‘POWER IS PROVOKING POSITIVE IMPACT’

METHODOLOGY:

In compiling this list, our research looked at female African leaders across sectors and industries, as well as government agencies and non-profit institutions. We sifted through other recognition lists and nominations that came in from our editorial teams across Africa, and applied our own metrics of leadership, influence, consistency and most importantly, impact. We also engaged an external panel of judges, who are experts in their fields: Melanie Verwoerd (politics), Ayesha Kajee (development and governance), Nick Said (sports), Gina Schoeman (economics), Yasmin Furmie (media) and Ayanda Myataza (business). For every woman featured in this compilation, there are many more making history as we speak and will no doubt grace the list and these pages in years to come.

You were born in 1945, the youngest of six children. What was it like growing up?

I was born three weeks after my father passed away, and my mother was a widow at the time, but I am [fortunate as] it was always a very loving environment. I was given