DONATE

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli: An inspiration to female entrepreneurs

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, was born on the 22nd of March 1975. She is a social entrepreneur with experience spanned over 20 years in International development and business management. In 2002, she founded LEAP Africa on the premises that Africa desperately needs a new generation of visionary, ethical, creative, and disciplined servants. These small group of people who share the same vision could work together to change the world. She is also the co-founder of ACCE food processing and distribution company founded in Nigeria.

In May 1995, at the age of 20, Nwuneli graduated from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors in Multinational and Strategic Management. She also bagged her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1997 at 24.

Mrs. Nwuneli has been recognized with several academic such as:

A recipient of the Albert A. Berg Scholarship.

A member of the Friars and the Onyx Senior Societies for her outstanding leadership efforts.

Recipient of both the Harvey Fellowship and the National Black MBA Association Graduate Scholarship.

Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

National Honor – Member of the Federal Republic from the Nigerian Government.

Listed as one of the 20 Youngest Power African Women by Forbes.

She serves on numerous local and international boards including the Board of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, AACE Foods, LEAP Africa and Royal DSM's Sustainability Board.

Her Work:

Nwuneli's career began in the summer of her junior year at The University of Pennsylvania when she held a Summer Business Analyst position with Mckinsey and Company in New York.

In 1995, she was offered a full-time position at McKinsey as a Business Analyst working out of Chicago, Illinois. She also worked for McKinsey office in Johannesburg, South Africa .

Notably, her work with McKinsey in 1997 led to the management and training of police officers across 25 South African Police Service Stations. There was also an increase in criminal convictions and a reduction in crime rates.

In the summer of 1998, she accepted a position as the Lead Consultant with a non-profit called The Center for Middle East Competitive Strategy. She consulted with Palestinian and Israeli businesses and made recommendations for decreasing transaction costs and increasing trade across the region.

In the summer of 1999, Nwuneli worked as the Lead Consultant for The Ford Foundation on a project focusing on Nigeria's largest micro credit institutions; COWAN and FADU.

In 2000, less than a year after graduating from HBS, she resigned from her position at McKinsey and returned to Nigeria to serve as the pioneer Executive Director for the FATE Foundation. FATE Foundation is a nonprofit organization that strives to promote wealth creation and encourage entrepreneurship in Nigeria. With a specific enthusiasm for engaging female entrepreneurs, she explains to the HBS African America Alumni Association in an interview: "Nigeria has some of the most entrepreneurial people in the world but access to financing, networks, and growth remain a challenge. She believes that  empowering women to start and grow their businesses is critical to Nigeria's development, but educating women is the real silver bullet."

In 2002, Nwuneli founded two nonprofits, LEAP (Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability, Professionalism) Africa and Ndu Ike Akunuba (NIA), Igbo words which translate in English to Life, Strength, and Wealth. NIA's focus is on female empowerment—inspiring university students in Southeastern Nigeria to live full and meaningful lives.

As a representative of LEAP, Ndidi has been invited to speak at the United Nation’s Commission for Social Development, the World Economic Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative.

Since it was founded LEAP has worked in partnership with the Ford Foundation, Citi Foundation, World Bank, United States Government, United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office, ALI (Aspen Institute's Africa Leadership Initiative), Nokia, and the International Youth Foundation.

 Why TechHer Loves Her

Mrs. Ndidi is helping the Agriculture sector in Nigeria rethink its way of feeding itself. She is an inspiration to aspiring female entrepreneurs in Nigeria to achieve their highest potential.

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