Corporate Women in Leadership 2023: Speakers Revealed!

At the recently ended Corporate Women in leadership summit, 2023 dubbed "Alpha Woman: Cracking The Leadership Code," an A-list of speakers were invited to share their views on what the "CODE"  means to them. What is considered leadership code? we also delved into developing leadership skills, building a leadership brand, and overcoming obstacles to leadership.

More than 12 speakers shared secrets, tips, how-to and most especially snippets to help you grow. Find below profiles of the speakers andwatch the video on our youtube Chanel

Meet The Speakers!

Mitwa Ng’ambi ( Keynote) CEO MTN Cameroon

Mitwa is a telecom professional with a career spanning more than 10 years in the industry. She is currently the CEO and Executive Director at MTN Cameroon, having taken over the reins in September 2022. She is also Non-Executive Director of the Mobile Money Corporation. Prior to joining MTN Cameroon, Mitwa was CEO of MTN Rwanda, a role she held for 3 years. Prior to this, she also served as CEO in Ghana and Senegal for Airtel Tigo and Tigo respectively.

Over the years, Mitwa has held various executive roles across the continent with focus on Business Strategy and Operations and has also had the unique experience of Mergers & Acquisitions in the Telecoms industry. Mitwa is a technology enthusiast and has a Masters degree from the University of Eastern Finland in IT.

Mitwa is originally from Zambia but has spent the last 10 years in various countries around the African continent and is enjoying her time in Cameroon, with the dream of positively impacting communities through connectivity and digital Solutions.

Highlights

• Mitwa is a telecom professional with a career spanning more than 10 years in the industry. She is currently the CEO and Executive Director at MTN Cameroon
• Over the years, Mitwa has held various executive roles across the continent with focus on Business Strategy and Operations and has also had the unique experience of Mergers & Acquisitions in the Telecoms industry.
• Mitwa is a technology enthusiast and has a Masters degree from the University of Eastern Finland in IT.

2. ALEXANDRA NGANN YONN :CAMEROON MARKETING MANAGER betPawa

Businesswoman, dynamic and ambitious, with a network of choice thanks to several years of experience in communication and public relations. A successful author producer and director, Alexandra is a Swiss Army knife who is passionate about noble causes by putting her skills at the service of the continent's development. A true head of the curve capable of creating ideal working and business conditions, Alexandra campaigns for the promotion of women's rights in Africa, within an association of which she is the president. With all of the above, her life adventure led her into the seemingly masculine world of online betting. A world full of challenges and wonderful surprises. The mission that she shares with betPawa, for which she ensures local marketing representation, is to make betting friendly and above all responsible. “If life is a game, it is important to know how to play it SMART.” Alexandra Ngann Yonn

Highlights

• Alexandra is a Swiss Army knife who is passionate about noble causes by putting her skills at the service
• Alexandra campaigns for the promotion of women's rights in Africa, within an association of which she is the president.
• The mission that she shares with betPawa, for which she ensures local marketing representation, is to make betting friendly and above all responsible.
• “If life is a game, it is important to know how to play it SMART.” Alexandra Ngann Yonn

3. Valerie Neim : CEO BRAZZA TRANSACTIONS (BT) ( Keynote Speaker)

Holder of a B.A. in Business Administration, an MSc in Information Systems Management,Valerie NEIM is also a graduate from the Oxford Brookes University with an MBA in Entrepreneurship. She has a proven track-record of international upstream, business development and external relationship management. After a decade working with multinationals and pan African organizations in the finance sector including ABSA Bank (Santander Bank), UBA Bank, she also worked for the Japanese Fujitsu-Siemens and later on served as a consultant for the Deutsch Company TNT Logistics. Grounded to her root, she chose to put her expertise in developing her continent and join UBA Gabon as Key Account Manager. She returned in Cameroon working for nearly a decade as the CEO of CCPC Finance, a family Microfinance. In 2019 she created BRAZZA TRANSACTIONS (BT), a firm specializing in Wealth Management Consulting, including High Net Worth Individuals, Advisory and FOREX. Creative-Thinker, Serial Entrepreneur, Mentor, and International Speaker. IVLP Alumni, she is highly committed to Women Progression. Vice President for Jeune Afrique (Women Working For Change). Founder of INVICTAE, an international impact club which create visibility and cutting-edge impact for African female captains of industry, whilst delivering record-breaking opportunities to international investors and partners. To say the least, she is a Devoted Leader whose Passion is hard to contain.

Highlights.

