Categories
Media release

Media release

Absa champions women shaping Africa’s future as official banking partner of the 2026 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit

9 February 2026

Absa has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s leadership and economic participation as the official banking partner of the 11th annual FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, taking place on 18 March 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The one day summit brings together women leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the continent whose work is shaping Africa’s future.

For more than a decade, FORBES WOMAN AFRICA has played a central role in profiling and celebrating women who are driving impact across business, culture, technology and civil society. Absa’s partnership with the summit reflects a shared belief that visibility and recognition must be matched by practical access to opportunity.

Taking place during March, internationally recognised as Women’s Month and anchored by International Women’s Day on 8 March, the summit adds momentum to global conversations about women’s leadership and economic participation. For Absa and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, the timing reinforces a shared focus on turning celebration into sustained progress.

“The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit connects recognition with real opportunity,” says Prabashni Naidoo, Absa Group Chief Governance Officer. “When women’s achievements are visible, it creates momentum. Across Africa we are investing in programmes that turn that momentum into access to finance, skills and networks that allow women to grow and lead at scale. The summit provides a powerful platform to bring those efforts together.”

A Summit Experience Built for Impact

Held under the theme The Voice, Vision, and Victories of Her Africa, the 2026 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is expected to convene more than 1 000 attendees from over 50 countries.

The programme includes an array of exclusive panels and interactive discussions where thought leaders and subject matter experts explore topics such as redefining leadership, leveraging innovation for growth, scaling purpose driven enterprises, closing gender gaps in business and finance, and promoting equitable access to opportunity. The summit culminates in The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards,  celebrating women who have demonstrated excellence and impact across sectors including business, culture, technology, social enterprise and community leadership, followed by a celebratory after party.

This gathering reflects Forbes’ ethos of success, access and aspiration, creating a space where diverse voices and experiences can be shared, celebrated and translated into action.

As official banking partner, Absa will bring its proposition for women to life on the summit floor through a series of immersive brand activations that blend fashion, beauty and lifestyle known as House of Absa. There, guests can experience a curated fashion installation featuring designs by a celebrated South African fashion designer, celebrating contemporary African creativity and self expression, alongside a signature beauty activation designed to spotlight confidence and personal style. A curated luxury prize draw will add an element of surprise and delight, while the Absa Champagne Bar will serve as a central social hub during the evening programme, creating a space for conversation, networking and celebration. Together these touchpoints translate Absa’s commitment to women into a tangible guest experience that is creative, elevated and distinctly African.

From Recognition to Real Economic Participation

Absa’s work across the continent focuses on strengthening women’s long term economic participation. Women represent more than half of Absa’s workforce, with over 50 percent of new hires and the majority of internal promotions awarded to women. Beyond the workplace, the bank has directed R3.8 billion in procurement spend to women owned businesses and continues to expand financing for women and youth led enterprises, with annual SME disbursements exceeding R1 billion.

Through Women in Business programmes across markets including Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Zambia and Mauritius, as well as partnerships that support women exporters and entrepreneurs, Absa provides targeted financing, mentorship and access to markets. These efforts respond to a broader African reality where women run more than 40 percent of small and medium enterprises yet face an estimated US$42 billion financing gap.

“Economic empowerment is one of the most effective ways to strengthen communities,” Naidoo adds. “When women are able to build sustainable businesses and careers, the impact extends across families and local economies. Through our partnerships across Africa and our collaboration with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, we are working to make sure that visibility is matched by real pathways to growth.”

Presented by headline partner McDonald’s South Africa, with Absa as the official banking partner and CNBC Africa as media partner, the summit will also feature immersive activations designed to engage and inspire participants.

Join the Movement

For programme details and ticket information visit:

9 February 2026

Absa has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s leadership and economic participation as the official banking partner of the 11th annual FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, taking place on 18 March 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The one day summit brings together women leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across the continent whose work is shaping Africa’s future.

For more than a decade, FORBES WOMAN AFRICA has played a central role in profiling and celebrating women who are driving impact across business, culture, technology and civil society. Absa’s partnership with the summit reflects a shared belief that visibility and recognition must be matched by practical access to opportunity.

Taking place during March, internationally recognised as Women’s Month and anchored by International Women’s Day on 8 March, the summit adds momentum to global conversations about women’s leadership and economic participation. For Absa and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, the timing reinforces a shared focus on turning celebration into sustained progress.

“The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit connects recognition with real opportunity,” says Prabashni Naidoo, Absa Group Chief Governance Officer. “When women’s achievements are visible, it creates momentum. Across Africa we are investing in programmes that turn that momentum into access to finance, skills and networks that allow women to grow and lead at scale. The summit provides a powerful platform to bring those efforts together.”

A Summit Experience Built for Impact

Held under the theme The Voice, Vision, and Victories of Her Africa, the 2026 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is expected to convene more than 1 000 attendees from over 50 countries.

The programme includes an array of exclusive panels and interactive discussions where thought leaders and subject matter experts explore topics such as redefining leadership, leveraging innovation for growth, scaling purpose driven enterprises, closing gender gaps in business and finance, and promoting equitable access to opportunity. The summit culminates in The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards,  celebrating women who have demonstrated excellence and impact across sectors including business, culture, technology, social enterprise and community leadership, followed by a celebratory after party.

This gathering reflects Forbes’ ethos of success, access and aspiration, creating a space where diverse voices and experiences can be shared, celebrated and translated into action.

As official banking partner, Absa will bring its proposition for women to life on the summit floor through a series of immersive brand activations that blend fashion, beauty and lifestyle known as House of Absa. There, guests can experience a curated fashion installation featuring designs by a celebrated South African fashion designer, celebrating contemporary African creativity and self expression, alongside a signature beauty activation designed to spotlight confidence and personal style. A curated luxury prize draw will add an element of surprise and delight, while the Absa Champagne Bar will serve as a central social hub during the evening programme, creating a space for conversation, networking and celebration. Together these touchpoints translate Absa’s commitment to women into a tangible guest experience that is creative, elevated and distinctly African.

From Recognition to Real Economic Participation

Absa’s work across the continent focuses on strengthening women’s long term economic participation. Women represent more than half of Absa’s workforce, with over 50 percent of new hires and the majority of internal promotions awarded to women. Beyond the workplace, the bank has directed R3.8 billion in procurement spend to women owned businesses and continues to expand financing for women and youth led enterprises, with annual SME disbursements exceeding R1 billion.

Through Women in Business programmes across markets including Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Zambia and Mauritius, as well as partnerships that support women exporters and entrepreneurs, Absa provides targeted financing, mentorship and access to markets. These efforts respond to a broader African reality where women run more than 40 percent of small and medium enterprises yet face an estimated US$42 billion financing gap.

“Economic empowerment is one of the most effective ways to strengthen communities,” Naidoo adds. “When women are able to build sustainable businesses and careers, the impact extends across families and local economies. Through our partnerships across Africa and our collaboration with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, we are working to make sure that visibility is matched by real pathways to growth.”

Presented by headline partner McDonald’s South Africa, with Absa as the official banking partner and CNBC Africa as media partner, the summit will also feature immersive activations designed to engage and inspire participants.

Join the Movement

For programme details and ticket information visit: