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Support Networks for Young Women Entrepreneurs Doing Business in Africa

While women’s entrepreneurship faces many challenges in Africa, younger women entrepreneurs who are starting out often deal with even more hurdles. Fortunately, feminist organizations are keen to empower, educate, and connect young female entrepreneurs. Take a look at these two platforms that are helping talented young women in business to access the opportunities they need to succeed.

She Leads Africa:
She Leads Africa is a community that helps young African women achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Run by Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei, She Leads Africa has been featured on CNN, CNBC Africa, Forbes, and elsewhere. The platform offers knowledge and support to young, female entrepreneurs in Africa, and organizes networking events, courses, tools, and direct access to career and business experts. In addition, She Leads Africa currently offers a six-month accelerator program for talented women entrepreneurs who make the cut.

In a CNN interview, the She Leads Africa founders Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei both state, “Even with the dramatic increase of accelerators and programs across the continent, traditional programs still aren't reaching female entrepreneurs, with less than 20% to 30% participation rates.” They add that She Leads Africa is changing that.

Find out more about the platform via this video from Channels Television.

Comments from Members:
After attending a program organized by She Leads Africa, Laiza King blogs, “I had a great experience learning and networking with women who are transforming their worlds in different industries. There’s literally no limit to what we can all achieve. Our greatest limit is in our minds, and only you can stop yourself from achieving your goals.” In the same post, she shares the specifics of what she learned about female entrepreneurship in Africa from the program.

Lionesses of Africa:
Inspired by the fact that, in Africa, “life is tough for women entrepreneurs,” Lionesses of Africa identifies with the prides that live and hunt on the African plains. As the website reveals, members of the community are seen as “lionesses” because of the battles for recognition that women entrepreneurs face as they “look to gain a share of voice above the noise.” Offering recognition to Africa’s female entrepreneurs is only the beginning, however. Lionesses of Africa emphasizes that it brings together young female entrepreneurs with more experienced women in business who can offer advice, support, and inspiration. Says the website, “The Lionesses of Africa community is about connecting, showcasing our businesses, sharing information and advice, opening up opportunities for collaboration, and creating discussion on some of the biggest challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Africa.”

Popular Lionesses of Africa events include the Lioness Lean In Breakfast Events. Find out more about Lionesses of Africa here.

Comments from Members:
Speaking on #AfricaConnected, Adèle Dejak shares how Lionesses of Africa has helped her to realize that she is not alone and that “there are lots of women who share the same challenges, who have the same passion as I do.” She says she is glad to have connected with “highly driven people who are willing to share.”

Alchemy Women in Leadership (A. WiL), Zambia
Alchemy Women in Leadership (A. WiL) is committed to supporting a higher representation of female leadership in Zambia through capacity development, advocacy and partnerships. As well as supporting and training current and future Zambian female leaders, A. WiL offers education scholarships to young women and girls, along with mentorship.

Comments from Members:

“It takes a minute to identify talent... but with you ladies, it has taken a beautiful chapter of life to complete our dreams together.... What started as motivational class[es] are now the creation[s] of think tanks, leaders, a work force of amazing women…” Rutendo Chilengi on the A.WiL Facebook page.

--Chimuka Moore
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