• Valerie NEIM is also a graduate from the Oxford Brookes University with an MBA
• She has a proven track-record of international upstream, business development and external relationship management.
• She also worked for the Japanese Fujitsu-Siemens and later on served as a consultant for the Deutsch Company TNT Logistics. Grounded to her roots, she chose to put her expertise in developing her continent and join UBA Gabon as Key Account Manager.
• Founder of INVICTAE, an international impact club which creates visibility and cutting-edge impact for African female captains of industry, whilst delivering record-breaking opportunities to international investors and partners.

4. Mboule Vanessa IJEOMA : Sub Commercial Director ZENITHE Insurance

Ijeoma is an ingenious manager with the insurance industry in Cameroon for over 07 years. Prior to joining ZENITHE Insurance, she worked as a Market Researcher at TNS RMS, where she was responsible for transforming field data into decision ready information for a plethora of multinational companies.

In 2016, Ijeoma debuted at ZENITHE Insurance as a commercial agent and rose through the ranks.From commercial agent to Marketing Assistant, and then to Head of Communication, PublicRelations and Corporate Social Responsibility. In May 2017, she led the launch of the e-insurance initiative, a pioneer in the insurance sector in Cameroon. At the time, she was Head of Digital Marketing. As Sub Commercial Director, Ijeoma is currently spearheading major shifts in the commercial strategy of ZENITHE Insurance, transforming insurance to fully meet the evolving needs of its clients and the public. Ijeoma is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK. She holds an M.A in International Relations, with a specialty in International Marketing from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), as well as a Professional Certificate in Marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing,UK.

Highlights

• In 2016, Ijeoma debuted at ZENITHE Insurance as a commercial agent and rose through the ranks.
• In May 2017, she led the launch of the e-insurance initiative, a pioneer in the insurance sector in Cameroon. At the time, she was Head of Digital Marketing.
• Ijeoma is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK. She holds an M.A in International Relations, with a specialty in International Marketing from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), as well as a Professional Certificate in Marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing,UK.

5. Linda Tatabod : CSR & SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT KB EMPOWER FOUNDATION

Passionate about Community engagement, her career has focused on supporting businesses to implement strategic stakeholder engagement approaches for the sustainability of business and the sustainable development of the communities in which they operate. In addition to being Associate and Senior CSR & Sustainability Consultant of the KEDIBUILD Group, her passion to drive lasting Social impact led to the creation of the KB Empower Foundation in 2020, for which she's currently Chair and Executive Director.

6. Barbara MELEM: Communication and Sustainability Manager IHS Cameroon

Am a pure and proud product of the Cameroonian educational system as I graduated from the UB in Education and ASMAC Yaoundé in PR before getting a master’s degree in communications

• specialized in event planning & management and certifications from College de Paris n Digital Marketing. I equally hold a few certificates in CSR, communications, and project management.

Highlights

With Orange one of my best achievements Is the support I provided to our communication unit then as a media relay for the company's marketing and advertising offers, mostly, as a football sports commentator. In fact, it was a premiere in our landscape for the viewers to have a woman commenting on football… in fact, I think I was amongst the first if not first in Cameroon

7. Kathleen NDONGMO: Strategy & Communication Specialist

Kathleen is a leading African strategist and avid creative communication professional focused on brands, business and digital media. Her extensive professional experience spans over many years of developing creative and effective strategies for various brands, projects and organisations. She brings over 23 years of global experience across a variety of industries in communications and top management consulting, creating value in both the public and private sectors with specific work across the financial, telecom, government,transport, sustainable development, SaaS, and non-profit industries.

Her previous experience includes training c-suite executives, driving transformation programs for Fortune 500 clients, designing and implementing business process optimization for a leading Nigerian bank, building innovative communication strategies for a variety of clients including a media company, government and multinationals as well as project managing tech-driven ventures. Kathleen is passionate about Africa's potential and is a strong advocate for positioning local businesses for impact. With a wide range of interests, she is an Open Internet for Democracy fellow, an alumnus of the prestigious IVLP programme, has been named one of Cameroon's 50 change agents and was the recipient of the Cameroon Career Women awards in 2016 amongst other accolades. She is an alumna of the University of Buea, Cameroon and the Nottingham Trent University, UK.

Highlights

• She brings over 23 years of global experience across a variety of industries in communications and top management consulting, creating value in both the public and private sectors with specific work across the financial, telecom, government,transport, sustainable development, SaaS, and non-profit industries.
• Kathleen is passionate about Africa's potential and is a strong advocate for positioning local businesses for impact. With a wide range of interests, she is an open Internet for Democracy fellow, an alumnus of the prestigious IVLP programme,has been named one of Cameroon's 50 change agents and was the recipient of the Cameroon Career Women awards in 2016 amongst other accolades.

