Education, leadership, and opportunity have remained at the centre of Tsitsi Masiyiwa’s work for nearly three decades. Across classrooms, communities, and boardrooms, she has championed initiatives that expand educational opportunities, strengthen healthcare systems, and equip young Africans with the knowledge and support needed to build better futures.
As a Zimbabwean philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and advocate for gender equality, Tsitsi serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Higherlife Foundation and Delta Philanthropies.
Through these organisations, she has dedicated her career to advancing education, health, leadership development, and sustainable livelihoods across Africa, working alongside governments, development organisations, universities, and community partners to promote long-term human development.
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Tsitsi studied at Chishawasha Primary School and Dominican Convent High School before earning a Bachelor of Business Studies degree and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Zimbabwe. Her academic background prepared her for a career that combines business leadership with a commitment to social impact.
In 1996, Tsitsi and her husband, Strive Masiyiwa, co-founded Higherlife Foundation in response to the educational and social challenges affecting vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe.
Since then, the foundation has supported scholarships for orphaned and vulnerable children, educational programmes for academically gifted students, maternal and neonatal healthcare initiatives, efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases and cholera, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster preparedness programmes across Africa.
Recognising the importance of strategic philanthropy, Tsitsi established Delta Philanthropies in 2017 to advance impact investing, grant-making, and partnerships that address poverty through innovative development models.
Together with Higherlife Foundation, the organisation reflects her commitment to creating sustainable solutions that strengthen communities and expand opportunities for future generations.
Beyond the organisations she co-founded, Tsitsi has contributed to global development through several leadership roles. She serves as Board Chair of the END Fund, chairs Co-Impact, and has served on advisory bodies including the Yale Institute of Global Health, Texas A&M University, Sesame Workshop, and King’s Trust International Africa.
She was also a founding board member of the African Philanthropy Forum and later served as its Board Chair, supporting greater collaboration in African philanthropy.
Her leadership has earned international recognition. Tsitsi has received honorary doctorates from Bryant University, Africa University, and Morehouse College.
She is also the recipient of honours including the Forbes Africa Philanthropy Award, the Philanthropist of the Year Award at the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards, the Champions for Change Award for Leadership, the African Woman of the Year in Health and Education Award, and the Points of Light Award.
She was named among New African’s Top 100 Influential Africans of 2023 and recognised by Leading Ladies Africa among the 19 Influential African Women in International Development in 2025.
Through decades of service, Tsitsi Masiyiwa has demonstrated the importance of investing in people as the foundation for sustainable development.
Her work continues to advance education, strengthen healthcare, promote leadership, and support African-led philanthropy, contributing to opportunities that empower individuals and strengthen communities across the continent.
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