Women and Entrepreneurship: Overcoming Obstacles and Creating Opportunities

Entrepreneurship has long been a male-dominated field, but women entrepreneurs have been making strides in recent years. Despite the progress, women, particularly black women, continue to face significant challenges in the world of business. However, there are also many success stories and inspiring examples of women who have overcome these challenges and built thriving businesses. In this post, we’ll explore the history of women in entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on African women, and highlight some of the successes and challenges that they face.

African women have always been entrepreneurial, playing a significant role in the informal economy. In many African countries, women are responsible for up to 90% of food production and contribute significantly to small businesses. Despite this, women still face significant challenges when it comes to formal entrepreneurship. These challenges include lack of access to finance, limited access to markets, and societal and cultural barriers that discourage women from pursuing business ventures.

However, there are also many inspiring examples of African women who have overcome these obstacles and built successful businesses. One such example is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, the founder of SoleRebels, an Ethiopian-based footwear company that has expanded globally. Alemu started the company with just five employees and has since grown it to over 200 employees. Another example is Amina Gerba, the founder of Saraba, a Senegalese startup that provides healthy and affordable meals to low-income communities. Gerba has been recognised for her work in promoting food security and empowering women in her community.

In addition to these individual success stories, there are also many organisations and initiatives working to support and empower women entrepreneurs in Africa. For example, the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) provides training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs across the continent. The organisation’s goal is to help women overcome the challenges they face and create sustainable businesses that contribute to the economic development of their communities.

While there is still much work to be done, the successes of African women entrepreneurs demonstrate the potential for women to overcome obstacles and create opportunities for themselves and others. By supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs, we can help to create more inclusive and equitable economies that benefit everyone.

In conclusion, women entrepreneurship is a critical aspect of economic development, and black women have been making significant contributions in this field. African women, in particular, have always been entrepreneurial, but they still face significant obstacles in formal entrepreneurship. Despite this, there are many inspiring examples of African women who have overcome these challenges and built successful businesses. By supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs, we can help to create more inclusive and equitable economies that benefit everyone.