Grace Muradzikwa Profile

Educational/ Professional background

Masters in Business Administration (University of Zimbabwe)

Bachelors Degree in Administration (University of Zimbabwe)

Diploma in Personnel Management (IPMZ)

Associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (AAISA)

Fellow of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (FAAISA)

Biography

At an early age, Muradzikwa used to manage her family’s businesses which included retail shops and service stations among others. She then went into the insurance industry where she worked for more than two decades. She joined Diamond Insurance Company in 1988. It was ranked thirteenth out of fourteen insurance companies in Zimbabwe at that time. Within five years, the company ranked third, thanks to Muradzikwa’s leadership. In 2002, NICOZ and Diamond Insurance Company merged to form NICOZ Diamond and Muradzikwa is credited for its listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) that same year. She also became the first woman in the country to lead and head a ZSE listed company. There are only two others to have achieved this after her. Financially, NICOZ Diamond thrived under Muradzikwa’s leadership. Operating profits rose by 79% between 2009 and 2017 and assets grew twice fold during the same period. The company also expanded into Malawi, Zambia and Uganda.

She recently stepped down from her position as Managing Director of NICOZ Diamond and will go into full time business soon. However, she has not disclosed which business she is going to pursue. Grace sits on several boards which include Buy Zimbabwe Campaign, Africa University and Bindura University of Science and Technology. She is also the President of the Professional Women, Women Entrepreneurs and Business Women Forum (PROWEB). Over the years, she has proven to be a champion of women empowerment, surrounding herself with fellow women in her different roles.