World Economic Forum Honors TanJet Founder as 2011 Young Global Leader

The World Economic Forum has honored a Tanzanian woman, Susan Mashibe, Founder and Executive Director of Tanjet as a 2011 Young Global Leader (YGL).

The honor, bestowed each year by the Forum, recognizes up to 200 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

Drawn from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2011 were chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and comprised of respected international leaders from business, government and media.

Ms. Mashibe is the executive director and founder of TanJet, an international Fixed Base operations service and the first company of its kind in Tanzania, mastering logistical support for corporate, diplomatic, and private jets. TanJet has transformed the way business aviation operates in East Africa, and its clients include heads of state, monarchs, Fortune 500 executives, celebrities, and military flights.

“I grew up on the shores of Lake Victoria dreaming of flying airplanes,” said Susan Mashibe, who is also the first woman in East Africa to become both a FAA certified pilot and an aircraft maintenance engineer. “I could have never imagined that I would one day be honored by the World Economic Forum. It’s truly humbling.”

Ms. Mashibe runs another company, Kilimanjaro Aviation Logistic Center, that process landing and overflight clearances for private jets throughout the African continent. Currently, she is establishing aircraft maintenance and repairs services at Kilimanjaro in order to provide a modern, quality and safe scheduled maintenance services for general and corporate aviation in the region.

Ms. Mashibe was born in Kigoma and grew up in Mwanza, first dreaming of becoming a pilot when she was just four years old. After graduating from secondary school in Mwanza, she went on to go to flight school and to study engineering in the United States. Since forming TanJet in 2003, Ms. Mashibe has been recognized with a number of different honors, including the 2009 Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Award and the 2009 Tanzania Women of Achievement Award.

In Tanzania, Ms. Mashibe shares the honor with a representative from the State House, Elsie Kanza, Economic Advisor to the President, who has also become a 2011 YGL. Serving as a personal assistant to the president since 2006, Ms. Kanza has also worked with the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Tanzania. The two highly successful Tanzanian women join 12 other honourees in sub-Saharan Africa, among a total of 190 YGLs from 65 countries worldwide.

“It is magnificent to see what Tanzanian women can achieve today whether in politics, business, or education,” said Ms. Mashibe. “As Young Global Leaders, I hope we can inspire and assist more women and youth in Tanzania and Africa to pursue education to the highest levels and fulfill their dreams in life for a sustainable future.”

The 2011 YGL honourees will become part of the broader Forum of Young Global Leaders community that currently comprises 668 outstanding individuals. Young Global Leaders are actively engaged in the community, integrating into events organized by the World Economic Forum and organizing events of their own, as well as launching and leading a number of innovative initiatives and task forces.

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