HER POWER,
AFRICA'S
TRANSFORMATION

As the Country General Manager of ALX Nigeria, Ruby Igwe has proudly led the organization to become a successful 10-time award-winning institution, a dynamic tech, career, and venture-building community of practice, a thriving global professional and entrepreneurial network, and best-in-class at enabling and empowering young people in technology careers and business ventures.

With over a decade of experience spanning operations, people management, and project leadership across private and social enterprises in media, development, and education technology, Ruby is passionate about driving transformative growth and fostering impactful change. She is a trained barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a certified law lecturer, a film producer, and a two-time author.

Her journey has been shaped by a commitment to excellence, creative problem-solving, and inclusive development. Ruby thrives at the intersection of innovation and execution—where bold ideas meet scalable solutions. She is dedicated to learning from diverse perspectives and contributing to meaningful change. Ruby’s expertise includes crafting and communicating visionary corporate strategies, empowering teams to achieve professional and personal success, process optimization, crisis management, delivering exceptional customer experiences, spearheading impactful development programs at scale, building effective partnerships with stakeholders and clients, and fostering strong cultures and inclusive innovation within organizational operations.

Inspired by trailblazing women like her mother Amaka Igwe, Shonda Rhimes, Stella Mbubaegbu, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Beyonce, and Chine McDonald, Ruby remains driven by a mission to uplift communities and empower voices through impactful ventures and education.

A creative powerhouse, she is also an award-winning film writer and producer; her short film “Samaria” garnered international acclaim, winning the ‘My 1st Short Film’ award at the Stockholm Film Festival. Her multifaceted career reflects a profound dedication to empowering Africa’s next generation of tech innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, embodying resilience, leadership, and a passion for inclusive growth. Connect with Ruby to explore new paradigms and create lasting change together.

Jeniffer is a Seasoned Technology Strategist with over 26 years of experience in IT Strategy, Business Management; Transformational Change and Execution; Business Development, and Divestitures.

She is an experienced leader in Tech CXO engagements on defining and executing technology-driven strategies to drive profitability and enable large-scale technology transformation.

Jen strongly advocates for Woman in Tech Programmes driving the diversity & inclusion agenda. Experienced collaborator, facilitator, and keynote speaker using platforms to help mentor and grow careers for Women in Technology.

A passionate advocate for technology, women’s empowerment, and community-building, Melissa Slaymaker is committed to shaping a more inclusive digital future.
As the Global Partnership Director and Africa Regional Director for the Women-in-Tech™ Global Movement, she leads initiatives to educate, equip, and empower 5 million women and girls in STEAM by 2030. The movement, part of the Edison Alliance (World Economic Forum), actively measures its impact on digital inclusion and collaborates with global partners to drive meaningful change. With a presence in 50 countries and a network of over 250,000 members, Women-in-Tech™ is transforming opportunities for women worldwide.
Her work is guided by four core pillars: Advocacy, Education, Business, and Social Inclusion, fostering partnerships with companies and individuals to advance gender equity in technology.
As Co-Founder of NFTy-art, she also educates communities about the Metaverse, NFTs, Web3, and Blockchain through art. A sought-after speaker, she frequently addresses topics including the future of work, digital inclusion, diversity & inclusion, and Africa’s skills gap.
Dedicated to empowering the next generation, she co-created the Women in Tech “This IS Me” program, designed to equip young professionals with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the workforce.

A seasoned speaker, Hwalani is also a Chairperson of the University of Venda Center for Entrepreneurship & Rapid Incubation and a Non–Executive Director for Women in Tech® South Africa Chapter. A finalist in the Standard Bank 40 under 40 young achievers, Hwalani was listed in Mail & Guardian Women Changing South Africa. An advocate for women empowerment, she describes her passion for women as contagious, brave and fierce with indomitable will.

Monica is an Optometrist turned entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, bridging the worlds of innovation, business, and impact from London to Nairobi. Fueled by a deep passion for community and a relentless curiosity to explore new frontiers, she has spent over 12 years thriving across industries—including healthcare, retail, social innovation, logistics, and technology—taking on diverse, high-impact roles globally.

