The Impact of AWEC: Stories of Success From Across the Continent
Over the last five years, AWEC has had the privilege of supporting over 1000 entrepreneurs who span a wide range of countries and industries. 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. As we welcome 200 new business owners into the community, 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.
Joycee Awosika is a Nigerian entrepreneur and the Founder and Managing Director of ORÍKÌ, a tech-enabled spa that focuses on wellness, self-care, and personal grooming. With seven locations across the greater Lagos region and the UNWIND app, which offers wellness on demand, ORÍKÌ is a pioneer in the luxury wellness industry in Nigeria. Joycee's entrepreneurial acumen is evident in ORÍKÌ's success as the first and only all-natural personal grooming brand in Nigeria to operate a luxury wellness spa chain with multiple locations coupled with its own manufactured product line.
Joycee enjoyed great success over the course of the last year, as it relates to the amount of capital she raised. ORÍKÌ is in the process of finalizing their investment seed round of $1 million. In addition, Vested World, a Chicago-based venture capital firm, is investing $500,000. This capital enables Joycee to open 10 more ORÍKÌ locations in the next 12 months and expand the manufacturing capacity from 1 ton to 12 tons produced per day. A remarkable achievement, Joycee credits raising this capital to her relationship with her mentor, Frank Linnehan. Frank supported Joycee by helping to brainstorm different types of funding opportunities, and also by connecting her with other entrepreneurs across the hospitality and franchising industries around the world to access more in-depth information, which ultimately led to her impressive sums.
As the Managing Director of Sange SA, an HR consultancy firm based in South Africa, Nobandla Gobodo is at the forefront of providing essential services in Employment Equity, Skills Development, and B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) Advisory. With a deep understanding of B-BBEE legislation and compliance, the skills development landscape, and labor relations compliance, she leads a knowledgeable and qualified team that provides these services across South Africa.
Nobandla's journey at AWEC began with employment issues: she had only three full-time employees, one of whom was not contributing to the company. However, after discussions with her mentor, Kudzayi Nheweyembwa, she made the difficult decision to let go of that employee and developed a new Human Resources Management strategy. Now with six full-time employees, Nobandla has transitioned from an operational to a strategic role.
Under Nobandla’s leadership, Sange SA’s revenue grew by 63%. After committing to a sales target, Nobandla began closely monitoring the finances and increased the human resources to achieve her goals. Kudzayi encouraged Nobandla to focus on how to incorporate her new ideas into Sange SA, instead of creating a new business. Nobandla has closed three other businesses and is redirecting all her energy into Sange SA. Throughout this process, feedback from her peers and teaching team has been crucial, with Nobandla taking notes and incorporating it into her business where applicable. Reflecting on her commitment to continuous learning, Nobandla says, “As I continue to build, I still consult with my AWEC peers to get their input and to give feedback.”
Phywam Financial Services, founded and led by Phidelis Wamalwa, has become a game-changer in Kenya's banking industry. With its focus on the unbanked and underbanked informal sectors in Bungoma County, Kenya, Phywam Financial Services offers essential financial services such as withdrawals, deposits, and account opening.
Challenged by lessons she learned in the program, Phidelis conducted an analysis of her business investments and revenue sources and soon realized that outlets based in institutions were more profitable and required less operating capital. Making the decision to focus on this arm of the business, she opened two permanent outlets in hospitals and one temporary outlet in a school - all strategically located to capture the attention of potential customers. Additionally, Phywam Financial Services invested heavily in building exceptional customer service skills among its staff. These efforts paid off handsomely as satisfied clients began referring others to the business due to their reliable and trustworthy services, further boosting the customer base.
At one point, they had more referrals than their capacity could handle. Phidelis speaks about the practical approach and application of the numerous AWEC assignments. “The most challenging part of my AWEC journey was [...] accepting the bitter truth of what is not working and figuring out how to improve it based on the knowledge gained.” She leaned into her relationship with her mentor, Michelle Bello, who provided guidance and support along the way. “To all other struggling business ladies,” Phidelis says, “the power is in trying things while the knowledge is fresh. It may not be perfect initially, but you can only perfect what you have started.”
The AWEC community is comprised of numerous remarkable female entrepreneurs, including Joycee, Nobandla, and Phidelis. These women serve as powerful examples of the transformative impact that entrepreneurship can have on individuals, communities, and society at large. If you, too, are passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs and want to make a difference, please consider donating to AWEC. Your contribution will go toward empowering more African women entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams.