With a focus on youth empowerment and gender equality, Delila has dedicated her career to creating positive change in her community and across Africa.

Her work in youth development has had a lasting impact.

She has led programs that provide young people, especially in Ethiopia, with access to education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

These initiatives have helped many young people build better futures for themselves and their families.

Delila is also a committed advocate for gender equality.

She has played a key role in campaigns aimed at reducing gender-based violence and increasing the participation of women in leadership roles.

Her efforts have contributed to policy changes that support women’s rights in Ethiopia and beyond.

Throughout her career, Delila has worked with various international organizations, NGOs, and governments to implement sustainable development projects.

Her leadership in these projects has improved social services, healthcare, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities in Africa.

As the Director of Africa at ThinkYoung, Delila continues to lead efforts that empower young people through education, research, and advocacy.

A native of West Africa, Zubairu’s career is marked by a deep commitment to fostering sustainable growth and creating opportunities for businesses and communities in emerging markets.

Born and raised in West Africa, he grew up in a region that is rich in cultural diversity and economic potential.

His early exposure to the challenges and opportunities within his community inspired him to pursue a career that could meaningfully impact the continent’s economic future.

Zubairu’s academic journey laid a strong foundation for his future successes. He holds a BSc in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.

This provided him with a solid understanding of financial principles, which he has applied throughout his illustrious career.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Nigeria (FCA), underscoring his expertise in financial management and strategic planning.

Zubairu has built an illustrious career in the investment management sector, particularly within private equity and venture capital.

Over the years, he has held several high-ranking positions in notable organizations, where his leadership has driven significant growth and transformation.

He began his career with key roles in some of Africa’s most influential companies, serving as the Treasurer for Dangote Group and later as the Chief Financial Officer for Dangote Cement Plc.

In July 2018, he was appointed as the 3rd President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

This role marked a new era of leadership for the organization, as Zubairu spearheaded the development and implementation of a five-year corporate strategy focused on accelerating development impact across Africa.

The strategy’s core objectives include increasing energy access for Africans, driving the sustainable development of natural resources, enhancing transport and logistics infrastructure, supporting heavy industries, and improving telecommunications and technology access.

Under his leadership, AFC’s total assets grew exponentially from US$4.1 billion when he joined to $10.6 billion by 2022.

Despite global economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, AFC’s Total Comprehensive Income nearly doubled from US$118 million in 2018 to US$214 million in 2022.

Zubairu has been involved in initiatives aimed at fostering economic development across West Africa.

His work has particularly focused on critical sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and finance.

Through these initiatives, Zubairu has helped create a more conducive environment for business growth and has improved access to capital for local enterprises.

His work has significantly impacted the telecommunications landscape in Africa, contributing to the expansion and modernization of telecom services in various regions.

Besiimire’s career in the telecommunications industry spans over two decades, during which he has held several key leadership positions.

His journey began in Uganda, where he quickly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional leadership and business development skills.

He later took on regional roles, including his most notable position as the Regional Director for Southern Africa at MTN, one of the largest telecommunications companies in Africa.

In his role at MTN, Besiimire was responsible for overseeing operations across multiple countries, driving growth, and ensuring the company remained competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Under his leadership, MTN expanded its network infrastructure, rolled out advanced services such as 4G and 5G, and improved customer experience across the region.

His efforts not only enhanced MTN’s market position but also played a crucial role in increasing access to communication services for millions of people in Southern Africa.

Besiimire has been instrumental in expanding telecom services in Africa, particularly in underserved regions. His leadership led to the rollout of advanced network infrastructure, improving connectivity and access to communication for millions of people.

He has also been at the forefront of digital transformation within the telecommunications sector, spearheading the adoption of new technologies and digital platforms and positioning the companies he has worked with as leaders in the digital age.

Besiimire is currently serving as the CEO & Managing Director, Vodacom Tanzania.

Passionate about empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and driving economic development across the continent, Jeremy has dedicated his career to providing financial and investment advisory services that help businesses achieve sustainable growth.

