Spotlighting the Next Generation of Career Excellence in Africa
NextGen 26 is our annual search for the high-performers, the innovators, and the quiet achievers. If you—or an exceptional woman you know—is making an impact in your industry, we want to spotlight your story.
What Is NextGen 26?
NextGen 26 is an annual flagship initiative by 9to5Chick spotlighting 26 trailblazing African women between the ages of 20 and 35 who are redefining the standards of career excellence and making real impact across industries.
This initiative exists to bridge the gap between achievement and visibility. Too many young career women are doing exceptional work quietly. NextGen 26 exists to make that work visible, respected, and celebrated. By spotlighting these 26 women, we are signaling a new era for Corporate Africa—one where excellence is recognized, amplified, and given the stage it deserves.
What Makes a NextGen Leader?
Our selection committee evaluates every nominee against six core pillars of excellence:
And lastly must be an African working globally
The Rewards of Excellence
Selection is just the beginning. As a NextGen 26 Honoree, you unlock a suite of exclusive opportunities designed to amplify your influence and accelerate your career.
- Global Visibility: An individual professional spotlight across 9to5Chick’s digital ecosystem, reaching our global audience of industry leaders, recruiters, and peers.
- The Reset Spotlight: Special recognition at The Reset Conference, a virtual summit organized by 9to5Chick for corporate African women across diverse industries.
- Mentorship Access (The NextGen Roundtable): Exclusive invitation to an intimate virtual session with senior level executive women, including our Founder to discuss strategies regarding the future of corporate work and your place in it.
- The NextGen Circle (Exclusive Alumni Network): Access to an elite network of high-performing peers facilitating cross-industry collaborations and high-level mentorship.
- Authority Branding: The official NextGen 26 Digital Certificate to serve as a permanent hallmark of your professional achievement.
- Media Amplification: Potential features in 9to5Chick partner press releases and industry publications with leading African media.
- Exclusive Access discount: A 50% off discount to join the 9to5Chick premium community where in addition to other perks, you unlock VIP status in our talent pipeline, giving you priority access to global speaking engagements and C-suite recommendations.
You’ve done the work. Now, let us tell the world.
Nomination Process
About 9to5Chick
9to5Chick is Africa’s leading career development platform for women. Having empowered thousands of professionals to secure roles at top-tier organizations, we are now evolving to meet the needs of the modern leader. NextGen 26 is the boldest expression of our new mission: to identify, celebrate, and amplify the next generation of female excellence.
Everything You Need to Know About Next Gen 26
Nominees must be between the ages of 20 and 35. We are specifically looking for early-to-mid-career professionals who are already demonstrating significant leadership and impact.
Yes, she does. Our primary focus is on spotlighting young career women in Africa making regional and global impact.
Not at all. We are looking for excellence across all sectors—Corporate, Creative, Tech, STEM, Legal, Public Sector, and more. If she is a high-performer in her field, she belongs on the list.
Yes, and we highly encourage it. Owning your achievements is a core value of the 9to5Chick community. Self-nominations are treated with the same prestige and rigor as peer nominations.
There is no limit. If you know multiple women who embody the “Future of Work,” feel free to submit a separate form for each.
No. Inclusion in the NextGen 26 is strictly merit-based. 9to5Chick does not accept payment for placement on this list.
Our internal selection committee reviews every nomination against our 6 Pillars of Excellence: Career Impact, Digital Leadership, Growth Trajectory, Innovation, Values/Integrity, and Community Contribution.
The final cohort will be unveiled on the 7th of February, 2026 across all 9to5Chick platforms. Due to the high volume of nominations, only selected nominees will be contacted personally.
Honorees receive global visibility across our digital ecosystem, induction into an exclusive NextGen Alumnae Circle, special recognition at The Reset Conference, and the official NextGen Digital Seal.
Still have questions? Chat with our team via WhatsApp or email us at 9to5Chick@inspiredbyglory.com
NEXTGEN ’26
Do you know a career woman doing exceptional work in her industry? Nominate her (or yourself!) today.