Over 10,000 women expected at InspireMe conference

Nairobi is set to host one of the largest meeting of women entrepreneurs during the annual Absa InspireMe conference set to take place starting Tuesday.

This year’s conference brings together women entrepreneurs from Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, Uganda, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, The Gambia, and Nigeria.

Notable personalities participating in the conference include the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry Rebecca Miano, the President’s Advisor on Women Rights Harriette Chiggai, KAM CEO Anthony Mwangi, Visa Country Lead Eva Ngigi, Catherine Muraga – MD Microsoft Africa Development as well as Dr Afua Asabea Asare, CEO - Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

The Absa InspireMe Conference is an initiative under the bank’s women in business proposition, launched in 2021.

The annual conference, aimed at facilitating market linkages, B2B networking, and business mentorship for women entrepreneurs, will take place under the theme “Empowering Your Story for Growth.”  It is a collaborative venture with the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Kenya Hub.

Addressing the media during the launch event, Absa Bank Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna, said, “We are thrilled to once again be hosting the conference in Nairobi. Our mission is to create a platform that brings together prominent African women in business to share ideas, empower one another and discuss emerging trends and skills necessary to transform their institutions and propel them to various levels of growth.”

She added, “We are honoured to partner with the International Trade Centre SheTrades Kenya Hub to bring this conference to life. In addition to knowledge-sharing and inspirational sessions from global and local business titans, there will be an exhibition of products and services, industry-specific trade visits, and a delegation from the United Kingdom. This aims to connect our women entrepreneurs to UK buyers, building new business linkages and expanding economic opportunities for women-led businesses across the continent.”

Concurrent with the Absa InpsireMe Conference and as part of the Kenya - UK Trade Mission, select women-led businesses from the agrifood, textiles and apparel, handicrafts, and accessories sectors will participate in a series of one-to-one business meetings with potential buyers from the UK delegation and African corporations.

Representatives from participating SheTrades Hubs will also discuss potential collaboration with the three participating UK delegates from the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber International, and West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

This year’s theme aligns with the bank’s new brand promise, “Your Story Matters,” which dedicates the bank’s purpose to a more deliberately customer-centric focus.