Highlights
- Read time: 5 minutes
- Empowering Alumnae: See how the Community Champions Initiative is driving community impact.
- Binge the AWEC documentary series: Me, We, Us: The Story of AWEC shows the power of impact through partnership
- Key Insights: Explore 2024’s initiatives tackling challenges for African women in business.
- Success Stories: Celebrate alumnae scaling businesses and creating lasting impact.
Closing Out 2024: Highlights and Happenings
As we charge into 2025 with excitement and purpose, we can't move forward without reflecting on the incredible milestones we achieved in 2024. Last year, we extended our reach and impact through the Community Champions Initiative (CCI), empowering alumnae to lead workshops in their own communities and amplify their expertise across Africa.
We launched exciting programs and reports, unpacked key issues facing African women in business, celebrated the successes of our alumnae and Fellows, and collaborated to troubleshoot business challenges. Here's to building on this momentum in 2025!
AWEC ANNUAL REPORT
A Story of ME, WE, US
The release of the 2023-2024 Annual Report was a standout moment with the theme: The Story of ME, WE, and US.
The report beautifully captured the essence of AWEC’s journey, highlighting our collective story's context, characters, conflict, and continuance. It celebrated the individual growth of our fellows (ME), the strength of the AWEC sisterhood (WE), and the transformative impact of partnerships and collaborations (US).
These partnerships, built on shared goals and values, continue to drive meaningful change and amplify the impact of African women entrepreneurs.
Read the whole report HERE
AWEC IN-PERSON GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Botswana
Collaboration is the New Competition
Every year, the AWEC core program culminates in an in-person conference where the entire AWEC community - the graduating class, the alumnae, mentors, staff, Program Advisors, speakers, business experts, and VIP guests - congregate for a three-day, one-of-a-kind learning experience. Last year, the host country for the General Assembly was chosen for its commitment to women's economic advancement.
For the third consecutive year, Botswana ranked first in the 2021 Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE), with women making up 38.5% of business owners. The vibrant city of Gaborone, Botswana, became a hub of inspiration and networking during the AWEC General Assembly in April 2024.
This powerful gathering brought together 200+ African women business owners from 25+ countries across the continent, alongside influential business leaders, experts, and executives from the public and private sectors.
Re a leboga, Botswana!
Under the theme, Collaboration is the New Competition, the assembly was more than just a conference—it was a heartfelt reunion that brought all six AWEC cohorts together in person, underscoring the deep bonds of sisterhood and collaboration built over the past six years.
Through dynamic workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, and interactive group activities, alumnae got to network and explore ideas in a safe and supportive environment.
INSIDE THEIR BUSINESSES: ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHTS
We're committed to showcasing some of AWEC's stellar entrepreneurs. It's about celebrating the accomplishments our fellows and alumnae have achieved through the distinct impact AWEC has had on their businesses. By exploring these stories, you’ll gain insights, and practical lessons from entrepreneurs who have navigated challenges and achieved success. Here's a recap of some of the success stories we featured last year.
Eyiyemi Rogbinyin
- Cohort 3 Alumna from Nigeria
- Owner Tailoring business
- "This critical separation of my finances enhanced my clarity and fostered better financial discipline"
Oluyemi Adetiba-Orija
- Cohort 6 Alumna from Nigeria
- Founding Partner at Headfort Chambers
- "No matter how small a business is, the part of CSR is always important. You don't have to have millions of dollars to have a CSR."
Nobandla Gobodo
- Cohort 6 Alumna from South Africa
- Managing Director of Sange
- "AWEC has completely transformed my business, and now I’m eager to help others experience the same growth."
LAUNCHING THE AWEC DOCUMENTARY
What better way to tell the story of AWEC than by showing it? Echoing the theme of the annual report, AWEC produced a documentary mini series, Me, We, Us: The Story of AWEC, to show the impact of AWEC on women entrepreneurs across Africa.
