Our #WCW today is Dr Mandas Marikanda, a Zimbabwean development finance expert and women empowerment advocate who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the country’s most influential banking executives. With more than two decades in microfinance and community development, she built her career working with rural women, small businesses and savings groups across Southern Africa before earning a PhD in Women Economic Empowerment and Microfinance. She went on to become the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, leading programmes that opened financial opportunities forwomen, youths and informal traders across the country. Her leadership, passion for financial inclusion and impact in empowering disadvantaged communities have earned her national recognition and several business leadership awards.