The first African woman to serve as Executive Director for IBM North, East, and West Africa, Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh, has embarked on a new journey as the CEO and founder of Brainwave Africa Tech.
After a decade with IBM, she aims to establish her company as the premier partner for Africa’s digital transformation.
Kyerematen-Jimoh in an interview shared that technology was not her initial career choice and that she was hesitant to enter the field.
While working as Head of Corporate Banking at GT Bank in Ghana, IBM was seeking a leader for its West African marketing operations. At the time, she was eager for a change from banking.
“When I joined IBM, I started as Head of Marketing for West Africa,” she recalled. Her career shift eventually led her to Nairobi, Kenya, where she spent two years in marketing before advancing to the role of Strategy Lead for Central, East, and West Africa. This position enabled her to collaborate closely with IBM’s U.S. team.
Two years later, Kyerematen-Jimoh made history as the first woman to become IBM’s Country General Manager in Ghana.
“I succeeded a highly esteemed leader, Mr. Joe Mensah, who is now CEO of Kosmos,” she said. “He left big shoes to fill.” With a strong team supporting her, she oversaw IBM’s operations across 35 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya.
Following nearly two years in the role, Microsoft approached her for a position as Strategic Partnership Lead at its Africa Transformation Office.
While working with the tech giant, she conceptualized Brainwave Africa Tech and officially launched it in January 2025.
“I reached a point in my career where I needed a new direction,” she explained.
“The Holy Spirit made it clear—it was time to start my own company.” Through Brainwave Africa Tech, she continues to collaborate with IBM and Microsoft, forging strategic partnerships to drive Africa’s digital transformation.
In collaboration with Nigerian-based implementation partner Blue Dive, her company successfully secured a multimillion-dollar contract in Ghana.
Kyerematen-Jimoh’s professional journey began in marketing, a field she had always been passionate about. After completing her degree and studying French, she worked at GL Trade, a financial order management and trading systems firm. A client later invited her to join ABN AMRO in a marketing role. “As a marketer, you can sell anything,” she said. “We marketed futures and options capabilities to hedge fund managers in the UK.”
She credits her mother for encouraging her to explore technology.
With a solid marketing background, she has navigated various industries, earning a spot on the Forbes Technology Council.
A strong advocate for women’s empowerment and philanthropy, Kyerematen-Jimoh serves as a mentor to women in business and supports underprivileged communities in Ghana.
Her latest initiative, the AI Explorers Club, offers AI training sessions every Friday and Saturday for children aged 8 to 15.
