stop here. Catch up on every episode from Season One, and be sure to subscribe so you’re tuned in when the next season drops.

Just as Lupita Nyong’o wisely said, ”No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.” Remember, every time you choose differently, you make room to occupy the full length and breadth of your dreams.

Till we chat again,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend!

How was your July? Ours was full of meaningful stories worth telling. We celebrated women breaking new paths, talked through the norms that still shape us, and kept building a space where African women can learn, lead, and grow together.

July gave us the opportunity to celebrate African Women, and we celebrated African Women’s Day by featuring 18 African Diaspora Women leading the World’s Boldest Ideas. Across generations and across the world, these women continue to carry Africa’s brilliance with them, breaking barriers, driving innovation, and creating lasting impact in the spaces they lead. Their journeys are a powerful reminder that African excellence continues to shape the world, no matter where it is found. Read the full feature here.

This month, we spotlighted two remarkable women—Dr. Njideka Okonjo-Udochi and Mimi Whyte Femi, whose stories reflect the power of purpose, excellence, and impact.

Dr. Njideka is a physician, public health expert, educator, founder of Summit Medical Group, and co-founder of Zinure. Her recent recognition as the first Black woman and minority to be named Maryland Family Physician of the Year shows a career built on service and compassion.

She spoke about caring for communities that are often overlooked, the lessons she’s learned from working at the frontlines of healthcare, and the message she hopes every young Nigerian girl holds on to as she pursues her dreams. Read the full conversation here.

Mimi Whyte Femi is the founder of Skin Therapy Beauty & Spa, a brand built on the belief that confidence can transform lives. Through her work, she has created products, spaces, and opportunities that continue to empower women across Africa and beyond.

She shared how a personal experience became the foundation of a global business, why building systems that truly work for women matters, and how she’s using entrepreneurship to create lasting impact. Explore the full interview here.

Our Take The Lead feature this month brought us into conversation with two women who are redefining leadership in their own fields—Dr Yakama Manty Jones and Dr. Naike Moshi.

Dr. Yakama Manty Jones is an economist, entrepreneur, public policy expert, and lecturer who serves as Sierra Leone’s focal person for the World Bank’s Human Capital Project. She is also the founder of the Yak Jones Foundation and Data Mansah, two initiatives creating opportunities for young people, especially girls, through literacy, data, and research.

In our conversation with her, she reflected on embracing a portfolio career, the changes Africa’s governance systems need, and why creating pathways for the women coming behind her is a responsibility she takes seriously. Read more here.

Dr. Naike Moshi is a leadership development expert and founder of Women in Management Africa (WIMA), a continent-wide movement advancing women’s leadership through mentorship, executive search, and leadership development.

She spoke about why visibility matters just as much as capability, the confidence gap many women still navigate, and what it will take for organisations to move beyond symbolic inclusion and create real pathways to leadership. Discover more here.

For our She Leads Business feature, we had a conversation with Nyandia Gachago, a marketing strategist, AI expert, and founder of MintyLime and Minty Academy. Through her work, she is helping African brands, creatives, and entrepreneurs embrace AI as a tool for innovation, growth, and global competitiveness.

In our conversation with her, she shared why she chose to build her own vision, how AI is reshaping opportunities for African women entrepreneurs, and what it will take for more women to lead, not just in using AI, but in building and shaping its future. Read the full feature here.

Some dreams don’t wait for adulthood, and neither did Darasimi Nadi‘s. For this month’s Lead Out Loud feature, we sat down with the young actress, model, and TV host to talk about the journey she’s already building in Nollywood and the exciting road ahead.

From life on set to balancing school with a growing career, Darasimi also spoke about the lessons she’s learning along the way and why every young girl deserves to believe her dreams are possible. Discover the full conversation here.

July was filled with stories that challenged perspectives, celebrated progress, and reminded us why these conversations matter. Before we step into a new month, here are a few more moments that added to the richness of our July and are worth looking back on.

• Dr. Pamela Graham Makes History as the First Female Auditor-General of the Republic of Ghana

• 18 African Women Leading the Charge in Public Service

• We Asked Our Community About The African Traditions, Values, and Skills Passed Down To Them

• The Making of a Trailblazer: 9 Things Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya Built Before She Broke The Record

• Rose Muturi Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Moniepoint Kenya

• Then & Now: WAFCON Champions All Through The Years

• Raped, Abandoned, Gone: The Justice System That Could not Save Favour Agbro

If this month’s stories left you wanting more, Women Leaders Unscripted is the perfect place to continue the conversation. Tune in to watch the full episodes from Season One, and don’t forget to subscribe to stay connected as we bring you more inspiring conversations with remarkable African women.

As we carry these lessons into the second half of the year, may these stories continue to spark fresh ideas, meaningful conversations, and bold action. Here’s to making intentional choices, and creating inspiring stories that shape a meaningful and impactful year.

Till next time,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend!

Happy new half of the year.

There’s something about July that feels like a fresh page. Six months behind us, six months ahead. New goals, renewed energy, and for many of us, the quiet hope that the second half of the year can be even better than the first.

We also just got back from our annual week of rest. Every year, we intentionally pause—not because the work isn’t important, but because we believe that rest is part of the work. In a world that constantly celebrates hustle, choosing to slow down, breathe, and restore ourselves is its own quiet act of resistance. We’re back, refreshed, re-energised, and excited for everything the months ahead have in store.

Before we dive into what’s next, we have to tell you about one of the biggest moments before we signed off.

On June 20th, 2026, we brought women together in Abuja for The Gathering: Women in Leadership Forum. No highlight reels, no polished speeches, just honest conversations between women at every stage of leadership, talking about building businesses, navigating workspaces, and making real impact across Africa. Here’s a look at how it unfolded.

Our first panel session, Women’s Leadership in the Workplace, focused on what it really takes for women to grow, lead, and thrive in today’s workplace. The conversation explored the realities of corporate leadership, navigating challenges, creating opportunities, and leading with confidence.

The panelists for this session were Jane Egerton-Idehen, CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT); Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Director, Africa at Luminate; and Serah Makka, Executive Director of ONE Africa. The session was moderated by Francesca Uriri, Founder and Executive Director of Leading Ladies Africa.

Here’s a recap of some of the standout quotes from the conversation.

Our second panel session, Women Building Businesses, explored what it really takes to build, grow, and sustain successful businesses. From navigating challenges and making bold decisions to embracing innovation and creating long-term value, the conversation offered honest insights into the realities of entrepreneurship.

The panelists for this session were Zainab Bashir Yau, Director of DermaRx; Ogwa Iweze, Founder and Creative Director of DZYN Clothing Limited; Ameera Abraham, Founder of The Nail Bar and Amali Cosmetics; and Uloma Rochas Nwosu, Founder and Group Managing Director of UL Group. The session was moderated by Doosuur Victoria Tilley-Gyado, Founder of Small Business Big World.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the conversation.

We wrapped up the day with a fireside chat featuring Honourable Minister Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria. She shared powerful reflections on leadership, service, and the role women continue to play in shaping a more inclusive future. This session was also moderated by our founder, Francesca Uriri.

Here are a few key highlights from the conversation.

Speaking of leadership in action, our LLA Spotlight feature for the month was on Cynthia Nyamai, the Managing Director of CN Communications, Head of Issachar Alliance East Africa, and a prime-time news anchor at KBC Channel 1. For over two decades, she has shaped conversations across media, leadership, business, and public affairs, using her voice and influence to drive meaningful change across Africa.

In a conversation with her, we explored her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship, the future of women in African media, and why women must move beyond visibility into positions of ownership, decision-making, and influence. Read the full conversation here.

For this month’s Take the Lead feature, we had a conversation with Karina Penha, a biologist, climate justice activist, and Co-Executive Director of Amazônia de Pé. For nearly a decade, she has championed climate justice, ensuring that the voices of the communities most affected by the climate crisis are helping shape the solutions.

