Giving Compass' Take:

• This Global Citizen post profiles four influential women in Africa, from an actress who helps refugees to a mathematics professor who devoted 10 percent of her salary to Black postgraduate students.

• In what ways can the stories of these women inspire us to do better? How can we support the philanthropic spirit burgeoning in Africa and around the world?

• Here's why we need more African voices in philanthropy at the policy table.

Women are amazing — we're mothers, wives, daughters, aunts, sisters, cousins, grandmothers, friends, colleagues. But we're not defined by our relationships to other people, and we have our own dreams and ambitions too.

These four women — among many others all around the world — are showing that, when a girl is given an equal chance for an education, she can achieve her own dreams and help the whole world in the process.

1. Khanyi Dhlomo. The founder of Ndalo Media and Ndalo Luxury Ventures, is one of the most influential women in South Africa’s media industry.

2. Bonang Matheba. Known as “Queen B”, Matheba is force to be reckoned with.  She’s an influential media personality who dominates our TV screens, radio waves, and social media. She has over 5 million followers on social media and has grown her brand into an incredible success.

3. Nomzamo Mbatha. Mbatha, 28, is one of our most successful young television stars, but also centers her career around supporting children in Africa.

4. Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. A mathematician, researcher, and academic, Professor Phakeng is a highly-regarded scientist with over 80 research papers published. She also became the first black woman from South Africa to obtain a PhD in Mathematics Education in 2002.

Read the full article about 4 powerful African women you need to know by Hlumelo Siphe Williams at Global Citizen.