Washington, DC – It is with profound sorrow that the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) announces the passing of our beloved co-founder and founding chairperson, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis. Born on May 28, 1943, in Phoenix, Arizona, she passed away in Washington, DC, on May 3, 2025. A distinguished leader, trailblazer, and advocate for global women entrepreneurs’ empowerment, Ambassador Davis embodied extraordinary vision, dignity, and strength throughout her remarkable journey.

Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Ruth graduated with honors from Booker T. Washington High School and summa cum laude from Spelman College, where she was awarded the Merrill Scholarship for study abroad. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and held honorary doctorates from Spelman and Middlebury colleges.

Ambassador Davis entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1969 and retired in 2009 as a Career Ambassador. Her distinguished career included serving in various countries, including Kinshasa, Zaire; Nairobi, Kenya; Tokyo, Japan; Naples, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain, where she held the position of U.S. Consul General. Notably, she served as the ambassador to the Republic of Benin, championing girls’ education and contributing to the development of democratic institutions.

Ruth achieved a remarkable list of “firsts,” including being the first African American female Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service, Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, and the first African American Senior Watch Officer in the Operations Center. Her legacy of mentoring, advocacy for diversity and inclusion, and her pivotal role in securing the 1992 Olympics for Barcelona and the 1996 Olympic Games for Atlanta are testaments to her impactful career.

As a co-founder of the IWEC Foundation and Chairwoman from 2007 to 2023, Ruth’s commitment to advancing the cause of women entrepreneurs worldwide was evident in her visionary leadership. She championed initiatives that connected and uplifted women entrepreneurs, reflecting her values of service, inclusion, and excellence. Her lifetime of public service, both in diplomacy and with IWEC and her other women empowerment organizations, has left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

Dr. Ibukun Awosika, Chairwoman of IWEC, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Ruth was a champion for women entrepreneurs globally. Her generosity and strategic mindset inspired many, and her ability to uplift others will leave a lasting impact. We are deeply thankful for her legacy and commitment to fostering change. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. Her wisdom, grace, and commitment to a better world will be deeply missed and long remembered.”

As we honor Ambassador Ruth A. Davis’s extraordinary life and legacy, let us carry forward her mission of empowerment and advocacy for women entrepreneurs around the globe. May she rest in peace.

For further information or press inquiries, please contact Pooja Chandra Pama, Co-Vice Chairwoman of IWEC at info@iwecfoundation.org.

https://www.spelman.edu/news/2025/05/in-memoriam-ambassador-ruth-a-davis.html

https://afsa.org/foreign-service-trailblazer-ambassador-ruth-davis

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/memory-ambassador-ruth-davis-legacy-leadership-7kgke/