In our conversation, Karina reflected on her journey into climate advocacy, the importance of representation in climate leadership, and why lasting solutions must come from the people living closest to the challenges. Explore the full feature here.

This month, She Leads Business featured a conversation with Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, a Lagos-born, Johannesburg-based visual artist whose intricate paper quilling works have been exhibited in galleries across the world. Through her art, she explores themes of Nigerian femininity, identity, power, and memory.

In our conversation with Ayobola, she shared how an unexpected discovery became a thriving global career, the realities of building a sustainable creative business, and the advice she has for young women daring to pursue unconventional paths. Read more here.

Have you ever wondered how one moment can change the course of your life? This month on Lead Out Loud, we sat down with Precious Oluwaferanmi, Founder of Hello Globe, a platform empowering young people with the clarity, mentorship, and direction they need to thrive. What began as a life-changing encounter in her student years has grown into a movement impacting thousands of young people across Nigeria.

In our conversation, Precious reflected on purpose, leadership, the realities of growth, and why taking action matters just as much as receiving inspiration. Read the full story.

June was all about creating space for meaningful conversations, celebrating women leading across industries, and sharing stories that inspire action. Here’s a look back at the highlights that shaped the month.

• Tosin Oshinowo Inducted as Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

• 20 Women Entrepreneurs Transforming Abuja

• Fatima, Mariya, and Halima Aliko Dangote Appointed to Oversee Key Dangote Group Operations

• Beheaded Teachers, Missing Toddlers: The School Kidnapping Crises Consuming Nigeria

• What Happens When African Women Share Their Wins? It Becomes a Powerful Reminder of What’s Possible

• Elohor Aiboni Appointed Executive Vice President and Country Chair of Shell

The conversations don’t end here. Women Leaders Unscripted is your front-row seat to authentic conversations from African women redefining leadership across industries.

Catch up by watching the full episodes from Season One, and subscribe to stay updated on all upcoming conversations.

Honourable Minister Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim left us with this powerful reminder, “You do not need a title to lead. Leadership is about the assignment in front of you, wherever you find yourself.”

So create impact, and serve with purpose, right where you are.

Till next time,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend,

We have something to tell you and if you’re in Abuja, we think you are going to want to clear your calendar for June 20th.

The Gathering: Women in Leadership Forum is Leading Ladies Africa’s brand new flagship convening, and it is happening in Abuja in 8 days. We have been building this room with so much intention and now that we can finally show you who is in it, we think you will understand why.

The women walking into this room are not ordinary.

You will be in the same room as:

Jane Egerton-Idehen — the woman who ran sales for Meta across the Middle East and Africa and now leads Nigeria’s communications satellite as MD-CEO of NIGCOMSAT.

Serah Makka — Executive Director for Africa at ONE, Harvard Kennedy School alumna, and one of the most powerful advocates for African-led development on the continent.

Toyin Akinniyi — Regional Director for Africa at Luminate, driving media freedom and civic engagement across the continent

Ameera Abraham — Founder of The Nail Bar and Amali Cosmetics, building beauty brands that have redefined the industry in Nigeria.

And so many other incredible women.

These women always show up to events that have value and so do you.

One full day with unfiltered conversations and the kind of network that takes years to build, available to you in a single room.

The women who will be in boardrooms across Lagos and Abuja after June 20th? They will all have been at The Gathering.

Will you?

👉🏾 Tickets are available here

See you in Abuja.

With love,

Team LLA

Hello friend!

Somewhere between chasing goals and meeting expectations, many African women have forgotten what it means to truly rest and care for themselves.

We show up in our careers, businesses, homes, and communities, carrying so much strength while quietly pushing through exhaustion, pressure, and the constant need to always “have it together.”

As we observed Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we leaned into important conversations, shared honest experiences, and created space for vulnerability, healing, and rest.

That reflection became the foundation for a deeply honest Instagram Live conversation on mental wellness, rest, and self-prioritization for African women, themed “Success Without Burnout: How ambitious, high-achieving women can protect their mental wellness while still pursuing success.”

In that conversation, we were joined by two incredible voices—Chioma Fakorede (Founder, Olamma Cares Foundation), Queentah Wambulwa (Founder, Girls For Girls Africa Mental Health Foundation) alongside the host, Eniola Diadem Omotola (Gender Programs Advisor, Leading Ladies Africa), as we unpacked what it really means to thrive without burning out.

This month, we reminded ourselves that success means little if it comes at the expense of our peace. Moving forward, we’re choosing a version of success that leaves room for joy, care, and well-being too. If you missed it, watch the full conversation here.

This May, we spotlighted a reality millions of women and girls across Africa continue to face: preventable health challenges, limited access to menstrual care, and systemic barriers that impact their well-being, opportunities, and everyday lives.

To deepen this conversation, we partnered with MVentures on a campaign exploring why temporary relief isn’t enough, and why sustainable, commercially driven solutions are essential to closing the gap for good. Read the full feature here.

As part of this push, we also spotlighted six revolutionary African women who are actively dismantling period poverty and building scalable enterprises: Kidist Tesfaye (YeneHealth), Mitchelle Njoroge (Virtuous Life), Dr. Tsebaot Asmelash (Ngat Reusable Sanitary Solutions), Blandine Umuziranenge (Kosmotive), Nancy Nyaleso (Empower HER Initiative), and Michelle Tjeenk Willink (AFRIpads). Read more here.

If you are a founder building a registered menstrual health business in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, or Senegal, the support to scale your impact exists. Applications for Cohorts 3 and 4 of the Menstrual Ventures Program close on 1 June 2026. Click here to register and be part of the program.

This month’s Take the Lead feature brings together three remarkable women whose work spans leadership, systems thinking, and continental impact.

Lucy Wairimu is a seasoned African leader with nearly 20 years of experience in people, culture, and governance across multiple countries. She builds systems that shape how organisations function and how people thrive within them.

In this conversation, she reflects on moving from breaking barriers to building lasting structures, and leading with clarity, conviction, and faith. She unpacks that shift and why African women must begin to lead with both clarity and structure. Read the full feature here.

We also conversed with Nadine Niba, Risk Advisory leader at BDO Canada, with experience across EY, PwC, and KPMG. Her journey reflects resilience and intention, from arriving in Canada with uncertainty to advising executive boards on governance, business, and technology risk.

In our conversation with her, she shares her journey from starting over in Canada to advising executive boards, and the realities of advancing as an immigrant woman in corporate spaces. Dive into the full conversation here.

Lastly, we had a conversation with Euphresia Luseka, a water governance expert working across more than 25 countries at the intersection of systems, equity, and sustainability. Her work sits within key conversations shaping Africa’s water future alongside global institutions.

In this feature, she highlights water as a justice issue and the need to structurally include women in decision-making spaces, not just recognise them. Learn more here.

This month, She Leads Business brings forward two remarkable women redefining leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. Through different journeys but a shared drive, Dami Watti and Emelda Rufai remind us what it looks like to build with intention.

Dami Watti is the Founder of FEHT Health, a platform designed to simplify access to healthcare for Africans and diaspora communities. She is focused on closing gaps she personally encountered while navigating healthcare systems across borders.

In our feature with her, she shares how personal encounters with healthcare systems across different countries shaped her vision. We explored the gaps she noticed, the urgency behind building FEHT Health, and what it takes to create solutions in a space as complex as healthcare. Explore the full feature.

The latter is Emelda Rufai, the Founder of Maison Valor, a premium home and lifestyle brand centered on intentional living and elevated everyday spaces. Through Maison Valor, she is building a new standard for how home experiences should feel.

In our conversation with her, she opens up about building a luxury brand in a market still learning its value. We discussed quality, consistency, and what it takes to educate a market while staying true to a premium vision. Read more.

May’s Lead Out Loud feature was with climate advocate Laurel Kivuyo, founder of Climate Hub Tanzania. She has taken climate education into 103 schools and served as SADC Climate Youth Envoy representing 16 African nations.

