Twenty-four African women have been selected among 50 leaders from 26 countries for the 13th cohort of the VV Visionaries programme, an initiative designed to strengthen women’s leadership and support their work in creating positive social impact.
The programme, run by Vital Voices in partnership with the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund (ELELF), the charitable fund of Estée Lauder, gives emerging women leaders access to leadership training, professional networks and practical support. The initiative focuses on women who are redefining leadership through their work across different sectors and communities.
The seven-week programme will help participants strengthen foundational leadership practices, build meaningful connections and increase their capacity to create change. After completing the programme, the women will join the Vital Voices community of more than 47,000 changemakers across 185 countries.
African Women Bringing Solutions to Communities
Anne Drane is the Founder and CEO of SAWA SAWA, a US-based nonprofit social enterprise that creates economic opportunities for artisan women in Kenya through ethical trade and market access. SAWA SAWA works with 1,125 artisans and combines traditional craftsmanship with conservation and community development. Its partnerships also support renewable energy and access to menstrual resources. Born and raised in Kenya, Drane studied for a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance before moving to the United States, where she founded SAWA SAWA. She has developed partnerships with Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, Workshop at Macy’s, Google for Nonprofits, Microsoft and Nest Guild. Her work has received recognition including the Austin Woman Way Maker Award and KXAN Remarkable Woman honour, while SAWA SAWA has earned Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency.
Ayotunde Omitogun is the Founder and Executive Director of the Cardiac Community Advocacy and Support Initiative in Nigeria, a patient-led nonprofit supporting people living with pulmonary hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. Her work is informed by her own experience with pulmonary arterial hypertension. She leads efforts focused on public awareness, early diagnosis, referrals, patient support and equitable access to care. Omitogun has also led national awareness campaigns, healthcare worker training and partnerships involving health professionals, government, civil society and international organisations. Her focus is on strengthening health systems while ensuring patients and communities are better equipped to advocate for their health.
Bahati Mgogwe is the Founder and Executive Director of Girls First Initiative (GFI), a women-led organisation in Tanzania that supports adolescent girls and young women through education, health and economic opportunities. GFI uses mentorship, skills development and community-led solutions to help girls overcome barriers and build confidence. Mgogwe is a social entrepreneur, educator and gender equality advocate who has led programmes reaching thousands of girls across Tanzania. She has also developed partnerships with communities, government stakeholders and global organisations to advance girls’ rights, leadership and sustainable development.
Christiana Miracle Bimba is the Founder and Executive Director of GIRLS FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE (G4CI), a youth-led organisation in Liberia focused on education, leadership development, mentorship, advocacy and economic empowerment. Under her leadership, the organisation has supported vulnerable girls, promoted school retention, raised awareness of gender-related issues and expanded opportunities for young women. Bimba has also mobilised young people, developed cross-sector partnerships and led initiatives designed to help emerging leaders develop sustainable solutions to challenges in their communities. Her work combines youth development, social innovation and community engagement.
Dr. Victory Ifeanyichukwu Uzoma is the Founder and Executive Director of FemCare Health Initiative, a Nigerian nonprofit working to improve access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in underserved communities. The organisation runs cervical cancer awareness and screening programmes and operates FemCare Connect, a digital patient navigation platform that helps women with positive screening results access follow-up care. FemCare has reached more than 5,000 women through its programmes. Dr. Uzoma is a medical doctor and public health leader with more than six years of experience in women’s health. Her work has earned recognition including the SME 100 Africa 25Under25 Award, alongside partnerships aimed at expanding access to cervical cancer services.
Dr. Edwick Madzimure is the Founder of WILPF Zimbabwe, where she has led community-based programmes focused on empowering women and girls. Her work covers women’s participation in decision-making, prevention of gender-based violence, girls’ education, gender equality and climate change. Beyond Zimbabwe, Dr. Madzimure is an advocate for humanitarian disarmament and feminist foreign policy. She holds leadership roles within the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and has represented African civil society in international discussions on nuclear disarmament, autonomous weapons systems and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She received the 2025 Nuclear-Free Future Award in the Solutions category and was a finalist in the 2025 Women Changing the World Awards.
