Natalie Jabangwe: The youngest mobile money chief executive in Africa

A computer engineer by profession, Jabangwe became the youngest chief executive to run a mobile money business in Africa - Ecocash. Ecocash is the second-largest mobile financial service company on the continent, serving over of 6 million individuals.

She completed her computer science degree at Middlesex University and whilst in her second year, Natalie received a Leadership Exchange scholarship for the most excelling female student at Spelman College in the US. While at Spelman, Natalie interned at the Mayor’s office, where she was responsible for developing the City of Atlanta’s first IT Security policies at the tender age of 21.

After working for a few years, she enrolled at Imperial College London, to pursue an MBA. It was after this that Natalie was head hunted by Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe, and presented with the opportunity to head the business and market development of Ecocash.

"I want to be remembered as a great contributor to the economic development of nations and a champion in developing the potential of others." says Jabangwe, and she is definitely on her way there. In May 2018, Natalie Jabangwe, was nominated among the 100 Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum 2018 and was also, in November 2018 appointed by United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to the UN's Task Force on Digital Financing of Sustainable Development Goals.

She was also a 2017 Fellow of The Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship Program.