In speaking with her, she shares what it looks like to build something from nothing, what she wishes she had known at the start of her journey, and how she stays grounded through it all. Read the full feature here.

In the month of May, we are reminded that African women continue to shape narratives, shift systems, and lead with undeniable strength worth celebrating.

Here are some of the moments that defined the month of May.

• Twelve Weeks and Half Your Salary: What Inadequate Maternal Leave Is Really Costing Nigerian Women

• Ashiam Priscilla Appointed Head of Public Sector at Access Bank Ghana Plc

• Twelve African Women Proving That Excellence Has No Gender

• Françoise Moudouthe Appointed Director of Girls First Fund

• What Happens When You Bet on Yourself: 5 Lessons From Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh’s Journey

• 9 Leadership Truths From Marcia Ashong-Sam About Talent, Execution, and What African Organizations Are Still Getting Wrong

Women Leaders Unscripted remains a space where African women are redefining leadership on their own terms.

If you haven’t tuned in to the first season yet, now is the perfect time to watch the full episodes and catch up on these powerful stories. Also subscribe to stay connected as we bring you more conversations that center on women, leadership, and impact.

As Felecia Etienne beautifully reminds us, “Rest is not a luxury, it’s how you recharge your power to create, lead, and thrive.” And perhaps that is the reminder many of us need right now, that caring for ourselves is not a pause from the work, but part of the work itself.

So rest well, lead well, and give yourself permission to show up whole.

Till next time,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend!

If there’s one thing history has shown us, it’s this: women have always been doing the work.

Behind systems. Inside institutions. Holding things together, building quietly, fixing what’s broken, creating what didn’t exist. Often without the credit, the spotlight, or the language to even name what they were doing.

But that has shifted, and today on Worker’s Day, we celebrate this shift.

More women are stepping forward, not just to do the work, but to own it, name it, and be recognized for it. And in April, we saw that clearly across every story we told. Women who have been building, leading, and transforming systems are no longer staying behind the scenes. They are claiming space and with it, their power.

Here’s how that showed up this month

Impact always begins with intention, and our April Spotlight feature, Faith Morey, has built a life of intentional impact. As a philanthropist, TV personality, and entrepreneur, she built Okachi Charity Foundation, transforming neglected public schools across Nigeria, one desk, one classroom, one child at a time and Gracefully Faith Morey, equipping women, men, and children with the emotional intelligence, social confidence, and intentional presence to navigate life on their own terms.

In this conversation with Faith, she speaks about the life she has lived and the impactful parts that have been most fulfilling. Read the conversation here.

For April’s Take The Lead, we featured two women who remind us that even when the world isn’t watching, the work still matters.

Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith is the fastest African woman in history. But long before the records, the finals, and the global spotlight, she was simply a young woman who chose to believe in the impossible and never stopped.

In this conversation, she gets completely honest about faith, sacrifice, and what it truly means to build a legacy that goes far beyond the finish line. Check out the full conversation here.

We also sat down with Dr. Ifunanya Ilodibe, the first woman and first non-founding CEO of EHA Clinics. With over fifteen years of experience in clinical practice, healthcare operations, and quality management, her career has been defined by asking harder questions about the systems that determine whether good medicine actually reaches people consistently and with dignity.

In her interview, she talks about choosing healthcare administration over full-time clinical practice, what women in leadership are still up against, why quiet seasons are where real careers are built, and the legacy she hopes to leave. Read more here.

This month on She Leads Business, we spotlighted two women who are building businesses, and reshaping systems from the inside out.

First, we sat down with Abiola Ofurhie, Nigerian-born founder of Kewve tackling one of the most overlooked gaps in global trade: the fact that African food producers have world-class products, but no clear road into the world’s biggest markets. They face rejection, non-compliance, gatekeeping, and systems that were never built with them in mind. So, she decided to build the road herself.

In this conversation, she gets honest about building in a complex, underfunded, male-dominated space. She talks about what distance from the continent taught her, what resilience actually costs, why she stopped chasing permission, and the one truth she wants every African woman sitting on a solution to hear. Learn more here.

Next, we spoke with Marvella Akiojano, the founder of Marviano Cosmetics, a solution-driven beauty brand known for its smudge-proof, long-lasting lip products and intentional approach to building.

Here, she shares how she built from the ground up, why personal experience fuels her innovation, and what it means to lead with clarity and conviction. She also speaks on representation and the importance of African women moving from visibility into ownership and influence. See it all here.

In our Lead Out Loud feature for the month, we spotlighted Ranti Femi-Oyekola, a woman who has made reinvention her strategy AND her strength. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2019, she went on to build and scale a food truck business in Abuja, trained at Red Dish Culinary Academy, and then stepped into storytelling through EbonyLife Creative Academy in 2024.

Since then, she has executive-produced the award-winning, festival-selected film Le Pari de Bolaji, earned an Associate Producer credit on The Morayo Show, taken her work across West Africa, and founded Run It Creative Network—a platform giving African creatives the tools, legal protection, and knowledge to tell powerful stories and own them fully. She reminds us of the necessity to evolve repeatedly, and without permission!

Dive into the full conversation here.

April showed us that women are not just participants in the systems of the world. They are creating and reshaping them. Here are some moments that keep calling our hearts and attention:

• Black Women Who Engineered The Launch of Artemis II

• 12 African Women Leading the Fight Against Climate Change

• Grace Ladoja Makes History as the First African Woman to Design a Nike Trainer

• Will Women Shape the 2027 Elections in Kenya and Nigeria?

• 9 Life Lessons From Jennifer Riria, the Woman Who Changed Over 900,000 Lives

• Rebecca Pearce Makes History as the Youngest Person to Run for Mayor in Bowie, Maryland

• These Women Are Taking Back Their Streets in Plateau State. Nigeria

If there’s one place where women are saying the quiet parts out loud, it’s on Women Leaders Unscripted.

Season one is still streaming, and every episode is a look under the hood at what leadership really looks like—beyond the titles, beyond the highlight reels.

Catch up on all episodes here, and don’t forget to subscribe so you’re ready for what’s coming next.

When Alice Walker said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”, we believed it with all our hearts. You should too.

Till next time,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend!

What does it truly take for African women to move forward?

Beyond the celebrations and the hashtags, Women’s Month calls for more than recognition. It demands reflection and the courage to confront the gaps and the barriers that continue to hold progress back.

This is why to celebrate International Women’s Month this year, we started with a powerful conversation hosted by Womankind Worldwide, where our founder, Francesca Uriri joined the panel of a dynamic webinar themed “Reboot the Online System, Make it Safer.” It was a timely and necessary dialogue deeply committed to challenging the growing realities of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Alongside inspiring voices like Rosebell Kagumire, Samira Hamidi, and Gathoni Kimuyu, the conversation extended into practical solutions, including the introduction of Womankind Worldwide’s Feminist TfGBV Playbook, a tool aimed at shape safer digital spaces for women across Africa and beyond.

Click here to read the playbook and be part of the shift.

This year’s International Women’s Day also marked the close of a milestone chapter in our journey. For 11 years, the #LLA100Women list has celebrated excellence, amplified voices, and created visibility for African women where it matters most.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to this journey, honoring, spotlighting, and uplifting Nigerian women across the world. As one chapter closes, many more begin, and we will carry these stories forward, and continue building with purpose and intention. Read more about this here.

To join the International Women’s Day celebrations, we had an honest conversation with 11 women about the parts of leadership nobody really talks about.

This conversation emphasized the fact that leadership does not always come with a manual, but is built through the decisions we make, and the courage to move forward, even when it seems uncertain.

Read the full article here.

We didn’t stop there. In line with the theme, ‘Rights, Justice, and Action for All Women and Girls’, we also turned our focus to the laws across Africa that continue to limit women and girls. At the heart of it, this was about pushing for what is right: justice, protection, and the freedom for women and girls to live fully. By bringing these issues to light, we’re encouraging real conversations and collectively refusing to accept rules that no longer serve us.

Click here to lend your voice in spotlighting harmful laws affecting women and girls in your community.

