Strive Masiyiwa is one of Africa’s most respected business leaders. He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group which comprises Cassava Technologies and Econet Wireless. Strive Masiyiwa set out more than 20 years ago to bring connectivity to Africa. He went on to build Africa’s largest independent fiber network, totaling more than 100,000 kilometers. In May 2020, Masiyiwa was appointed to serve as an African Union Special Envoy to help coordinate Africa’s private sector efforts to procure medical supplies and fight the spread of COVID-19.

As Special Envoy he also heads up the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team. He led a similar private-sector initiative to fight Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2015. Masiyiwa has a bachelor of engineering degree from the University of Cardiff.