Artificial Intelligence inspired KoBold Metals has announced the appointment of Mfikeyi Makayi as Chief Executive Officer for their Zambian Copper outfit effective August 2023, according to sources close to the matter.
The story of her appointment broke the Zambian social media platforms when Reuters published on 5th April 2023. “Zed Twitter”, Facebook, and LinkedIn record high viewership of the professional’s appointment which also attracted Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema who tweeted on his profile, “Congratulations to Mfikeyi Makayi @MMakayi84 on her appointment at @KoBold_Metals #Zambia. We wish great success to our 1st Zambian Woman CEO of a major mining exploration company. So proud of you. #WomenInLeadership #InspiringWomen”.
According to her LinkedIn, Mfikeyi graduated Old Dominion University with a Bachelors in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Post Old Dominion, she attained another Masters in Mining Engineering from University of Exeter – Camborne School of Mines and is currently pursing an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University due for completion in December 2023.
Earlier in her career, she had stints at ECS Limited and Fugro in the United States as a Geotechnical Engineer. However, First Quantum is where her career took shape as the young professional ploughed her trade in various strategic business units that would ultimately leader her into management. During her time there, she rose from Civil Works Supervisor to Group Internal Audit Supervisor over a period of 7 years.
In 2017, Barloworld Zambia came knocking with a management preposition that saw Mfikeyi placed in Operations Management which ultimately led to her taking over as Country Manager in June 2020.
Speaking to Financial Insight Zambia’s founder, the new CEO of Kobold sounded ecstatic about her appointment. She indicated that was currently service notice until her officially takes office in August 2023 and was hopeful for more engagement with the media once all formalities are concluded.
Her new role will keep her at the frontier of technology in mining. KoBold metals discovers the materials critical for the electric vehicle and renewable energy revolutions using Artificial Intelligence
At quick check on some of the commentary exposes Mfikeyi as a leader concerns about important causes. In a recent post, she indicated the cause of blindness as being one she was deeply concerned about. “Reflecting on 2022, one of the most heartwarming experiences we had as the Barloworld Equipment Zambia leadership was visiting Sisabelo Saka Inclusive School in June 2022. It is one of the very few schools for the visually impaired in Zambia. We supported their Blind-A-Thon 2022 campaign for their music & science labs to aid learners in having a full learning experience. Education is free and the school is non-profit. Some of the challenges faced in our society in Zambia and Africa is that educating a child who is blind or visually impaired is seen as a liability.”