To conclude our International Women’s Day celebration, and in tune with the theme ‘Give to Gain’, we asked women across Africa to share the mentors and moments that shaped their journeys. The stories we received were beautiful, a reminder of how powerful one woman’s guidance can change the course of another’s life.

What it showed is that no matter the position or stage, representation matters. There’s something powerful about a woman opening the door, making space, and showing another that she belongs in the room too.

Click the link below to read the complete feature.

African women are leading boldly and our March Spotlight feature proves it! We had an insightful conversation with Beauty Tukura, a legal practitioner, entrepreneur, and lifestyle influencer who continues to define success on her own terms.

This conversation with Beauty explored identity, growth, and self-definition. She shared insights on choosing depth over noise, staying consistent through unseen progress, and trusting her timing.

Read the conversation here.

In March’s Take the Lead feature, we featured Dethra Giles, a highly sought-after executive coach and strategist. With experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, startups, and government institutions, she has built a reputation for transforming how individuals and organizations show up, lead, and influence at the highest levels.

In this conversation, Dethra challenges women to move beyond quiet excellence and step fully into visible leadership. The key takeaway emphasizes that influence is built through intentional action, and confident communication.

Unpack the full conversation here.

For March’s She Leads Business feature, we featured two powerhouse leaders: Priscilla Kadima and Toyin Ajisemola.

Priscilla Kadima is a beauty entrepreneur, esthetician, and cosmetic scientist reshaping how women experience beauty and body care. As the founder of Halawa Pris Sugaring Spa, Nigeria’s first mobile sugaring service, she is leading with an approach rooted in education, safety, and respect for melanin-rich and sensitive skin.

In this conversation, she shares the realities of building with purpose, the patience it demands, and why staying true to your values matters. Her journey highlights the power of creating beauty experiences that not only deliver results but also build confidence and self-awareness.

Read the complete conversation here.

Toyin Ajisemola is the founder of Kamoky, a platform reimagining how ethnic and women-led businesses connect, collaborate, and grow. Drawing from her experience as a caterer and USAID contractor, she identified a critical gap in access to visibility, trust, and the right infrastructure, and set out to build a solution rooted in community.

In our conversation with her, she shares the realities of building through challenges, why she chose community over paid advertising, and how resilience shaped Kamoky’s journey. Her vision is clear: to create a trusted platform where women-led businesses can thrive.

Dive into the full conversation here.

In our March’s Lead Out Loud feature, we spotlighted Damatria Ntintili—the visionary founder of GenZenZa, and UNICEF Young People’s Action Team member. This young leader is a powerhouse dedicated to making spaces safer and more equitable for young Africans.

In this conversation, Damatria pulls back the curtain on navigating imposter syndrome as a young woman in rooms not built for her. She balances high-level activism with authentic self-expression, reminding us that leading “out loud” is the only way to truly change the game.

Catch up on the full conversation here.

In the month of March, we were reminded of who we are, not just as women, but as African women with the power, the voice, and the capacity to shape narratives, shift systems, and influence what comes next.

Somewhere in all of that, here are some moments that made headlines for us:

• Ndapewoshali Shapwanale Appointed Deputy Country Manager and Local Content Lead at Chevron.

• Stripped Naked, Molested by Mobs, Left Traumatized: When Nigerian Culture Becomes a Hunting License.

• In their Own Words: Women who Defied The Odds.

• Nnedi Okorafor Wins 2026 NAACP Image Award For Friction.

• 15 Powerful Quotes by Black Women, for Black Women.

• Tosin Oshinowo, the Woman who Gave 500 Displaced Families a Reason to Return Home.

Season one of Women Leaders Unscripted is currently streaming on YouTube, and this is a reminder to catch up on all the episodes! Every conversation is sure to give you actionable insights to lead, grow, and make a difference in your world.

Find the complete Season 1 playlist here.

Don’t forget to subscribe, so you do not miss the amazing and impactful content we have lined up in anticipation for the next season!

As we wrap up Women’s Month, we want to remind you of the power in your voice, your choices, and your story.

Tarana Burke said it best: “Get up. Stand up. Speak up. Do something.”

With love,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend!

When we think of February, we often think of white and red roses, but what if, instead of just being painted in red and wrapped in ribbons (which is great!), love was actually found in the middle of starting hard conversations?

​We’ve realized that you can’t truly claim to love a woman and then stay silent about the very things that hold her back. Real love requires us to show up and create the change that we want to see, and we did just that.

We finally wrapped up the first season of Women Leaders Unscripted, where we’ve had the privilege of hosting a long line of barrier-breaking women who have shifted our perspectives on leadership.

Here are the final four powerhouses who helped us wrap up the season with grace and wisdom:

We opened February with a conversation with Adenrele Sonariwo, the award-winning curator and founder of Rele Arts Gallery, a space that has revolutionized how contemporary African art is perceived globally. As a trailblazer in the creative economy, she has been instrumental in providing a platform for emerging artists and was even a lead curator for the first-ever Nigerian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

During the conversation with her, Adenrele took us behind the canvas to show how she’s redefining the global art world. She opened up about the intentionality behind her work and shared why curating African excellence is, in itself, a radical form of advocacy that challenges world narratives.

Watch the full episode here.

Next, is a conversation with Patricia Obozuwa, the Queen of showing up. She is a powerhouse in the corporate world, currently serving as the Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for Coca-Cola Africa.

She shared the truth on how she didn’t start her career with a rigid 10-year plan like most people would. But by staying excellent and adaptable, she was able to lead change on a massive scale.

Watch the full conversation here.

We also had the seasoned business tycoon and CEO of Seams and Stitches, Yemi Chukwurah. Beyond her business acumen, she is known for her mentorship and her ability to scale a brand while maintaining a standard of excellence that speaks for itself.

During her podcast episode, she spoke about the discipline required to build a reputation that actually matters. Yemi broke down the importance of longevity over hype, explaining why staying true to your craft and your values is the ultimate competitive advantage in any industry.

Watch the complete episode here

For the season finale, we turned the mic towards The Heart Behind the Movement, Francesca Uriri. As the Founder and CEO of Leading Ladies Africa, she has spent years building a platform that centers the voices, leadership, and advancement of African women. Her career is a masterclass in combining communications expertise with social impact, creating a community where women are equipped to lead across all sectors.

She talked about how she started Leading Ladies Africa and how that naturally led to Women Leaders Unscripted. She also gave us a real look at where the movement is headed and what to expect next.

Watch the season finale here.

Speaking of love in its most transformative form, for our February Spotlight feature , we were honored to feature a woman whose love for her craft is only matched by her commitment to creating impactful change: Doja Allen.

As the first female CEO of a major radio station in Nigeria, she currently serves as the CEO of City FM. ​In our conversation with her, she shared the realities of navigating a male-dominated industry, the weight of being “the first,” and why she believes that empowering women isn’t just a “nice to do,” but a “must do” for our collective progress.

Read the full conversation here.

For this month’s Take the Lead feature, we sat down for heart-to-heart conversations with three incredible powerhouses who are redefining what it means to show up for your community.

As the founder of the HypeWomen Podcast, Sarona Wolter’s journey is a profound testament to the power of faith and audacity. She opened up about the raw reality of starting with almost nothing and the spiritual and mental grit it took to become the woman she is today. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, the greatest act of love is believing in the vision God gave you, even when the world hasn’t seen it yet.

​Dive deep into the full conversation here.

Then, we caught up with Dr. Nompumelelo Nkosi, a Medical Doctor, Philanthropist, and KZN Climate Council member who is fiercely dedicated to adolescent healthcare. Through the Dr. Nompumelelo Foundation, she has mastered the delicate art of navigating the high-stakes world of medicine while remaining a creative, empathetic soul. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance professional excellence with a heart for humanity, her story is for you.

​Read the full conversation here.

Finally, we had a conversation with Olufunke Jones, who is currently the Divisional Head at Providus Bank. Through her position and the work she does with the Funke Jones Foundation, she is inspiring lives and helping people build stronger financial futures.

