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.

We are a product of the stories that play over and over in our heads. From a very young age, many women, especially those in Africa, are taught to stay passive and quiet. And we grow up with that narrative of questioning ourselves and wondering whether we are good enough.

Over the last eight months, the impact of the pandemic has unveiled major shifts in customer behaviour. Consumers are becoming more discerning and business owners must respond to new and different expectations for authenticity, service, and overall experience.

As the AWEC Business Academy announced their excitement to have Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus at Ogilvy, and Nadja Bellan-White, Chief Marketing Officer at Vice Media Group, lead the next course on ‘Establishing a Brand Identity’, we reflect on a learner’s experience after completing the previous course.

This piece is part of our ongoing look at the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on women-led SMEs in Africa.

During the week of 21st September 2020, we successfully hosted AWEC's first-ever Virtual Leadership Summit. Here’s a round-up of highlights from the event.

Africa is considered to be an inherently social hive, yet many women entrepreneurs on the continent struggle to build social and external networks in business. A crucial aspect of successful venturing is creating - and leveraging - social capital.

In business, the line between success and failure is often paper-thin. Entrepreneurs know this instinctively. The more you learn from those who have the knowledge and experience, the better your chances are of staying on the right side of it.

As countries across Africa begin to open up their borders, it’s evident that the continent’s best future lies within itself and its untapped potential. Shedding light into her journey, Miranda Naiman, Managing Director at Empower Tanzania, shared some advice on navigating a business through the pandemic as well as some information to keep in mind before venturing into Tanzania.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit small businesses in Africa with extensive socio-economic impact. So much so that it forced millions of businesses to shut down. AWEC Alumna Arinze, shares her story of how she went from pain to triumph in the midst of crisis.

We’re proud to have a network of successful African business women. Today we’re going to Zambia to learn more about how Cheswa Vwalika applies lessons she learnt from the AWEC program to steer her business through challenging times.

We’re proud to have a network of successful African female entrepreneurs. Today we’re going to Ireland to learn about how Yemi Adenuga was able to identify the ways she could streamline processes and put in a clear business plan at her NGO.

Sharon began her entrepreneurship journey three years ago in Nairobi, Kenya when she founded Nature’s Bowl, a healthy and nutritious food company. “At Nature’s Bowl, we support mums to raise healthy kids by providing natural flours for them to make tasty meals,” said Sharon.

The month of June kicks off a series of United Nations awareness days set aside to encourage and prompt action to protect our environment: World Environment Day on June 5th, World Oceans Day on June 8th, and World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 17th.

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt across the globe, businesses worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges, none more so than small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) owned by female entrepreneurs in Africa.

Africa is home to the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs worldwide, with roughly a third of all businesses led by women. Yet, historic and systemic barriers mean women’s overall contribution to the economy remains low.

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, businesses worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges. None more so than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by female entrepreneurs in Africa.