–Written by Amanobea Boateng (GCIC Gender Advisor)
When a fresh cohort of entrepreneurs is welcomed to GCIC, as has become standard practice, beyond business incubation we hand-hold the women cohort through the complex intersection of womanhood and entrepreneurship. This delicate balancing act requires establishing trust and a safe space for women to share their stories and traumas without fear of judgement, whilst learning from one another and subject experts on matters close to their hearts and that affect their wellbeing. The process exposes the real and potential pitfalls of the journey ahead and helps them to articulate their struggles and fears. At the end of the day, our goal is to help them to navigate their multiple responsibilities and roles, handle gender-related and other forms of stress, and prioritise their own needs, for increased fulfillment and success in all spheres of their lives.
A first step is to establish a relationship with the women by getting to know them one on one. This is something that can only be encouraged rather than imposed and time is spent in individual conversations to listen to their personal stories of business and home life, and the struggles and joys of being entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, daughters and women in a Ghanaian context. We learn about specific personal needs and provide mentorship where possible and also make recommendations on relevant content for experts to include in planned workshops.
Our experience is echoed by findings that balancing business with family responsibilities, coupled with societal expectations leads to psychological challenges for women entrepreneurs, and mentorship is one of the tools identified to help overcome such hurdles[1]. An article in ‘Media Culture’ (March 2024) states that “… societal expectations placed on women to prioritize their roles as caregivers can create internal conflicts and stress. Learning to let go of perfectionism, delegating tasks, and building a strong support network are crucial strategies for overcoming these psychological hurdles” and a “key approach is building a strong network of mentors, advisors, and peers who can provide guidance, support, and encouragement.” A further article refers to ‘emotional labor’ or women’s unseen work that is essential for both business and home and which can lead to “feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and inadequacy.” The author writes that it is vital to recognize the effects of such emotional labor and provide better support structures for female entrepreneurs[2].”
GCIC’s Women Entrepreneurs Transformation Programme (WETP) workshops are an effective medium for strengthening and empowering women by boosting their confidence and sense of purpose. By attaching importance to each person’s lived reality, we create an environment of trust, collective sharing and vulnerability where all can let their guard down. In these strictly women-only sessions, cohort members, facilitators and GCIC female staff immerse themselves in the conversations, self-reflection and sharing. The participation by GCIC staff reshapes what could potentially be a ‘them versus us” workshop into four hours of authentic exchange and sharing about our common experiences as women and how to move forward positively. This is also reflected in the ‘Media Culture’ article which also finds sharing and peer learning to be beneficial to women entrepreneurs. It states that “Surrounding themselves with like-minded individuals who understand their struggles and celebrate their successes can help women entrepreneurs maintain a positive mindset and persevere through tough times.”
A case in point was the last two-day WETP workshop in October. The first day’s theme was Work – Life Balance and the discussions centred around the need for women to prioritise themselves and their own needs, instead of racing from one task to the next without a plan, any boundaries, or breaks. The dangers of not taking time for oneself include compounded stress, lifestyle diseases, burnout and depression. We learnt the importance of allowing ourselves to press pause and switch off from external noise and distractions. As a group we were encouraged to think about and identify our pain points – those ever-present worries and troubles that gnaw away at us without our ever stopping to think about what could be causing them.
We were taken on a journey of self-discovery and introspection with the following questions asked: how well do you know yourself and what you want in life; what makes you sad or happy; and what give you a sense of purpose? These are important questions that help us ‘diagnose’ our condition and recognize how we can be constantly busy without achieving what we really want in order to be fulfilled.
The self-examination leads us to understand ourselves and our needs better and gives us the courage, self-acceptance and awareness to meet them. Denial of who we truly our – our authentic selves – blocks the achievement of our dreams, but the fear of appearing less than perfect to the world prevents us from removing our masks. The distractions of life are often a convenient way to barricade ourselves from reality, and distancing ourselves from this ‘noise’ and spending time alone with inspiration from positive things we enjoy helps us to find our way back to our true selves.
The benefits of introspection, self-care and prioritizing one’s needs are again echoed by ‘Media Culture’: “Self-care and personal development are also essential for maintaining psychological well-being as a woman entrepreneur. Investing time in activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional health can help entrepreneurs manage stress, boost creativity, and maintain a balanced perspective. This may include practicing mindfulness, engaging in hobbies, seeking therapy, or pursuing educational opportunities that expand their knowledge and skills.”
Day two of the workshop delved further into being deliberate in planning towards achieving fulfilled lives. In a session entitled Work Life as a Leader – Not Forgetting Self, the discussion was around planning strategically and identifying our leadership strengths as well as behaviors that could compromise our goals. Managing our relationships with ourselves, our work, and with others is key to success and requires us to stop trying to be superwomen, let go and ask for help. Switching off from external distractions applies equally in the context of leadership: we need to turn off what is negative such as time wasters, ‘frenemies’, and social activities that do not affirm or add quality to our lives.
At the end of the workshop participants reflected on proceedings over the two days, and said a load had been lifted off them from realizing that their needs are worth prioritizing. They gave one another feedback based on the lessons learnt and challenged those who were tempted to continue ignoring health-related warning signals caused by overwork and stress to take better care of themselves.
In summary, making an impact on the lives and outcomes of a cohort of entrepreneurs within the limited duration of GCIC’s business incubation requires a delicate balance of relationship and learning. Workshops are key, but the addition of warmth, humanity and connection creates a nurturing environment conducive to learning, thriving and personal growth. This mix – proven as effective for women entrepreneurs to sustain themselves positively through business, home and societal demands – is what GCIC brings to the empowerment of its women.
References
[1] Media Culture (March 2024)
[2] Diann Wingert (May 2023)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/struggle-real-female-entrepreneurs-mental-health-diann-wingert/