In our conversation with her, what stood out the most was her heart. She spoke about growth, faith, and lifting others in a way that felt honest and personal. It was clear that for her, success was about impact, purpose, and helping others rise.

Read the full conversation here.

This February, for our She Leads Business feature, we sat down with two incredible women: Ontifile Gaokgorwe and Naa Dedei Botchwey.

Ontifile Gaokgorwe is the visionary founder of Bees Hive Academy and the Inclusion Hub Connect.

​Through our conversation with her, we explored how she has been able to transform education into a radical act of inclusion and empowerment. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when a woman leads with a mission, she doesn’t stop there, she builds a legacy.

​Explore the full feature here.

Naa Dedei Botchwey is the founder of the NDB (Naa Dedei Botchwey) Foundation and the winner of the 2020 Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) pageant. She has built a career centered on educational reform and advocacy with a mission to make inclusive education a reality for women across Ghana,

The discussion highlighted her journey toward creating measurable, real-life impact, moving past the fame of her crown to focus on the hard work of social change.

Read the full dialogue here.

Our first Lead Out Loud feature for 2026 was with none other than Titilope Olotu, the brilliant founder of PADÍ. For Titilope, creating something as revolutionary as a biotech-driven, biodegradable menstrual pad is a powerful reminder that age has no limits when it comes to creating change.

Our conversation with her touched on the raw reality of period poverty, her journey of turning childhood discomfort into a global solution, and why she believes the next generation of women doesn’t have to wait for permission to lead.

​Get the full conversation with this powerhouse here.

February has been an incredible month of advocacy, showing up boldly, and refusing to take “no” for an answer. As we transition into the new month, we carry this same fire with us. Here are some of the standout highlights that made our February one for the books:

• Chioma Mang Appointed Chief People Officer of UBA Africa.

• Brutal Practices That Still Aim to Control African Women’s Bodies in 2026.

• Smart Glasses, Hidden Cameras, Violated Consent: Technology as a Weapon Against African Women.

• Maryam Bukar Hassan Makes History as the First Nigerian to Carry an Olympic Flag at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

• 5 Female Partnerships Rewriting the Rules of Leadership.

• Erin Jackson Makes History as the First Black Woman to Bear Team USA’s Flag at the Winter Olympics.

Before we wrap up, have you caught our latest episode of Women Leaders Unscripted yet? ​If you want a front-row seat to how African women are boldly redefining what it means to lead, this is it. Watch the latest episode right here.

​While you’re there, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to stay in the loop with every new story and catch up on any powerful conversations you might have missed.

​As we head into March, let’s carry the lessons of this month with us. ​Don’t forget to spread love, always.

With love,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend,

What does it cost to build a platform for African women’s voices? Francesca Uriri is about to tell you.

The season finale of Women Leaders Unscripted dropped yesterday, and for the first time all season, Francesca Uriri isn’t behind the microphone.

She’s sitting in the chair.

This season, we’ve sat with founders, executives, pioneers, and change-makers. Women who’ve pivoted careers, conquered continents, and built legacies. Women who showed up raw, real, and unscripted.

And every single episode, Francesca has been the one asking: “What did it cost you?”

Now it’s her turn to answer.

Francesca is the Founder of Leading Ladies Africa and the architect of this entire platform. Over 22 years, she’s built a career in global communications across three continents. She’s worked at Oando, Tony Elumelu Foundation, led communications for Uber West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and navigated Meta headquarters in Silicon Valley.

She’s led teams at some of the world’s biggest companies, built platforms that amplify African women’s voices, and created a movement that’s reshaping how we see women’s leadership.

But strength and struggle aren’t opposites. They coexist.

In this episode, Francesca talks about:

✔️ The navy town bubble she grew up in and the Primary 4 moment that sparked a lifetime of fighting injustice.
✔️ Why she’s been a professional rule breaker since boarding school (expelled, but unapologetic).
✔️ The job interview where she said “hire me or don’t” and still walked away with the job.
✔️ Building a career across continents while facing challenges that would have stopped most people.
✔️ What it took to navigate Silicon Valley and keep rising.
✔️ Being diagnosed with high-performing depression and learning that surrender isn’t weakness.
✔️ Losing her father and deciding to keep building anyway.
✔️ Why she created Leading Ladies Africa and built Women Leaders Unscripted,.

This conversation is about power and pain, excellence and exhaustion and building while breaking and rising anyway.

Francesca has spent 22 years showing up, leading, and refusing to play small. She’s built platforms, led teams, and created space for African women to be seen and heard. She’s a force.

And she’s also human.

She’ll tell you about walking with a limp and building a movement in the same breath. About depression and determination, about loss and legacy, because that’s what real leadership looks like.

If you’ve been watching this season, you’ve heard incredible stories. But this one? This is the story behind the stories. The reason this platform exists. The woman who decided African women’s voices deserved to be heard, and then built the infrastructure to make it happen.

Watch the season finale. Head to YouTube and press play. Subscribe if you’ve been on this journey with us all season.

Drop a comment. Share what lands. Tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted.

This season has been about women leading unscripted and we’re closing it with the woman who made sure it happened.

What a time we’ve had this season. Thank you for coming along with us.

With love,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

If you tried to watch Omoyemi Chukwurah’s episode during Thursday’s premiere, you definitely experienced the technical glitch.

We’re sorry about that!

The good news? The episode has been re-uploaded and is now Live.

Yemi is the Founder of Seams and Stitches Limited, a business leader who has mastered doing business in China, and her conversation with Francesca covers everything from building with excellence to navigating China’s supply chain to investing in women.

Trust us, this one was worth the wait.

Watch now on YouTube!

Thank you for your patience

With gratitude,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

Ever asked yourself why some businesses scale faster than others? It’s not always about who has the best idea or the most funding.

Sometimes it’s about who knows where to look.

Episode 10 of Women Leaders Unscripted is now live, and our host Francesca Uriri sits down with a woman who figured out what many African businesses are still missing: the China connection.

Yemi Chukwurah is the Founder of Seams and Stitches Limited. She’s a China business expert, a mentor to women entrepreneurs, and someone who’s built her entire business on a foundation of excellence that refuses to bend.

But here’s what makes her story compelling.

She didn’t start with a perfect plan. She started with a dare.

In this episode, Yemi opens up about the moment a colleague told her “if you can do it, go and start now” and she actually went home and did it. She talks about building a uniform business that understands psychology, not just fabric. About getting scammed by agents for years until she decided to go to China herself.

And what she found there changed everything.

She shares:

✔️ Why China is the plug for global supply chain and what that means for African businesses
✔️ What Guanxi means and why reputation is everything in Chinese business culture
✔️ Why speed to market matters more than perfection
✔️ How to do business in China without taking greed with you
✔️ What African women in business can learn from Chinese business principles

But China is only one part of Yemi’s story.

She also talks about:

✔️ What an ownership spirit looks like even when you’re employed
✔️ Why she won’t lower her standard of excellence even when clients don’t notice
✔️ How she runs a loan initiative for women and why not a single woman has ever defaulted
✔️ Why her faith is her roadmap and how a voice led her to a 20,000 T-shirt gig
✔️ What it means to come from a lineage of strong female entrepreneurs and pass it to the next generation

Yemi reminds us that excellence isn’t negotiable, that China is accessible if you know how to navigate it, and that when we invest in women, the harvest is always bountiful.

This episode is for the entrepreneur who’s ready to scale. For the woman who’s tired of getting scammed. For anyone who wants to understand how business works beyond our borders.

Don’t miss this one. Watch the full episode on YouTube now. Subscribe to stay connected to every conversation.

Drop a comment while you watch, share what lands with you, and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted

The businesses that scale aren’t just lucky. They know something you might not know yet.

Yemi is about to tell you exactly what it is.

With excitement,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

What if the perfect plan you’re waiting for is actually holding you back?

