Standard bank CEO Mercia Geises, executive officer of FNB Commercial Banking, Sepo Haihambo and Namibia’s youngest Member of Parliament, Patience Masua have been nominated for the prestigious Strategic African Women In Leadership (SAWIL) Trailblazer award.
The inaugural SAWIL Trailblazer winner in 2020 was the formidable Mizinga Melu – Absa Group Zambia MD and CEO. 2021 was no different with MultiChoice Group Africa CEO Fhulufhelo “Fhulu” Badugela winning the coveted SAWIL Trailblazer of the Year Award.
Amongst this year’s notable nominees and joining the Namibian trio are Deloitte Africa’s first ever Female CEO (South Africa), Ruwayda Redfearn, UBA Group West Africa CEO, Abiola Bawuah (Nigeria), CIEL Healthcare Group CEO, Helene Echevin (Mauritius) and Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa, a young, dynamic social entrepreneur and smart-tech executive who sits at the helm of Delta philanthropies.
The aim of SAWIL is to see African women take their rightful place as leaders and economic powerhouse in the continent. It is a vehicle for women leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals in Africa seeking to advance their career through leadership training, executive coaching, entrepreneurship training, master classes, board training, mentorship and networking.
“In 2020 we launched a platform in the form of an award ceremony highlighting pioneering women who are blazing trails and charting new territories. 2021 was no different where we witnessed Multichoice Africa CEO, Fhulufhelo Badugela win the coveted SAWIL Trailblazer of the year Award.
The Inaugural Top 30 Trailblazers Awards celebrated stalwarts who are shifting and shaping Africa’s re-imagined role in their respective capacity. These mavericks and luminaries lead with passion, resilience, and, most importantly, deliberate and intentional efforts to extend the table as they continue to shatter the glass ceiling,” the organisation said.