The stage is all set for a day of high-level engagement and quality entertainment at the 8th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit on 8 March 2023 (International Women’s Day). Taking place at SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa, attendees to this impactful summit will enjoy panel discussions, one-on-one interviews and Q&A sessions alongside Grammy-award-winning entertainment, culminating in the highly-anticipated 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards.
“The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit has become a calendar highlight for women seeking insight and inspiration from leaders in their fields,” explained Roberta Naicker, Managing Director, ABN Group. “This is also an important space for vibrant engagement, creating strong bonds with our fellow women, and connecting in a relaxed and supportive environment. That’s why we ensure there’s a good balance between informative talks and entertainment, ending with a wonderful celebration of our women through the awards ceremony.”
Presented by McDonald’s, in association with The Macallan and supported by Coca-Cola, Access Bank, Avon, Lucara Botswana and The ROOM, the 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit will include talks and live performances by world-renowned entertainers, including the likes of Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode. These internationally celebrated South African artists were part of the team behind Bayethe which recently won Best Global Music Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. Guests will also be enthralled by the captivating performance by Brendon Peel, the mentalist, magician and entertainer who ‘pushes the limit when it comes to reality by creating moments of true magic’.
The summit also welcomes speakers from the entertainment industry, among them Singhita who, at 15 years old, is the youngest speaker on the day, joining the In the Spotlight programme. She launched her music career with a debut hit single That Kinda Girl which was released to critical acclaim. An aspiring model, actress, and avid equestrian, Singhita, will share valuable insights from the upcoming generation.
Another summit speaker who has taken the entertainment world by storm is the award-winning comedian Tumi Morake, instantly recognisable as the face of major campaigns for Savanna, Vodacom, Kellogg’s and Sanlam. Morake is also the first African female stand-up comedian to have her own special on Netflix, and the first woman to host Comedy Central on African soil.
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit Speakers
More than 50 speakers will be talking around this year’s theme Women 3.0: The Icons and Ideas Shaping Africa. Some of the speakers taking to the podium on the day include:
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the 24th President of Liberia, the first elected female Head of State in Africa, and the Founder of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center for Women and Development.
- Tunde Oyeneyin, a Nigerian American Peleton instructor, trainer, and motivational speaker.
- Thembi Kgatlana, a South African soccer player.
- Amina J Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
- Aya Chebbi is a Pan-African feminist, Tunisian diplomat, and Founder of Nala Feminist Collective (Nalafem), Africa’s largest multigenerational alliance of women activists and politicians.
- Louisa Mojela is the Founder and Chair of Bophelo Bioscience and Wellness Company (now Bophelo Biomed); and a Co-Founder of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WIPHOLD), the first women-owned and led company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- Unathi Mtya, theGroup Chief Information and Digital Officer at African Bank.
- Dr Nataliey Bitature is the Chief of Staff and a Board member of Simba Group (among many others), Founder of Musana Carts, and HER an online mentorship platform for African women.
- Dr Funmi Adewara, the Founder and CEO of Mobihealth International.
- Irene Kiwia is the Co-Founder and CGO of Adanian Labs; as well as the Founder of Twaa, eCOBbA, and The Africa Blockchain Center.
- Thamani Thothe is the Founding Creative Director of the African luxury niche fragrance brand, White Label Fragrances (WLF).
- Fatima Babakura, Founder of Timabee, an accessories brand; and Yerwa Secrets, a perfumery brand.
- Nonkululeko Gobodo, the CEO of Awakened Global.
- Aisha Ayensu, the Creative Director of Christie Brown.
- Patricia Scotland is the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General, and the first-ever woman to hold the position.
- Salma Rhadia Mukansanga is a Rwandan international football referee listed with FIFA, and the first woman to referee at the African Cup of Nations, as well as officiating at the Olympics, FIFA Women’s World Cup, Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, and CAF Women’s Champions League.
- Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni, the Managing Director of RichAfrica Consultancy, Nigeria.
The topics of the 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit
These and many more artists, raconteurs, entrepreneurs, financial titans, thought-leaders and history-makers will discuss new possibilities through one-on-one interviews, panel discussions, and more. Topics will include:
- The Landscape of Modern Wealth: Investing in The Missing Middle
- How To Capitalize on Web 3.0, The Metaverse and The Blockchain?
- Money Knows No Gender: The Hustle and Heart of The Emerging Entrepreneur
- Citadels Of Power: The West African Renaissance
- Power After 50: Tapping into New Potential and Possibilities
- Never Mined? Gender Imbalance in The Mining & Energy Sectors
- Beauty And the Biz
- Blood, Sweat and Cheers: Having the Right Spirit
After a full day of engaging on these and many other critical issues, the summit will culminate in the prestigious 2023 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards, a glittering ceremony where the most accomplished leaders and luminaries will be honoured for their impactful work.