A catalyst for business growth is collaboration – a powerful accelerant for impact. AWEC promotes collaboration among its sisterhood to boost business growth and promote socio-economic development in Africa. Through collective action, our entrepreneurs pool their expertise and resources to rise above challenges and outdo the competition.

Over the past few months, AWEC has been hosting a series of local, in-person events for our alumnae to gather and discuss the challenges inflation is posing within their specific countries. We sat down with the organizer of our AWEC Live series, AWEC Alumnae Network Director Akinola Odunlade, to discuss his views on the current economic situation facing many countries across the continent of Africa, with a specific focus on his home country of Nigeria

In a world grappling with the economic challenges brought about by soaring global inflation, AWEC convened an in-person alumnae meet-up that marked a pivotal moment for entrepreneurs seeking tangible solutions in these challenging times. Recognizing the power of face-to-face interactions, the event brought together local alumnae, staff members, and Live Session leader Kola Osinowo, CEO of Baobab+ Nigeria, to discuss and share experiences on navigating economic uncertainties.

We're well into 2024, but we couldn't launch the new year without reflecting on AWEC's impact in 2023. We ushered in new initiatives, launched exciting campaigns and reports, unpacked pertinent issues facing African women in business, celebrated the successes of our alumnae and fellows, and worked together to troubleshoot business challenges. Let’s take a look back at all the pieces that made AWEC in 2023.

As we kick off December with the release of the Annual Report, Stories of Resilience, Growth and Collaboration, we’re launching AWEC TV: our new and improved YouTube channel dedicated to bringing you stories about our incredible #AWECSisterhood, from the continent, for the continent. Enjoy AWEC TV’s pilot programs, Alumna One-On-One and Fellow One-On-One to catch up with our alumnae, Maryam Darwich and Uzoamaka Izukanne, and current Cohort 6 Fellows, Jacqueline Tamri and Karuna Veerapen, as they speak candidly with each other about their application experience and how AWEC has boosted their personal and professional growth.

The End-of-Year giving initiative stands as a testament to the profound impact AWEC has made on its alumnae, fostering a sense of community and a steadfast commitment to ensuring the program's enduring success.

For entrepreneurs who wear many hats in their personal and professional lives - employer, community leader, parent, partner, sibling, friend - there is a tendency to take care of everything and everyone else without paying enough attention to one’s own mental and emotional wellness. A business cannot flourish if its founder does not prioritize their own well-being. Therefore, AWEC believes that women entrepreneurs must invest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the effects of stress that can arise from the competing pressures of balancing work and life as an entrepreneur.

Dr. May is committed to overcoming societal stigma and addressing crucial mental health needs. She emphasizes, "It's essential to reduce the stigma around mental health and make services accessible to all."

Why do we give? Giving back to those who’ve lifted us up, to our communities, is the heart of the African spirit. For our giving campaign, we had a candid conversation with some of our alumnae, Generose, Kimani, and Uzo to find out why they give.

Defying the odds is often paramount to the success of a business. The women in our community know this all too well. Operating in the current economic climate, they deal with supply-chain issues, rising costs of materials, employee retention insecurity, and a myriad of other daily challenges.

In our recently-published white paper report, entrepreneurs like Cecilia Nchangnwi give us an inside look at what it's like to run a business whilst battling inflation in the middle of the war in northern Cameroon.

The report is full of firsthand accounts like Cecilia's, as well as data-powered analysis from experts. The Director of Governance & Conflict Prevention at the African Union Commission, Patience Chiradza, offers strategies for women entrepreneurs navigating businesses in conflict zones.

Meet AWEC Alumna Wami Kunda, a passionate daycare owner who defied expectations and clinched a coveted tech grant! Her journey is a testament to the triumphant combination of determination, innovation and the unwavering AWEC spirit.

“I came across a Chinese flower festival online and it got me thinking – being a major flower exporter, does Kenya have its own version of this? It was just a passing thought, but little did I know, it was the beginning of something big. That tiny seed of an idea started sprouting, and soon, I found myself nurturing my own vision for a unique flower festival.”

We wanted a little in-house TEDx where you could mount the stage for a week and talk about whatever it is you were passionate about. Since it's not possible for everybody to be in one room at the same time, we thought, let's just do this through a series of posts on the social platforms that people can engage with when they're able- to give people an opportunity to learn from one another, to be encouraged and inspired by one another's stories.

Congratulations to Olajumoke Racheal Okeola, an AWEC Cohort 3 alumna, who has enjoyed sizzling success, receiving a $5,000 USD grant from Slow Food International! How did she do it?

The AWEC Business Clinic was a resounding success! 💊 💼 💪

We gathered 150 brilliant minds, including industry experts and AWEC alumnae, for an insightful session to diagnose and treat the challenges faced by most African women entrepreneurs in running their businesses.

By the end of the session, participants 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

Our alumnae engaged in meaningful conversations with different industry experts, discussing various challenges, from financial management to marketing to business strategy, and collaboratively worked toward potential solutions.

To our AWEC alumnae (and experts) who joined the session, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a message on LinkedIn and Instagram. Let's keep the momentum going! 💬💼

ChatGPT exploded onto the scene late 2022 and forever changed the way we work, live and interact. Not a stranger to the world’s latest digital revolution, Africa has been a seminal player in generative artificial intelligence, with some countries taking a polar opposite view and banning it. Entrepreneurs on the continent are adopting the technology to streamline their businesses and create a bigger impact.

Over the last year, Adeline's business has experienced remarkable expansion, with the addition of 8 new employees and an impressive revenue surge of over $185,000. Adeline attributes this transformative progress to her participation in AWEC, an experience that profoundly influenced her management style and approach toward employee engagement. This article delves into the valuable insights gained from AWEC that ultimately led to a remarkable 42% growth in her business revenue.

Whether through employment and meaningful work, or through the products and services they offer, AWEC entrepreneurs are dedicated to improving their communities and impacting the lives of those around them. We reflect on the impact of AWEC and the network it provides entrepreneurs from across the continent by highlighting some of our successful Cohort 5 alumnae.

After an intense application process and a period of anticipation, 200 African women have received the highly sought-after invitation to join the AWEC Program on a year-long journey of growth and success. Here’s a brief snapshot about these exceptional African women business owners from all across the continent and the diaspora.

The atmosphere at the General Assembly was unparalleled - brimming with energy, dynamism and inspiration, all thanks to the incredible group of women who are fervently dedicated to entrepreneurship, community-building and supporting their fellow sisters in AWEC. This article shares some of the highlights from the three-day event!