Miranda Naiman assesses how Africa List is reshaping continent by reskilling its workforce

Miranda Naiman, CEO of Empower and a member of The Africa List, is a prime example of an accidental entrepreneur who has made intentional strides to reshape the continent. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Naiman shared her journey of starting Empower, a human capital consulting firm, without a business plan or capital investment. Over time, Empower has evolved into a company that focuses on recruitment, training, youth empowerment, and HR consulting. Naiman highlighted the shift towards becoming a lifestyle brand that fosters growth mindsets and community building across continents. The key theme of the interview revolved around reskilling Africa's workforce for the jobs of the future and the role of The Africa List in driving leadership and economic development on the continent. Naiman emphasized the need for a reskilling revolution to address the challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the changing job landscape. She underscored the importance of public-private partnerships and mindset change at the individual and community levels to prepare the workforce for the future. As a member of The Africa List, Naiman discussed how the organization is reshaping leadership and economies in Africa by focusing on developing female leaders, supporting peer-to-peer learning, and facilitating cross-border investment opportunities. The conversation also touched on the significance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and the opportunities it presents for local companies to tap into the continent's potential. Naiman urged businesses to leverage the agreement by building pan-African networks, being bold, and having a robust strategy in place.