Empowering Africa: ESG Strategies and Women's Trailblazing Achievements

Welcome to Leading Africa Forward, our monthly newsletter featuring insightful conversations about corporate leadership and entrepreneurship in Africa, focusing on how to drive inclusive and sustainable growth on the continent. We will also showcase some trailblazing female leaders at the helm of impactful change on the continent and share updates on our activities. 

Implementing ESG Strategies for Sustainable Business Growth

Here are a few tips for implementing ESG strategies: 

1. Embed Sustainability in Core Operations: Incorporate ESG metrics into key business processes, from procurement to product development, ensuring sustainability is integral to decision-making. 
2. Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with stakeholders, including investors, employees, and communities, to understand their sustainability expectations and leverage their insights for impactful strategies.
3. Measure and Report Progress: Implement robust measurement systems to track progress transparently and report findings to stakeholders, demonstrating commitment and accountability.
4. Invest in Innovation: Embrace sustainable technologies and practices to reduce environmental impact and drive efficiency across operations.
5. Promote Responsible Leadership: Foster a culture of ethical behavior, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of the organization.

By prioritizing these practical steps, businesses can not only enhance sustainability performance but also significantly contribute to global sustainability goals, achieving the perfect balance of profitability and purpose. 

OUR NEWS

AWCN @ChangeNOW

We showcased the Africa Women CEOs Network at ChangeNOW , a major climate solutions event. Our founder, Dr Anino Emuwa , had a fireside chat with Her Excellency, Samira R. Bawumia , Second Lady of Ghana, a climate action leader. She emphasized women-led innovation and impactful policies for sustainability. Distinguished speakers and guests included Anna Bossman and Élisabeth Moreno . Kudos to the visionary co-founders of the Africa Women Presence Initiative, Maryann Kahindi-Picard and Carole Tankeu , for highlighting African women's role in climate action and society. 

Cartier Women’s Initiative:  Africa Fellows

33 remarkable women were announced as the 2024 fellows for the Cartier Women’s Initiative, a program that supports female entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and networking.

We applaud the Cartier Initiative for their selection from 9 regions worldwide and are delighted to see 9 exceptional women based in Africa on this list: Titilope Adewusi 🇳🇬, June Muchuku 🇰🇪, Claire van Enk 🇰🇪, Isabelle Kamariza 🇷🇼, Jessica Long 🇸🇳, Victoria Munguti 🇷🇼, Dr Shahira youssef Rania Gaafar 🇪🇬 and Dr. Salma BOUGARRANI 🇲🇦. Cheers to more recognition of leading impact ventures globally! #CWI24

WOMEN OF AWCN 

Celebrating Africa's Young Global Leaders

Nine remarkable women from Africa were selected for this year’s cohort of Young Global Leaders for their outstanding contributions to leadership and empowerment. 

AWCN@Davos community members Temi Marcella and Alice Usanase were listed among other remarkable women from Africa, including @judysikuza, Oluwatosin Olaseinde , Angela Oduor Lungati , Muriel Thabile Ngwato, Lelise Neme Sori, NENE MAIGA , and Chinwe Egwim; we wish them an impactful and transformative journey ahead.

‘Women Trailblazers’ Powerlist 2024

Tropics Mēdia Group celebrated 250 exceptional women across various fields in a special edition of Tropics Magazine's "Women Trailblazers" Powerlist 2024. Congratulations to all the women featured! 

Alongside public figures such as Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, some of the members and friends of our community made this list: @Elizabeth Moreno, Tokunbo Ismael, Rachel A. Aron, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Roberta Annan, Kadia Moisson, Chinwe Esimai, Noella Coursaris Musunka, NENE MAIGA, DOROTHY NYAMBI, Dr. Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, Nabou Fall, and our founder, Dr. Anino Emuwa.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• April 30: Masterclass 

Unlock Your Global Potential; Gain insights into how to position for global opportunities and visibility.

• May 10: D,E & I in Africa: Achieving Gender Diversity in Leadership Teams

Strategies for Achieving Gender-Balanced Leadership. This session with experienced global leaders will help organizational leaders understand how to create actionable policies and build more inclusive teams.

What is AWCN?

We are a community of women leading businesses. This peer network helps women combat the “lonely-at-the-top" syndrome by supporting their professional growth through the provision of bespoke leadership development and access to business opportunities. Click here to join us To participate in our events, subscribe to our newsletter and follow Africa Women CEOs Network on LinkedIn.