In a year when progress for women has stalled in many parts of the world, a number of African women are not just holding their ground; they’re redefining power altogether.

Forbes recently released its list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, spotlighting leaders who have thrived despite what it calls a year “marked by setbacks for female employment and advancement opportunities.”

Between January and October alone, around 500,000 women in the US quit their jobs, one of the worst declines in history for female participation in the workforce. At the same time, research from McKinsey and Lean In shows that only 54% of companies now say they actively prioritize helping women move up the corporate ladder, down sharply from 90% just four years ago.

And yet, across the globe, and especially in Africa, women are refusing to step back.

In 2025, Namibia swore in its first female president, who has already begun tackling the country’s debt. Across finance, politics, media, and global policy, African women are steering billion-dollar institutions, shaping narratives, and influencing decisions that affect millions.

Here are six of the most powerful African women in 2025, according to Forbes.

1. Mary Vilakazi (South Africa) – Breaking barriers in finance

Mary Vilakazi, born in August 1977, is one of the most influential figures in South Africa’s financial sector.

She started her career at PwC, and by the age of 27 had become one of the firm’s youngest partners, specializing in financial services audits. From there, she moved into senior leadership roles, including CFO at Mineral Services Group, and later Deputy CEO at MMI Holdings.

In 2018, she joined FirstRand as Group Chief Operating Officer. On April 1, 2024, she made history as the first woman, and the first Black woman to lead FirstRand Group in its 185-year history. FirstRand is South Africa’s largest financial-services company by market value, giving her one of the most powerful roles in African banking.

Her rise reflects both personal excellence and the slow but meaningful opening up of a sector long dominated by men.

2. Judith Suminwa Tuluka (DRC) – Rewriting political history

Judith Suminwa Tuluka is an economist and politician who holds one of the most powerful positions in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.

Her career began in finance, and she went on to hold senior roles in government as well as with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Over the years, she has built strong credentials in public finance, program evaluation, budget oversight, and state-level coordination.

In March 2023, she was appointed Minister of State and Planning. Then, on April 1, 2024, she was named the DRC’s first-ever female Prime Minister. She was officially sworn in on June 12, 2024, after legislative ratification.

Her appointment is a milestone for a country where politics has long been male-dominated, and it signals a shift towards more inclusive leadership at the highest levels of government.

3. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia) – Namibia’s first female president

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran politician and diplomat who, on March 21, 2025, became Namibia’s first female president.

Her journey spans decades of service to the ruling SWAPO party, dating back to the liberation struggle. Over the years, she has held roles ranging from deputy representative abroad to foreign affairs minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Vice President.

Her ministerial experience includes:

• Minister of Environment and Tourism (2010–2012)

• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (2012–2015)

She has also been a long-serving member of the National Assembly.

As president, one of her early priorities has been reducing Namibia’s debt stock, signaling a focus on macroeconomic stability and responsible governance, and showing that symbolic “firsts” must be matched by concrete results.

4. Mpumi Madisa (South Africa) – Leading a corporate giant

Mpumi Madisa is one of South Africa’s most prominent corporate leaders.

She started her career at an insurance company before joining Bidvest in 2003. Within Bidvest, she rose steadily through the ranks, taking on roles such as client relations manager at a cleaning services subsidiary, corporate affairs director, sales and marketing director, and general manager for business development.

In March 2019, she was named CEO-designate of Bidvest, making her the first Black woman chosen to lead a top-40 company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She officially assumed the CEO role on October 1, 2020.

Under her leadership, Bidvest hasngrown its global footprint, overseen a workforce of around 130,000 people, restored profitability after previous losses, and strengthened multiple business divisions across services, trading, and distribution.

Madisa’s leadership shows how women can shape not just policy and activism, but the day-to-day operations of major corporations that employ thousands.

5. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) – A global economic force

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala remains one of the most respected economists and global policymakers in the world.

A former Finance Minister of Nigeria and Managing Director at the World Bank, she led a major fundraising drive in 2010 that secured about US$49.3 billion in grants and low-interest loans for the world’s poorest countries.

After leaving the Nigerian cabinet, she continued to play a central role on the global stage, including chairing Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (2016–2020), co-chairing the Global Commission on the Economy and Climatem, andserving on high-level panels focused on pandemics, climate, and development.

On March 1, 2021, she became Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the first woman and the first African to hold the position.

In late 2024, WTO member states overwhelmingly reappointed her for a second term, a strong vote of confidence in her leadership at one of the most important institutions in global trade.

6. Mo Abudu (Nigeria) – Redefining African storytelling

Mo Abudu is a Nigerian media entrepreneur and one of the most influential culture shapers on the continent.

As founder and CEO of EbonyLife Media (also known as EbonyLife Group), she oversees a growing media empire spanning television, film production, streaming, and lifestyle brands and initiatives

Her mission is clear: to bring African stories, told by Africans, to global audiences.

Her influence has surged in recent years. In 2025, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” for her role in elevating African narratives and inspiring creatives across the continent and diaspora.

She has also announced major new initiatives under EbonyLife, including:
the Afro Film Fund, a US$50 million fund to support African-origin films and series for global platforms and the EbonyLife Place London, expanding her media and hospitality footprint beyond the continent. Abudu’s work shows that cultural power is real power, shaping how Africa is seen, understood, and imagined around the world.

Celebrating Women Matter

From presidential palaces to boardrooms, from global trade negotiations to streaming platforms, these six African women are reshaping what leadership looks like in 2025.

They are:

• Challenging long-standing gender barriers

• Driving financial and policy decisions that affect millions

• Changing how African economies, governments, and stories are represented globally

In a year where progress for women has often faced setbacks, their achievements stand as proof that power is not just being preserved ; it’s being reinvented.