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Thembi Shilenge: From Chemical Engineering to Queen of digital currency

At first glance, Thembi Portia Shilenge may seem like your average high-achiever—a trained chemical engineer with years of experience in South Africa’s mining sector. But a closer look reveals a woman who saw beyond the periodic table and into the future of finance.

Thembi Portia Shilenge

Thembi Portia Shilenge

On June 28, 2025, in Sandton, Johannesburg, Thembi was honored as one of Africa’s most dynamic leaders at the Africa’s Under 40 CEOs Awards, organized by Mayorkings Agency Group. But long before the spotlight, her journey was one of risk, vision, and purpose.

In 2017, she made a daring pivot from chemical engineering to the volatile world of cryptocurrency. By 2018, she had launched Crypto Dimensions, a platform aimed at closing Africa’s glaring financial literacy gaps—especially in underserved communities. Today, her academy boasts a track record of transforming complete beginners into confident crypto traders, many of whom now boast millionaire status.

“Crypto isn’t just about profit,” Thembi says. “It’s a tool for liberation—economic, intellectual, and generational.”

Her commitment to financial inclusion extends beyond the digital realm. From donating over 50,000 sanitary pads to rural schools to launching Fems in Tech, an initiative aimed at bringing more women into fintech, Thembi is building a legacy that uplifts.

Receiving the Under 40 CEO award, she dedicated it to “every girl who was told to stay small,” reminding them that their power is real—and so are their dreams.

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