The 2025 Women Creating Wealth Summit, hosted by the Graça Machel Trust (GMT) in celebration of its 15th anniversary, gathered Africa’s most visionary women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers in Johannesburg for a week of reflection, strategy, and empowerment.
Among the distinguished attendees was Aishah N. Ahmad, CFA, OFR, a global finance and governance leader, who shared her powerful reflections titled “Seeds, Scaffolding, and Sisterhood”—a profound take on the summit’s central theme of building wealth, leadership, and legacy for African women.
Transformation Beyond Change
Throughout the summit, discussions revolved around one crucial question:
“What’s in our control? What’s not? How do we turn barriers into bridges — and what scaffolding must we build for women’s dreams?”
The dialogue was anchored in the belief that true transformation must be intentional, structured, and sustained. It’s not enough to inspire; leaders must design measurable systems that drive progress for women across Africa.
H.E. Graça Machel, Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, set the tone for the week, emphasizing that:
“Transformation is not just about change; it is about building strength within — investing in our inner resilience and ensuring that as we rise, we lift others.”
Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and UN Women Executive Director, echoed this sentiment, urging women to embrace courageous, ethical, and servant leadership grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
“It’s time to raise the stakes,” she challenged. “Our leadership must be both brave and compassionate.”
Women, Finance, and the Power of Trust
A highlight of the summit was a compelling skit dramatizing women’s experiences in accessing finance. The performance exposed persistent challenges — high interest rates, bureaucratic systems, and delayed funding — but also celebrated women’s discipline, resilience, and unwavering determination.
The message resonated powerfully across the room:
“Trust us.”
Women-led businesses, the summit emphasized, are not only credible and bankable but essential to Africa’s long-term prosperity.
Reflecting on her own panel discussion on Women and Capital, Aishah Ahmad remarked:
“Africa is not a poor continent — only one that has made poor decisions. Our role as leaders is to turn barriers into bridges through data, design, and partnership.”
Building the Scaffolding for Women’s Dreams
A recurring metaphor from Ahmad’s reflections — scaffolding — captured the essence of the summit: transformation as a step-by-step construction process, one that requires structure, patience, and collective effort.
“All transformation begins within,” she said. “And like scaffolding, change must be built piece by piece until it carries generations.”
She emphasized that values form the foundation of legacy, and that each generation of African women must plant “seeds” of inclusion, courage, and collaboration for those who follow.
Celebrating the Best of Africa
Beyond the dialogue, the summit was a vibrant celebration of African excellence — from music and cuisine to fashion and art. Nozipho Tshabalala, the dynamic moderator, brought energy and intellect to each session, weaving together stories of struggle and success that captured the spirit of the continent.
Ahmad highlighted how every detail of the event reflected “the best of Africa” — proof that empowerment and cultural pride can coexist with strategic, results-driven conversations.
Inclusion as Strategy
In her closing reflection, Aishah Ahmad delivered a message that encapsulates the purpose of the Women Creating Wealth Summit:
“Inclusion is not charity; it is strategy.”
This statement underscored a critical shift in mindset — that empowering women is not an act of goodwill but a strategic imperative for Africa’s economic and social transformation.
A Legacy of Leadership and Wealth Creation
As the Graça Machel Trust marks 15 years of advancing women’s economic empowerment, the 2025 Women Creating Wealth Summit stands as a milestone of legacy and leadership. It celebrates not only the achievements of the past but also charts a path forward — one built on trust, data, design, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
“The energy, insight, and intergenerational sisterhood of this summit reminded me,” Ahmad concluded,
“that Africa’s transformation will not happen overnight. But it will happen — because women are building the scaffolding for it, piece by piece.”
Key Takeaways from the Summit
- 🌍 Africa is not poor — only mismanaged. Strategic leadership can change that.
- 💡 Transformation must be deliberate, measurable, and value-driven.
- 👭 Sisterhood and inclusion are not ideals, but essential strategies.
- 💪 Women-led enterprises are vital to Africa’s prosperity and credibility.
- 🌱 Legacy begins with values — and grows through collaboration.
About the Women Creating Wealth Summit
The Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Summit is an initiative of the Graça Machel Trust, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa by expanding access to capital, mentorship, and networks. The 2025 edition celebrated 15 years of the Trust’s impact in advancing women’s wealth, leadership, and legacy, uniting thought leaders, financiers, and innovators under one goal: to transform Africa through women’s economic power.
