Putting female leadership in Africa in the spotlight

Africa CEO Forum, from left to right: Tigui Camara, Diane Chenal, Ghislaine Ketcha Tessa, Neila Benzina. Credits: Jacques Torregano.

An essential platform for dialogue and networking, the Africa CEO Forum is devoting this year's edition to the role of women in African enterprise. As part of the African Women in Business initiative, a high-level panel will bring together the most influential women in the African private sector and the CEOs most active in promoting gender diversity.

The goal is twofold: to identify the best strategies for increased female representation in business and to highlight the career paths of the women who have shaped the African private sector.

"A greater representation of women in companies is crucial to the prosperity of the African private sector," said Amir Ben Yahmed, president of Africa CEO Forum.

"By creating the African Women in Business initiative, we have decided to put female leadership at the heart of our discussions."

The African Women in Business initiative will also present the findings of the McKinsey & Company Women Matter Africa report. This report sets out the progress made by the African private and public sectors in terms of women's representation. While Africa equals - and even exceeds - international standards, there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender equality.

By launching the African Women in Business initiative, the Africa CEO Forum is contributing to the implementation of concrete solutions for the improvement of gender diversity. It aims, as in all matters to the life of African companies, to shake things up and push boundaries.

Launched in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum has become the leading international meeting on the development of Africa and its companies, in a high-level professional setting. The 2016 edition hosted over 1,000 African and international personalities, including 600 business leaders from 43 African countries and 100 high-level speakers.