That’s the question sitting at the center of this week’s episode of Women Leaders Unscripted.

Our guest for the week didn’t build her career with a perfect 10-year plan. She built it with preparation, strategic moves, and one foot in front of the other.

Episode 9 of Women Leaders Unscripted is NOW live, and our host Francesca Uriri sits down with Patricia Obozuwa, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Global Reputation Management Project for a conversation about what actually builds careers when you don’t have everything figured out.

Patricia has sat on major boards, pioneered networks, and navigated corporate spaces where she wasn’t always expected, but what makes this conversation powerful isn’t just her credentials. It’s her honesty about the real skills that got her there.

She talks about:

✔️ Why preparation changes how people treat you when they try to underestimate you

✔️ How small milestones build the confidence for bigger moves

✔️ Navigating work politics without losing yourself (because ignoring it won’t get you far)

✔️ Why excellence becomes your currency when people try to relegate you

✔️ The mindset shift from “only” to “first” and what it means to bring others up

✔️ Building influence through competence, not noise

This isn’t a conversation about luck or perfect timing. It’s about the strategic decisions, the preparation, and the courage to keep moving even when the full path isn’t clear.

If you’ve been waiting for everything to align before you make your next move, this episode will shift something for you.

If you’ve ever felt underestimated in rooms where you didn’t fit the mold, Patricia’s approach will give you tools.

If you’re trying to figure out how to rise without compromising who you are, this conversation offers clarity.

Here’s what to do:

Watch the episode on YouTube. Subscribe so you’re part of every conversation.

Share the moment that resonates most and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted

One foot in front of the other builds more than most perfect plans ever will.

Press Play.

With excitement,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

What does it take to walk away from a secure career and build something the world has never seen before?

That’s the question at the heart of this week’s episode of Women Leaders Unscripted.

Episode 8 is NOW live and our host, Francesca Uriri sits down with a woman who didn’t just pivot careers but created an entirely new pathway for African contemporary art on the global stage.

Adenrele Sonariwo had everything lined up. An accounting degree from Howard University. A position at PwC. The kind of career trajectory that makes parents proud and raises zero eyebrows at family gatherings.

But Adenrele saw something no one else was building. A space where African contemporary art could be nurtured, celebrated, and taken seriously on the world stage. So she founded Rele Art Gallery and here’s where the story gets interesting.

In this episode, Adenrele goes beyond the accolades and the headlines. She opens up about what it actually took to build a gallery from vision to reality, the doubts that crept in, the moments when the safe path looked tempting again, and why she launched a pop-up art school before the gallery even had walls.

She also shares:

✔️ How she opened Africa’s first contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles

✔️ Why nurturing emerging artists through Rele Arts Foundation is just as important as building the brand

✔️ The intersection of culture, commerce, and creating real economic opportunities for African artists

✔️ What it takes to move through global art spaces as a woman, as an African, and as someone rewriting the rules

✔️ Why vision without structure doesn’t sustain, and how she built both simultaneously

If you’ve ever asked these questions:

• “Is it too risky to follow a vision no one else understands?”

• “How do you build credibility in a space that doesn’t expect you?”

• “What does it take to turn passion into a sustainable, globally recognized movement?”

…this conversation will give you answers, perspective, and the kind of clarity that only comes from someone who’s actually done it.

Adenrele reminds us that leadership is about building the infrastructure to make that vision last, creating pathways for others to follow, and staying grounded even when the world calls you one of the coolest women in your city. This episode is for the dreamers who are ready to build.

So here’s what to do next:

Head to YouTube and press play.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Drop your thoughts in the comments as you watch because we want to hear what resonates with you.

And when a moment hits you (and it will), share it on your socials and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted so we can celebrate it together.

African art is taking up space globally, and women like Adenrele are clearing the path.

You need to hear this one.

With excitement,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend!

We hope it’s not too late to say this: Happy New Year!

2025 was that year. We celebrated wins together and held space for each other. In 2026, we’re going even harder in doing impactful work that empowers women to transform society as we know it. We outline our scope of work in the Leading Ladies Africa 2026 framework. Be sure to check it out to understand what Leading Ladies Africa does!

We started 2026 talking about something that can’t be ignored any longer: women’s images being stolen, manipulated, and weaponised online with the use of AI tools, like Grok without their consent.

As part of our commitment to dismantling digital violence against women, we held an Instagram Live Conversation where we sat down with two powerful voices:

Jessica Eni, Legal & Policy Program Officer at TechSocietal. She walked us through the legal side of things; our rights, and the legal steps to take on such occurrences.

Omoloto Opeifa, our second guest is a content creator who shared her journey. As someone who has experienced this form of digital violence, she shared how she reclaimed her power and pushed back publicly.

This conversation was hosted by Eniola Diadem Omotola, Gender Programs Advisor at Leading Ladies Africa, and we walked away knowing that together, we can dismantle these systems and reclaim our power in these digital spaces.

Want to watch the full conversation? Catch the replay here. Also, stay tuned in to insightful conversations like this by following us on our Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and TikTok platforms.

Women Leaders Unscripted is back, and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off 2026 than with Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani. As one of Africa’s leading voices in energy and finance, she is the founder of EnergyInc Advisors, Senior Nigeria Advisor to IFU, Denmark’s Investment Fund for Developing Countries, and sits on the global advisory board of Stonechair Capital, guiding their #EnergyAfrica Fund across Sub-Saharan Africa.

She took us through her journey across industries, sharing what she’s learned about self-awareness, confidence, and leadership. Watch the full conversation here.

We also sat down with Ojoma Ochai, Managing Director of Co-Creation Hub Africa, and the conversation was everything. Ojoma has spent years connecting tech and creativity across continents, building bridges between industries that don’t always speak the same language.

What stood out the most was her commitment to showing up authentically, and her refusal to shrink in spaces where people expect her to fit a mould. Watch the full episode here.

Our first LLA Spotlight for the year was Omowumi Etiko, CEO of NuSafiri and a woman deeply committed to the rest and rejuvenation of every African woman, regardless of position or status.

In our reflective conversation with her, she opened up about her journey to hold space for rest and healing. As a woman of faith, she’s convinced that life is not measured by accolades or achievements, but by faithfulness and service.

Read the full conversation here.

Our first Take The Lead feature for the year was none other than Fiyin Toyo, and it’s safe to say she’s operating on a different level. She is the Marketing Director for Beiersdorf across Central, East & West Africa, leading strategy across over thirty markets and shaping the future of brands like NIVEA.

Her story redefined leadership for us, highlighting the grit, grace, and structural support necessary to empower African women. Through her courage, she built EmpowerU, a platform that has transformed the lives of over 25,000 professionals.

Dive into the full conversation here.

The She Leads Business feature started the year with Esther Ijewere, the media strategist, storyteller, and founder of Women of Rubies who has helped hundreds of women globally turn their voices into visibility and their visibility into leadership.

She shared lessons on what it really takes to build something meaningful, carrying the weight of other people’s stories, and making efforts to enhance the intensity of our voices. Check out the full conversation here.

January has been nothing short of incredible, and honestly, we’re just getting started. From the stories we’ve shared to the voices we’ve amplified, there’s been so much to take in. Here are some of the defining moments that made our month.

• Kim Seymour Appointed Chief People Officer of Skims.

• Dr. Tafadzwa Mandiwanza Makes History as Ireland’s First-ever Woman Pediatric Neurosurgeon

• Buena Barnes Makes History as the First Female General Manager of Philip Morris South Africa.

• Amaka Onwughalu Appointed Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc Board.

• The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint: Olamidun Ogundoyin on 5 Things to know before starting a business in Nigeria.

• The Oscar Nomination Trap: When Black Women are Celebrated but Sidelined for the Win.

Before we go, don’t forget that Women Leaders Unscripted is back and we’re bringing you raw, honest conversations with women who are shaping industries and redefining leadership across Africa and beyond. Watch the latest episode here.

