Isabelle Lessedjina has garnered recognition from Forbes Afrique, being named one of the 50 "most inspiring women of the moment" in the magazine's March 2025 issue, which is traditionally dedicated to celebrating women's achievements. 

Since July 2024, Lessedjina has served as Chairman of the Board of Rawbank, the leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which boasts a total balance sheet of $4.813 billion and holds a 28% market share.

Her inclusion in this prestigious list underscores her influential role in the financial sector. According to Rawbank, her leadership serves as an inspiration not only to bank employees but also to the broader Congolese community. "She contributes to inspiring rawbankers and, more broadly, the Congolese," the bank stated in a LinkedIn post.

Lessedjina's impressive career spans over 25 years in finance, with significant positions in the banking and airline industries before her appointment at Rawbank. 

She began her career as Treasurer at Virgin Express in Belgium before moving to Besins Healthcare Group in 2003. Her career trajectory includes strategic roles at major institutions such as Standard Chartered Bank, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), ESSA Ltd, and Philips.

Since 2019, she has served as Senior Vice President of The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX), an alternative development fund. She also leads, since 2021, Aniz, a Belgian company specializing in business services and consulting. Lessedjina holds an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain and a Master's degree in Financial Risk Management from Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium, along with a Bachelor's degree in Management.

Her extensive academic background has equipped her with deep expertise in finance, risk management, and strategic leadership.

This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho