International Women’s Day means more when it stays close to visible results. In Rwanda, women lead in sectors that move goods, attract visitors and help firms grow. Their work appears in exports, aviation, banking, tourism, technology, diplomacy and fashion. As a result, their leadership shapes daily economic life in practical ways. These are not symbolic roles. Instead, these women make decisions, run systems and open routes to market.
Export leadership in motion
Angel Uwantege of Bahage Foods offers a clear example. In October 2024, Bahage Foods reportedly shipped a full container of Hass avocados weighing 22 tonnes. According to the source, it was the first Rwandan woman-led business to export a full container of avocados. That result points to careful planning, quality control, buyer trust and strong execution. In other words, export growth rarely arrives with noise. More often, it moves through deadlines, standards and logistics that hold together under pressure.
Tourism, routes and access
Meanwhile, other women shape Rwanda’s growth story in equally practical ways. Bonita Mutoni (Uber Luxe Safaris) reflects a tourism model built on experience design, premium travel and strong storytelling. As such, her work points to a tourism offer that goes beyond sightseeing alone. At the same time, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, as CEO of RwandAir, helps shape how visitors and business travellers enter and leave Rwanda. Routes, partnerships and passenger experience all affect tourism flows and trade ties. Therefore, connectivity does not simply support growth. It actively helps create it.
Finance and export credibility
Likewise, Dr. Diane Karusisi leads Bank of Kigali from a position that can influence business growth in direct ways. Her role connects to lending priorities, product design and the ability of entrepreneurs to formalize and scale. In coffee, Epiphanie Mukashyaka of Bufcoffee shows what export credibility requires over time. She represents consistency, traceability and long-term relationships with producers and buyers. Together, these elements help products travel well and compete in demanding markets.
Brand, policy and digital reach
Beyond those sectors, Sonia Mugabo adds another dimension through fashion and brand-building. As founder and CEO of her label, she connects contemporary Rwandan identity with local craftsmanship. Similarly, Irene Murerwa, appointed Chief Tourism Officer at RDB in late September 2024, brings cross-sector leadership to tourism management. Clare Akamanzi also links public leadership with private-sector reach through her move from RDB to NBA Africa. In addition, Louise Mushikiwabo brings diplomatic influence through international leadership. Finally, Clarisse Iribagiza adds a digital enterprise lens through HeHe Limited and recognition in UNCTAD’s eTrade for Women network.
A wider growth story
Taken together, these women show how Rwanda’s economic story takes shape in real work. They finance, connect, design, negotiate and build. Consequently, their leadership gives that story both structure and momentum.
