Adesuwa Isidori

A Nigerian social entrepreneur and advocate for women's leadership in Africa, driving economic empowerment through She Leads Africa.

Adesuwa Isidori is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and founder of She Leads Africa, an organization dedicated to empowering African women leaders. Born in Nigeria, Isidori's early career in finance and corporate roles revealed systemic gender disparities in leadership opportunities across the continent. In 2016, she launched She Leads Africa to address this gap by creating a platform for mentorship, networking, and visibility for African women in business and governance. The initiative has since expanded to 30+ countries, connecting over 10,000 women and fostering collaborations with institutions like the African Union and UN Women.

Isidori’s work has been pivotal in highlighting the economic potential of gender equality. She leads the African Women Leaders Network, which advocates for policies that integrate women into economic decision-making. Her TED Talk, "Why Women Are Critical to Africa’s Future," underscores how gender equity can drive Africa’s GDP growth. Beyond advocacy, she co-founded She Leads Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in women-led startups across sectors like agriculture and renewable energy.

Her impact is measurable: She Leads Africa’s programs have contributed to a 27% increase in women holding board seats in African companies since 2018. Isidori’s vision aligns with global SDGs, particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). She has been featured in Forbes Africa and Time Magazine as a changemaker redefining leadership on the continent.