PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS®

Did you know that an estimated 6%-7% of full-time workers in the US experience major depression, costing employers an estimated $44 billion per year in lost production time? Joy Gihana is the Founder and CEO of Family Life and Beyond and holds a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. You will get many tips for handling the stress of COVID and everyday life. www.TrailBlazersImpact

Are you courageous? Imagine yourself walking down a street in Afghanistan. You have to be accompanied by a male relative. As you walk along, the potential of a bomb exploding is very real. How do you economically and socially empower oppressed women? Education. By arming women with knowledge, they are able to develop themselves and their households. Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai has a passion that continues driving through adversity again and again. She’s lived under the Taliban regime in Pakistan, she has provided training programs and opportunities for women in Afghanistan. She has tried and failed and gotten up again to try another avenue. Her latest venture is Eagle Online Academy, which is a nonprofit organization offering quality, flexible online educational programs globally. She feels that a good quality education can be life-changing for girls and women giving them marketable skills.  www.TrailBlazersImpact.com   

Dr. Sharifa Hesarnaee of Kabul, Afghanistan, tells about struggling to maintain the OB/GYN department in a Kabul hospital dealing with both COVID-19 and a horrific terrorist attack on the hospital. Dr. Susan Chambers of Oklahoma City, OK, is her mentor who has continued to be a friend to Sharifa during all this as well as work herself in a hospital in the United States during COVID. You will get a feeling of what they mean by "security" being their biggest worry. The comparison of the environments is a "must listen!"

Barbara Crain, along with her husband, pioneered grass-fed dairy and beef in the state of Oklahoma. Together they have taken a tired, underproducing wheat farm and turned it into a profitable, environmentally responsible value-added grass-fed dairy farm. They began dairy farming in 1991 and built the processing plant in 2005 so they could process their own milk. Barbara oversees manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of all the products. She would like to be an example of how a small farm can be profitable, sustainable, and a viable option for the next generation. Barbara has hosted PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® women from both Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Michel Buthion is considered a fine food and wine aficionado not just in Oklahoma, but around the globe. Other ventures have included turning a vintage theatre into a dining and event center, building and managing the first boutique hotel food and beverage concept in the City, taking over a favorite Italian eatery in town, and finally, developing and managing that long dreamed of saloon and chop house in Stockyards City. At the same time, La Baguette Bistro has grown into a full bar and dining room anchored by their own butchery, bakery, and fine wine store. Hear about the fun events he orchestrated to keep his business alive during COVID-19!

Manizha Wafeq graduated from the inaugural PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® class in 2007 and is currently teaching her 13th year of the program in Kabul as the In-Country Facilitator for Afghanistan. In this role, she has taught and mentored more than 400 Afghan businesswomen in Kabul and other smaller provinces. She tells us what is happening in Afghanistan with the hospital attack and the coronavirus. LISTEN to her full story on Episode 7 of Peace Through Business Podcast.

Ms. Mohseni Saqeb is the Founder and President of Jama Saqeb Design and Production Company in Afghanistan. She is a skilled business woman with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Jama's products in the clothing design sector combine new, classic and local designs such as formal, local and traditional clothing, handbags, pillow covers and mobile phones with new, classic and local designs. The company now provides services in different provinces and countries in America, Australia, Europe and Asia.

Ep. 35 - Florence Isaro is a passionate linguist who works as a translator with two bachelor’s degrees, one in Political Science and one in English-French translation. As an adult in Rwanda, she has seen firsthand how challenging it is for parents to get their children to and from the public library. Her very inspiring objective for her business, Books and Brains Ltd. is to create an enterprise that will not only help kids discover the power of books but will also make those books more accessible to those children who don’t have the luxury of a public library in their neighborhood.

Barbara Umuhoza is a pastor and the owner of Eclat Communications. She’s particularly dedicated to helping her country become a regional conference hub for east Africa. Her company has a wide spread of services, such as translation, content production, and social media usage. She talks about how COVID has changed the pastoral mission. She also has a new television station channel! LISTEN to her full episode 16 on Peace Through Business podcast.

After a long career in the fashion industry, Sylvia Scott was ready for a career pivot. New work led her to coordinating a mother-daughter entrepreneurship summit, and it was the springboard for a desire to help teen girls find a path to entrepreneurship. Her organization, the Girls CEO Connection, offers coaching, mentoring, and regular conferences that connect girls with business leaders and training in how to own their success. Her help hasn’t stopped there, as she also has been connected with women in Afghanistan through the Peace Through Business program. She has been moved by the women’s sacrifices and commitment to building a future in the war-plagued nation. Shop on our site for her book, Realizing a Vision, Your Toolkit for Success.

