Private equity is historically a male-dominated field, and historically, Africa’s local industry has been no different.

“Management roles for women in private equity are low in Africa,” Cindy Valentine, a partner at King and Wood Mallesons and African private equity advisory veteran, told AFKInsider, “Asia has historically had the highest percentage of women in senior roles, with 11.8 percent … For Africa, the figure is 7.6 percent.”

However, the profile of African women executive in Africa’s PE space is slowly rising.