In a powerful tribute to women who have paved the way for others, Akhona Qengqe, hailing from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, spearheads a celebration of 53 remarkable women for International Women’s Day 2024. These women, each a trailblazer in her own right, have been recognized on KFC Africa’s inaugural list of “female firsts,” symbolizing the resilience and determination required to overcome numerous barriers.
Akhona Qengqe, who has made history herself as KFC Africa’s first black female General Manager, draws from her upbringing in Mthatha to highlight the significance of this list. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by marginalized women, an experience that fueled her ambition and ultimately led her to break barriers within the corporate world. Today, she stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, embodying the progress and empowerment of women, particularly in a company where women constitute 60% of the workforce.
The list, which marks each year of KFC’s presence in Africa, features women from the 23 Sub-Saharan countries where KFC operates. Notable figures include Esperança da Costa, Angola’s first female vice president, and Sedia Sanogo, set to lead Côte d’Ivoire’s first female Olympic boxing team in Paris. These women, among others, have shattered the proverbial glass ceiling, achieving unprecedented success in their respective fields.
Qengqe emphasizes the importance of representation and empowerment, values she believes are shared by KFC and the remarkable women on the list. “I’m a mother of four, I’m female, I’m African and I lead a huge organisation,” she says. “I’m an original, just like the 53 women we honour on this International Women’s Day. We look forward to seeing this list grow,” she says.
Qengqe’s determination to make KFC the most inclusive quick service restaurant brand in Africa since she joined the company in 2015 as Development Director has resulted in the launch of several initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and empowering women. These include KFC Add Hope, a women-led program providing millions of free meals to children, and Women on the Move, which prepares women at KFC for leadership roles.
The celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, themed “Inspire Inclusion,” underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing women’s contributions to society. Akhona Qengqe’s journey from Mthatha to becoming a leading figure at KFC Africa exemplifies the power of inspiration and the potential for change when women are empowered and included.