The documentary shows how AWEC alumnae have transformed their businesses and their communities through mentorship, training, and the power of partnership. Over 4 episodes, watch how our female founders are fostering personal growth (Me), strengthening communities (We), and driving collective success (Us). From overcoming challenges to scaling ventures, this series showcases the resilience, innovation, and lasting change sparked by AWEC’s commitment. Binge it now.
How to Scale Your Business in 2025 | AWEC Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Thrive
How to Create and Grow a Thriving Network for Women Entrepreneurs | AWEC General Assembly
How to Collaborate: The Power of Partnerships in Transforming Africa Through Women
How to Build a Legacy of Impact in 2025| AWEC Alumnae Transforming Africa
BUSINESS CLINIC PRO
In the business clinics held during the year, our alumnae are matched with industry experts to troubleshoot their various business challenges. In these conversations, they discuss challenges from financial management to marketing to business strategy and collaboratively work toward potential solutions.
At the end of each session, the alumnae gained:
- Clarity and direction on crucial aspects of their businesses
- Valuable insights to support their enterprises' goals and aspirations
- Opportunities to establish new connections with fellow alumnae
These clinics offer valuable lessons and strategies that can help you gain clarity on your own business challenges, refine your goals, and expand your network. Read more here
LAUNCHING THE AWEC COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE
THE AWEC COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE
The AWEC Alumnae Network has flourished over the past six years, growing into a vibrant community of 1,200 African women entrepreneurs who have experienced firsthand the transformative power of AWEC’s programs. This incredible network gave rise to one of our greatest achievements and joys: The AWEC Community Champions Initiative (CCI).
Recognizing the potential within our alumnae, we harnessed their expertise, passion, and connections to extend AWEC’s impact across Africa. Selected alumnae were trained to deliver AWEC-style workshops in their local communities, designed to inspire, educate, and transform women entrepreneurs.
The CCI program equips alumnae with the tools to deliver impactful training sessions rooted in AWEC’s practical, hands-on methodology: Inspire > Inform > Experience > Experiment. Over the course of an immersive three-day training, alumnae are trained on how to design business growth workshops, engage and recruit participants, and measure the success of their sessions. Each trainer is committed to reaching more than 100 women in their community, creating a ripple effect that amplifies AWEC’s mission. To bring this vision to life, we convened sessions in Lagos, Nigeria, and Kigali, Rwanda.
The Community Champions Initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of our alumnae network. It reflects their desire to pay forward the life-changing AWEC experience by equipping other women with tools to thrive and succeed in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Read more to learn how you can give back to your community in your own way, whether through mentorship, sharing knowledge, or creating opportunities that uplift others.
AWEC WINS 2024 HER FUTURE GRANT BY ZOOM CARES
We are honored to have received the 2024 Her Future grant from Zoom Cares. This recognition aligns perfectly with AWEC's mission, as Zoom has played a pivotal role in powering our program, including our monthly Live Sessions, Virtual Leadership Summit, and wellness sessions.
The grant from Zoom Cares will enhance our ability to provide impactful learning experiences and further our goal of creating economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs across Africa. We are grateful for this partnership and the continued support that has enabled us to connect, grow, and create lasting change.
Thank you, Zoom!
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN-OWNED SMES IN AFRICA
The Thought Leadership Initiative (TLI), is a three-month program designed for alumnae to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry.
It enables AWEC alumnae to gain relevance in their industries as they position themselves as voices of authority and influence. Alumnae from nine countries and five cohorts, representing twelve industries, engaged in this experience, showcasing the depth of support provided by the AWEC program.
Take it from the alumnae, and discover how positioning yourself as a thought leader can open doors to new opportunities as well as strengthen your influence.
