Dear friends,

Once we hit November, it often feels like an all-out sprint through the holiday season to the end of the calendar year. Whether you are inundated with an influx of last-minute orders to fulfill or are scrambling to hit quarterly quotas or goals, it’s hard to escape the mounting pressure that we feel to end the year on a positive note.



I challenge you to find joy amidst the chaos and remember the “why” behind everything you are doing. The influx of holiday orders means that your customers believe in your product or service. The final sales push of the year presents opportunities to build new customer relationships. Shopping lists to fulfill and meals to prepare are in the service of delighting your loved ones.

The “why” helps us to connect - with a task, person or business - on an emotional level. That’s why our recent Leadership Summit focused on storytelling and our very first AWEC gift guide leads with background on what motivated some of our most inspiring entrepreneurs to start their businesses rather than simply promoting their products. With so many options of products to choose from, it’s often the story behind the business that seals the deal. We encourage you to read on and shop small (and global!) this holiday season.

Also, be sure to check out even more stories of growth and impact in AWEC’s 2021-2022 Annual Report!

Stay well and healthy,

Dawn Leaness

Managing Director

Spotlight Corner: Winning at Wellness!

This month, the spotlight is on AWEC Alumnae Lulu Kimbio-Mbugua and Trish Moeketsi-Njogu who both received awards for the ‘African Brand & Spa of the Year 2022’ and ‘Spa of the Year, Sub-Saharan Africa’ 2022 respectively, at the recent African Spa Awards.

READ: AWEC’s 2021-2022 Annual Report 

In this post-pandemic world, when it’s difficult to ignore the long-term disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women and women-owned businesses, this report aims to dwell in optimism and bring attention to inspirational stories of women entrepreneurs affecting economic change in their countries.

Monica Roman, Director, Growth & Strategic Impact

READ: Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the last decade, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. You can volunteer your time, donate money, share your skills, campaign for something, donate goods, food, or clothes, organize a community event such as a street or park clean-up or a coffee morning. The list really is endless. And on 29 November, BE PROUD! Tell the world how proud you are to donate to, volunteer for or in any way support a good cause. 

Chartered Institute of Fundraising

By donating to AWEC on Giving Tuesday, you can ensure that we are able to continue equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and the network they need to thrive as entrepreneurs. Thank you for continuing to invest in our community! 

LISTEN: New Trade Realities: How CEOs Can Embrace Trade Regionalism

Business leaders need to adjust to a new trade landscape that is very different from the rules and guidelines that have been in place for over 30 years--and they must do this as geopolitics is reasserting itself over geoeconomics as the organizing principle for trade. Listen to Victor Fung, Chairman of the Fung Group and the Asia Global Institute, and Sam Palmisano, Chairman of the Center for Global Enterprise and the America's Frontier Fund, discuss the three pressing questions that CEOs must answer for themselves and their companies. 

The GET Podcast, The Center for Global Enterprise