We live in a world where conversations around gender equality continue to evolve, and Afua Osei has chosen to emerge as a formidable advocate for women’s empowerment. Afua Osei is synonymous with excellent leadership, innovation, empowerment, policy and impact in Africa.
Born and raised in Accra, Ghana, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Black Studies from Allegheny College, USA. She later advanced her education with a Master of Public Policy in International Policy, Institutions, and Policymaking from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, followed by an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
These academic experiences have equipped her with the relevant skills to navigate the world of business and her current role as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Foreign Policy ( a globally acclaimed magazine founded in late 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington, a Harvard University professor, and his friend Warren Demian Manshel to give a voice to alternative views about American foreign policy during the Vietnam War).
Co-founding She Leads Africa
In 2014, alongside Yasmin Belo-Osagie, she co-founded She Leads Africa (SLA), one of the continent’s most influential empowerment platforms for women. The duo found that women worldwide needed information and products to help them live well-rounded lives and wanted to bridge the gap for African women.
The platform provides women with the right tools, resources, and insights that have transformed how African women access opportunities for growth, leadership, and success. It is a community dedicated to helping young African women achieve their dreams and become smart African women, irrespective of the odds.
Osei’s legacy of impact.
Over the years, the platform has created online masterclasses and workshops for women. These sessions connect women with industry leaders and experts who offer invaluable insights on business development, leadership strategies, and personal branding.
SLA ensures participants have practical skills to scale their businesses, negotiate better opportunities, and build sustainable careers. The digital format of these training makes them accessible to women worldwide.
The SLA community is renowned for providing global networking opportunities. Its annual festival, “SLAY FESTIVAL,” started in January 2017. Every activity aims to deepen connections between women from diverse industries and backgrounds. These networks serve as catalysts for collaboration, mentorship, and idea exchange from women across the globe.
One of their primary goals is to empower female entrepreneurs, and they have been consistent over the years. In November 2022, they organised a workshop themed “She Means Business” and Trained over 30,688 female Nigerian micro, small, and medium-scale entrepreneurs for over five years in using Meta products to scale their businesses.
Afua Osei’s work is not just about individual transformation but about positively impacting society by addressing systemic barriers such as gender bias, limited access to capital, and insufficient representation in leadership. Through these, the narratives around women’s roles in society are changing.
As She Leads Africa expands, Afua Osei, who now serves as one of its board members, remains committed to scaling its impact and ensuring that the platform remains dynamic, relevant, and impactful.
