For over 115 years, from the first International Women’s mobilisation in 1911 to the Beijing Platform, the Maputo Protocol, Agenda 2063, and the SDGs, we have spoken about gender equality. And yet, executive power across politics, corporate leadership, finance, and enterprise remains disproportionately male. In this powerful session, our distinguished speakers examined: Why executive political leadership remains resistant to gender parity How corporate governance and capital access shape leadership outcomes Whether AU gender commitments have translated into structural change What reforms are required to accelerate women’s access to real decision-making power The conversation made one point clear: Leadership must be intentional, strategic, and coordinated. Women cannot remain present in numbers but absent in power. As Africa navigates global uncertainty, economic realignment, and geopolitical shifts, women must emerge not only as participants, but as architects of institutional direction. Join the conversation. Engage the ideas. Be part of the shift. Women in Power: Can the AU Accelerate Women’s Access to Executive Leadership? This week, we continue our leadership series by expanding the lens beyond political office to the broader architecture of power. Our focus is clear: How can African women emerge as successful leaders across politics, corporate governance, business, and entrepreneurship — and what structural reforms are required to make their leadership the norm rather than the exception? If Africa is serious about transformation, women’s leadership cannot be confined to representation alone. It must extend across executive government, corporate boardrooms, financial systems, industrial strategy, and enterprise ecosystems. This conversation moves us from symbolism to structure, from visibility to power. Join the Conversation