On July 14, 2025, as part of the traditional civilian promotion of the Legion of Honor, Neïla Benzina was named Chevalier (Knight) by presidential decree published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on July 13, 2025. This prestigious distinction recognizes an exceptional journey at the crossroads of technology, education, and civic engagement — between Tunisia and France, between the Maghreb and Europe.
Born in Tunisia and a graduate of the National Institute of Telecommunications (now Télécom SudParis), Neïla Benzina began her career in the field of digital transformation. She started as a consultant in France for major groups such as LVMH, Renault, and Saint-Gobain, before leading the Africa and Middle East subsidiary of Business & Decision, where she managed over 480 data experts until 2018. She stepped down following the acquisition of the company by Orange Business Services.
However, it is above all through her entrepreneurial commitment that she has emerged as a key figure in African innovation. In 2019, she founded Wimbee (or Wimbeetech), a consulting firm specialized in AI, data, and digital transformation, headquartered in Tunis with branches in Paris, Madrid, and Warsaw. In the same spirit of impact, she launched Holberton School Tunisia — an inclusive computer science school based on peer learning, which trains young talents from diverse backgrounds in programming. Through Campusna, her B2B edtech platform, she promotes continuous learning in the tech sector, notably through the Tekouin solution.
A woman of networks and influence, Neïla Benzina also holds strategic positions within several institutions: President of French Tech Tunis, Vice President of TACT and Réseau Entreprendre Tunisie, and member of Tunisia’s National Strategic Council for Digital Affairs. In 2024, she was appointed as the representative of minority shareholders on the Board of Directors of Attijari Bank Tunisia, where she now plays a role in the bank’s governance.
This official French recognition crowns more than two decades of commitment, already acknowledged by multiple honors: Knight of the Tunisian National Order of Merit in 2015, named by Jeune Afrique in 2017 as one of the 50 most influential women on the continent, and more recently, in April 2025, featured in the prestigious Forbes France 50 Over 50 list, celebrating inspiring women over the age of 50.
In a message shared shortly after the announcement of her decoration, Neïla Benzina expressed her emotion, stating that she received the honor “on behalf of all the women who work in the shadows, who dare to turn their dreams into reality, and who refuse to choose between ambition and impact.” A declaration that reflects her journey — one without artificial flash, but marked by consistency, clarity, and ambition.
Her name now stands alongside other Franco-Tunisian women who have left their mark on their era through courage and determination. It is no coincidence that she is also the granddaughter of Tawhida Ben Cheikh, the first woman doctor in North Africa. The legacy of this pioneer seems to live on naturally in the battles fought by her descendant, who is deeply committed to artificial intelligence, knowledge sharing, and building bridges between generations and continents.
The Legion of Honor is not an endpoint, but a milestone. Neïla Benzina continues to blaze a trail for innovators in Africa and beyond, where technology becomes a tool for empowerment and social justice.