As president of Funds for Learning, Cathy Cruzan leads her the consultancy in assisting schools and libraries navigate the E-rate program, a critical source of discounts on Internet services. She has a broad portfolio at the company, overseeing their various business efforts. With this experience, she was an ideal mentor for the Peace Through Business program, where she was embraced the role of guiding rising business leaders from Rwanda in how to find success and grow their business. In this podcast she discusses the heartbreak of those whose families were killed in the Rwandan genocide. Yet lasting bonds were formed over the shared experiences and challenges these women shared with those everywhere who enter business.

Alyssa Weathers-Murphy knows the dread of an unfulfilling corporate job. One day, it was finally time to put her considerable skills and passion to use on her own business, striking out to launch her own marketing agency. Nearly a year later, Siren Media is growing fast with an all-female team of close-knit creatives who help small businesses tell their stories and build success. Her team offers graphic and web design, social media content, search engine marketing, and other key services to a diverse client base. A third-generation small business owner, Weathers-Murphy shares her journey and strategies for how women can self-advocate and support others in their networks.

After Ginger Sloan had her first daughter, she was determined to work from home. On a whim, she answered a radio ad to become a medical transcriptionist, quickly finishing coursework and embarking on a new career. She grew a solo operation into Encore Medical Services, with a team of transcriptionists providing medical clients with rapid turnaround for their transcription needs. She’s learned the ups and downs of being a woman in the business world, gaining diligence in who to connect with for growing a business. Sloan shares these tips and more with businesswomen from Rwanda and Afghanistan through the Peace Through Business program. She cherishes these experiences and has much to share how she’s connected with these women through their shared experiences.

Hair Salon owner Jan Hill spent years building a successful business and helping her employees achieve success. However, after contracting an illness that resulted in the loss of using her hands, she couldn’t do hairdresser work any longer. While she could still run the business, Hill wanted to channel energy elsewhere. She was connected to the Peace Through Business program, and encountered the life-changing experience of mentoring women from Rwanda. She’s worked on helping women gain business strategy skills, but more importantly she learned as much about their resilience and the connections that can occur across cultures.

Sonu Ratra embodies the immigrant dream of coming to America and seeking success. She arrived from her native India with a pair of suitcases and just the money in her pockets as she and her husband came to chase new opportunities in the 90s in California’s Silicon Valley. Ratra recounts the journey that culminated in her founding of Akraya, a leader in IT consulting and digital enterprise staffing. Her company’s Women Back to Work program also helps companies tap into the overlooked talent pool of women returning to work after an absence. Ratra details her considerable effort at supporting women in business, including the Peace Through Business initiative.

Business success isn’t built on just hoping for the right outcome. That’s why consultant Angelika Coughlan is always telling her clients to burn that bridge of hope. Entrepreneurs must do the hard work of understanding who their customers are and what they care about. One of her most satisfying experiences with that message is extending it to women business owners in Rwanda with the Peace Through Business program. Through this mentorship she’s been inspired by how they take on challenging circumstances and reach new heights for the companies they’re building. Through her company The Success Catalyst, she’s always offering that spark of inspiration to her clients, pushing them to focus on what leads to success.

Mary Ruppert-Stroescu believes clothing can play a role in improving health outcomes. A longtime fashion designer, she is passionate about the potential for EKG and other types of monitoring systems to be embedded in clothing, delivering better information to patients and doctors. She designed and manufactured her own clothing and owned a small boutique in Paris for years, part of her lifelong passion for fashion and design. She brings that experience to the Peace Through Business program, mentoring women in industry strategy and helping them build up marketing skills. The women from Rwanda and Afghanistan inject new ideas to her work, regularly inspiring her with their strengths.

As editor and publisher of Enterprising Women Magazine, Monica Smiley knows the challenges women face in business. Yet what she’s seen here in the U.S. pales to the experiences of female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Their resilience and ability to succeed, however, leaves her continually inspired. Through her work with the Peace Through Business program, she’s helped mentor women through the unique challenges they face in their home country. In Afghanistan, women must still deal with the Taliban and major barriers to entry. In Rwanda, women are embracing technology and playing a pivotal role in rebuilding the country, though gender stereotypes remain. Learn more about these moving stories and how these women are ‘holding up the sky.’

The Peace Through Business program provides women from Rwanda and Afghanistan with the essential skills they need to unleash their entrepreneurial potential. Karel Ford directs the mentorship side with the initiative, pairing up U.S.-based business leaders with women who are launching and building businesses, often in challenging and sometimes dangerous, circumstances. Ford describes how the women who enter the program thrive, building stronger partnerships with their American counterparts and expanding their networks in their home countries. Graduates have embraced challenges such as helping women arrested for selling their goods on the street by taking them under their wing to build legitimate businesses. She is continually inspired by how they are transforming their world.

