Some moments quietly redefine history. They do not arrive with fireworks or fanfare. Instead, they come with a simple announcement, a final vote count, and the realisation that a door closed for decades has finally been opened again. For thousands of women in Nigeria’s legal profession, July 2026 was one of those moments. After 34 years, another woman would lead the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), proving that persistence, preparation, and excellence can outlast even the longest-standing barriers. That woman is Oyinkansola Badejo Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb. Her election as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association is more than a personal triumph. It marks the return of female leadership to one of Africa’s largest and most influential professional associations for the first time since Priscilla Kuye served as NBA President in 1992. Even more significantly, Badejo Okusanya became the first woman to be elected through the NBA’s direct universal suffrage…

Across the Middle East, millions of people look to stronger economies, better infrastructure, quality education and greater employment opportunities to improve their lives. Behind many of the programmes and partnerships supporting these aspirations are development leaders whose work shapes policies, investments and long-term growth, often far from the public eye. One of those leaders is Dahlia Khalifa. The World Bank recently appointed Khalifa as Division Director for its Middle East Department, placing her at the forefront of the institution’s strategic engagement across Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Based in Amman, Jordan, she succeeds Jean-Christophe Carret, who served in the role for the past four years. Her appointment is more than a career milestone. It reflects over two decades of experience in international development and positions her to help shape one of the World Bank’s most significant regional portfolios. Working closely with governments, development partners, the private sector and other…

Across South America, women are not just entering existing markets; they are transforming them. From Cartagena’s micro-enterprises to Indigenous-led bio-economies deep in the Amazon, women are reshaping value chains, governance models, and ownership structures. Their work insists that economic growth must serve not only profit but also social and ecological well-being. This evolution, often described as the rise of a feminine economy, is not merely about increasing women’s participation in capitalism but about reimagining how economies function at their very core. Rethinking Economic Power The term feminine economy does not imply that women are inherently different economic actors. Instead, it acknowledges how women’s historic exclusion from formal power has inspired alternative approaches to wealth creation and distribution. In South America, where Indigenous traditions of reciprocity and solidarity intersect with contemporary feminist movements, women are pioneering models that challenge the extractive and hierarchical nature of traditional capitalism. Scholars and activists such…

Imagine a battlefield not of swords and shields, but of spreadsheets and strategy sessions. A modern arena where decisions flow across continents, shaping economies, innovations, and lives. Here, the warriors aren’t mythical Amazons charging with bows drawn; they’re real women, clad in power suits and armed with intellect, resilience and unyielding vision. They are storming the corporate boardrooms, spaces once inaccessible to women and claiming their seats at the table. But this isn’t just a tale of conquest; it’s a revolution that is transforming the world of business, one bold decision at a time. Here’s the thrill: these “Amazons on Board” aren’t distant legends; they are relatable trailblazers whose stories echo the ambitions, struggles, and triumphs of women everywhere, from the ambitious professional juggling family and career to the entrepreneur dreaming big in a small town. …