Two Burkinabè leaders are featured in the 2026 edition of the ranking of the 100 Inspiring Black Women of the 21st Century, published on Monday, January 26 by the Association of Inspiring Women (AFI). Dalia Belem, general manager, and Noëllie Cécile Tiendrébéogo, general manager of Ecobank Burkina, are distinguished in the “Women Executives and Business Leaders” category. This recognition highlights the rise of a structuring female leadership for the Burkinabè economy, in strategic sectors such as mining, infrastructure, and banking.
Dalia Belem embodies a new generation of local leaders called upon to steer groups operating in capital-intensive sectors. In her career, she has managed Louda Burkina, a subsidiary of Louda Group.
Before joining Louda, she held positions of responsibility at Burkina Mining Services, first as Head of Delivery Units, then as Commercial Manager. In these roles, she led structuring projects in commercial management, tax compliance, and negotiation of complex contracts, contributing to improved margins and the securing of financial flows.
Her career is also marked by experiences within leading international mining groups, notably Barrick Gold Corporation and Acacia Mining plc. In these demanding environments, she consolidated sharp expertise in corporate taxation, analytical accounting, and governance, skills that are crucial for companies operating in globalized value chains.
She also holds an MBA in audit and management control from the African Institute of Management in Ouagadougou, complemented by specialized training in banking audit and strategic dashboard management. Her distinction by the AFI comes to recognize a leadership oriented toward the creation of local value and the strengthening of national capacities.
An emblematic figure in the Burkinabè financial sector, Noëllie Cécile Tiendrébéogo is the first woman to hold the position of general manager of a bank in Burkina Faso. Since August 2021, she has been leading Ecobank Burkina, a subsidiary of a leading pan-African group, in a banking environment marked by increased competition, strengthened prudential requirements, and accelerated digital transformation.
Holder of a DESS in finance, accounting, and management control from the University of Ouagadougou, complemented by an International Certificate in Corporate Finance issued by HEC Paris – First Finance Institute, she has built her career on a solid technical foundation. After more than seven years at Société Générale, where she worked in organization and commercial account management, she joined Ecobank Burkina in 2007.
Within the bank, she gradually climbed the ranks, successively holding the positions of Corporate Bank Director and then Executive Director. Recognized for her expertise in business development, risk management, and relationships with multinationals, she was appointed CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA Burkina) in 2019, before returning to Ecobank in 2021 to take over as general manager.
Her leadership is characterized by a strong performance culture, combined with an inclusive vision of management. Ranked among the top 50 African bank leaders in 2021, Noëllie Cécile Tiendrébéogo advocates for high standards and results-oriented governance. Her in-depth knowledge of the financial environment of the WAEMU has also led her to sit on several boards of directors of financial institutions in the sub-region.
At the helm of Ecobank Burkina, she pursues a strategy focused on sustainable growth, digital innovation, and financing the national economy, with a particular emphasis on financial inclusion.
The recognition of Dalia Belem and Noëllie Cécile Tiendrébéogo among the 100 Inspiring Black Women of the 21st century illustrates the emergence of female leadership capable of influencing strategic choices, attracting investments, and actively contributing to the structural transformation of the Burkinabè economy.
As a reminder, the Association Femmes Inspirantes has, over the years, established itself as a reference platform dedicated to the promotion of Afro-descendant female leadership. Thru its rankings, training programs, and networking events, the AFI aims to demonstrate that women’s contribution extends far beyond social spheres to permanently contribute to economic value creation. The Club of Inspiring Women thus aims to connect women from the diaspora and those from the African continent, to foster professional synergies, and to support the development of businesses led or managed by women.