8. Jane FORLEMU: Human Resource Manager Gaz Du Cameroun

( Moderator)

Passionate about building people, she is on a mission to equip and empower people to discover their purpose and influence their generation. The workshop will be filled with practical strategies and insights from Jane's perspective on how to build a positive mindset for success. Trained as an Information Systems Specialist, she has over 20-years of professional experience in human capital management, project management, and strategic planning in the Oil and Gas and Logistics industry. She currently works as Human Resource Manager for @gaz_du_cameroun Du Cameroun.

Highlights

• Passionate about building people, she is on a mission to equip and empower people to discover their purpose and influence their generation. The workshop will be filled with practical strategies and insights from Jane's perspective on how to build a positive mindset for success.
• Trained as an Information Systems Specialist, she has over 20-years of professional experience in human capital management, project management, and strategic planning in the Oil and Gas and Logistics industry. She currently works as Human Resource Manager for @gaz_du_cameroun Du Cameroun.

9. Mesode Koge Fonderson

She is a Chartered Accountant with the ACCA, UK and is a graduate from the University of Manchester, England, UK; with a BA (Hons) in Accounting with Business Information Systems. Mesode has been working as a Financial Auditor in Big Four audit firms (PWC and Ernst & Young) in Cameroon for the past 15 years.

Interestingly, she is the Founder of the Aspire Mentorship Program (AMP) which is an initiative born from her desire to reach out to young people, enlighten and educate them on the need to identify and pursue their God intended purposes. She has tirelessly invested her time in mentoring, impacting and encouraging young people in her local and virtual community. Assisting them achieve their personal and professional goals.

10. Esther FRU

Esther Fru Che is a trailblazing entrepreneur and co-founder of Spectra Beauté.  She is an established leader in Central Africa's Beauty industry for over 20 years. After her general education studies, Esther continued to upgrade her knowledge by taking numerous courses and training in cosmetology and the beauty sector in general! As the head of Esthetic department at Spectra Beaute, Esther is in charge of managing over 150 employees working within the business to ensure that they provide the services needed by their clients to achieve their ultimate goals of elevating their self-image and building self-confidence for an ever-increasing and advancing life.

She is committed to making sure that people are adequately educated around the clock about the relationship between beauty, personal care, and well-being. She strongly believes that in being in a contented state of happiness, health, and prosperity of the spirit, body & mind, one has to source inspiration and well-being as this will project  evidence of a life worth living  that is characterized by growth, increase, and advancement in the world of beauty and cosmetics. Spectra Beaute is known for upgrading the beauty standards in Cameroon for both men and women alike with the goal of educating and guiding people through their journey of inspiration, well-being, and beauty. Suming up all these gives us  a beautiful experience.

Highlights

• Esther Fru Che is a trailblazing entrepreneur and co-founder of Spectra Beauté.  She is an established leader in Central Africa's Beauty industry for over 20 years.
• She is committed to making sure that people are adequately educated around the clock about the relationship between beauty, personal care, and well-being.
• Spectra Beaute is known for upgrading the beauty standards in Cameroon for both men and women alike with the goal of educating and guiding people through their journey of inspiration, well-being, and beauty.

11. ASHU Ma-Mbeng ( Moderator)

Ashu Ma-Mbeng is a seasoned Communication specialist with over six years of experience in Communications, PR, and Brand marketing. She currently works as a Corporate Communication Specialist at Olam Agri. Ashu's journey into Communications began in the Educational Department, precisely the Teaching Field, owing to her passion for impacting knowledge, guiding, and being of service to people. Since transitioning into Communications, she has become a result-oriented professional, strongly believing in the power of Communications and its ability to be applied or linked to any field.

As a Corporate Communications Specialist for Olam Agri in Cameroon, she has played an instrumental role in the company's growth and success. Her expertise in Public/Media Relations, Employee Engagement, and Stakeholder Management has helped her to build a strong brand reputation for the organization. Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and dedication, and she continues to make a positive impact in the world of Communications. Her technical expertise and strategic approach have made her a valuable asset to Olam Agri, and she remains committed to excellence in everything she does.

Highlights

• Ashu Ma-Mbeng is a seasoned Communications specialist with over six years of experience in Communications, PR, and Brand marketing
• she has played an instrumental role in the company's growth and success. Her expertise in Public/Media Relations, Employee Engagement, and Stakeholder Management has helped her to build a strong brand reputation for the organization
• Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and dedication, and she continues to make a positive impact in the world of Communications.