Women Mean Business 2016 put it's best foot forward!

Freetown, Sierra Leone was the place for women entrepreneurs to be on  March 12th  2016. For the first time in Africa, Women Mean Business celebrated 4 dynamic African Female Entrepreneurs at the 3rd Annual Women Mean Business Entrepreneurial & Leadership Honors Brunch.  The event powered by Rhoyalty Concepts is a platform for aspiring female entrepreneurs to gain practical skills, confidence, and motivation from business women in a variety of business fields. 

Approximately 80 women leaders and entrepreneurs  gathered together at the Sierra Lighthouse Hotel where they had the opportunity to shared their experiences on doing business and brand management. The event featured an amazing panel discussion with the theme and focus

 “Putting your best Foot Forward: Developing & Maintaining Brand Awareness” by this year's Honorees.  The Mistress of Ceremonies was Sierra Leone's own Millicent Lewis-Ojumu Managing Director of CLAS Consults.

The event also featured powerful poetic words by  poets from Afere -a group of young artist channelling their passion for the creative & practical arts for social change. Guests enjoyed a nice ambience and great food provided by the Sierra Lighthouse hotel in Freetown. 

During the keynote address Anita Erskine encouraged the crowd to Think Big, Dream Big, Create locally and sell Internationally. She emphasized that African women entrepreneurs need to think about how our African Brands align with the global market.

She stated that as women we should not be fearful. Her powerful acronym resonated so strongly with the crowd. She encouraged participants that they needed to look at the challenges and face them  head on as they worked to develop their brands and businesses.  One particular advice that sums up the theme of partnership and sisterhood in the event was her plea for Sierra Leonean women to appreciate and support other women and their businesses and also create a warming and inviting environment for young  women who are interested in business.

Other memorable quotes from our Honorees were: 

Be Ready, Aim & Fire- Kumba Dugba

Dream, Dream, Work Hard & Achieve- Randa Swaid

My keys for success are -Hard Work, Perseverance, Sacrifice and Faith- Yvonee Aki-Sawyerr

Women Mean Business 2016 Honorees include:

Innovator Award Recipient- Yvonne Aki Sawyerr and Investment Manager at IDEAS UK

Trailblazer Award Recipient- Randa Swaid the Managing Director of City Plaza & Swiss Spirit Hotel

Ingénue Award Recipient- Kumba Blessing Dugba  CEO of FB Customized  Weddings & Events

Keynote and Legend Awards Recipient Anita Erskine - Founder of Brand Women Africa & Anita Erskine Media

Women Mean Business Honor 2016  would not have been possible without support from our strategic partners and sponsors. Special thanks to Job Search SL, Africell, Women Change Africa,  Trainingsol, A Call to Business, , Afrilosophy, DSTV, Life by Design, Sierra Lighthouse Hotel, Sierra Gems Media, Graphics World, CLAS Consults & FB Customized Weddings & Events.

Stay tuned for more information on Women Mean Business 2017. In the meantime enjoy the pictures on our Facebook page at Women Mean Business Honors.

Submitted by Ajara Bomah, Curator WMB