by 
Businesswomen in Africa have gone from making local brands to developing universal brands. Their businesses face serious constraints and barriers that hinder their global reach. But with the right ideas, African women in business can beat all organic and socio-cultural limitations.
Many might say that the struggles and challenges of being a woman in business are not unique to African women. However, the system of business in Africa is a lot different from the rest of the world. There are several specific challenges African women in business have to face every day, while they also struggle to take care of the family:
- Sexism and lack of support
- Lack of knowledge and access to entrepreneurial education
- Impediments to entering key industry sectors
- Gender inequalities
- Government directives
- Cultural and societal norms
How to Overcome the Challenges
There are a number of things you can do as an African woman in business to get to the global stage. Some of the most efficient ones include:
1. Insert yourself into women networks across the world. It’s not just women who do business that attend these meetings, but also those who want to invest in businesses.
2. Meet with investors and acquire specialist opinions and try to get access to new resources.
3. Learn about all the possible existing government enterprises and networking opportunities.
4. Find a way to combine knowledge with other entrepreneurs and similar minds. Feel free to communicate and collaborate with them rather than see them as competitors.
5. Register with groups that identify, certify and register women in business. They can help you sell beyond borders, boost your innovation as well as coach you.
6. Look at opportunities within the continent and search through the problems that the continent experiences. Transforming these problems into opportunities can be the key to success.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for fresh new posts on Africa and Business in Africa.
