Swaady Martin-Leke Keynote Speaker

Founder and CEO of the African luxury brand YSWARA
Various leadership positions at General Electric (2001-10)
Named one of the “Youngest Power Women in Africa” by Forbes (2012)

Swaady Martin-Leke's Biography

Swaady Martin-Leke is the Founder and CEO of the African luxury brand YSWARA, the curator of precious African teas.

After a successful 10-years career at General Electric Co. (GE), Swaady decided to follow her passion for teas, African culture and heritage. At GE, she held leadership positions in several divisions across the world with her most recent posting as GE Transportation’s Director for Sub-Saharan Africa and acting-CEO for GE South Africa Technologies.

Swaady is part of a generation of Africans who has succeeded in Fortune 500 companies and who has decided to use all their valuable knowledge and expertise to help develop African companies. She chose to focus on the luxury industry because it essentially conveys a continent’s culture and identity. She believes that with Africa’s thousands of years of history and know-how, Africans can do more than producing “crafts” and “ethnic” goods. YSWARA’s mission is to unlock Africa’s potential to produce superior quality products that appeal to a local and international audience while achieving societal impact.

Swaady has received numerous distinctions and awards. Among them, she was selected as “New Leader of the Future” by the Forum of Crans Montana in 2011. In 2012, she was hand-picked to be part of the prestigious Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme and named one of the “Youngest Power Women in Africa” by Forbes.

As a Tutu Fellow, Swaady has been filmed over 6 months by Al Jazeera for a documentary series on the channel on the subject and been featured in numerous magazines.

She brings a rare dual perspective as a former General Electric executive and founder of an African luxury brand, combining global corporate discipline with entrepreneurial vision.
She shares first-hand insight into building premium brands rooted in culture and heritage, showing how African identity can translate into globally relevant luxury.
She draws on senior leadership roles across GE to help organisations understand execution, governance and growth in complex international and emerging-market environments.
She challenges leaders to rethink value creation and impact, demonstrating how commercial excellence and societal contribution can reinforce each other.