“We are not just building leaders; we are shaping a generation that leads with empathy, consciousness, and courage.”
— Riah Phiyega, CEO, WDB Trust
Across Africa, women are leading powerful shifts in communities, economies, and
institutions — redefining what leadership means in the 21st century. At the heart of this
movement stands the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship (ZMF), a programme by WDB Trust that is
committed to cultivating a new generation of young African feminist leaders.
In late September, WDB Trust hosted a dynamic Fellowship Roundtable (30 September – 1
October) — bringing together sister fellowships and organisations who share one vision: to
strengthen feminist leadership for lasting transformation.
A Gathering of Feminist Futures
Representatives from WOSSO (Women of South Speak Out – Gender Links), the Female
Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF), Women Creating Wealth (Graca Machel Trust), and
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) joined WDB Trust for two days of reflection and
collaboration.
The roundtable was not a conference — it was a conversation. Participants shared lessons
from their own fellowships, explored what feminist mentorship should look like today, and
envisioned how leadership programmes can better serve African women in all their diversity.
Reimagining the Fellowship Experience
Since its inception in 2017, the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship has equipped emerging women
leaders with the tools, networks, and feminist principles needed to drive change in their
sectors and communities. With two successful cohorts (2018 and 2022) completed,
planning for Cohort 3 in 2026 is already underway.
At the roundtable, we explored key themes such as:
- The importance of self-work and healing in leadership development
- Building sustainable mentorship ecosystems that cross generations
- Embedding community engagement in every aspect of leadership learning
- Designing curricula rooted in African feminist realities
The exchange of ideas reaffirmed a collective belief: true leadership begins with self-awareness, compassion, and community connection.
Towards Cohort 3 — A Renewed Commitment
Insights from this gathering will be useful as we prepare for ZMF’s Cohort 3, ensuring that the programme continues to evolve as a catalyst for intergenerational empowerment.
By drawing on diverse models and lived experiences, WDB Trust aims to refine and elevate the Fellowship so that it not only produces capable leaders — but women who lead with purpose, authenticity, and solidarity.
As Mrs. Phiyega shared, the Fellowship remains “a legacy that honours Zanele Mbeki’s
vision for a more equitable and inclusive Africa.”
About the Zanele Mbeki Fellowship
The Zanele Mbeki Fellowship (ZMF) is an African feminist leadership programme by WDB
Trust. Founded in 2017 and named after Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, the Fellowship nurtures young African women in different fields who are committed to advancing social and economic transformation through feminist values.