His interest in Africa’s economic potential led him to pursue a career focused on empowering businesses, particularly those in the SME sector, which he believes are crucial to the continent’s economic future.

Jeremy’s educational background is firmly anchored in finance and economics, which provided him with the foundation to excel in his career.

He holds a degree in finance, and his educational journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding the complexities of Africa’s economic landscape.

He is the Managing Partner of Fie-Consult, a financial and investment advisory firm that has been instrumental in supporting businesses across Africa.

Under his leadership, Fie-Consult has become a trusted partner for SMEs seeking to navigate financial challenges, secure funding, and implement growth strategies.

The firm specializes in offering tailored solutions that address the unique needs of African businesses, helping them thrive in a competitive market.

Jeremy established Fie-Consult with the vision of creating a platform that provides essential financial services to African businesses. His firm has since grown to become a key player in the financial advisory sector, supporting countless SMEs across the continent.

Beyond his work with Fie-Consult, Jeremy has been actively involved in initiatives that promote economic development in Africa.

He is passionate about creating environments that support entrepreneurship and investment, believing that these are key to unlocking the continent’s full potential.

With a career spanning various sectors, including media, education, and consultancy, Tsitsi has earned a reputation as a thought leader in family business governance, succession planning, and family office structuring.

As the co-founder of the African Family Firms (AFF), Tsitsi has been at the forefront of supporting family-owned businesses across Africa.

The AFF is a pan-African organization that provides essential education, resources, and networking opportunities to help family businesses thrive.

Under her leadership, AFF has become a pivotal platform for addressing the unique challenges faced by family businesses in Africa, such as governance, succession, and wealth preservation.

Tsitsi’s most notable achievement is the co-founding of AFF, an organization dedicated to strengthening family-owned businesses in Africa.

Through AFF, Tsitsi has played a crucial role in helping these businesses navigate complex issues related to governance, succession, and longevity.

A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, Tsitsi has also made significant contributions to mentoring and supporting women entrepreneurs.

Her efforts to promote gender equality in business have inspired many women across Africa to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Tsitsi is also a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader, frequently invited to share her insights at conferences, workshops, and panel discussions.

As the Global Chairman of Fairfax Africa Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based investment firm, Zemedeneh has been instrumental in facilitating large-scale investments and transformative projects on the continent.

His visionary leadership and expertise have established him as one of Africa’s most influential business figures.

Zemedeneh was born in Ethiopia but has built an impressive career that spans across multiple continents.

His Ethiopian heritage and American nationality uniquely position him as a bridge between Africa and the global business community.

This dual identity has enabled him to leverage international networks to attract and channel investment into Africa, fostering economic growth and development.

He is currently the Global Chairman of Fairfax Africa Fund, where he oversees investment strategies that target key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and financial services.

Prior to his role at Fairfax, Zemedeneh held various executive positions that further honed his expertise in investment and economic strategy.

His deep understanding of global markets and African economies has made him a trusted advisor to governments and multinational corporations alike.

One of his most notable contributions was his involvement in the privatization and restructuring of Ethiopian Airlines.

Under his guidance, the airline transformed into one of Africa’s most successful and profitable carriers, setting a benchmark for other national airlines on the continent.

His work has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of the “100 Most Influential Africans” by New African magazine. This recognition underscores his influence and the respect he commands within the African and global business communities.

Her career has been marked by significant achievements in the field of investment and finance, particularly in emerging markets.

Born and raised in Guinea, Fanta has built an impressive international career, blending her African roots with a global perspective.

She pursued her undergraduate studies in Finance at Baruch College, City University of New York, where she also minored in Spanish.

This combination of finance and language studies equipped her with a strong foundation in global financial markets and cross-cultural communication.

Fanta furthered her education by earning an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

She began her career as an investment banking summer analyst at JPMorgan, one of the largest financial institutions globally.