Her entrepreneurial journey kicked off in 2015 at Australia’s leading startup, where she saw firsthand how business can be a force for good. In 2020, she co-founded a London-based zero-emission last-mile delivery service tailored for circular economy businesses—an ambitious venture that was acquired in 2022 by the VC-backed FashionTech company, SOJO.

Now, through her work at Sand Technologies, Sand Ventures, and The FutureList, Monica is at the forefront of driving innovation—helping founders, investors, and partners across EMEA scale, collaborate, and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Nicole Gray is an entrepreneurship development leader with a track record of building startup ecosystems, running programs, and supporting founders globally. As Entrepreneurship Development Manager at ALX Ventures, she leads programs that help startups validate, build revenue, and become investment ready. With experience working with international startups, she is passionate about equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and resources needed to thrive.

Nicole is also the founder of Boxed Community, a wellbeing coaching platform for business leaders, and has successfully built and run five businesses of her own. She has also managed coworking spaces internationally, creating collaborative environments for startups and freelancers. Her hands-on experience across various business models gives her a deep understanding of founder challenges and the realities of scaling a business.

Committed to ecosystem building, founder wellbeing, and sustainable business growth, Nicole is on a mission to create spaces—both physical and strategic—where entrepreneurs can succeed. Through various programs, entrepreneurial education, and community-driven initiatives, she is working towards a globally competitive startup landscape in Africa.

Passionate about innovation, impact, and digital transformation, Nihal Djebli is a committed leader in the advancement of artificial intelligence in Africa. As Managing Director and Board Member of AI Crafters, she works to democratize AI and support businesses in their digital transition.

With solid experience in strategy, communication, and entrepreneurship, Nihal has led large-scale projects at AUSIM (Association des Utilisateurs des Systèmes d’Information au Maroc) and launched several high-impact initiatives, including #Futureminds, an educational program designed to introduce young people to artificial intelligence.

A speaker and author of the book Breaking the Chains: The Gift of Transformation, she shares a vision where technology and humanity intersect to create inclusive and sustainable opportunities. Through her engagements, she encourages women to embrace emerging technologies and play a key role in the digital transformation of the continent.

Marieme Esther Dassanou joined the Mastercard Foundation in May of 2023 to lead the Foundation’s journey to accelerating access to dignified and fulfilling work for young women in Africa.

Prior to the Mastercard Foundation, Esther was the Manager of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), an initiative of the African Development Bank to reduce the USD 42 billion access to finance gap for women-empowered businesses in Africa. Prior to joining AfDB, Esther led the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) work on advancing women’s inclusion in the insurance sector as the head of the women’s insurance program.

Esther worked with insurers across Africa and Asia to help insurers in de-risking female-owned SMEs and providing better coverage for women’s daily risk. Esther also led the mainstreaming of IFC’s women’s access to finance through the organization’s SME banking program. 

She has also managed the Secretariat of the Global Banking Alliance for Women now known as the Financial Alliance for Women, a consortium of financial institutions dedicated to promoting the growth of women-owned enterprises. Esther is the co-author of SheforShield: Insure Women to Better Protect All, a groundbreaking report articulating the business case for the insurance industry to address the needs of women as clients, employees, entrepreneurs and leaders. Esther was also a lead author of the G20 reports G20 – Access to Finance for Women MSMEs and Women-owned SMEs: A Business Opportunity for Financial Institutions, which for the first time measured the access to finance gap for female-owned SMEs in developing markets.

Sharon O’Donnell is the Chief Experience Officer at ALX Africa, where she leads transformative customer engagement strategies that elevate learner journeys and drive business growth.

With a career spanning over two decades, she has shaped brand narratives and redefined customer experiences for global powerhouses like Kaplan, Disney, and DHL—championing innovation, product development, and digital transformation at every turn.

Beyond the corporate world, Sharon’s entrepreneurial spirit took center stage in 2018 when she founded Fit For Good, a digital fitness and nutrition platform designed to empower individuals while giving back.

Through charitable donations, the platform supports public school health and nutrition education, merging personal well-being with social impact.

