“I always believe that Africa is a growing economy and at the centre of this growing continent are women ready to make a difference,” she says. “It’s our time!”
Pacesetter. Multi-award-winning business executive. Best selling author, Mizinga Melu proudly holds her head as a super accomplished career woman but she’s not resting on her oars. She lives each day passionate about empowering her world, living a life of impact.
Mizinga, CEO – Absa Bank Zambia PLC is an industry expert with over two decades wealth of experience in the banking industry. Determined to live her mark in a world that endeared her since childhood, her impressive rise from bank Clerk to Managing Director and now Chief Executive Officer speaks volumes of the self-motivated capable power woman. Her impressive career has witnessed her rise to the top, helming affairs of top banking organizations spanning six African countries, taking the firms to untold
heights.
A history maker; at Standard Chartered Bank, she rewrote the history books as the first Zambian and first woman to hold the position of managing director and chief executive officer. She holds title of the first female chief executive officer in the thirteen African countries where Standard Chartered Bank maintains its subsidiaries.
The 53-year-old is also Founder When Females Lead! A non-profit network that aims to build girl child into ambitious, confident women passionate about excelling career-wise as well as becoming leaders in society.
Mizinga is proof women are capable multitaskers no doubt, she also authored the international bestseller, Braving the Odds.
Background and Rise;
Born March 17, 1968, in Mazabuka, Zambia, the last born in a family of seven, as a young girl she always nursed the dream of being in the banking world, fate paved way for her when she got a job as a clerk at the Zambia National Commercial Bank, (Zanaco).
Upon encouragement from her family to further her studies in banking to enable her to take on more esteemed challenging roles, Mizinga moved to the United Kingdom, where she obtained a banking degree and later on a Master’s in Business Administration.
In 1993, her professional journey began when she joined Standard Chartered Bank. She has since worked at the bank’s subsidiaries in different countries, including Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. Mizinga held a number of roles at Standard Chartered including CEO of Standard Chartered Zambia, Global Head of Development Organizations in the UK, and Africa Regional Head of Financial Institutions in both South Africa and Kenya.
Between May 2013 – Sep 2014, she served in Barclays owned Bank in Tanzania as Managing Director National Bank of Commerce Limited (NBC), In 2014 – 2017, she served as the Chief Executive Officer: Barclays Africa regional management in Johannesburg Area, South Africa. April 1, 2017, she was appointed Managing Director for Absa Bank Zambia PLC (formerly Barclays Bank Zambia Plc). Mizinga was Managing Director for the National Bank of Commerce.
Currently, she serves as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Absa Bank Zambia PLC
Mizinga Melu has earned multiple accolades throughout her career such as been named Business leader having been named Frontier 100 CEO.
Her outstanding work has fetched her awards such as;
• 2020 Banking CEO of the year Zambia by Global Banking and Finance Magazine.
• 2019 Banking CEO of Year Zambia by International Business Magazine
• 2017 Transformational Leadership Award
• The All Africa Business Woman of the Year Award 2013
• Nominated for the 2013 Southern Africa Business Woman of the year by Forbes Magazine and CNBC
• 2013 Leaders and Achievers Outstanding CEO performance by PMR – South Africa
• CEO of the year across all industries by the Zambia Institute Chartered Accountants in 2013 Business Woman for the year 2013 by Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA)
She currently serves as Non-Executive Director on the Museum for United Nations -UN Live Board.
Mizinga holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Henley Management College in the UK.
