Inside Scoop on the AWEC Application Process
Note to our readers: This article has been updated to reflect the latest information pertaining to the AWEC program and application process.
Karen Sippel and Didi Agbahor
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. From Fellows who have successfully completed the program, we’ve heard countless testimonials of the impact the program has had on their businesses and the contribution to their personal growth.
On the 16th of January 2023, a new application window will open for applications to our fifth cohort. But what does it take to apply?
We sat down with AWEC Board of Stewards member and mentor, Karen Sippel, [whom at the time of publishing was AWEC’s Managing Director], and Director, Community and Curriculum, Didi Agbahor to find out more.
For those who don’t know, what is AWEC?
Karen: AWEC is focused on building the capacity of African women entrepreneurs to enable resilient business growth. We invest in female changemakers and help them grow as individuals, leaders, and business owners. Our flagship program is a 12-month applied learning experience where we work with 200 entrepreneurs from all across Africa to fortify the foundations of their businesses.
Didi: AWEC is phenomenal! It is a one-time opportunity to acquire and build the necessary skills required to sustain your business. This a community that would equip you with the knowledge and network to achieve greater heights personally and professionally.
Tell us who the AWEC core program is for…and who it is NOT for
Karen: Our core program is for female business owners who are willing to put in the time and effort to upskill their capabilities, invest in themselves, and collaborate with other women leaders.
More specifically, our program is open to female founders of for-profit businesses in any industry that have been in operation for at least 2 years and show steady growth. To be eligible to join a cohort, they must be citizens of an African nation, but it’s okay if they live elsewhere now, as long as their business impacts Africans living on the continent.
As for who it’s not for...well, for starters, AWEC is focused on gender equality, so we don’t admit men into the program. We’ve also seen over the past three years that we can have the greatest impact on those who have established businesses. For that reason, a new criteria for the upcoming cohort is that applicants must have a registered business with at least two employees - either full time or part time.
That said, we do accept a small number of aspiring entrepreneurs who have a very well developed business idea and are taking steps to launch it.
We also continue to welcome social enterprises, but will no longer accept founders of NGOs or not-for-profit organizations.
What is your favorite part about the program?
Didi: I love Assignments!
Karen: [surprised] Oh wow, really?
Didi: Yes...it’s an avenue for participants to immediately apply what they are learning in a deep and holistic way to their business and in turn receive applicable feedback from their peers, Program Advisors and Mentors. It’s one of the areas where we see how businesses grow and transform throughout the year.
Karen: You’re certainly right about that. My favorite part is anything that allows me to get to know the women in the cohort.
Didi: I had a feeling you would say something like that Karen.
Karen: I honestly mean it..you know it’s all about connecting with our Fellows. Sometimes it’s seeing them interact in our Zoom chats, other times it’s an online chat we have about an assignment they’ve submitted, or - and this is truly my favorite, especially given Covid-induced travel restrictions - meeting them at one of our in-person events for a quiet conversation or a boisterous dinner.
Didi: [sighs] How I miss in-person Summits.
Karen: I know...
How has the Core Program evolved since the beginning?
Karen: We learn a lot every year and adjust the program design to make it just a little better or more effective. For instance, we regularly refresh some of the topics in our curriculum and reorder them for better flow. And we now match mentors and mentees for an entire year, instead of a shorter time period, which we find encourages more meaningful relationships.
Didi: And to add that, AWEC is big on feedback and co-creation, so as a program that listens to its participants, we are constantly evolving to provide top notch access to business leaders and professional experts that can provide the expertise that African women can understand and replicate.
Is this an in-person or online program?
Didi: The beauty of AWEC, is that we have been able to deliver a hybrid mode of learning. We have both an online learning experience and in-person gatherings — the Summits I was referring to earlier.
Karen: Yes, most of our activities take place digitally and require —at minimum— weekly internet access. In a normal year, there are opportunities to convene the cohort in-person at our conference-style Leadership Summits. As various countries went into lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, steady internet access has been a lifeline to billions of people and businesses around the world. The same was true for our cohort members — they could no longer depend on their office wifi or an internet cafe.
As for in-person events, we don’t yet know when we will be able to resume these activities, given the ongoing impact of the pandemic on travel and the ability to hold large gatherings. The health and safety of everyone in our network comes first.
What do you look for in a successful applicant?
Karen: There are some key characteristics that we universally look for - resilience, motivation, and a strong understanding of your business are critical. It’s both art and science to build a cohesive group of women leaders who will support each other’s growth and development.
Didi: I couldn’t agree more with what Karen has said. The ability to align with the values of AWEC is of utmost importance. An application doesn’t only speak about the applicant but also how much research you have done about AWEC.
What should applicants expect from the program?
Didi: Detailed emails and deadlines - FROM the get-go!
Karen: [laughing] It’s true! This is a rigorous program and Fellows should be prepared to work. While there is no fee to be part of this program, Fellows pay for it with their time and dedication.
Didi: They should expect to spend 4-6 hours per week working on AWEC activities. That could be participating in a Live Session through Zoom, talking with their mentor, or working on their monthly assignment. A push to succeed, to think out of the box! An encouragement to network and build a community of thriving sisters! The opportunity to unlearn to relearn!
Karen: They should also expect to grow and be challenged. It’s our intent that their businesses will be transformed by the end of the program year.
Over the last 4 years, what has surprised you the most about the applicants?
Karen: I am always pleasantly surprised by the candor that applicants bring to the application process. Because we receive so many outstanding applications, we’re always looking for that special something that makes an applicant stand out from the crowd. The personal stories and motivations always stick with me.
Didi: Their honesty surprises me. Most applicants bear it all, their failures, shortcoming, and struggles. I am particularly pleased when I find applicants who are able to tell their stories in a compelling way and highlight how AWEC can further assist them in becoming better people and better entrepreneurs.
What do you wish more applicants would understand before applying?
Karen: I really hope people reading this understand that this is a rigorous and fast-paced program. It is intentionally challenging. There are strict deadlines. We hope this experience will help prepare these entrepreneurs for the realities of doing business. In real life, there are no do-overs and customers have little empathy for a serious misstep. Here in AWEC, we will encourage you to push yourself, but it’s also a safe space to try something new, fail a little, and try again.
Didi: Our Fellows say we need to highlight ‘FAST-PACED’ in bold caps! This is a program that requires dedication and commitment to fully enjoy the benefits of AWEC and see the impact in your business.
How competitive is the process? How do people apply?
Didi: Very! Every year we receive over 2000 applications from all over Africa and we admit only 200 of the best candidates.
Karen: Didi’s right - it’s a competitive process and some people have applied more than once before being successful. We appreciate that kind of tenacity. Reviewing the applications is a challenging process and a responsibility that our team takes very seriously.
AWEC is looking forward to accepting applications for the next cohort from 16 - 29 January 2023. For more detailed information, read about the core program. Find out more about the Cohort 6 Application here.