Monica Musonda

Founder and CEO Java Foods

Profile

Corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur, Monica Musonda is the founder of Java Foods, a Zambian-based food processing & consumer goods manufacturer. By way of background, Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 16 years post qualification experience. She has held senior positions in private practice with Clifford Chance & Edward Nathan as well as worked as in-house corporate counsel at International Finance Corporation and for the Dangote Group. Her experience working with Aliko Dangote, one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs gave her the impetus to start Java Foods.

Monica currently serves as a non-executive director on several boards including Airtel Networks Zambia Plc & Zambian Breweries (where she is chair), Zambeef Plc, and Arcelor Mittal South Africa Plc. She is the recipient of the 2017 African Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year award, which is an award conferred annually to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in agricultural input and value addition in Africa. She is a Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. Forbes Magazine and Africa Investor named her as one of the leading Young Power Women in Business in Africa in 2013 and 2014 respectively. When she is not manufacturing food, she speaks at several conferences on entrepreneurship, women empowerment & the role of business in the Global Nutrition agenda. She is passionate about food & is trying to get her running shoes back on.