CONGRATS MONICA MUSONDA...

Zambian lady who is a Founder and CEO of Java Foods selected as World Economic Forum Young Global Leader 2013.

Monica Musonda, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods has been selected as one of the 2013 World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders.  The honour is bestowed each year to recognize the most distinguished leaders under the age of 40, amongst thousands nominated from around the world.  Young Global Leaders represent the future of leadership, coming from all regions of the world and encompassing business, government, civil society, arts & culture, academia and media, as well as social entrepreneurs.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan chairs the selection committee and the nomination is in recognition of Ms Musonda’s professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world through inspiring leadership.

Other African nominees as Young Global Leaders in 2013 include South African parliamentarian Lindiwe Mazibuko, Nigerian founder of Flying Doctors Ola Orekurin, and Liberian founder of Face Africa Saran Kaba Jones.  This year’s class comprises 199 young leaders from 77 countries –http://www3.weforum.org/docs/YGL13/WEF_YGL13_Honourees.pdf

Commenting on Musonda’s nomination, Dr Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Zambia said: “I have known Monica for 20 years and this is a well-deserved recognition for her hard work and dedication.  Monica’s strategic, forward thinking and influencing skills are clear qualities of a future leader and I would like to congratulate her as only the third Zambian to be named as a Young Global Leader.”

Biography

Monica is the Founder & CEO of Java Foods, a food processing company established to provide affordable nutrition to the mass market by processing Zambia’s high quality wheat into instant noodles (under the brand name “eeZee noodles”) and pasta.  Java’s first plant will be commissioned in January 2014.

A dual qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over fifteen years post qualification experience; Monica has held senior positions both in private practice (with Clifford Chance & Edward Nathan) and working as in house counsel at the International Finance Corporation in Washington DC.  Her most recent position was at Dangote Industries (Lagos, Nigeria) where she served as Director Legal and Corporate Affairs.  Monica was the project lead responsible for the Dangote Group’s $500m investment into Zambia to build the country’s largest cement plant, due to be completed in 2014.  Her experience working with one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs (Aliko Dangote) gave her the impetus to start her own business and in 2012, she moved back to Zambia and set up Java Foods.

Monica serves as a director on the Boards of the Bank of Zambia and Dangote Industries Zambia Limited.  She is also the Chairperson of Kwacha Pension Trust Fund.  She is a founding member of Jurispractice, an organisation that helps provide continuing legal education to lawyers in Zambia.  In February 2013, the African Leadership Institute invited Monica to become an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Associate.

Source: ukzambians.co.uk