Melanie Keïta Mariam

I grew up in a small village in Normandy, France, often feeling out of place as the only Black girl in my community. From a young age, I found confidence and belonging through discipline and competition — spaces where effort mattered more than background. I invested myself deeply in chess, piano, horse-riding, tennis, and swimming, learning early the values of rigor, resilience, and ambition. These formative years shaped my drive to push boundaries and lead. At university, I became the first Black woman to lead several student organizations, managing large teams and complex projects at scale, from organizing one of France’s largest student galas to founding sustainability-focused student movements in partnership with international networks. Alongside my studies in finance and sustainability, I began working in impact investing, focusing on financing African SMEs and climate solutions. This path eventually brought me back to the continent, working with local governments at the United Nations in Kenya, and later into global impact finance roles across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets. Throughout this journey, one conviction became clear: Africa does not lack talent or ideas — it lacks financial systems designed to serve its realities. This belief is what continues to guide my work today, at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and African economic sovereignty.