Dr. Elizabeth Ibiloye is the founder of The Dr. Elizabeth Ibiloye Foundation, a Nigerian nonprofit working to improve education, healthcare and nutrition for underserved individuals and families. Through its EdVantage Initiative, the foundation provides tuition scholarships, school supplies and leadership mentorship, while its CareBridge Initiative provides medical assistance, community health outreach and nutrition support. Dr. Ibiloye is a healthcare professional, certified life coach, author and advocate for women and underserved communities. She holds a PhD in Health Economics and Outcomes Research from the University of Texas at Austin and brings experience in leadership, empowerment and cross-sector collaboration.
Erica Tengan is the Co-Founder and Head of Operations and Portfolio at Sustainability News Africa, a sustainability intelligence media platform focused on African sustainability stories and innovations that often receive limited global attention. She has co-led the development of the continent’s first news tracker for the African Union Agenda 2063 and helped integrate Agenda 2063 into sustainability journalism by connecting African sustainability stories to relevant goals. Tengan also leads a remote Pan-African network of interns, providing training in sustainability reporting, research, leadership and strategic storytelling. She holds a master’s degree in management and administration and currently leads The Africa We Want Is… Youth In Action series, which highlights young Africans advancing Agenda 2063 and the African Youth Charter.
Faith Wambiya is the Founder and Executive Director of Uplift Her, a women-led community organisation in Kenya that works across education, economic empowerment, leadership development and climate action. The organisation supports underserved communities by helping women build skills, livelihoods and leadership capacity. Wambiya works with smallholder women farmers in Kilifi County to promote climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices while strengthening their economic position. She is a Gender and Development professional with experience in research and community development, a beVisioneers: Mercedes-Benz Fellow and Nairobi Westlands Hub Ambassador. She holds a Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies from Kenyatta University.
Hary Faratiana Andrianasolo is the Founder of By Faratiana, Tsiorintany and La Barren, three socially responsible brands built around Madagascar’s food, plant-based wellness and marine cosmetics sectors. Her businesses aim to turn Madagascar’s natural resources into locally produced premium products while creating sustainable value chains, supporting local opportunities and promoting Malagasy innovation. Trained in business administration and commerce, Andrianasolo entered entrepreneurship following a major health challenge that inspired the creation of By Faratiana. She was among the winners of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme in 2020, with her company later recognised among the top 100 startups in its cohort.
Jenipher Peter Mollel is the Founder and Executive Director of Determined Society Organization (DSO), a Tanzanian NGO working on gender justice, climate action and youth leadership. DSO supports women, young people and Indigenous communities through programmes that strengthen local leadership, preserve Indigenous knowledge and promote sustainable development. Mollel has a background in Public Sector Accounting and Finance and has held several youth leadership positions, including Project Lead of Teen and Youth in Leadership Africa, Chapter Coordinator of the Africa Youth Leadership Forum and Assistant Administration Secretary of the PLO Lumumba Foundation Tanzania Chapter. She is also an alumna of the Niongoze Fellowship, Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership and Mwalimu Nyerere Pan-African Young Leaders Fellowship.
Jerotich Kosgey leads Taach Soboon CBO in Kenya, an initiative that is reviving Nandi ancestral agroecology, ethnopharmacognosy, traditional food preparation and preservation and ancient storytelling as tools for climate resilience and community health. The organisation empowers women herbalists and elders to restore local biodiversity and develop evidence-based herbal products. Kosgey’s work connects traditional knowledge with modern enterprise to support nutrient-rich food systems and sustainable livelihoods. She brings more than 12 years of experience as a molecular virologist, biorisk consultant and clinical research advisor in molecular diagnostics and outbreak response. She previously spearheaded laboratory operations during the West Africa Ebola outbreak and currently leads Laboratory Systems Management.
