Meet Tanzania’s Ambassador Designate To The United States
Elsie S. Kanza, Tanzanian economist has been appointed to serve as Tanzanian ambassador to the United States.
Elsie S. Kanza who is Special Adviser to the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) worked in Tanzania’s finance ministry and its central bank from 1997 and 2006 and moved on to serve as economic advisor to the President of Tanzania from 2006 to 2011.
In 2008, she became an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow, and in 2011 a WEF Young Global Leader. In 2020, the magazine Forbes Africa listed her as one of Africa’s 50 most powerful women. She has served on various boards, including those of the African Leadership Institute – South Africa, Mercy Corps Europe, The Nature Conservancy Africa Council, and the Uongozi Institute.
Elsie holds a BSc (cum laude) in International Business Administration from the United States International University – Africa, an MSc in Finance from the University of Strathclyde, and was awarded a Doctorate of Business Administration (honoris causa) from the University of Strathclyde for her role in driving transformative impact in Africa.
Prior to her role, Ms Kanza was a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Executive Committee and Special Adviser to its President Børge Brende. She led the WEF’s regional agenda on Africa from 2011. Doctorate of Business Administration (honors causa) from the University of Strathclyde for her role in driving transformative impact in Africa
In 2020, Forbes Africa listed her as one of Africa’s 50 most powerful women. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde for her role in driving transformative impact in Africa.
In 2011, she became a WEF Young Global Leader and was also an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow.
Elsie was appointed to the prestigious Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship at the Robert Bosch Academy this year.
From 2006 to 2011, Kanza served as economic advisor to the President of Tanzania. Between 1997 and 2006, she worked in Tanzania’s finance ministry and its central bank.
At Africa Women CEOs Network and 100 Women@Davos we are extremely proud of Ms Kanza and the initiatives she has led to drive development and job creation in Africa particularly through entrepreneurship and scaling up SMEs.
We commend President Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president on the appointment of this stellar leader!