Why You Need to Establish Thought Leadership
Priscah Mufunde
Dr. Priscah Mufunde is the co-founder of The Maker Club (Cohort 4)
“For the last three years, maybe longer, I've wanted to develop a thought leadership presence on LinkedIn. I kept updating my profile to make it look more professional, but I had no idea what to write or who to target. I've looked at other thought leadership training but couldn't afford them, and I didn't know if they'd deliver. I was confident that AWEC would help me achieve my goal”
Eme Tony-Uzoebo
Eme Tony-Uzoebo is the co-CEO of Envirogro Farms (Cohort 3)
“I joined the thought leadership initiative because I felt a deep desire to expand my impact and influence within my sector. I had been contemplating ways to increase my visibility and voice but didn't know where to start. When I saw the opportunity, I saw it as a decisive step forward, a commitment that would push me out of my comfort zone”
Hussaina P. Nuhu-Ajala
Hussaina P. Nuhu-Ajala is the CEO of Sariva Healthcare (Cohort 4)
“My motivation to join the thought leadership initiative stems from a long-standing desire to become a thought leader and differentiate myself in my industry. Initially, I struggled to maintain visibility and consistency, often appearing and disappearing online. However, the initiative aligned perfectly with my goals and provided the structure I needed”
WELLNESS INITIATIVE
As part of AWEC’s commitment to wellness and in partnership with AWEC alumna and wellness expert Dr. May, Fellows participated in various sessions to help them manage stress and maintain balance. Mastering Mindfulness was one such session, equipping them with practical techniques to stay present and recharge. One fellow shared, "Thank you for this session. It was a much-needed experience during the busy Christmas season."
WELCOME, COHORT 7
After a rigorous selection process, 200 African women from 3,400 applicants across 33 countries were invited to join AWEC’s year-long core program for growth and success.
This data highlights AWEC's growing impact, demonstrating the increasing reach and influence of the program in empowering women across Africa to build successful businesses and create lasting change in their communities.
AWEC VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Once Upon a Business Story ... Telling Your Story
In October, our Cohort 7 Fellows converged around their devices to attend the Virtual Leadership Summit. Purely online, the three-day conference was packed to the brim with inspiring keynote addresses, life-changing learnings from industry experts, AWEC alumnae, and a few, fun bonding activities peppered in, too. Fellows had the opportunity to learn from global leaders who guided them in understanding the importance of telling their business stories and the art of crafting the perfect narrative. Get ideas from the graphics below on telling your business story and connecting with your audience.
The Speaker lineup included:
Engaging & Celebrating Year 7 Fellows
The Fellows seized the opportunity to build relationships with a "Zoomie" (our fun, play on the words of Zoom + roommate)...
...and share their business story with an audience of hundreds in the #TellingMyStory campaign.
The summit came to a close with the MVP Award Ceremony, hosted by our Program Advisors
ENTREPRENEUR ESSENTIALS 2.0
We relaunched Entrepreneur Essentials 2.0, which is designed to provide African women entrepreneurs with an upgraded, self-paced learning experience. This free and interactive course covers essential business concepts, equipping entrepreneurs with practical tools to overcome challenges and build sustainable businesses. Women across the continent leveraged this resource to grow their businesses and prepare to apply for AWEC and other training and fellowship programs.
By taking this course, you can gain the practical tools and knowledge to tackle business challenges, empowering you to build and sustain a successful business. SIGN UP HERE
Business Model
"Understanding the components of a sustainable business model allowed me to evaluate my current operations and identify areas for improvement, ensuring I have a solid foundation for growth. This module gave me a clearer vision for the future of my business."
Challenges
"Going through this module taught me that challenges in business aren’t dead ends—they’re opportunities to innovate and grow. I now face setbacks with more confidence, knowing I have the tools to adapt, strategize, and keep moving forward."
Capital
"Capital is more than just cash, it's your ideas, your network, and your ability to pivot.
AWEC taught me to see capital in all its forms and use it wisely."
Customers
"On my first attempt, I scored 2/3, but I decided to retake the quiz to ensure I fully understood the topic. By the final attempt, I scored 3/3. Understanding how to identify a customer persona has given me a clear roadmap to meet my customers' needs and satisfy them effectively."
Thank you to all our partners, alumnae, Fellows, followers, and supporters for making 2024 memorable. Here's to an even more impactful 2025!
To stay up to date on AWEC news, follow us on social media @WeAreAWEC.
Built with Shorthand