Karel Ford wants to see women worldwide have the freedom and skills to start their own businesses. This is why she heads the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, where she and her team mentor women in Rwanda and Afghanistan giving them valuable entrepreneurship skills to help them find success in their home country. Women in the program learn critical skills to launch their business, nurture its growth, and work within their political systems to achieve lasting change. Ford describes the lifelong bonds formed through mentorship training and seeing the women build up their careers and communities, driving a female-powered future.

Princesses Umuntesiwase always got pushack from her brothers about how much she would be able to accomplish as a girl. Proving them wrong became paramount, and she worked hard through school to earn a scholarship at a university in Nairobi, then landing a job at the central bank of Rwanda. Yet the tug was strong for another achievement — owning her own business. With Legacy Brands, she has created a business with a vast variety of services, everything from branding and publishing to event management. A steady part of her business is renting cars, with the Kenyan, Moroccan, and Ugandan embassies as clients. Despite her earlier experience with her brothers, she came to earn their respect. Her goal is to make documentaries, especially about Rwanda, and to share with the world how her country is a beautiful place that has overcome its past and has much to offer for the future. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

For Chandelle Mutezintare, it wasn’t always clear how she would break out of the traditional gender roles and one day own a business. With a young child and husband, she began going to school at night even though it at first caused friction at home. She was also met with unapproving professors who thought business wasn’t the place for her. She pushed through, gaining her husband’s support and getting a job at an internet service provider. Over time, Mutezintare found herself not getting the credit as the other men, and saw she could run such a business herself. She continued to pick up the skills she needed and made the leap. Today, she’s the owner of 4NetAfrica Ltd, which provides internet service and helps Rwandan businesses develop their online presence. She has ten full-time employees and about another 20 who do work for her throughout the country. The path to success was jagged, as just a few years ago she was worried she wouldn’t make it in such a male-dominated field. But she found the right mentor, continued to learn, and pressed ahead. She wants to use her experiences to help the next generation of women of women believe they can enter the workforce, own businesses, and work in whichever field they choose. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Diane Murkatete discovered the key to her success through trial and error. Her family was always focused on agriculture, and after a career in government service she and her husband decided to give farming a go. They purchased a large plot of land, hopeful to build a future for their four kids and to try something new after 15 years as a tax auditor.. When harvesting sweet potatoes she grew, it turned out they weren’t great for eating but made exceptional bread and biscuits. Through her company GMDI Investment LTD, she sells plenty of bread and sweet potatoes for others to make it as well. Murekatete is passionate about her community seeing the health benefits, as sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins. She also wants her entrepreneurism to be an example to girls and women in Rwanda. She’s optimistic about the future, as the government and wider society are showing they want a future of strong women, too. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Like many families during the Rwandan genocide Asterie “Asty” Hitimana’s fleed to escape the violence, returning later to try and rebuild their lives and country. Growing up, Hitimana hada passion for fashion and design, dressing up dolls and helping her mom as she made clothing for the family of 12 children. Hitimana has taken that childhood passion and succeeded at turning it into a business. Her store, Twinkle by Asty, creates clothing for clients not only in Rwanda, but the U.S. and Europe. She handles the design, and hires other women who make the clothing for customers. She speaks about her passion for Rwanda and inspiring other women and girls that they can have a future for themselves in business. She takes great pride in that her products are made in Rwanda — many are still just warming to the idea of buying something made in their own country. With this success, Hitimana hopes her sisters will also take notice of what she has achieved and embrace the belief that they can accomplish whatever they may dream of. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Being a businesswoman in Afghanistan isn’t easy, according to Sona Mahmody. She’s the owner of Rumi Trading LLC, a business that helps Afghan women export dried fruit, saffron, and nuts to eastern markets, with a goal of eventually expanding to the U.S. and Europe. The aim of her business is to promote the Afghan agricultural sector and its products, which has often been overlooked and had to break through in a difficult market. Her products come about from a combination of her own efforts and the larger agricultural community - she grows, harvests, and processes saffron, and exports dried fruit and nuts grown from local farmers. Originally, her family was wary of her going into business given many of the long standing beliefs about women undertaking such an initiative. However she received support from her husband after getting married, and they saved money to start the business together. The cultural and safety challenges are formidable — a friend saw their business destroyed from a terrorist bombing. Mahmody won’t travel without a male family member to ensure she’s protected from the Taliban. Misunderstanding is global, though, as many of her Afghanistan colleagues weren’t granted visas to attend the Peace Through Business conference. Yet the sacrifice is worth it, as she’s passionate about modeling how a woman can achieve and showcasing the products from her country. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Growing up, Aisha Haguma had to do a lot of fending for herself. She lost her parents in the Rwanda genocide, and lived with her aunt and extended family. Yet that experience gave her the strength and courage to be independent. She’s grown into an entrepreneur as the owner of a supermarket, Alimentation Le Panier. The spark for beginning her own journey to entrepreneurship was trips to Dubai, where she was enamored with the clothing and began to sell items that she purchased on the journey there. After this taste of success, she launched her own supermarket, growing the store’s inventory and adding a bakery and butcher. Talking to customers and continually asking how her store can serve them creates a personal touch and sense of connection to the community. She credits the Peace Through Business program as being another source of motivation and practical strategies for improving her business strategy. Much of her support also comes from her husband, who fully backs her business goals and independence. Haguma also shares thoughts on work-life balance and why she works at home when her children aren’t in school to better spend time with them. In total, her strong Christian faith and desire to make things happen instead of waiting for them continues to drive her forward. She believes that women can have a bright future in Rwanda, and she wants to be an example and mentor. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Deep and meaningful conversation is at the core of what Barbara Umuhoza believes can connect and heal others. This vision drove her as a pastor and has been continued with her as the business owner of Eclat Communications. With her pastoral background, integrity is essential to how she runs this firm, which is dedicated to helping with their marketing and promotional strategy. She’s particularly dedicated to helping her country become a regional conference hub for east Africa. Her company has a wide spread of services, such as translation, content production, and social media usage. Umuhoza describes hos she’s keen to the change in her country, with more women attending university and pursuing a business career. While some old attitudes remain, she’s hopeful for a wider cultural shift and encouraged by the president and first lady of Rwanda’s support for women. She’s seen the change in her own family — her husband was supportive of a time she walked away from a job, while her father was more skeptical. Umuhoza also offers a perspective on the Rwanda genocide. With this retelling, she frames the context for younger generations, which she hopes will sustain the vision for the Rwanda they wish to build. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

