The Executive Women Network (EWN) has marked a decade of advancing women’s leadership with the unveiling of four flagship initiatives designed to strengthen leadership development, entrepreneurship, mentorship and collaboration as the Network looks towards its next decade of impact.
The announcement was made during the EWN@10 Conference & Expo, held in Accra under the theme “A Decade of Leadership, A Future Toward Holistic Impact: Self & Family, Career, Legacy.” The two-day gathering brought together women leaders, business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, corporate institutions and other stakeholders for conversations focused on leadership, influence, career advancement, wealth, personal development and legacy.
The conference was held in partnership with MTN Ghana and chaired by the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, whose leadership and participation underscored the importance of strong institutional support for platforms advancing women’s leadership.
In her role as Chairperson of the conference, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu emphasised the importance of women continuing to build their capacity, use their influence and create pathways for others.
“Progress cannot rest on women alone. Institutions must create opportunities, visibility and access that allow talent to thrive. While mentorship provides guidance, sponsorship opens doors. We need more leaders who are willing to advocate for capable women. Platforms such as EWN are important because they create the connections, conversations and support systems that enable women to move forward and create meaningful impact.”
The conference also marked a significant transition for EWN as it introduced EWN 2.0, reflecting the Network’s ambition to build on its first decade and expand its impact through targeted programmes and partnerships.
Speaking at the conference, EWN Executive Committee Chairperson Mrs. Janet Sunkwa-Mills announced four flagship initiatives:
• The Collaborative Ecosystem: An alliance with nine strategic partners designed to contribute towards the goal of achieving greater gender parity in decision-making positions.
• The EWN Skills Catalogue: A curated pool of EWN mentors and coaches providing access to leadership development and capacity-building expertise, now available through the Network’s website.
• EWN VentureHer: An initiative focused on supporting women entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity and gain access to key markets.
• An expanded EWN Ellevate: A structured mentorship programme currently engaging 500 Senior High School girls in Tamale, with plans to extend the programme to another region.
The initiatives represent EWN’s commitment to moving beyond conversations about women’s advancement to creating practical pathways for leadership, entrepreneurship, mentorship, skills development and opportunity.
Mrs. Sunkwa-Mills noted that EWN has grown significantly since its establishment on April 19, 2016, bringing together more than 200 women CEOs, Managing Directors, Board Chairs, entrepreneurs and heads of institutions across 28 industry sectors. Between 2016 and September 2026, the Network has directly impacted more than 10,000 lives.
She encouraged women leaders and conference participants to translate the conversations into action, urging them to “mentor a young woman before the year ends. Sponsor a girl’s education. Open a door for another sister. Champion the Affirmative Action Act inside your own organisation. Lift as you rise.”
The keynote address was delivered by the Paramount Chief of the Assin Owirenkyi Traditional Area, Ehunabobrim Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, who challenged leaders to move beyond mentorship and embrace sponsorship as a more intentional way of creating opportunities for women.
He described support for women in leadership as “not a women’s issue”, but a leadership, development and economic issue, emphasising that a country cannot fully realise its potential while a significant portion of its talent remains underrepresented in positions of influence.
Nana Prah Agyensaim VI called on leaders to be deliberate about recommending women for opportunities and using their influence to open doors. He also encouraged women leaders to view their positions and influence as opportunities to create pathways for those coming behind them.
“Mentorship says: ‘I will advise you.’ Sponsorship says: ‘I will use my influence to create an opportunity for you.’ Mentorship happens in conversation. Sponsorship happens when you are not in the room.”
He further challenged EWN to strengthen its position as a leadership pipeline for women across Africa and extend its reach beyond Accra, while offering to welcome the Network’s mentorship programme to young women in the Owirenkyi Traditional Area.
The EWN@10 Conference & Expo featured a range of conversations and experiences centred on the different dimensions of women’s leadership and holistic impact. The first day included an exhibition showcasing products and services from women-led businesses and partner institutions, alongside a candid conversation on “Mirroring the Woman Leader.”
The second day continued with conversations around leadership, ownership, career advancement, influence, role modelling and the responsibility of leaders to create opportunities for others.
As EWN enters its next decade, the Network is positioning itself not only as a community for executive women, but as a platform for leadership development, collaboration, mentorship, entrepreneurship and broader institutional impact.
The anniversary celebration therefore marked both a milestone and a beginning — celebrating the work of the past ten years while setting the stage for a new chapter focused on building stronger leadership pipelines, creating greater access to opportunity and enabling more women to contribute meaningfully across sectors.
The conference was supported by Telecel, Absa Bank, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, Consolidated Bank Ghana, Ecobank and Stanbic, alongside media partners that supported the visibility of the EWN@10 celebration.
About Executive Women Network
The Executive Women Network is a community of professional women leaders committed to inspiring, empowering and supporting women to be influential and impactful at local and international levels. Since its establishment in 2016, EWN has built a network of women leaders across multiple sectors and continues to create platforms for connection, learning, mentorship, collaboration and leadership development.
