Encouraging the Entrepreneurial Spirit | Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Written by Claire Rudinsky, a VSFS Intern with the U.S. Department of State. She is currently majoring in International Relations with a focus on Economics at the Joint Degree Programme with College of William & Mary and the University of St Andrews. 

Female entrepreneurship has a myriad of benefits economically, socially, and politically.

To highlight a few examples, countries with higher gender equality experience less conflict between and within their states, relative political stability, and a greater participation rate in the economy.

In the United States, gender equality was clearly articulated as a foreign policy initiative in the early 21th century. Since then, the United States has collaborated with numerous governments to create educational and economic opportunities for women around the globe. 

To contribute to women’s economic prosperity, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), was created in 2019 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. AWE offers unique economic and educational opportunities for women around the globe, having helped more than 25,000 women in 100 different countries.

AWE uses a hybrid model that combines the online platform DreamBuilder designed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, and a newer curriculum called 100 Million Learners. AWE participants are able to access peer-to-peer mentorship, strategic business relationships, and scaling opportunities with local businesses and in the United States. Upon completion of the program, alumni report increasing their business revenues, expanding their products, and hiring more staff. 

While addressing a group of AWE and U.S. Exchange alumni during a 2022 trip to Costa Rica, First Lady Jill Biden reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to expanding economic opportunities for women noting, “When women get the opportunities that they deserve, when we pay them what their work is worth, there is no limit to what we can do…They become mentors and they help others to succeed as well.”

 AWE alumni Oguh Oluwayemisi Deborah’s Demamy Concepts Limited champions using local products and health awareness.  Photo Credit: U.S. Consulate Lagos

Oguh Oluwayemisi Deborah, an AWE exchange alumna from Nigeria, recently attested to the AWE program’s role in transforming her business in the September issue of the Alumni Newsletter, produced by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos. Deborah founded her business, Demamy Concepts Limited, in July of 2017 with the goal of enriching overall well-being with a diverse range of premium skincare and health-conscious products. Her core products include top-notch shea butter, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, pure natural honey, and an all-natural, no sugar chocolate spread with nuts. In addition, Demamy Concepts Limited offers a variety of products with reduced sugar options. Since her company’s founding, Deborah has created job opportunities that support other local women-owned businesses, specifically through her packaging and export initiatives.

Deborah’s commitment to social impact and community reflects remarks given by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2022 Summit of the Americas, when Vice President Harris  said, “When women succeed, all of society benefits…we know empowering women economically is not only about giving them a job; it’s about improving their quality of life.” Nigeria has the largest population and largest economy in all of Africa, yet remains the world’s second largest population in poverty. Encouraging supportive entrepreneurial networks is essential to creating and maintaining economic opportunities. 

Deborah credits the AWE program with directly improving her business skills and providing access to invaluable resources and a professional network. As a result of the AWE program, her business has gained an exceptional reputation among both customers and partners, which has opened up new markets and collaboration opportunities. 

The AWE program in Nigeria has partnered with Ascend Studios Foundation since 2019, a company focused on encouraging economic growth, leadership, and entrepreneurship among African women and youth. To date, the program has benefited 890 Nigerian women including 120 who are repatriated migrants. In October 2023, over 120 women representing a range of industries including agriculture, tech, fashion and apparel, and health and wellness among others, celebrated their completion of the AWE program. 

Want to learn more about the AWE program? Visit the ECA website at eca.state.gov/awe.