From the Cape Verdean archipelago to the heart of the French government, Élisabeth Moreno’s journey is one of resilience, ambition, and service. A self-made entrepreneur, former minister, and unwavering advocate for equality, she has become a leading voice for inclusive progress in both Europe and Africa.
Born in colonial Cape Verde, Élisabeth Moreno’s early years were marked by hardship. At just six years old, her family was forced to flee after her younger sister suffered severe burns in a domestic accident. With no adequate healthcare on the islands, the family moved to Portugal, and eventually France. They arrived without speaking French, disoriented and deeply affected by trauma—but filled with determination to survive and rebuild.
From an early age, Moreno faced poverty, alienation, and the challenges of assimilation in a new country. She quickly realized that education would be her only path forward. A family friend, seeing her potential, told her plainly: “For a little Black girl from a poor background, the only thing that will save you is knowledge.” She took that advice to heart. She studied law to better understand and fight injustice, and later discovered a passion for business law, which she came to see as a powerful tool for empowerment.
At just 20, she launched her first business—knowing full well that the world she was entering had no space waiting for her. She wasn’t invited to the table, so she built her own. Over the years, she climbed the ranks of the corporate world, eventually leading major operations, including Hewlett-Packard in Africa. Yet, her ambition was never solely personal—it was rooted in a desire to uplift others and challenge the structures that keep people down.
In 2020, President Emmanuel Macron appointed her Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity. In government, she brought authenticity and urgency to her mission, advancing bold reforms such as expanding paternity leave, enforcing equal pay, and creating a support system for victims of discrimination. Her policies weren’t abstract—they came from lived experience, and they spoke to millions.
After two years in public office, Moreno returned to the private sector—but with a sharpened sense of purpose. She joined Ring Capital and co-launched Ring Africa, a social impact investment fund focused on Francophone Africa. The goal: to support small and medium-sized businesses that tackle real-world problems—access to education, healthcare, clean energy, inclusion—particularly those led by women and youth.
She also took the helm of the Femmes@Numérique Foundation, driven by her conviction that the tech world must include women at every level. “If we don’t act now, we’ll build a digital world as unequal as the physical one,” she warns. Through visibility campaigns, training programs, and career transition support, she’s helping bridge that divide and bring more women into future-shaping roles.
Throughout it all, Moreno has remained deeply committed to a vision of Africa that is confident, self-directed, and forward-looking. She advocates for a new development model—one that doesn’t mimic the excesses of the West, but draws on Africa’s own strengths: solidarity, sustainability, and deep connection to nature and community. In her view, Africa is not a continent to be saved—it is a continent to be recognized, invested in, and trusted.
Through her journey, Élisabeth Moreno offers more than a success story. She embodies the belief that resilience, dignity, and purpose can turn hardship into impact. She doesn’t seek applause or spotlight—she creates space, builds bridges, and leads by example. Hers is not just a personal triumph; it is a living call to action for a more equitable and human-centered world.