Women must move beyond representation to actively shaping decisions in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence economy, executives and policymakers said at a high-level dialogue convened by MTN Group.
The discussion brought together leaders including Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact; Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA; Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer; and Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer.
Participants said the acceleration of AI across industries is redefining how decisions are made, elevating the importance of inclusive leadership in shaping economic outcomes. “AI will help us make better and more informed leadership decisions, but decision making will always be human. Decision making must be accountable, transparent, inclusive and it must think about the future,” Ojiambo said.
As AI reshapes capital allocation, risk assessment and operational models, limited female representation in leadership positions could embed inequality into emerging systems, participants warned. “For Africa, you will have to be bold and courageous because the headwinds are very strong but the opportunity is far more,” Wamola said.
The dialogue highlighted a persistent gap between access and influence. While mentorship programs have expanded, participants said they often fail to translate into leadership opportunities without sponsorship, networks and access to decision-making platforms.
Younger participants said symbolic inclusion is no longer sufficient. “We don’t just want to be included, we want to be part of shaping the decisions,” one participant said. Another added, “Opportunities need to be real and accessible, not just spoken about.” The opening sentiment captured the mood of the session: “Women are tired of hashtags. We need action.”
Executives said excluding women from leadership in AI-driven sectors risks narrowing the talent pool, weakening decision-making and limiting innovation, with implications for productivity and competitiveness across African economies.
“As a leader, the biggest trait is empathy and bringing the human back into the room,” Adadevoh said. Morafo said leadership in a fast-changing environment requires openness and collaboration. “Leadership is not about titles or perfectly knowing the answer to all the questions. True leadership is about understanding that you need to be listening and getting advice from others,” she said.
As Africa expands digital infrastructure, access to capital, education and networks will determine who participates in designing and governing new technologies. Without deliberate intervention, women risk remaining on the consumption side of digital growth rather than influencing its direction.
Businesses, participants said, will play a decisive role through hiring, investment and leadership development decisions that shape access to opportunity.
For MTN Group, the dialogue is positioned to for inclusion into its digital transformation strategy, extending beyond connectivity to leadership and innovation ecosystems. As AI accelerates structural shifts across economies, participants said advancing women’s leadership is becoming a strategic requirement for sustaining growth and improving institutional resilience. Access, they said, is no longer enough. Influence will determine who shapes the future.
