In this exclusive interview, Madelein Mkunu, Founder & President of Leading Women of Africa and creator of Beyond Boundaries, reflects on the role of women in shaping Africa’s global partnerships.
At the heart of the discussion lies a powerful question:
If African women had to choose the continent’s partners, would they turn to the West, or align with the emerging powers of the Global South such as BRICS?
This conversation explores:
Lessons from Africa’s historical relations with the West
Opportunities and risks of BRICS and the Global South
The unique strengths women bring to negotiations and diplomacy
Why grassroots voices matter in shaping Africa’s alliances
The urgent call for sovereignty, unity, and dignity in Africa’s future partnerships
Have your say! Participate in our poll: Africa at the Crossroads, West or Global South?
Share your thoughts in the comments or through the official poll
Don’t forget to subscribe for more content on Geopolitics, Global Affairs, Business, and Women’s Leadership.
#WomenInGeopolitics #AfricaAtTheCrossroads #BeyondBoundaries #LeadingWomenOfAfrica #AfricaRising #AfricanUnion #WestVsGlobalSouth #BRICS #Geopolitics #AfricanLeadership
DID YOU MISSED SOME ARTICLES? Stay Informed. Stay Empowered. Explore bold perspectives shaping Africa’s future.
Your Gateway to Africa’s Women-Led Innovation, Insight, and Enterprise
The LWA Global Expertise & Opportunity Exchange is a strategic platform developed by Leading Women of Africa (LWA) to connect international institutions, investors, and collaborators with Africa’s most dynamic women experts and entrepreneurs.
From infrastructure development to agriculture, digital innovation to mining, transport to manufacturing, African women are leading transformative change across sectors. This initiative offers global partners a direct pathway to engage with credible, visionary women who are ready to co-create, invest, and lead.
LWA is your first point of contact for doing business in Africa, through the lens of women-led excellence.

This high-impact event brings together African businesswomen, government officials, and diaspora leaders to connect with UK corporates, funders, and investors across key sectors:
Agribusiness & Food Security
Renewable Energy & Climate Innovation
Fintech & Digital Inclusion
Education & Skills Development
Mining & Infrastructure
Limited seats available.
Join us to connect, collaborate, and co-create Africa’s future—through women-led innovation and strategic partnerships.
The prestigious EuroKnowledge Leadership Awards, an annual celebrating exceptional individual achievement and whose dedication have left a lasting impact across industries and communities.

This is a platform to:
Connect with credible partnership opportunities powered by women
Invest alongside women in trusted, high-impact ventures across Africa
Showcase your products, services, and projects to global investors and partners
From agriculture and mining to cosmetics, fashion, infrastructure development, ICT, and digital innovation, African women are leading ventures that are credible, scalable, and globally competitive.
Deadline for the Oct/Nov Edition: 30 September 2025

Igniting Innovation: Africa's Industrial Revolution
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is set to become the pulsating heart of Africa's industrial future as it hosts the highly anticipated Africon Micro, Small, and Medium Industries (MSIs) Summit 2026.
A standout feature will be the prestigious Future is Female and Men Champions Awards, celebrating the trailblazers and visionaries who are reshaping the MSI landscape across the continent.
Author Bio
Madelein Mkunu is the President of Leading Women of Africa (LWA), a Pan-African social enterprise promoting women's leadership in economic development, and the founder of Beyond Boundaries, a global content and advocacy platform amplifying African women’s voices in policy, peacebuilding, and development. A bilingual English–French strategist and accomplished public speaker, she brings over 20 years of experience in gender mainstreaming, inclusive governance, and stakeholder engagement across Africa and globally. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in Management from IEDC-Bled School of Management (Slovenia), a Postgraduate Degree in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), a Certificate in Leadership from the Dale Carnegie Institute, and is an alumna of Michigan State University’s Women Empowerment Programme. With a background in accounting and a passion for transformative change, Madelein is a trusted advisor to institutions seeking Africa-rooted development solutions.