Jennifer Mairo, Managing Partner at HBC Holdings, has moderated a high-level fireside chat titled “Women Leading Africa’s Creative Future” at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), bringing together some of the most influential women in African film and entertainment. The session, held at Twin Waters Entertainment Centre, Lekki, Lagos, featured award-winning filmmaker and producer Sheila Nortley, celebrated actress and producer Ini Edo, South African producer and media executive Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri, award-winning actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham, and actress, producer and entrepreneur Iyabo Ojo. The conversation examined the evolving role of women in African cinema, their growing influence across the creative value chain, and the opportunities and structural barriers shaping female leadership in the industry.
Under Mairo’s moderation, the conversation moved beyond conventional discussions about representation to examine the deeper questions of power, ownership, financing and decision-making in Africa’s creative economy. Drawing on the diverse experiences of the women on the panel, the discussion explored what it takes for women to move from being visible participants in the industry to becoming influential producers, business owners, financiers and decision-makers. Key themes included creative independence, intellectual property, access to investment, international partnerships, the realities of building sustainable film businesses and the responsibility of established female leaders to create opportunities for the next generation. The exchange provided an important platform for examining what meaningful female leadership should look like in the future of African storytelling.
Mairo’s role at AFRIFF reflects her growing influence in the media, communications and creative business landscape. As Managing Partner at HBC Holdings, she plays a strategic role in building and strengthening influential media brands and businesses committed to telling transformative African stories. Her engagement at the festival reveals the importance of bringing business, leadership and strategic perspectives into conversations about the future of African entertainment. Beyond celebrating women’s participation in the industry, the conversation reinforced a critical imperative: creating an African creative ecosystem where women have greater ownership, access to capital, decision-making power and the opportunity to shape the stories that travel from Africa to the world.