If you haven’t already, click here to subscribe, and share with everyone you know!;)

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair instead.” — Shirley Chisholm

With love,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend,

What really changes how you’re treated in powerful rooms? Is it confidence, experience… or preparation?

The 7th episode of Women Leaders Unscripted is NOW LIVE and that is one of the topics we explore in it.

Ojoma Ochai is sharing real lessons on how influence is actually built and why preparation often shifts perception faster than anything else.

Drawing from years spent shaping creative and digital economy work across Africa and beyond, from leading the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB to advising global institutions and supporting ecosystems where creativity, technology, and policy intersect, Ojoma breaks down what it actually takes to move from being overlooked to being respected.

And this conversation goes beyond titles.

She speaks honestly about walking into spaces where she was underestimated, how curiosity shaped her career journey, and why preparation often flips the energy in rooms not originally built for you.

In this episode, Ojoma dives into:

✔️ Why preparation changes how people receive you
✔️ How creatives can move from talent to real economic power
✔️ The connection between policy, technology, and creative opportunity
✔️ Why creatives need structure and protection, not just visibility
✔️ How curiosity can unlock unexpected career paths
✔️ And why influence often comes from competence, not noise

If you’re trying to grow your career, build influence, or better understand how opportunities are really created across industries, this episode offers clarity, not just inspiration.

Ojoma reminds us that success isn’t accidental, it’s built through curiosity, preparation, and learning how to move strategically in rooms where decisions are made.

Watch the episode on YouTube, subscribe so you don’t miss a single weekly drop, and when something lands with you, share it and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted.

With excitement,

Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

We’re often told that choosing a career means choosing it for life, that switching paths is a risk, or worse, a mistake.

In this episode, Rolake Akinjugbe-Filani shows us that career transitions don’t have to be reckless, they can be deliberate, grounded, and deeply aligned.

Episode 6 of Women Leaders Unscripted is now live, and we’re starting this new year with a conversation that feels timely, honest, and necessary.

Rolake is a broadcaster, strategic communications expert, C-level executive, and entrepreneur. She’s navigated corporate floors, anchored business shows, advised top institutions, and built businesses, all while figuring out how to show up authentically and confidently.

In this episode, she opens up about:

• Making big career moves without losing your sense of self

• Why so many people transition emotionally and end up questioning every step after

• The importance of knowing your why before you pivot

• How confidence is built through competence, not vibes

• Navigating visibility, representation, and authenticity as a woman in leadership

• What it really takes to show up prepared, especially in rooms that weren’t designed for you
  
  

If you have ever found yourself asking:
✔️ “Is it too late to change direction?”
✔️ “What if I make the wrong move?”
✔️ “Why do I keep doubting myself after I pivoted?”
✔️ “How do I build confidence in a new season?”

…this episode will give you perspective, practical takeaways, and the kind of wisdom you can actually use.

Watch the episode on YouTube, subscribe so you don’t miss a single weekly drop, and when something lands with you, share it and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted.

With excitement,
Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello Friend,

Can you believe it?

We were just celebrating “Happy New Year, and in the blink of an eye, we’ve landed in December. We’re grateful for every second in between, because you walked the journey with us. Every win, every advocacy push, every story amplified, and every lesson learned was made richer by your presence.

So grab your keys, and let’s take a grateful ride down memory lane.

• We set the tone early in March. In honour of International Women’s Day, we unveiled one of our boldest editions yet of the highly anticipated LLA 100 Women list. This year, we turned the spotlight on 100 phenomenal Nigerian women reshaping Africa’s financial landscape with the LLA 100 Women In Finance. These women are shifting systems and have shaped the future of finance for generations to come.

March didn’t stop there. We hosted the first-ever Women in Finance Breakfast Forum, and the Leadership By Inclusion Summit supported by incredible partners like Providus Bank, WILAN, IE University, and Essenza. Both were powerful events filled with female leaders, policymakers, and ecosystem shapers — all committed to advancing gender equity, economic justice, and leadership opportunities for African women.

• Ahead of Africa’s day, we held a powerful LinkedIn live conversation, and together with an amazing lineup of impactful women, we spotlighted the transformative impact of bringing and supporting more women through leadership.

• We crowned the month of May by spotlighting 18 exceptional African women leading global corporations. These are women driving bold impact, transforming communities, and shaping narratives that inspire the next generation of African leaders.

• July was a month of power, and purpose, as we turned the spotlight on 15 women transforming Africa’s Continent. This list was created in celebration of African Women’s Day, honoring the remarkable impact of African women who continue to drive change and lead boldly across the continent.

• October gave birth to something deeply special — the Women Leaders Unscripted Podcast. From the premiere event to every fiercely honest episode, the conversations were raw, bold, tender, and true. Our lineup featured powerful leaders like:

• Deborah-Deji Kurunmi (DDK): Lead Coach, Executive Director, Ideation Hub Africa.

• Ify Mogekwu: Creative Director, Ify’s Kitchen.

• Dr. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo: Corporate Communications Professional and Founder, TheLightHouse Network.

• Toyosi Etim-Effiong: Founder and CEO, ThatGoodMedia.

• Osayi Alile: CEO, ACT Foundation.

Each episode peeled back the layers of leadership and womanhood in ways boardrooms rarely do. And the best part? We’re just getting started. Subscribe to the podcast here.

• We wrapped up 2025 in two powerful phases, both in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.”

First, we amplified our advocacy campaign through a thought-provoking LinkedIn Live session in collaboration with TechHerNG. Together with a lineup of impactful women, we stepped boldly into the digital space, calling out the rising tide of online crimes against African women and charting a clearer, safer path toward digital protection for women and girls everywhere.

The second phase led us into the 16 Days of Activism Policy Roundtable in Abuja, Nigeria, also in partnership with TechHerNG and supported by Luminate. This gathering featured two dynamic panel sessions designed to challenge existing tech and policy systems and propose practical, effective frameworks that empower women to express themselves freely and safely online.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come this year, and grateful for every way you’ve supported us. Cheering us on. Lending your voice. Sharing the work. Showing up.

Together, we’ve celebrated countless achievements, challenged systems, shed a few tears, and shared moments that reminded us why this work matters.

And we’re proud of you, too. Your resilience. Your growth. Your courage. Your wins. And how much more you’re still going to accomplish.

This is not the time to be hard on yourself, especially over plans that didn’t unfold the way you hoped. Instead, rise and reflect. Celebrate yourself truly. You’ve earned it.

Here’s to a warm and beautiful holiday season, and to a 2026 with bolder steps, louder voices, and even more unstoppable impact.

Until we connect again in the new year,

Team LLA ❤️

Hello friend!

What a month!

Can we take a collective breath? As we wrap up 2025, this month reminded us that leadership is not only about celebrating power, but also questioning how it’s used.

November brought tough conversations, powerful protests, and a global call to action, all led, as always, by women who refuse to be silent.

So grab a snack, and let’s walk through the moments that defined November for us.

The 16 Days of Activism is a global mobilization against the violence against women. This year’s focus is a call to end Digital Violence with the theme UNiTED to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls.

At Leading Ladies Africa, we kicked off the 2025 16 Days of activism campaign by hosting a powerful LinkedIn Live session titled: Building Safer Digital Spaces: Tech-Facilitated GBV in the Age of AI.

Alongside incredible leaders Chioma Agwuegbo, Sigi Waigumo Mwanzia, Peninah Kímiri, and Fridah Nyaga, we had a conversation on how Artificial Intelligence has been misused to create and automate harassment, with non-consensual imagery, deepfakes, bullying bots amongst others, and the lack of responsive legislations for African women from the government and digital platforms.

The conversation created pathways focused on prioritizing digital safety, shaping African-centered feminist tech policy, building survivor-centred systems, and legal reforms.

You can catch the Live Conversation here.

We are taking it a step further as we partner with TechHerNG with support from Luminate, to host a policy roundtable in Abuja, Nigeria, on the 5th of December, 2025. This policy dialogue is titled Profit, Power, and Protection: Rethinking Online Safety for Women and Girls in the Digital Economy and will bring together tech companies, policymakers, regulators, law enforcement, civil society and the media to push for real accountability and safer digital spaces for women.

