Six African women break barriers in Forbes 2025 power list
Forbes has released its 2025 list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, featuring leaders who are making significant impacts despite ongoing challenges for women in the workplace. In the United States, nearly 500,000 women left their jobs between…
Forbes has released its 2025 list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, featuring leaders who are making significant impacts despite ongoing challenges for women in the workplace. In the United States, nearly 500,000 women left their jobs between January and October 2025, marking one of the steepest declines in history.
Research indicates that only 54% of companies currently emphasize promoting women into leadership roles, a decrease from 90% four years ago. Additionally, the UN has raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of online sexism affecting women across various sectors.
In Africa, women are achieving groundbreaking success in politics, business, and media. Forbes has recognized six African women whose accomplishments are influencing both the continent and the world.
Mary Vilakazi is a chartered accountant and a prominent financial executive in South Africa. She started her career at PwC, becoming one of the youngest partners at 27, and later served as CFO of the Mineral Services Group. In 2018, she joined FirstRand as Group COO and, on Tue, Apr 1, 2024, became the first woman and first Black woman to lead FirstRand Group, South Africa’s largest financial-services firm by market value.
Forbes has released its 2025 list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, featuring leaders who are making significant impacts despite ongoing challenges for women in the workplace.
Judith Suminwa Tuluka - Democratic Republic of Congo
Judith Suminwa Tuluka became the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first female Prime Minister in Jun 2024. A former UNDP official and economist, she has also served as Minister of State and Planning. Her expertise includes public finance, budgeting, program evaluation, and national coordination.
On Fri, Mar 21, 2025, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was inaugurated as Namibia’s first female president. A seasoned politician and former Vice President, she has held several key government roles, including minister of foreign affairs and environment. Since taking office, she has focused on reducing the country's debt and strengthening national policies.
Mpumi Madisa is the first Black woman to lead a top-40 Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company. She became CEO of Bidvest in Oct 2020, after advancing through various roles in sales, marketing, and corporate affairs. Under her leadership, Bidvest has expanded internationally, restored profitability, and manages approximately 130,000 employees.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is recognized as one of the world’s leading economists. She has held positions such as World Bank fundraiser, Gavi chair, and co-chair of the Global Commission on Economy and Climate. On Mon, Mar 1, 2021, she became the first woman and first African to head the World Trade Organization, and she was reappointed for a second term in 2024.
Mo Abudu is a Nigerian media entrepreneur and the founder of EbonyLife Media, which plays a crucial role in global African storytelling. In 2025, she was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by TIME Magazine. She recently launched the Afro Film Fund, a US$50 million initiative to produce films and series of African origin, and expanded her brand to the UK with EbonyLife Place London.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
