Kate Fotso
The "iron lady" of Cameroon’s brown gold
Born in 1978
Who are they?
A businesswoman born in 1978. She founded and leads Telcar Cocoa, Cameroon’s leading cocoa exporter, with Cargill as co-shareholder.
What made them famous
She is the wealthiest woman in Cameroon and chairs the country’s cocoa exporters’ union. Her certification programme has reached more than thirty thousand producers, earning her the nickname "iron lady of brown gold".
Key facts
- Ranked among the twenty largest fortunes in francophone Africa.
- Listed by Forbes Africa among the continent’s most influential women in 2023.
- Co-founder in 2011 of Coop Academy, with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation.