A new platform aimed at moving women from representation to real influence across sectors around the globe, breaking geographical barriers
NAIROBI, KENYA – WednesdayMay 6, 2026: SheKnows, a global digital platform has officially launched with a focus on supporting senior women leaders globally to bring gender equity and drive influence at the highest levels of business and decision-making.
The launch comes as organizations across the world, especially in Africa, face increasing pressure to strengthen governance, accelerate transformation, and navigate economic uncertainty, while the need for more diverse and representative leadership has never been greater.
SheKnows positions itself beyond traditional “women empowerment” or “mentorship” initiatives in line with its mission to create real opportunities for women to move confidently through pivotal moments in their careers. Anchored on offering real-world experience from global leaders who’ve walked the path, the initiative is designed as a digital platform for intelligence, influence, and decision-making, tailored for senior leaders operating in complex, high-growth environments.
“Leadership today is not just about having a seat at the table; it is about shaping the decisions that define industries and economies,” said Amnah Ajmal, founder and CEO, SheKnows. “SheKnows is built for women already in senior leadership roles but are at a career defining moment like returning from maternity leave or too many years in the same role. By connecting them with global leaders through private 1-1 sessions we enable them to move more confidently through life’s most defining career transitions.”
The platform provides guided growth pathways, supported by curated Growth Navigators and enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), enabling them to turn uncertainty into clarity, hesitation into action, and potential into progress.
Who are the Growth Navigators
They are global leaders in the highest circles of influence who have walked the path, both women and men, who can share real-life experience. This is SheKnows’ differentiator and what makes it such a unique platform. Women who join the program get access to leaders they might not have a chance to speak with through networking.
They get their full attention and hands-on problem-solving recommendations for situations they truly understand. Another key factor to highlight is how the platform helps removing geographical barriers as any woman can join the program from any corner of the world connecting to growth navigators who can also sit in any location. Besides the functionality, it also gives access to regions and markets that are maybe less familiar which can open new doors for the participant. Growth navigators are joining from South Africa, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, the U.S., the UK, Poland, Hongkong, Singapore, Turkey, and more.
“Empowering women is the catalyst for global change. Each empowered sister sends ripples that transform communities and illuminate our future. With the launch of SheKnows, we celebrate the strength of women everywhere. Remember, injustice against women is a threat to justice for all. Together, we rise!” said Amadou Diallo, CEO of Aramex Group, who is a Growth Navigator at SheKnows.
From representation to influence
While female participation in the workforce continues to grow across MEA, progression into executive and board-level roles remains uneven. This gap is increasingly critical as businesses face rising expectations around transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation. SheKnows aims to address this through its curated network of C suite leaders who will support women to work on actionable outcomes.
Built for Africa’s evolving business landscape
Developed with a strong regional lens, SheKnows reflects the realities of operating in markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and more, where opportunity is high, but volatility, regulatory shifts, and market complexity demand resilient leadership.
For instance, executives scaling businesses across African markets must navigate changing regulations, currency fluctuations, and evolving investor expectations. SheKnows is designed to provide real-time intelligence and peer-level engagement to support such high-stakes decisions.
Multiple Industries
The platform integrates perspectives across multiple industries like hospitality, logistics, financial services, technology and more, aligning with the rapid technological changes happening in every industry due to accelerated adoption of AI.
Rollout and next steps
SheKnows will open its platform for women across the world in 2026, with plans to continuously expand its list of Growth Navigators.
SheKnows reflects a broader shift in leadership: from access to influence, from presence to impact, redefining what leadership looks like at the top.
ENDS
Editor’s note
In Africa, women hold only around 14% of board seats. Across key markets, the gap between representation and real influence remains clear. In Kenya, women hold about 32 per cent of CEO roles but only 21 per cent of board chair positions, with representation dropping sharply at senior levels. In Nigeria, women now occupy 31 per cent of board seats in top companies, yet only a handful of firms are led by female CEOs. South Africa leads on board diversity with ~38% female representation, but only around 10 per cent of CEOs are women. At the same time, the business case for inclusion is becoming more pronounced. Companies with gender-diverse executive teams are 25 per cent more likely to outperform financially, according to research by McKinsey & Company.
About SheKnows
From clarity to action. SheKnows, is a digital platform, built from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), dedicated to providing structured pathways designed around real career moments such as stepping into leadership, returning after a break, navigating stalled growth, or redefining direction entirely. Each pathway is intentional, practical, and outcome focused.
Founded by Amnah Ajmal, who has built multi-billion $ businesses by leading multi-cultural teams, with her heart, across multiple countries and continents. She is the former Executive Vice President Market Development, EEMEA for Mastercard. In this role, she led the P&L across multiple business verticals including merchants, telcos, governments, fintech, and digital players across 80 markets. She held several leadership roles with Citi and Standard Chartered in Europe and Asia. As a global leader, and a mother, she has a unique understanding of challenges faced by women in senior leadership and created this platform to help provide solutions to those who need the support.
Career transitions are rarely linear – and for women, they’re often navigated without clear rules, honest feedback, or visible paths forward. SheKnows exists to change that. We combine human insight and intelligent technology to help women move forward with confidence, not guesswork. We give access to a unique and curated network of C-level with influence through tailored 1:1 sessions.
Main contact: contact@sheknows.ai