International Women Day : Displacement Econuma with women resilience

Despite the many forms of inequalities in the work environment, in their families or in the political sphere, more and more African women are breaking free of psychological or social barriers to conquer new spaces for the expression of their talents. 

This week, Econuma presents a series of three stories of women entrepreneurs whose careers are truly remarkable

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) report "Companies to inspire Africa", published in January 2019, states that companies with the highest number of women on their boards have seen a 20% increase in profits relative to the overall corporate average. McKinsey, in its "Women Matter" report, published in August 2016, had indicated that companies with more than 31% women on their boards achieve a 20% higher profits.  Female entrepreneurs are also at the forefront of this pattern of women's professional empowerment. According to the study "Women Entrepreneurship in Africa: a path to empowerment", presented at the "Women In Africa" (WIA) forum in Marrakech in September 2018, 24% of African women start their own business, and on average one out of three women declares to have a creation project. This is the highest rate of business creation observed worldwide (compared to 17% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 12% in North America and 8% in Europe and Central Asia).

Although they are as yet the exceptions, they are creating and running successful businesses, sometimes in sectors dominated by men. This week, Econuma presents a series of three stories of women entrepreneurs whose careers are truly remarkable.

They are respectively web developer, electrical engineer and web designer. How did they manage to master and make a living out of these jobs which, in the mentalities, are made for men? What were their greatest challenges and above all what behavior did each of them adopt when confronted with these challenges to become totally independent in their own field?  To answer these questions, Econuma approached these women who represent a source of inspiration for the young African woman.