Podcast
The new podcast series, Business Funding Journeys, a co-hosted initiative by African Development Bank Group’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) and Lionesses of Africa, shines a spotlight on how women entrepreneurs in Africa are approaching one of the most significant challenges - access to growth finance - and how they are successfully securing the funding they need to scale their businesses and drive economic growth.
Listen to Episode 1 of the Business Funding Journeys podcast series here:
The Business Funding Journeys podcast series brings together leading women entrepreneurs, financial institutions and funding experts from across the continent to share real-world experiences of raising capital, overcoming barriers to finance, and building high-growth businesses. Through honest conversations and practical insights, the series aims to inspire and equip more women entrepreneurs to navigate their own funding journeys with greater confidence.
Hosted by Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa, alongside African Development Bank's AFAWA Coordinator Melissa Basque-Roux, the series explores both sides of the funding equation—bringing together entrepreneurs seeking investment and the institutions working to close Africa's financing gap for women-led businesses.
"Access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers preventing women entrepreneurs from scaling their businesses," said Melanie Hawken. "Through these conversations, we want to demystify the funding journey by sharing practical lessons from women who have successfully navigated it, while also giving voice to the financial institutions working to create more inclusive financing solutions."
Ms. Basque-Roux added: “Expanding access to finance for women entrepreneurs is one of the African Development Bank Group's Cardinal Point strategic priorities because it creates opportunities for innovation, job creation and inclusive economic growth. Through this podcast series, AFAWA and Lionesses of Africa are bringing entrepreneurs and financial institutions together to share lived experiences that can help more women navigate their business funding journeys."
Episode One: Building Green Businesses Through Growth Finance
The inaugural episode kicks off with an insightful conversation with Ms. Basque-Roux who shares key insights on the considerable efforts AFAWA is making to address the gender gap in access to finance and to empower women’s entrepreneurial potential in Africa. Recognising that women entrepreneurs often lack the financial and business expertise needed to engage effectively with financial institutions when applying for business funding, Melissa also discusses several key initiatives currently underway, supported by AFAWA, to address this challenge. Providing the entrepreneur perspective, other key guests in conversation include Anne Rweyora, Founder of Smart Havens Africa (Uganda), and Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, Co-founders of Mo's Crib (South Africa). Together, they discuss how innovative, sustainability-focused businesses are raising finance to accelerate growth while contributing to Africa's green economy.
Episode Two: Funding Growth in Agribusiness
Episode two features Hadija Jabiri, Founder of GBRI Business Solutions (Tanzania), and Yvette Dickson-Tetteh, Co-founder of Pure & Just Food (Ghana). Both entrepreneurs share their contrasting fundraising experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for financing growth in Africa's fast-growing agribusiness sector.
Episode Three: Bringing Women Entrepreneurs and Financial Institutions Together
With conversations in both English and French, the third episode is co-hosted by Melanie Hawken and Ms. Basque-Roux and features Dipuo Ingrid Phakathi, Founder of Denic Cabinets (South Africa); Mariam Zein, Managing Director of MAFCI (Mauritania); and Aniela Koffi, SME/SMI Manager, Commercial Banking Division at Ecobank. Their discussion highlights the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs, financial institutions and development partners to improve access to finance for women-led businesses across Africa.
The new Business Funding Journeys podcast series reinforces a simple but critical message: Africa's future economic growth depends on enabling more women entrepreneurs to build and scale successful businesses. Expanding access to growth capital is not only a matter of gender equality—it is an economic imperative that will unlock innovation, create jobs and accelerate sustainable development across the continent.
The Lioness Radio Show was first launched in 2016 as a podcast platform dedicated to celebrating, supporting and informing Africa's women entrepreneurs.
Listen to Episode 1 of the Business Funding Journeys podcast series here:
About Lionesses of Africa
Lionesses of Africa reaches a community of more than 2 million women entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, as well as thousands more in the African diaspora. Through digital platforms, business resources, research and entrepreneur support initiatives, Lionesses of Africa is helping to transform the entrepreneurial landscape for women across the continent.
About AFAWA
The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) is an African Development Bank Group initiative working to close the estimated US$ 42 billion financing gap facing women entrepreneurs across Africa. Through financing, technical assistance and policy engagement, AFAWA supports financial institutions and women entrepreneurs while helping create a more enabling environment for women-led businesses.
Media Contacts
Lionesses of Africa
Melanie Hawken, Founder & CEO
Email: admin@lionessesofafrica.com
African Development Bank Group
Alphonso Van Marsh, Chief Digital Content and Events Officer
Email: media@afdb.org