Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting 2019: Innovation and Technology at the Heart of the Debate The Africa CEO Forum extends its commitment to the advancement of women's leadership by organising the second edition of the Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting in Paris on June 17 and 18.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Bigstock

The Africa CEO Forum will host 250 high-level African women leaders to discuss the role of women in science, and the effects of the 4th Industrial Revolution on their businesses.

As the forum further extends its commitment to promoting female leadership, the Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting epitomises the organisation's belief that African women leaders can be a powerful lever for the continent's transformation.

Hosted for the first time in Paris in July 2018, the event brought together more than 150 of the most influential women in Africa's private sector, culminating in the creation of the Women in Business Network, the first pan-African women's influence network.

The impact of new technologies on the business world

At a time when only a minority of decision-making positions in Africa's science and innovation sectors are held by women, this second edition of the Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting will focus on the impact of new technologies on the business world, as well as the role of women in science and technology.

From artificial intelligence to robotics and Internet of Things: it's vital to prioritise scientific research in order to accelerate growth and meet the continent's many needs in fields as diverse as agriculture, health, energy and finance.

250 African female leaders - heads of private companies and public institutions, managers of multinational companies and consulting firms active in Africa - will discuss these topics in interactive sessions. During the two-day event, they will also share ideas during inspirational masterclasses and practical workshops aimed at developing their leadership skills.

High-level African women leaders slated to take part in the debates include:

  • Elisabeth Medou Badang, VP and Spokesperson for the MEA Zone, Orange
  • Cathia Lawson-Hall, Head of Financial Institutions Group for Africa, Société Générale
  • Lucy Quist, Co-founder, Executive Women Network
  • Toyin Sanni, CEO, Emerging Africa Group
  • Anta Babacar Ngom, Executive Director, SEDIMA
  • Habiba Laklalech, Deputy CEO, Royal Air Maroc
  • Nadia Fettah, CEO, Saham Finances
  • Ibukun Awosika, President, First Bank of Nigeria
  • Massogbé Touré, President, SITA
  • Françoise Remarck, Chair of the Board of Directors, Canal+ Côte d'Ivoire and Martine Coffi-Studer, Chair of the Board of Directors, Bolloré Côte d'Ivoire.

Related: How To Access Funding As A Woman Entrepreneur In South Africa

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Since Middle School': She Started a Side Hustle on Facebook Marketplace — Then a 'Game-Changer' Grew It to $25,000 a Month

Leena Pettigrew's "entrepreneurial spirit" inspired her to build a business with earnings that outpaced her full-time income.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Women Entrepreneur®

How Portia Mngomezulu Launched Her Cosmetics Business With No Money

A great product range backed by an ambitious vision and a determination to get the basics right is helping Portia Mngomezulu to conquer the highly competitive beauty industry