Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024)

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African Perspectives on Business: A Gabonese Case Study in Women's Leadership and Governance, 2010–2025

Alice Farmer, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Omar Bongo University, Libreville Léonie Meye, Omar Bongo University, Libreville Aïcha Mboumba, Omar Bongo University, Libreville Deborah Yates, University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM)
Published: January 22, 2026

Abstract

This paper addresses a critical gap in leadership studies by examining the unique experiences of Gabonese women in senior corporate and governance roles. It argues that mainstream, Western-centric models inadequately capture the socio-cultural realities and contributions of African women leaders. Employing a qualitative, interpretivist methodology, the research draws upon semi-structured interviews with fifteen Gabonese women executives and non-executive directors, alongside analysis of corporate governance reports and national policy documents from 2010 to 2023. The findings reveal that these leaders skilfully integrate communitarian Ubuntu principles with formal governance structures, navigating familial obligations and patriarchal networks to drive strategic change. Their practice is characterised by a distinctive hybridity, blending consensus-building with decisive action to enhance organisational resilience and social legitimacy. The study’s significance lies in its contribution to decolonising leadership theory by centring African women’s voices. It demonstrates how locally-grounded perspectives are essential for developing more inclusive and effective governance frameworks. The paper concludes that recognising these indigenous paradigms is crucial for fostering sustainable business development and gender-inclusive economic growth across the continent.

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Alice Farmer, Léonie Meye, Aïcha Mboumba, Deborah Yates (2026). African Perspectives on Business: A Gabonese Case Study in Women's Leadership and Governance, 2010–2025. African Journal of Women in Leadership and Governance, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024), 27-40.
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Keywords

Women’s LeadershipCorporate GovernanceGabonIndigenous Business ParadigmsCase StudyFrancophone AfricaSustainable Development

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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024)
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