This month we focus on the contributions women make every day through their words, deeds and trailblazing legacies. From leaders in business, finance and the NGO sector to courageous game-changers in filmmaking and media, we salute the unstoppable force of women who aren’t afraid to shake the table.
June Sarpong
Feminism is often presented as a women’s movement, but the truth is that harnessing women’s untapped potential will make everyone better off… including men!
One of the most recognisable faces of British television, June Sarpong is an internationally renowned broadcaster, entrepreneur, activist and author. As BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity, she is a passionate advocate for change in the workplace and a champion for greater representation throughout the media. In 2010, June co-founded the Women Inspiration and Enterprise Alliance, an acclaimed international conference featuring leading speakers from a gamut of industries. She is the author of three award-winning books — Diversify, The Power of Women and The Power of Privilege — all of which have put the spotlight on the most marginalised groups of society and demonstrated how a new approach to the ways in which we learn, live and do business can solve some of the most stubborn challenges we face. Her upcoming book, The Only One in the Room, lays bare an honest and intimate account of a life spent at the forefront of the fight for inclusivity.
Leetha Filderman
I come from a family of public servants and activists, so I suppose that gets ingrained in you to a certain degree. I never really saw myself doing anything other than being a public servant. And, you know, I’ve loved it!
Leetha Filderman is a strategist and NGO leader intrigued by the power of collaboration as a tool for social progress. With expertise in the fields of social innovation, public health, nuclear threats and social justice, she currently serves as the president of the PopTech Institute, an organisation focused on leveraging its remarkable network of scientists, humanitarians, technologists, designers, artists, innovators, corporate and governmental leaders and academics to explore opportunities that reside within diverse sets of challenges. Her portfolio at PopTech encompasses global health, the environment, social justice, nuclear non-proliferation and the future of work. As a Fellow at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in the UK, Leetha has a rich background in strategic development and contributes her voice to numerous organisations and agencies.
Yvonne Manzi Makolo
I grew up in a family of strong women who were good role models in terms of being able to do what men can do — and sometimes even better…I am in awe of the fact that we have so many women in leadership positions today, whether in government or the private sector. We have many women leaders to look up to as role models.
Yvonne Manzi Makolo is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of RwandAir, the national airline of Rwanda and one of the fastest growing airlines in Africa. She joined RwandAir in 2017 as the Deputy CEO in Charge of Corporate Affairs. Previously, she worked with MTN Rwanda, the largest communication company in the country, as the Chief Marketing Officer and briefly as the Acting CEO. Having risen to the top in the aviation industry, Yvonne is a groundbreaking leader committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace.
Victoria Stone
Women are finding it easier to talk about gender-biased issues. It’s enabling women to have more confidence and to take pride in their perspective on life, even when outnumbered by men in the workplace. Ultimately, I hope it will encourage more and more women to attain the skills needed to share their vision and stories.
Victoria Stone is a renowned Director, Producer and Filmmaker who has worked for over 30 years telling wildlife stories that have been shown in more than 140 countries with audiences in excess of 600 million. Alongside her partner, Mark Deeble, she has made groundbreaking films that celebrate biodiversity and the interconnectivity of the natural world. An accomplished diver and pilot, her choice of subject has always been driven by a passion for conservation. Vicky and Mark’s films have won more than 100 international awards in recognition of their artistry and storytelling, including Emmys, Peabodys, Griersons, ‘Green Oscars’ (Wildscreen) and numerous Best of Festivals such as Jackson Hole and the UK Documentary Awards. Their film The Queen of Trees was called “a masterpiece” by Sir David Attenborough, and their most recent film, The Elephant Queen, is the first feature film to be purchased and released by Apple.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra
We have some tremendous women in tech at HCL Corporation who’ve been around for many years, and they’re not looking for preferential treatment; they’re just looking for an equal opportunity. That’s it.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra is CEO of the HCL Corporation as well as the Chairperson of HCL Technologies, a leading global technology organisation. She has received numerous glittering accolades, including being featured multiple times in the Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list and named as one of the 25 Most Powerful Businesswomen in Asia. Having reached stratospheric heights of business success, she is also a dedicated philanthropist. Roshni is the driving force behind VidyaGyan, a leadership academy for underprivileged students in India; a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which is committed to creating transformation in education; and a co-founder of The Habitats Trust, a non-profit established to protect India’s natural habitats and indigenous species.