During her time at JPMorgan, she worked in the Healthcare coverage group and the Latin America M&A group, gaining valuable experience in high-stakes financial transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

She later joined BlackRock in New York, where she played a key role in expanding the company’s proprietary investment management technology platform, Aladdin.

Her work at BlackRock involved enhancing the platform’s capabilities and broadening its reach to new service providers, demonstrating her ability to drive technological and business growth within a leading global asset management firm.

Fanta’s career took a significant turn when she joined CrossBoundary, a firm specializing in unlocking capital for sustainable growth in underserved markets. 

As a Managing Director, she co-leads the West Africa Investment Advisory team, where she focuses on facilitating investments across various sectors in the region.

Her work at CrossBoundary has been pivotal in driving economic development in West Africa, particularly in sectors such as agribusiness and waste management.

Condé’s achievements are marked by her ability to bridge the gap between global capital markets and emerging economies. 

At CrossBoundary, Fanta has been instrumental in leading projects that attract investment into critical sectors in West Africa, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the region.

Her leadership at CrossBoundary is not only a testament to her professional acumen but also highlights her commitment to fostering economic growth in her home continent.

By facilitating investments that drive development, Fanta has positioned herself as a key player in the investment landscape of West Africa.

His career is characterized by his visionary leadership, strategic investments, and commitment to advancing the continent’s economic landscape.

Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 1963, Alain Nkontchou pursued his education at the prestigious École supérieure de commerce de Paris (ESCP).

Nkontchou began his professional journey in the financial industry at Chemical Bank, where he was responsible for cash management.

He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to Managing Director at Chase Manhattan Bank in 2002. His career further advanced when he served as Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse AG in London.

In 2007, Alain Nkontchou founded Enko Capital Management LLP, an investment firm dedicated to African markets.

Under his leadership, Enko Capital has been pivotal in attracting international capital to the continent, supporting the growth of African enterprises, and fostering economic development.

The firm’s innovative approach to investment has made it a key player in the African financial landscape.

Nkontchou joined the Board of Directors of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) in 2014 and was appointed Chairman in 2020.

His tenure at Ecobank has been marked by efforts to enhance the bank’s product offerings, improve customer experiences, and drive sustainable development across Africa.

Ecobank, under his leadership, has continued to expand its influence as a leading pan-African banking group.

Alain Nkontchou’s mission is to advance economic development in Africa through strategic financial investments and fostering innovative solutions in the banking sector.

His work at Enko Capital and Ecobank aims to position these institutions as catalysts for positive change, driving growth and resilience in African economies.

Alain Francis Nkontchou’s achievements underscore his commitment to leveraging financial expertise to drive economic progress and development in Africa.

His visionary leadership and strategic initiatives have not only promoted investment in African markets but also contributed significantly to the continent’s economic transformation.

Her career spans over 20 years in various high-profile roles across leading companies in different sectors, including telecommunications, financial services, and digital marketing.

She has held several senior management positions, including Managing Director of MultiChoice Kenya, Vice President for Market Development in Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard, and Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at HF Group.

Her leadership at MultiChoice Kenya, starting in December 2019, marked her as the first female Managing Director of the company, a significant milestone in a male-dominated industry.

In 2018, recognizing the need for more focused and inclusive solutions in financial and educational technology, Matimu founded Serrari Group.

This transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship was driven by her desire to leverage her extensive experience to create impactful solutions that address the unique challenges faced by individuals and businesses in Africa​.

At Serrari Group, Matimu aims to foster growth and financial freedom in Africa through innovative fintech and edtech solutions.

The company’s mission is to create the easiest, simplest, and most versatile online education platform, financial literacy platform, and a comprehensive digital financial services marketplace.

Matimu holds an MBA from Strathmore Business School and IESE Business School, a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Kenyatta University, and a diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

She is also involved in various educational and business boards, serving as the Vice-Chairperson of the University Council Board at KCA University and as a Global Board Trustee at Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA).

She has been recognized as one of the top 100 most influential women in Africa in 2020 for her contributions to the digital economy.

This recognition underscores her impact and influence in the business world, particularly in Africa​.