Lesego Serolong Holzapfel is the Founder and Managing Director of Bokamoso Impact Investments, a Pan-African trade and investment platform focused on building globally competitive African businesses. Through advisory services, market access and strategic partnerships, the company connects African entrepreneurs, farmers and women-led enterprises with international markets. Its portfolio includes Moedi Wines and Bee Loved Honey, businesses that showcase African products while creating value across agricultural supply chains. Holzapfel has worked across international development, entrepreneurship and impact investing and has partnered with governments, development finance institutions and private-sector organisations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the City College of New York and a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also a 2026 Presidential Precinct Fellow and Vital Voices Visionaries Leader.
Lola Akinmade (Åkerstrom) is the Founder of Geotraveler Media, a Stockholm-based creative storytelling agency and academy, and director of ATTVARA Foundation, where she supports the visibility of underrepresented Nordic authors. Through Geotraveler Media Academy, she trains emerging travel storytellers. Her ÅFRÖNỌ̀RDÍC project explores African heritage and belonging across the Nordic region, using storytelling to support cultural documentation and community building. Akinmade is an international bestselling and NAACP-nominated author whose work has been published in more than 15 language editions. She is also an award-winning travel photographer who has worked across more than 70 countries for publications including National Geographic, CNN, BBC and Condé Nast Traveller. Her professional experience spans more than 15 years of branded visual content and multimedia storytelling.
Lyndah Christine Jakandang’o is the Founder and Executive Director of the Solidarity with Children with Disabilities Initiative (SCDI), a Kenyan nonprofit focused on menstrual health, disability inclusion, girls’ empowerment and environmental sustainability. Through its One Plastic One Pad initiative, SCDI converts plastic textile waste into reusable menstrual products known as Nyadhi Pads. The innovation is certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and has been recognised by Good Market for its quality, sustainability and social impact. Jakandang’o is a counselling psychologist, researcher and social entrepreneur with experience in mental health, psychosocial support, child protection, disability inclusion and community development. She has contributed to international research conferences and published opinion articles while leading evidence-based initiatives for marginalised communities.
Norah Kimathi is a robotics engineer and Co-Founder of Zerobionic, where she is developing solar-powered humanoid robots using ocean-bound plastic waste. The robots are designed to deliver STEM education in sign language, helping address barriers faced by deaf children while also tackling environmental waste. Kimathi’s work places inclusion and sustainability at the centre of technology development. Her leadership has received international recognition, including the Presidential Award of Kenya, the Commonwealth Trust Honorary Award of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Young Engineering Award at Hannover Messe 2026, making her the first African recipient of the award.
Peggy Mativo is the Founder of Pacemaker International, a Kenyan education initiative working to improve access to quality education in underserved communities. The organisation recruits and develops young people and early-career teachers to strengthen teaching support, particularly in literacy and numeracy. Its locally led approach works through existing schools rather than creating parallel systems. Mativo has experience in strategy consulting, entrepreneurship, investment, economic development and nonprofit governance. She previously worked at Boston Consulting Group and supports initiatives at Gatsby Africa focused on investment, enterprise growth and quality employment in East Africa. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, has served on the board of the International Youth Foundation and has been recognised among Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women.
Phumzile Khoza is the Founder and CEO of Lathitha Biodiesel, a women-led clean energy company converting waste cooking oil into sustainable biodiesel. Her work links environmental protection with economic opportunity by reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs and supporting communities across South Africa and beyond. Khoza has been an entrepreneur since the age of 13 and has focused her career on businesses designed to create social and environmental value. Her achievements include winning the BRICS Women’s Startups Contest in the Ecology category and participating in programmes such as GIBS, Orange Corners, the CSIR Capacity Building Programme and the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth initiative.