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and calls Fort Lauderdale, Florida, home.

Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson is a visionary leader at the intersection of health, technology, and
women’s empowerment. As the Executive Director of Healthtracka’s Foundation for
Advocacy, Innovation, and Research (FAIR), she is committed to driving systemic change in
healthcare access and policy. She is also the Convener of the Banking on Women’s Health
Conference, a platform that fosters investment, innovation, and collaboration in women’s health
across Africa.
Ifeoluwa is the Founder of Healthtracka, a pioneering health tech company revolutionizing early disease diagnosis through technology-driven solutions. Under her leadership, Healthtracka
has transformed healthcare accessibility, ensuring that life-saving screenings and diagnostics are more widely available.

Beyond health, she is a leading voice in women’s economic empowerment in Africa, advocating for policies and initiatives that create opportunities for women in business, technology, and healthcare.

Her impact has earned her global recognition, including being
named one of the Top 3 Bold Women Award winners by Veuve Clicquot and a recipient of the Bayer Women Empowerment Award.

A sought-after public speaker, Ifeoluwa continues to inspire and influence conversations on health innovation, entrepreneurship, and gender equality, shaping the future of healthcare and
economic empowerment for women across the continent.

Paul Dominion Ladi is a fast rising female entrepreneurial leader in Africa. She is passionate about business, innovation, and helping people find smart solutions to everyday challenges.

As the Founder and CEO of LADX, she is currently building an international parcel delivery company that connects travelers to people who want to send items across Africa. The goal is to make shipping more affordable, efficient, and reliable. Her work in logistics and entrepreneurship has gained recognition, and she continues to drive growth in the industry.

Her leadership and ability to execute ideas have been evident in her past roles. She previously managed a team of over 3,000 independent distributors at Alliance In Motion Global, leading them to generate revenues exceeding $600,000 in just two years.

Beyond logistics and sales, she has also excelled in public speaking and training. She has delivered over 1,000 business opportunity presentations and has trained young entrepreneurs in sales, business growth, and communication. Her impact extends to small businesses as well, having worked with over 50 entrepreneurs and helping them achieve over 100% profit growth within four years.

Through her experiences, Ladi continues to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate business challenges, grow their ventures, and create lasting impact in their communities.

Naima McLean is a seasoned leader and creative strategist who has successfully bridged the creative sector, tech, and leadership development, carving out a distinguished role in the innovation space. As Vice President of Creative Economy at ALX, she plays a pivotal role in advancing ALX Africa’s bold mission to equip 2 million young Africans with meaningful work opportunities by 2030.

With a dynamic career spanning over 20 years in creativity, business strategy, and community engagement—most recently at ALX—Naima has been instrumental in shaping one of Africa’s largest tech communities. She is deeply committed to unlocking the potential of Africa’s youth to drive the continent’s development and is a steadfast advocate for women’s empowerment, using her platform to champion self-belief, inclusion, and opportunities for women across industries.

Her academic foundation in Theatre-Performance and Gender Studies laid the groundwork for her lifelong dedication to storytelling, transformation, and impact. Naima was awarded the prestigious Henley Flexible Executive MBA Johnny Clegg Scholarship, specializing in the Creative Industries—further deepening her expertise in shaping Africa’s evolving economic landscape.

Naima is not just a leader but a catalyst for change—dedicated to creating spaces where women rise, communities thrive, and Africa’s creative and tech economies flourish.

Aisha is an experienced leader and venture builder with over 15 years in driving growth and operational excellence, strategy and execution, and leading cross-functional teams.

Her interpersonal communication skills and relationship management allows her to lead high-performing teams to meet and exceed their targets. Her multidisciplinary skillset is therefore leveraged is her passion to train and advise African founders and tech startups.

In her role as ALX Ventures Lead, she leads a Pan-African tech incubator focused on providing founders with the right mindset, tools and network to build sustainable businesses that change not only their community, but the world.

Born in the United States, raised in South Africa and having traveled to 30 countries, Aisha has had diverse personal and professional experiences that positively impact her work. She is passionate about wellbeing, leadership and wealth creation that will lead to a thriving Africa and world.