CHANTAL MUNANAYIRE
CHANTAL MUNANAYIRE
Peace Through Business Program Director
Rwanda, Uganda, Canada and UK
Chantal Munanayire, born in Rwanda, is a prominent Rwandan – Canadian entrepreneur. She made history in 2009 as the first female owner of a car repair and paint shop in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, subsequently serving as the inaugural female president of the Rwandan Garage Association for five years.
Recognized for her achievements, she was honored with the 2014 Enterprising Women of the Year Award by Enterprising Women magazine during the annual Leadership Development Summit organized by the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) in Oklahoma.
Chantal’s commitment to empowering women led her to become an In-country facilitator for the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women for 10 years, where she imparts entrepreneurship skills to aspiring female business owners.
Additionally, she mentors graduates of the Peace Through Business®️ program and served as a board member of various organizations, including the Rwandan Chamber of Creative Art & Crafts and the Private Sector Federation.
Notably, Chantal’s contributions were acknowledged with the Women of Courage award by the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda in 2017.
She furthered her expertise by completing the Essential Practices in African American Association Management program in 2018.
With the merger of IEEW with the Enterprising Women Foundation in April 2024, she was appointed as the Peace Through Business Program Director for Rwanda, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Chantal is deeply committed to her family and remains dedicated to uplifting her community through advocacy and empowerment initiatives.