Precious T. Yango is the Founder and CEO of The Youth Foundation (TYF), a Liberia-based organisation supporting women and young people in rural communities through agriculture and technology. TYF works to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security through solar-powered storage solutions, creating economic opportunities for vulnerable communities. Yango holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and has more than nine years of experience in social work. Before establishing TYF, she designed and implemented programmes supporting women and children, combining engineering expertise with community development to strengthen local capacity.
Resty Mbwali is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Environmental Forum Uganda (WEF-Uganda), a youth-led organisation advancing environmental justice, climate action and sustainable livelihoods. The organisation creates spaces where adolescent girls and young women can develop leadership skills and participate in environmental governance. Since 2019, Mbwali has worked with grassroots communities across Uganda, supporting women environmental defenders and organising young people around climate change and environmental degradation. Her work focuses particularly on marginalised communities where climate impacts often place greater pressure on women and girls.
Robbinah Hakiza is the Founder and Director of the Imbabazi Center for Women and Children (ICWAC) in Uganda. Motivated by growing up in a community where girls’ education was undervalued, Hakiza has dedicated her work to supporting vulnerable children, girls and widowed caregivers. Through ICWAC, she leads programmes addressing poverty, disease and social injustice through education, healthcare and economic development. She has more than 13 years of humanitarian and development experience and has worked with organisations including Catholic Relief Services’ USAID Farmer-to-Farmer initiative, CNFA and the Uganda Red Cross Society. Hakiza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Management, a certificate in Women Leadership in Community Development from Canada’s Coady Institute and is a graduate of the OakSeed Executive Leadership Course from the Institute for National Transformation.
Sarah Khudze is the Founder of Reach Out to Girls, a nonprofit supporting girls and young women through education, health, digital skills and leadership development. She also leads STEM Voyagers, a STEM education consultancy that introduces young people to emerging technologies and encourages innovation. Khudze is a software engineer, educator and STEM advocate with experience in higher education, research and nonprofit leadership. She has served as an Associate Lecturer in Computer Science and Information Systems and has led programmes designed to expand access to technology, education and leadership opportunities. Her work focuses on creating stronger pathways for girls and women in STEM and innovation.
Suliat Titilope Alaga is the Co-Founder and Board Co-Chair of TechNest Community, a Canadian-registered nonprofit expanding access to technology education, mentorship and career opportunities, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. The organisation runs mentorship cohorts, technical workshops, webinars and community events to help aspiring technology professionals build skills and professional networks. Alaga is a software engineer and entrepreneur with experience developing scalable digital solutions while leading community initiatives that have reached thousands of aspiring technology professionals. She has spoken at conferences, mentored emerging talent and worked with organisations to create learning opportunities focused on innovation, leadership and career development.
Tolulope Olorundero is the Founder and Executive Director of PRWF Global, a social enterprise working to strengthen the practice and economic relevance of public relations across Africa and Asia. Its three main pillars include a members club for senior women in communications, a talent mobility platform and a continental summit, all designed to increase the visibility and influence of African communications professionals. Olorundero is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of Mosron Communications, where she advises organisations on reputational and business challenges. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos and has co-authored work with Routledge on Nigerian women in communications. Since 2022, she has been listed on the GLG PR Power List of Top 50 PR Professionals and was named one of 26 strategic communications leaders globally by Strategic.
Building a Stronger Network of Women Leaders
The selection of the 24 African women reflects the wide range of work being led by women across the continent. Their initiatives address practical challenges, from healthcare and education to climate change, technology, agriculture, clean energy and economic opportunity.
The partnership between Vital Voices and the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund is designed to strengthen this work by giving participants access to leadership development and networks that can support them beyond the seven-week programme. The wider Vital Voices community will also give the new cohort an opportunity to connect with thousands of changemakers working in different sectors and regions.
As the 13th cohort begins its programme, the initiative provides more than recognition. It gives women already working on solutions in their communities an opportunity to strengthen their leadership, expand their networks and increase the reach of their work. For the African participants, that support could help turn local solutions into stronger organisations and create new opportunities for the communities they serve.
