It started with a quiet observation.
Inthe corridors of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 2024, Habibah A. Waziri a Pan-African strategist noticed something glaring: the room was full of decision-makers, but yet painfully empty of emerging African women leaders.
Instead of merely voicing concern, she took action.
She created a WhatsApp group. A powerful gesture. A quiet rebellion. That digital circle became the heartbeat of something greater: a pan-African sisterhood dedicated to breaking the cycle of exclusion.
A Launch in Abidjan. A Movement Begins.
On the 11th of May, that spark lit a fire.
In Abidjan, the HERitage Collective a bold new platform to elevate African women’s leadership launched its first HER.Circle event. It wasn’t a conference. It wasn’t a panel. It was something else entirely.
Designed as an “alternative power space,” HER.Circle broke convention.
There were no formal panels or scripted speeches only candid, cross-sector dialogue anchored in a shared mission: closing the gap between access and ambition and positioning female leadership as central to Africa’s economic future.
“Across the continent, too many talented and ambitious African women are locked out of the strategic networks that unlock capital, mentorship, and influence. This isn’t just a social issue, it’s a missed investment opportunity and a structural inefficiency that holds back growth. The HERitage Collective is a direct response to an urgent market gap,” said Sally Nnamani, Co-Founder of the HERitage Collective.
Through HER.Circle, this platform convenes powerhouse women, emerging leaders, and male champions collaborating to build a pipeline of investable talent and accelerate inclusive leadership.
A Room Without Filters, But Full of Intention
The theme was clear:
“Power. Access. Influence: Closing the Gap Between Ambition & Access.”
Opening the evening was Huguette Umutoni, founder of N’gage Africa and co-founder of the Collective, who called for more than presence — called for bold authenticity and leadership.
“Our collaboration with HERitage Collective was a rare and powerful moment. Women were the majority in the room — We heard voices that are often left out of the conversation…” said Maëliss Blah of La Résidence Abidjan.
That evening, the room pulsed with an energy rarely felt — intentional, fierce, and quietly revolutionary.
And together, they centered around three strategic pillars:
- Visibility & Voice: Crafting Powerful Narratives
- Access & Exposure: Her Seat Isn’t Taken
- Capacity & Collective Growth: Lifting as We Rise
“We don’t need to be empowered, we need to be trusted, invested in, and heard…” said Fatima Soleiman, Co-Founder & CEO of Mr Roof Rwanda.
The Future is a Circle
HERitage Collective is a launchpad driven by a bold clarity of purpose:
- Getting women in rooms where decisions happen
- Democratizing access to expertise, mentorship, and capital
“This initiative celebrates power, purpose, and possibility. When African women rise, entire communities follow,” said Afetsi Awoonor of the Afetsi Awoonor Foundation.
From R&R Skincare to LYVV Cosmetics, female-led brands are investing in HER.Circle, as believers & to back that mindset, as sponsors.
“Any movement that champions women’s growth is a no-brainer for us,” said Valerie Obaze, CEO of R&R Skincare
And for Barry Johnson of 7 Generations Africa, this was legacy work:
“We’re building structures for African families to thrive for 100, even 200 years. HER.Circle is a powerful expression of that long-view leadership.”
This Is Just the Beginning.
With more editions of HER.Circle already in development across Africa, the HERitage Collective is expanding its reach bringing African women’s leadership to the forefront of every global conversation.
Missed HER.Circle Abidjan? Catch the highlights & hear directly from the Founders and Partners [here].