Spotlight Summary
Doreen is a distinguished leader in Digital Financial Services whose career spans more than 15 markets across Africa and beyond. With deep experience working with both public- and private-sector stakeholders, she has built a reputation as a Board-level and global executive leader, driving the adoption, scaling, and governance of innovative digital technologies. Her work focuses on enabling interoperable, inclusive, and cross-border financial services that function seamlessly across channels and sectors.
At the core of Doreen’s career is a commitment to building equitable and sustainable digital infrastructure and systems that not only solve today’s complex challenges but also democratize access to opportunity across African countries and the rest of the world. Her contributions to the fintech ecosystem have earned multiple industry recognitions, reflecting the lasting socio-economic impact of her work across the continent.
Currently, Doreen serves as Head of Commercial Strategy at Onafriq, where she leads commercial growth strategy and execution for channel- and sector-agnostic B2B digital payment services within the Group Commercial Office. In this role, she helps shape how payments scale across borders, reinforcing Onafriq’s mission to make borders matter less.
Africa’s payments landscape is still fragmented, and that fragmentation isn’t just technical; it limits the choices and access to opportunities for so many individuals and businesses across the continent. What keeps me motivated is leveraging innovative digital solutions to turn “cross-border” from a barrier into a gateway to a wide range of bespoke solutions and possibilities for generations to come.
At Onafriq, I’m proud to be part of a team that promotes gender equity across the Group, and leverages the team’s diversity to facilitate cross-border payments via an interoperable omni-channel, multi-currency payments hub.This single touch point connects thousands of cross-border corridors, wallets, banks, cards, and agent networks across 40+ African countries.
The impact of each transaction feels deeply personal: a parent in Benin receiving emergency funds from their child in Europe; refugees in Uganda receiving aid when they need it most; a businessman in Ghana sending money to his family in Nigeria, in a business in Kenya expanding into multiple markets without rebuilding payment options from scratch.
This is the kind of legacy I am proud to contribute to: an opportunity to facilitate sustainable economic growth and empowerment across Africa.
One of her proudest milestones was being part of the team that launched MTN Mobile Money in Uganda, a moment that reshaped financial access for millions and continues to influence digital finance globally. Beyond product and platform impact, Doreen is equally proud of her advocacy for the upliftment of women in the industry and of the hundreds of individuals and fintechs she has mentored worldwide. Today, her pan-African influence continues through her work with Onafriq, her service as a board member at AFN & FITSPA, and other ecosystem platforms such as Boardroom Africa. Reflecting on the scale of impact she sees daily, Doreen notes: “The kind of pan-African impact we create, whether through platforms, policy conversations, or people, is what makes this work meaningful.”
Doreen is motivated to do more for the ecosystem by the challenges many face in navigating Africa’s fragmented financial landscape.
Doreen credits strong support systems, mentors, peers, collaborators, and communities for helping her remain grounded and resilient. “Growth is limitless when you have roots and wings; people who believe in you, challenge you, and grow with you,” she says.
Looking ahead, Doreen’s vision is clear and deeply aligned with the future she is helping to build. “Sending money from one country to another should be as simple, affordable, and accessible as making a phone call,” she says. Her long-term aspiration is an Africa where financial infrastructure empowers innovation at scale, expands options for sustainable socio-economic and environmental impact, and lifts many Africans above today’s inequality and poverty thresholds. A key pillar of this future is increased female leadership, with women leading the design of products and services that address the realities women face daily.
Doreen’s leadership philosophy is anchored in the words that continue to guide and inspire her. Among her favourite quotes are:
● “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
● “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” — Nelson Henderson
These are some of the words that reflect how Doreen leads: with tenacity, patience, collective purpose, and faith in long-term impact. Through her work, mentorship, and vision, she continues to help build a more connected, inclusive, and future-ready African fintech ecosystem—one bridge at a time.
