DONATE

Irenne Charnley: CEO, Entrepreneur yet a Tech Geek

Irene Charnley was born on the 6th of May, 1960 and hails from South Africa. She is the chief executive officer of Smile Telecom Holdings- a company that offers a range of broadband solutions.

She achieved a full listing of MTN Holdings through M-Cell Limited and played a leading role in its transformation into one of the pre-eminent black-empowered companies on the JSE.

She has a certificate in Graphic Art, Reproduction and Technology from College of London of Printing, England. Irenne also bagged a certificate in Industrial Relations from University of the Witwatersrand.

She is a member of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management and National Retirement Coordinating Committee.

Ms. Irene is also an Institute of Retirement Funds councilor and a member of the Pensions Advisory Board. The board advises South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on policy issues.

Charnley serves as Chairperson of Orbicom, MTN Network Solutions, Mobile Telephone Networks Holdings, Airborn and Member of the King Committee on Corporate. She is also a social entrepreneur and a non-executive Director of MTN (one of Africa's leading telecommunications players) & FirstRand Bank. Charnley is also a Director at Johnnic communications.

In August 2000, she was elected Businesswoman of the Year in recognition of her entrepreneurship and outstanding contribution. She played a major role in the success and transformation of Johnnic from an industrial conglomerate to a focused media, entertainment and telecommunications group.

Charnley was awarded Business Woman of the year in 2000 and nominated as one of the top 50 businesswomen outside of the USA by Fortune Magazine.

Her Work:

Irene Charnley spent 13 years with the National Union of Mineworkers and played a strategic role in heading up the services pillar, coordinating the legal, housing, research and social security divisions in South Africa.

She was the Commercial Director at the MTN Group, responsible for the company’s strategic investments and international expansion activities. Irene also serves as a Director on a number of company boards, a member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance and is an International Marketing Council Board Member.

Charnley served as an Executive Director of ElementOne Limited since February 1997 and served as Director of Johnnic Holdings Limited from November 1996 to September 2003.

Ms Irene served as a Director of Metropolitan Holdings, formerly New Africa Capital Group Ltd from 2001 to December 2004.

In 2007, Irene Charnley  steped down as an executive director of MTN but remained a member of one of the richest boards of directors in South Africa. She served as Chairperson of South African Broadcasting Corporation since July 2009.

Why Tech Her Loves Her:

She is hardworking, determined and has crafted a niche in the tech-space globally. We use this as another opportunity to encourage other women not to see gender as a limitation to achieving and impacting their society rather as a yardstick to strive to be the best at whatever they are doing.

Oluwatoyin Yetunde Sanni : The Wogrammer.
Okello
Dr. Dorothy Okello: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.
Kehinde Oni: The Queen of Code
Aisha Bello: The Tech Enthusiast
Nneka
Dr. Nneka Mobisson: Turning Tragedy to Triumph
Damilola Solesi- Follow your Dreams!
Olubukola Makinwa: The Rockstar Developer
Dr. Chao Mbogo: Setting the Standard for Excellence
Emem R. Usanga - The Business and Tech Guru
Ethel D. Cofie: Woman on a mission
Evelyn Namara: Tech has no gender!
Moyin
Moyinoluwa Adeyemi: The Go-getter.
Judith
Judith Owigar: The Revolutionary
Ebi Atawodi: Reach for the Heights!
Farida Bedwei
Farida Bedwei: Impossible is Nothing!
Jemila Wumpini Abdullai: When Passion Becomes Profession.
Sylvia Mukasa : Engaging Young African Women
Anie Akpe: Founder, Networq App
Blessing Ebowe: Push beyond your limits!
Yasmin Belo-Osagie; Co-founder at She Leads Africa
Mercy Abang: Multi tasking is not a big deal!
Betty Mwangi-Thuo; The lady behind M-PESA Kenya
Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja: Founder "We Farm Africa"
Thoko Mokgosi Mwantembe: Yes, women can too!
Darlene Menzies: The brain behind The Development House, South Africa
MAYA HORGAN FAMODU
Nana A. Y. Twum-Danso
Haweya Mohamed
Sheila Birgen: Ensuring Technology with a difference.
Larisa Bowen-Dodoo
Nanjira Sambuli: The woman of many parts
Sitawa Wafula: Bipolar turned mental health crusader
Janet Shufor Fofang
Irenne Charnley: CEO, Entrepreneur yet a Tech Geek
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli: An inspiration to female entrepreneurs
Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor; The amazing Tech woman
Hilda Moraa: Yes you can too!
Maureen Agena: ICT in Agriculture
Damilola Teidi: The woman behind Gomyway.com
Barbara Mallison: Making a change in the education sector of South Africa.
Nnenna Nwakama
Lisa Katusiime
Nkemdilim Begho
Profile of the Week: Isis Nyong’o
Winnie Ngamije: Techpreneur helping teenage refugees
Lola Masha: The brain behind OLX Nigeria.
Marlise Montcho: Supporter of girls and women in ICT
Caroline Wabara: Digital Media Strategist
Emma Kaye: CEO of Bozza
Omobola Johnson: Restructuring ICT in Nigeria
Ory Okolloh
Stephanie Obi
Clarisse Iribagiza: Providing tech platforms in Rwanda
Ire Aderinokun: The Switch to Technology
Marie Githinji: The Akirachix lady
Annette Muller: The link in business and technology
Alice Aluoch: Network engineering to social innovation!
Anne Amuzu-Ewoenam: Nandimobile
Elizabeth Olorunleke: economic opportunities for girls and women in ICT
Teresa Mbagaya: From Zimbabwe to the continent!
Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi: W.TEC founder
Isioma Idemudia
Rasheeda Yehuza: Helping to solve complex problems with Technology
Linda Chinwetelu: No limits
Ofure Ukpebor: solving problem with technology
Barbara Birungi: The brains behind Women in Technology, Uganda (WITU)
Ebele Okobi: A determined woman is a force of nature
Esther Agbarakwe: Esther Climate
Rebecca Enonchong: Aim to be the best!
Honey Ogundeyi: turning a problem to an income source via Tech.
Betty Enyonam Kumahor: The power of perseverance and hard work as an IT woman
Viola Nuwaha: Inspire young females to achieve more in technology.
funke opeke, techher profile
Funke Opeke
Joy Buolamwini techher profile
Joy Buolamwini
Dr Tomi Oladepo (Ph.D): Media consultant, Writer and Blogger
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram