Julie Gichuru & Google Africa’s Ory Okolloh Among 60 Most Influential African Women Globally!

I reported to you a few weeks ago that Julie Gichuru, will be among a celebrated panel of eminent women speaking in South Africa.

To read about Julie Gichuru and Patricia Amira speaking at this amazing event in South Africa, click here.

Well in the same breath, Julie Gichuru was also named in the top 60 African Women In Enterprise list. Only two Kenyans are featured in it, the other being Ory Okolloh. Ory is Google Africa’s Policy Manager, co-founder Ushahidi.com and Mzalendo.com. Some of the famous people in that list include President of Malawi, Joyce Banda; humanitarian and former First Lady of South Africa, Graça Machel.

Others include activist Dr Mamphela Ramphele, internationally acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; ABSA Group CEO, Maria Ramos; CNN’s Isha Sesay, designer Lisa Folawiyo, entrepreneur Precious Motsepe, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Ngozi Iweala Okonji, and the African Union Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to name a few

The women named are the most influential African women around the globe. They are ladies whose personal and professional achievements have significantly and positively impacted the continent. They will be celebrated at the WIE Gala Dinner, which marks the closing night of the inaugural WIE Africa, a two-day conference taking place in Cape Town from 5th – 7th May Africa. The gala dinner on Monday May 6th in Cape Town to benefit the Graça Machel Trust.

The WIE Africa 60 acknowledges women from the worlds of politics, business, technology, philanthropy, media, fashion, finance and entertainment.

Dee Poku, CEO and co-founder of WIE commented:  “It’s incredibly important to give visibility to, and celebrate the achievements of African women. The generation coming up the ladder need role models and these impressive women are the change-makers paving the way.” WIE Africa aims to contribute to changing negative perceptions of Africa as a whole by showcasing successful African women and innovation.

WIE (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise), founded in 2010 is a global annual conference and community designed to empower the next generation of women leaders.  Following Cape Town, WIE Africa, a pan African event, will occur in a different African city annually. Previous WIE Symposiums in London and New York have boasted some of the most recognisable thought-leaders from around the world including Nancy Pelosi, Iman, Alek Wek, Sarah Brown, Donna Karan, Ariana Huffington, Cherie Blair, Jill Biden, Diane von Furstenberg, Baroness Valerie Amos, Ted Turner, Dambisa Moyo, Tamara Mellon, Rosario Dawson, Christy Turlington, Nick Clegg, Geena Davis, Elizabeth Banks and Aerin Lauder to name a few.

Well in Julie and Ory! You have made Kenya proud!