Stay glued to our Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and Tiktok for live insights, key moments, and to be a part of the conversation.

In October, we launched the Women Leaders Unscripted podcast, and engaged in mind blowing, unscripted conversations with African female leaders who are shaping industries, shifting culture, and redefining leadership on their own terms.

Here are the incredible women who have brought their stories, insights, and brilliance to our November episodes:

Ify Mogekwu, the creative director behind Ify’s Kitchen, where she continues to put African cuisine on a global scale.

She spoke of her pivot into food content creation despite working as a lawyer for 6 years.

Watch the full conversation here.

Dr.Nkiru Olumide-Ojo is a corporate communications leader, whose expertise spans across industries. As the Founder of the LightHouse Network, she brought a level of depth that felt like a masterclass, on visibility, on competence, on navigating spaces where women are still expected to shrink.

Tune into the full episode here.

Toyosi Etim-Effiong is a media mogul, the founder of That Good Media, and one of the leading voices in advancing Nigeria’s creative sector globally. She offered grounded reflections on identity, self-awareness, and the engaging power of representation.

Click here to watch the full conversation.

Osayi Alile, CEO of ACT Foundation, also shared her insights on women leadership. She got real and vulnerable and we are reminded that leadership is more than accolades. Family and authenticity will always keep you grounded when everything seems to be falling apart.

Watch the full conversation here.

This month on our Take The Lead interview feature, we sat with a woman who understands leadership from the inside out, Dami Dania, Creation Lead for Nutrition at Unilever West Africa, and one of Africa’s Global Forty Under 40 award recipients.

Dami has built a career grounded in strategy, cultural insight, and brand storytelling that connects deeply with African consumers. Our conversation with her unraveled the discipline behind her growth, the principles that guide her decisions, and the mindset women need to thrive in fast-paced corporate spaces.

Read the full conversation here.

For the She Leads Business feature, we stepped into the world of Rose Molteno, designer, artist, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind Molteno Couture. Her work champions inclusivity, body positivity, and the idea that fashion should make women feel seen, not evaluated.

In our dialogue with her, she opened up about building a brand from the ground up, designing with purpose, and using business as a tool for empowerment.

Check out the full conversation here.

We closed the month with a refreshing and powerful voice on Lead Out Loud: Amara Nwuneli, Climate Activist, Social Innovator, and the Founder of Preserve Our Roots.

At 17, Amara is reshaping environmental advocacy across Africa, transforming dumpsites into eco-sustainable green hubs, mobilizing young people, and winning global recognition including The Earth Prize Africa award. Her leadership is bold and deeply community-driven.

Our conversation with Amara went beyond climate work. It touched on courage, responsibility, and what it means to lead from conviction rather than position. She showed us that leadership is not age-defined but stepping forward when the world needs you to.

Tune into the full conversation here.

We are grateful for November, not just for the voices we amplified, but for the courage and the clarity it brought. Let’s revisit some of the defining moments from November:

• When Women Misuse Power: Lessons from the Samia Suluhu Hassan Story.

• African Women Deserves More Than Pink Campaigns: Breast Cancer Can’t be Beaten by PR Alone.

• Aisha N. Ahmad Has Been Appointed Chair of the Graça Machel Trust’s Expert Leaders’ Group.

• South African Women Go Purple to Protest Against Femicide and Gender-Based violence.

• Anok Yai Crowned Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council.

• Fauziyya Muhammad Auwal Makes History as Nigeria’s first Astronaut candidate with Titans Space Industries.

• Jessica Martinez sets a New Guinness World Record as her 190cm hair becomes the World’s Largest Female Afro.

Before we close up on this month’s newsletter, have you watched the latest episode of Women Leaders Unscripted?

If not, might we ask why? These conversations are packed with perspective-shifting wisdom, real talk, and empowering reminders about living boldly. Watch, like the video, subscribe, and share with everyone you know! ;) Tune in and subscribe here.

As we step into the final stretch of the year, we are reminded to lift ourselves first. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup.

Till next time,

Team LLA❤️

Hello friend,

Some conversations aren’t meant to inform you, but to stay with you. This is one of them.

The fifth episode of Women Leaders Unscripted is now live, and the guest of the week is a woman whose work has shaped philanthropy, youth empowerment, nonprofit leadership, and sustainable development across Africa. But that’s not the story she came to tell.

Osayi Alile is the CEO of ACT Foundation, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a founding curator of the Global Shapers Forum Nigeria, and a woman whose leadership footprint stretches across sectors, nations, and generations.

But in this episode?

She leaves the résumé at the door.

Osayi opens up about the side of leadership people never see. The losses, the weight, the silence, the expectations, and the moments that strip you of certainty and force you back to your core.

She talks about loneliness.
She talks about carrying burdens no one else can carry.
She talks about her father’s love letters that anchored her when everything else felt shaky.
And she talks about the faith that has held her together when leadership felt too heavy.

If you have ever wondered:

✔️ What leadership feels like behind the scenes
✔️ Why purpose will sometimes break you before it builds you
✔️ How leaders navigate seasons of grief, doubt, and emotional exhaustion
✔️ What it means to lose people you lead and still keep showing up
✔️ Why faith, grounding, and inner clarity matter more than titles

…this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Osayi’s honesty is rare. Her story reminds us that leadership can be raw, vulnerable, and deeply human.

For her, life is not measured by accolades but by the lives you touch and the impact you leave behind.

This episode will make you pause. It will make you reflect. And it just might make you tear up.

So here’s what to do next:

Head to YouTube and press play.
Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Share the moment that hits you right in the soul, and tag us @leadingladiesafrica + @womenleadersunscripted so we can be a part of it.

This is leadership — unfiltered, unguarded, and unscripted.
And you need to hear it.

With sincerity,
Team LLA ❤️🧡

Hello friend,

If you work in the creative industry — or you want to — stop whatever you’re doing now.
This new episode is your blueprint.

Episode 4 of Women Leaders Unscripted is now live, and this week, Francesca sits with a woman whose fingerprints are quietly (and loudly) shaping the future of African storytelling:

Toyosi Etim-Effiong is the Founder & CEO of That Good Media, a media entrepreneur, talent manager, global connector, and the force making sure African creatives get the international recognition they deserve.

She is the woman behind the scenes securing Hollywood presence at the AMVCAs, taking Nollywood to Essence Fest, building cross-continental partnerships, and pushing African stories into the global rooms that once felt impossible to enter.

But in this episode?
She goes all the way unfiltered.

Toyosi opens up about stumbling into managing top talent, navigating public scrutiny, building strategic relationships that turn into global opportunities, and the courage it takes to champion creatives in an industry that can eat people alive.

If you’ve ever wondered:
✔️ How to protect your worth in creative spaces
✔️ Why every creative needs proper representation
✔️ The power of cultural intelligence when working across continents
✔️ How to build a network rooted in genuine relationships, not desperation
✔️ What it takes to rise without losing yourself
✔️ Why diligence and consistency still matter even in a “fast” industry
✔️ How to work with faith while making big, risky moves

…then this conversation will change you.

Toyosi brings receipts, real stories, and clarity that creatives rarely get to hear.
She even had a few words for the bullies (you’ll hear it 👀).

Whether you’re a filmmaker, writer, producer, creator, strategist, or simply someone committed to building a life of purpose, this conversation will shift something in you. Toyosi’s clarity and depth offer the kind of mentorship that too many people wish they had early in their creative careers.

So do one thing today:

Hit play, and listen with intention.

While you’re at it, subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss future episodes, drop your thoughts in the live chat, share your favourite insight on socials and tag us leadingladiesafrica and @womenleadersunscripted so we can amplify your voice too!

African creatives are taking up space globally, and women like Toyosi are clearing the path.

You deserve to hear this one.

With excitement,

Team LLA ❤️🧡