Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa: A Biography of a Social Entrepreneur & Smartech Executive
Discover the journey of a dynamic leader in philanthropy and technology, shaping the future of education and economic development in Africa through her influential work.
Career & Ventures
Before taking on significant roles in her family's foundations, Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa worked at UNICEF, where she focused on issues related to early childhood development. This experience provided her with a strong foundation in understanding the challenges and opportunities in global development.
Elizabeth is a non-executive Director on the boards of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe, two of the largest companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Her appointment to the Econet board in April 2022 followed her father's retirement, marking a new chapter of leadership for the telecommunications giant.
As the CEO of Akello, an African ed-tech company, Elizabeth is at the forefront of transforming education on the continent through technology-based solutions. Akello aims to broaden access to quality learning opportunities for millions of young Africans by offering a range of digital products aligned with national curriculums.
Philanthropy & Social Impact
Elizabeth holds the position of CEO at Delta Philanthropies UK and is a board member of the Higherlife Foundation. These organizations, founded by her parents Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa, are dedicated to investing in human capital development across Africa. Elizabeth is responsible for the education portfolio across these foundations and the Econet Group of Companies.
Elizabeth's influence extends to numerous prestigious organizations. She serves on the board of the Ashesi Foundation and sits on Harvard University’s Leadership Council for the Centre of Africa Studies. Additionally, she advises several entrepreneurship and philanthropy networks and is a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean social entrepreneur, smartech executive, and philanthropist. She is the CEO of Delta Philanthropies UK and Akello, and serves on the boards of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Banking and International Finance from Bayes Business School, City University London, and a Master of Social Entrepreneurship from Hult International Business School. She has also pursued an Executive MBA from Cambridge University.
Elizabeth is a non-executive Director on the boards of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and EcoCash Holdings Zimbabwe. She also leads the education portfolio across her family's foundations and the Econet Group of Companies.
She is the CEO of Delta Philanthropies UK and a board member of the Higherlife Foundation. Both organizations focus on human capital development in Africa. She is also a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner and serves on the board of the Ashesi Foundation and Harvard University’s Leadership Council for the Centre of Africa Studies.
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