Ms. Monica Geingos is a distinguished Namibian leader who combines private sector rigor with public service impact. As founding Managing Director of Namibia’s largest private equity firm, she spent over a decade delivering strategic leadership and investor returns, and continues to guide the firm as Board Chairperson.
As First Lady of the Republic of Namibia (2015–2024), she redefined the role by founding the One Economy Foundation and establishing the #BeFree Youth Campus, an innovative hub integrating health services with youth development. As President of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, she launched the #WeAreEqual campaign, reaching 650 million people and tripling organizational funding.
Globally, she serves as a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Advocate and UNAIDS Special Advocate. Her contributions have earned her an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Johannesburg and the World Without AIDS Award. Her extensive board leadership includes chairing the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development and the Africa REACH Leadership Council. She is Co-Chair of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics, Co-Founder of Yetu, and serves on the boards of WomenLift Health, Concordia, MINDS Africa, and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, as well as Chancellor of Kepler College.
