A financially literate business owner is more likely to be fully in control of their business. In this article we share five key terms that highlight the importance of thinking in numbers!

Customer acquisition is the lifeblood of any company, small or large. But with all the sales and marketing tools that exist today, why do business owners still find it challenging to attract new buyers for their products and services?

Running your own business is an adventure. Read about the tools that Jocelyne used to set herself up for success in a tough sector.

Africa is not a monolith, but rather 54 individual countries with their own laws, policies, cultural norms, and business landscapes. How can companies and organizations begin to understand the nuances to effectively empower women entrepreneurs in those countries? We explored more than a dozen countries and highlighted three in this article.

While business owners need a cocktail of skills to run a successful enterprise, the most crucial one is to build solutions with the customer in mind. This focus on service is the game-changer your business needs to thrive, even in a global pandemic.

After applying for the program and waiting anxiously for the news, 200 women received the invitation for a coveted spot in the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative’s flagship program.

Rejection is not a topic that individuals discuss often because it’s painful and no one likes the experience. But addressing this taboo topic enables us to learn from the process and chart a path to eventual success.

As Jack Welch said, “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.” Tap into the fantastic tips shared in the AWEC Virtual General Assembly, and you will be well on your way to becoming a great business leader.

From 17th - 19th of March, The African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) successfully hosted its second Virtual General Assembly, to celebrate and mark the end of the program year for AWEC’s Cohort 3 Fellows.

Empowered women power up entire societies! To celebrate women’s month, AWEC was honoured to join a panel of phenomenal African women who have led organizations and initiatives that are transforming lives and communities in their countries.

Design thinking is a little-known secret weapon for African women entrepreneurs. Africa has infrastructure vacuums that force leaders and businesses to be creative in solving their customer’s problems. Small businesses can spearhead this area of transformation due to their ability to change and adapt quickly to feedback

Amid the continued fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, African women entrepreneurs remain determined to build and grow their businesses through skills development programs like ours

In Africa, innovation is crucial in solving some of our biggest problems. It starts at the top. The best predictor of innovation is your company culture. To ensure sustainability and longevity, create an enabling environment that encourages your team to explore.

At a glance, design thinking may not feel relevant. What does it have to do with improving sales and beating the competition? Simply, everything.

Anyone who has founded a company will know, having an experienced adviser who can lend an ear and wise counsel during the tough times is key to their success. Mentors play a significant role in the lives and businesses of all our Fellows. 

Mentoring is a cornerstone of AWEC’s core programming, providing Fellows with the opportunity to engage with senior business professionals to discuss specific business challenges and continue their professional development.

In her closing keynote at the AWEC Leadership Summit, Founder and CEO of Java Foods Zambia, Monica Musonda, shared the most important ingredient of entrepreneurship: Courage.

“I had no business doing business! But I did it anyway,” quips the seasoned entrepreneur.

Every year AWEC carefully selects 200 participants out of a pool of over 2,000 talented and highly qualified African women entrepreneurs to join our 12-month Core Program. The application process is always an exciting time for the team because they get to read about the phenomenal businesses that these women are running, all across the continent.

Twelve months ago, no one would have expected the world to change so dramatically. For small business owners across Africa, this has been an especially difficult year as they often rely on in-person transactions and informal economies.