Independent Women’s Forum is delighted to announce that Senegalese-born entrepreneur and free-markets advocate Magatte Wade is the latest in our popular series of Champion Women profiles.

Raised by her grandmother in a small village in Senegal before she joined her parents in Europe, Wade was stunned when she encountered Western prosperity.

She developed a life-long fascination with the question of why some countries are rich and others are poor. She believes the answer for African countries is capitalism.

She encourages aspiring benefactors of African nations to "transcend their romance with foreign aid and microfinance, and begin to take seriously investing in African manufacturing and purchasing products made in Africa."

A self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Wade has most recently developed a line of skin care products using Senegalese ingredients and recipes and available at better stores. She is married to Michael Strong, who with Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, is promoter of “conscious capitalism.” Wade divides her time between Senegal and San Antonio.

We know you will find Magatte Wade both provocative in her ideas and inspirational in her dedication to creating jobs through entrepreneurship in her native Senegal.