Lillian Secelela Madeje

Biography

Lillian Secelela Madeje is an accomplished entrepreneur, innovator, and strategic leader dedicated to transforming the landscape of workforce development and technological innovation in Africa. As the founder of the Niajiri Platform, she is revolutionising talent hiring and upskilling in the marketplace through automation. She holds an Executive Diploma in Development Policy and Practices from the Geneva Graduate Institute, an MBA in Leadership Management from the African Leadership University School of Business, and a B.A. in Business Administration with honours from Park University.

Lillian serves as a Non-Executive Board Member and Chairperson for JUMO Financial Services, a founding member of the Tanzania Startup Association, and an adviser to several organisations. With over 15 years of experience in human capital, organisational development, and qualitative research, she has made significant contributions to the startup ecosystem in Tanzania. Lillian has worked with various organisations, including ILO, IDEO.org, WFP, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is an expert in human-centred design (HCD).

Her commitment to social impact is evident in her leadership roles with institutions like the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, Bridge to MassChallenge Africa Programme, and the Tanzania Startup Association. Passionate about innovation, Lillian has founded/co-founded four businesses across diverse sectors, including consulting and tech startups. She is driven by the power of human capital to transform nations and has contributed to developing curricula on entrepreneurship and innovation. Lillian’s expertise has been recognised globally, and she is a proud recipient of the Sherwood Marlowe Memorial Award.