NEW YORK/AFRICA — Forbes has unveiled its 2025 list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, spotlighting six African trailblazers whose achievements are reshaping politics, business, and media across the continent and beyond.
The recognition comes amid global challenges for women in the workplace. Research shows that only 54% of companies now prioritize promoting women into leadership roles, down from 90% four years ago, while the UN warns of rising online sexism.
The Six African Women Honored
- Mary Vilakazi (South Africa): First woman and first Black woman to lead FirstRand Group, South Africa’s largest financial-services firm.
- Judith Suminwa Tuluka (DRC): Became the DRC’s first female Prime Minister in June 2024, with expertise in public finance and planning.
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia): Sworn in as Namibia’s first female president in March 2025, focusing on debt reduction and policy reform.
- Mpumi Madisa (South Africa): CEO of Bidvest, the first Black woman to lead a top-40 Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company, overseeing 130,000 employees.
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria): Director-General of the World Trade Organization, the first woman and African to hold the role, reappointed in 2024.
- Mo Abudu (Nigeria): Media mogul and founder of EbonyLife Media, named by TIME among the “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2025.
Global Context
The inclusion of these six women underscores Africa’s growing role in shaping global leadership. Their achievements span finance, governance, trade, and media, offering inspiration at a time when women worldwide face setbacks in workplace equality.