Page 52 - Forbes - Africa (March 2020)

FORBES AFRICA
COVER STORY • POWER WOMEN

PRECIOUS MOTSEPE,
SOUTH AFRICA working as part
of the produc-
FOUNDER, AFRICAN FASHION INTERNATIONAL tion crew for sev-
DAILY MANTRA: “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for eral films, most no-
happiness tably the 2007
award-winning doc-
medical doctor with a passion for fashion,
Precious Motsepe has impacted more lives umentary In My
than those of her patients. She spent years Genes which she di-
Agrowing African Fashion International into rected, wrote and
a platform recognized amongst international fash- produced. She also
ion weeks, in the process launching and expanding played the lead role
the careers of many African designers such as David in Shuga, an MTV/
Tlale and Haute Baso. Through the Motsepe Founda- UNICEF-backed se-
tion, Motsepe has, along with her family, awarded over ries aimed at pro-
2,200 bursaries; supported 15,000 schools in areas of moting HIV/Aids
sports and arts development as well as supported initi- awareness.
atives in print media, entrepreneurship and leadership
development, to name a few. Through her first
children's book
What is most fulfilling about what you do? LUPITA NYONG'O, Sulwe published
Philanthropic endeavors are long-term investments. KENYA in 2019, Nyong'o speaks out
When the schools we partner with for development against colorism. Through the
projects report higher matric pass rates, and learners OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR protagonist character, Nyong'o
who participated in our schools sports tournaments Born in Mexico to Kenyan parents shares a partial memoir of her
are selected for national teams, those are fulfilling mo- in political exile, but raised in Kenya experience growing up as a
ments. and educated in America, Lupita darker-skinned beauty.

Nyong'o is best known for her role Moreover, Nyong'o's philan-
What do you enjoy most about being a woman? in 12 Years a Slave in 2013 for which
[I enjoy] that [we] go through multiple stages in life, she won an Academy Award. She thropy work is evidenced by
progressing from childhood into adulthood that re- her support of several chari-
quires, in some instances, the balancing of care for also acted in 2018’s hit Black Pan- ties, including African Wildlife
families and children as well as our careers and pro- ther, the first all-African superhero Foundation, American Asso-
fessional passions. [We] bring diversity, in terms of movie showcasing empowered black ciation of Retired Persons and
thought and experiences and [we] always question the people living in an African utopia. the Motion Picture and Televi-
status quo. Nyong'o began her film career sion Fund Foundation.

VERA SONGWE,
CAMEROON

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UNITED
NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION
FOR AFRICA
Economist and banker Vera Songwe
has built an impressive career con-
tending for Africa’s development.
Songwe has a strong track-record of
policy advisory on socio-econom-
ic growth, and in delivering devel-
opment results for Africa. She joined regional director covering West
the World Bank as a young profes- and Central Africa.
sional, whereby she climbed the In 2017, Songwe became the first
ranks to become an advisor to the woman to head the United Na-
managing director for Africa, Eu- tions Economic Commission for
rope and central and Southeast Asia Africa. The commission is es-
regions as well as country director tablished to encourage econom-
for Senegal, Cape Verde, the Gam- ic cooperation among African
bia, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania. nations. In this role, Songwe is
Before her current role, she was the also vocal about conflict resolu-
International Finance Corporation’s tion across Africa.

48 | FORBES AFRICA MARCH 2020 FORBESAFRICA.COM