Lerato Mbele
My family never uttered the words “impossible” or “not worthy” or “a girl can only do this” — and that’s very important for women living in patriarchal societies.
Lerato Mbele is the face of Talking Business Africa, a flagship television programme for BBC World, along with being a presenter on In Business Africa, another flagship show for the channel. She joined the BBC in 2012 as presenter of the renowned breakfast radio programme, Newsday, gaining immense popularity for her ability to set the record straight and focus on conversations that matter. Throughout her media career, Lerato has interviewed notable figures leading significant change in the world, including Christine Lagarde, Kofi Annan, Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote. She is a regular speaker and contributor at international conferences and has hosted television debates and plenaries for organisations such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the United Nations.
Jocelyn Wyatt
How do we make sure that we are designing for a feeling of empowerment, inclusion, community, love, or beauty in these tough contexts?
Jocelyn Wyatt is using human-centred design to end some of the world’s biggest social problems. She spearheads the overall vision, strategy, and funding for IDEO.org, the nonprofit organisation launched by global design firm IDEO to tackle poverty through design. By partnering with NGOs, foundations, governments, and social impact organisations, her creative team works to empower those in underserved communities through the products and resources they design — such as contraceptive services for young girls — as well as mobilise and equip those who have game-changing ideas. Jocelyn has courageously spoken about the challenges of being taken seriously in male-dominated environments, drawing on her experience to serve as an innovator for future generations of women.
Bogolo Joy Kenewendo
I have always had a passion for impactful positive change. Coming from one of the poorest regions in Botswana, I had to believe that we could be better. I wanted to get involved in policy making that could change life for many of the poor I saw growing up.
Having become one of Africa’s youngest female government ministers, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is a rising star in the field of economic development, political economy and digitisation. Currently the Managing Director of Kenewendo Advisory, she previously served as the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry for Botswana. Since her youth, she has been an active advocate for children’s rights and championed women’s participation in development. She is the Program Leader of Molaya Kgosi Women Leadership and Mentorship Program, a WEF Young Global Leader and a member of the WEF Global Future Council on Global Public Goods in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Bogolo is also a member of UN Secretary General António Guterres’ High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, advising him on global trends in this critical space.
Dominique Mielle
Let the capture of women’s rightful share of power and capital usher in a modern version of female success.
Having risen to become one of the only senior women in the hedge fund business, Dominique Mielle spent twenty years as a partner and senior portfolio manager at Canyon Capital, a $25 billion hedge fund. Named one of the Top 50 Women in Hedge Funds by Ernst & Young, she played key roles in complicated bankruptcies, serving as a leading creditors’ committee member for Puerto Rico, and as a restructuring committee member for U.S. airlines in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Dominique currently sits on several corporate boards and is a regular contributor to Forbes, advocating widely for women’s advancement and diversity in the top ranks of hedge funds. Her upcoming book, Damsel in Distressed: My Life in the Golden Age of Hedge Funds, is the first hedge fund memoir written by a woman, offering an insider’s account of the industry and a unique perspective on how competition, technology, data, volatility, and regulations transformed the investing landscape.
Caroline Armstrong & Kashfi Mahmud
We originally knew each other as kindergarten mums…We have now re-met as lawyers, strategists, community workers, and financial experts. We held meetings with toddlers on our laps, commiserated about Zoom schooling, celebrated personal successes and encouraged each other through challenges. Even beyond the meals and jobs Gawa has created, it has created this sisterhood of unlikely diversity.
Caroline Armstrong is a seasoned financial services professional and senior leader with over 20 years experience spanning two continents, while Kashfi Mahmud is an Executive Coach and founder of the Monayr Asha Aid Foundation, which enrols young migrant worker children in schools in Bangladesh. Having met at their children’s kindergarten, these two members of The Room collaborated with friends to lead an admirable cause. They started Gawa, a movement that seeks to deliver nutritionally-certified meals to vulnerable people in Nairobi, Kenya for just 60 US cents a meal. In the first two weeks of inception, the pair delivered an incredible 15,000 meals, received support from over 190 donors and signed on a new key donor partner for fresh fruit and vegetables. Their story powerfully demonstrates how a shared sense of purpose and commitment to community can bring together women from different walks of life to drive social change.
