Women in Leadership: In Conversation with Zamokuhle Aja-Okorie

To begin, could you tell us about your current role and some of the key milestones in your career since first engaging with the Perspectives: Women in Leadership event in 2022?

I am the Founder and CEO of OAO Investments, an operator-led investment and growth platform focussed on mergers and acquisitions, capital mobilisation and scaling businesses.

The most defining milestone since 2022 has been the evolution of OAO Investments from an M&A-focussed business into a capital platform, a direction directly inspired by my first Perspectives: Women in Leadership event. Before that engagement, establishing our own fund had not been part of our strategy. It became a clear and deliberate decision. Today, we have developed two funds, a private equity fund and a venture capital fund, both structured to expand access to funding and drive inclusive economic participation.

We have also mobilised capital, built partnerships with institutional and ecosystem players and expanded into deep tech through ChipLab, where we are helping build Africa’s AI microchip design ecosystem. In partnership with MICT SETA, we are working towards educating 100,000 chip designers by 2050.

What motivated you to initially participate in the first Perspectives event in South Africa and how has your engagement with the series evolved over time?

I attended the first event in 2022 with curiosity and a genuine desire to grow.

What stood out immediately was Polo Leteka’s keynote, a masterclass in capital and ownership. I left with four pages of notes. Her insights on building a fund shifted my thinking completely, moving the idea of capital from something external to something we could structure and lead ourselves.

That same event led to my introduction to Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, who was highly receptive and agreed to meet. That initial engagement laid the foundation for an ongoing professional relationship that has contributed meaningfully to my growth and the advancement of our investment platforms.

In what ways has the forum contributed to your professional growth, whether through insights gained, connections formed or opportunities identified?

The forum has shaped both my thinking and my execution in meaningful ways.

It has exposed me to women operating at the highest levels of capital, investment and leadership, including Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women, expanding my frame of reference considerably. More importantly, it has led to real connections. Some of those relationships have evolved into business collaborations, while others have provided mentorship and guidance at critical stages of growth.

Jersey Finance, in particular, has broadened my understanding of global capital structures: family offices, trusts and institutional capital allocation. Through multiple engagements, the platform has consistently shifted my perspective from local constraints to a genuinely global view of how capital is structured and deployed.

Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa has been instrumental in this journey, opening doors with intentionality and a clear commitment to enabling access. The introductions facilitated through her leadership have directly influenced how I structure, position and advance our investment platforms. What began as professional exposure has evolved into relationships that continue to shape how I lead and build.

Reflecting on our first-ever IWD event in Cape Town, what were the most valuable themes or discussions for you and how do they continue to shape your approach to leadership?

The most valuable themes centred on ownership, access to capital and redefining leadership in ways that are both impactful and sustainable.

The Funds Focus on South Africa roundtable was particularly significant, with substantive discussions on raising capital in Europe for African managers, a conversation directly relevant to where we are building.

What stood out most was the shift in framing: from participation to ownership and from local capital constraints to global capital strategy. Through that engagement, I was able to connect with fund administrators, family offices and private investors, which has directly informed our fundraising approach.

That continues to shape how I lead. My focus is not only on building businesses, but on building systems and relationships that enable capital to flow more effectively into the ecosystem and that allow others to participate meaningfully in the economy.

From your perspective, why are women in leadership networks and platforms such as these important for the industry today?

Platforms like this matter because they collapse the distance between capital and opportunity.

You walk in one way and leave with a clearer view of what is possible, who is accessible and how capital actually moves. For me, that shift was concrete: my first event in 2022 directly informed the decision to establish our own funds. That is the kind of recalibration that rarely happens in isolation.

By bringing investors, operators and decision-makers into one room, these platforms shorten the path from conversation to execution. That is where the real value sits.

In South Africa, where access has historically been constrained, that shift changes who participates, who gets access to capital and who goes on to build and own. Platforms like this do not just open doors, they change who believes those doors exist at all.

What advice would you offer to the next generation of women aspiring to leadership roles within financial services?

Know this first: you are enough. Not when you arrive, not when you are validated, but now. Walk into rooms with that conviction and let your work prove its own substance.

Build capability, not just visibility. Understand how capital works, how deals are structured and how value is created. That knowledge gives you leverage and a voice that no room can take away.

Do not wait to be invited. Introduce yourself. Build relationships with intention, because trust still matters, even in an AI-driven world and trust is built through consistent action and showing up when it matters.

Lead with purpose. For me, that means serving, inspiring and transforming vast lives. When your work is anchored in something larger than yourself, it sustains you through difficulty, sharpens your decisions and allows you to build not just for today but for those who come after you.