Ehimuan, Adesola, Opeke, others set for A-List Women’s Leadership Masterclass

A new chapter in women’s leadership development will begin on March 27 as the RISE Executive Leadership Programme for Women launches its inaugural cohort.

While women are making strides, they still face a significant glass ceiling. UN Women reports that women hold just 27 percent of parliamentary seats in sub-Saharan Africa.

Meanwhile, a McKinsey study shows that in Nigeria’s financial sector, women occupy 47 percent of entry-level roles but only 28 percent reach the C-suite.

Despite Nigeria’s slight edge with 10 percent of top firms led by female CEOs, the overall numbers highlight a systemic problem: women are rising, but not remaining.

The RISE Executive Leadership Programme is convened by Juliet Ehimuan, founder and CEO of Beyond Limits and former Director at Google West Africa who anchors the programme as its Lead Faculty.

The faculty includes: Juliet Ehimuan, Founder and CEO of Beyond Limits and former Director at Google West Africa; Bola Adesola, Chairman of Ecobank Nigeria; Bonita Stewart, Co-Founder and Managing Director of BAG Ventures USA and former Vice President of Global Partnerships at Google; Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder of BAP Productions and Terra Kulture; Ndidi Nwuneli, President and CEO of The ONE Campaign; and Funke Opeke, Founder of MainOne.

Together, they bring decades of executive insight, entrepreneurial scale, boardroom stewardship, and global perspective to a room intentionally designed for depth, candour, and strategic recalibration for women leaders.

The premium experience brings together accomplished female leaders operating at senior and enterprise levels for an immersive 5-week experience designed to strengthen strategic influence, executive authority, and long-term impact.

Powered by Beyond Limits Global, the programme blends immersive in-person learning and networking with virtual strategy sessions, high-calibre peer engagement, and optional executive coaching. Each element is anchored in real leadership opportunities and real-world challenges, ensuring that insight translates into measurable growth and expanded authority.

Participants will be guided by a distinguished faculty of leaders whose work has reshaped industries across Africa and beyond.

“Executive leadership is not static,” said Juliet Ehimuan. “It demands continuous growth, expanded perspective, and the courage to lead with both competence and conviction. RISE exists to create the space where accomplished women can refine their edge and rise with intention.”

RISE is not limited to one leadership tier. It serves accomplished women who are leading at scale, whether steering large teams, managing complex portfolios, shaping policy, or influencing enterprise-wide outcomes. The programme strengthens executive presence, deepens strategic thinking, sharpens decision-making in ambiguous contexts, and equips leaders to expand both their influence and their impact.

According to the organisers, RISE is a deliberate fusion of strategy and soul, designed to address a critical paradox in the African leadership landscape.

The next chapter of women’s leadership will not happen by chance. It is being built – intentionally, rigorously, and at the highest level.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.