Page 44 - Forbes - Africa (March 2020)

Wherever there’s a [company] board, we should have 50%
women representation. It has been proven that whenever
women are involved, the profitability of that company goes up.
There’s clear statistics to prove that; [that] EBITDA have in-
creased by 20%-30% in instances when women are involved.

How would you describe a powerful woman in 2020?
You cannot be powerful if you cannot uplift the people around
you. In the words of Oprah: ‘you have to be the truth’. You have
to be yourself, decisive, a leader and you have to be fearless to
achieve what you want to achieve.

IRENE CHARNLEY, SOUTH AFRICA

FOUNDER, SMILE COMMUNICATIONS
DAILY MANTRA: “Thank you divine universe for my life, my
healthandsafety.”

Arriving at a Johannesburg studio for a photoshoot last month,
Irene Charnley’s demeanor is courteous and unassuming for a
woman who has shattered every glass ceiling and successful-
ly built two African telecom providers – MTN Ltd and Smile
Communications.
Within minutes, she has her signature golden locks curled, her
makeup applied and steps in front of the camera dressed in a
red power coat with her game face on. She conveys the chal-
lenges facing women in corporate leadership in this interview:

You recently stepped down as CEO of Smile Communica- UCHENNA ‘UCHE’ PEDRO,
tions. What prompted this decision? NIGERIA
When you look at my career, I stay in a place for 10 years and

then move on. You have to make space for younger people to FOUNDER AND CEO, BELLANAIJA
DAILY MANTRA: “Savor the small joys of each day.”
take over the reign.
he woman behind Africa’s leading lifestyle digital media

The International Women’s Forum of South Africa (IWFSA) company, Uchenna Pedro, does not only give voice to the
stories that entertain and educate us about what is happen-
recently appointed you President. What is your focus in this T ing across Africa, she is also committed to using the mega-
role? platform that is BellaNaija to amplify the causes that need to be heard.
We need to have our finger on the pulse of all key issues affect- In the last five years, her business has led initiatives to support so-
ing women in our country and become an advocacy group for cial issues that need swift action and intervention. In 2019, BellaNaija
change and ethical leadership. For example, the issue of gender Weddings was a part of the UNICEF ‘End Child Marriage’ campaign
launched on Valentine’s Day. She has collaborated with Wives Round-
pay parity, gender-based violence and developing the next layer table, to support former child brides to rebuild their lives.
of women leadership is key on our agenda. The entire BellaNaija brand and its sub-brands are deeply invested in
the growth of the creative industries in Africa.
What are your thoughts on the state of female “To be powerful is to not wait for ‘perfect’, and to live unapologetical-
business leadership? ly,” she says. She is currently a Ford Foundation Mason fellow at Har-
vard Kennedy School with the aim to explore the use of digital innova-
We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. tion in government and youth participation in the democratic process.

40 | FORBES AFRICA MARCH 2020 FORBESAFRICA.COM