Mamphela Ramphele is the Chairperson of Circle Capital Ventures, a new black empowerment company. She also chairs the Global Commission on International Migration.

She was one of four Managing Directors of the World Bank from 2000-2004, overseeing the Vice Presidencies of the World Bank Institute, which is responsible for the Bank's work on knowledge-sharing and capacity enhancement, and External Affairs, which manages internal and external communications, monitors global issues and enhances existing partnerships with civil society and other stakeholders.

A South African-born physician and anthropologist, Dr Ramphele was the first woman, and the first black South African, to hold the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. In addition to a medical degree and PhD in social anthropology, she has a BCom degree in administration.