Nwabisa Mayema

Nwabisa Mayema is a seasoned entrepreneur and an enthusiastic connector. With over two decades of experience in building connections and partnerships, Nwabisa has witnessed the power of scalable businesses in solving global issues and creating sustainable jobs.  As an advocate for female entrepreneurship, Mayema has founded companies, served as Strategic Partnerships Director at The Branson Centre, and facilitated at DreamGirls Academy to implement the U.S. Embassy's AWE initiative, which supports the Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) program led by the White House. She has also provided assistance to the Learning Design team at GetSmarter in the analysis, design, and development of the Women in Business online short course in collaboration with Syracuse University in New York State.  In 2005, Mayema was selected as one of the 100 Brightest Young Minds in South Africa. Nearly a decade later, in 2014, she finished among the top five participants in the Goldman Sachs-GIBS 10,000 Women Certificate Programme. The following year, in 2015, Nwabisa was chosen to participate in the United States Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program as a Change Maker in Social Entrepreneurship. In 2016, She was recognised by the Independent Media Group as one of the Top 100 Young Independents in the Innovation category. The next year, in 2017, she was selected to participate in the Austrian Leadership Programs organized by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That same year, she was nominated as one of the Inspiring Fifty South Africans. In 2018, Mayema was nominated again to participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program, which recognised Women Alumni as Economic Multipliers. This program was the first of its kind, created specifically for alumni by the Department of State.  Nwabisa is a global citizen who leads with purpose and has a zest for life. Whether building a venture studio from the ground up or designing a new non-extractive debt instrument for funding partners, Mayema always connects with doers and dreamers.  Her work is a reflection of her belief that the future is happening right now. As an ecosystem enabler, Nywabisa remains insatiably curious and open-minded.