As a child, Angel Mutoni admired her father’s musical talents. It was one of many sources of connection she clung to in her childhood as she coped with the loss of her mother. Mutoni’s father released an album and did a number of performances during those years, while also giving the family a rich experience of living abroad and a stint as a diplomat in Canada. Even with his encouragement, it would be a while before Mutoni would embrace her own talents and become an artist in her own right. Her career is young, and she’s used social media and music platforms like Spotify to promote her work. With that experience, she wants to help connect other artists who have their own ambitions. Her startup seeks to help artists find gigs and publicity for their talent. Connecting with artistic women is the key to fostering a community, so she’s started a collective of women artists so that they can help each other to be independent and continue to promote their work. She encourages other women to understand that they can make music and art their career — it doesn’t need to only be a side ambition. She’s passionate about fostering this connection through sponsoring a women’s event, bringing in artists to perform and providing resources for women to build careers through the arts. There’s a strong music scene in east Africa, and she’s excited to support the growth of women artists. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Freshta Sarwaree has an immense passion to build economic security and independence for women in Afghanistan. She does this through her business and school, building a support network for the women in her community.. Sarwaree’s company, Green Choice, provides processed food, fruit, and spices for her customers. She has an all-women team, part of her desire to build women's independence and sense of purpose in the workforce. Her life experience is a true asset to her community. She lived with her husband in Japan for graduate school, and while there she observed how Japan runs its kindergartens and sought to emulate the model for her students. The school has children in range from three months to six-years-old, providing a comprehensive school experience and child care setting for the students. The school has ten teachers and employs cooks, drivers, and security. The latter remains a concern, as the return of the Taliban would be a devastating setback. Her husband, an engineer, is a strong source of support in her goal to raise women’s profile and create a stronger foundation for the future. With a six-year-old daughter, Sarwaree is determined the work she is doing will help create an Afghanistan where women are welcome and able to succeed. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Frida Kansime was only three years old when her family was forced to flee due to the Rwandan genocide. When her family returned, she learned she had lost her grandmother and other members of her family. With her close family and support system, she was able to build a life through achievement at university, culminating with an MBA. After spending time in the workforce, she reached a point where she grew tired of her job and knew it was time for a new opportunity. At only 28 years old, she is the owner of Eclipse LTD, which provides electronic security systems and fire alarm systems for residents, hotels, and businesses. With her four employees, she takes great pride in what she’s built and how hard her team works together. She wants her success as a businesswoman to be an inspiration to other girls and women who dream of owning their own company. Her ambitions are big — growing to be a leading security company in East Africa with an eye towards expanding to other countries. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Nazila Kakar is realizing the dream of being a woman business owner in Afghanistan. She’s tapped into the agricultural resources of the country to build a food company, producing yogurt, cheese, butter, james, and pickles. Her mom made jams and pickles when she was young, and it’s been satisfying to transform that into a sustainable business. Like many women business owners in Afghanistan, she faces challenges acquiring credit and battling bias against women in the workforce. She’s sought to differentiate her business through natural, high quality offerings and a growing reputation with her customers. Along with growing her business to other cities in Afghanistan, her aim is to inspire young girls with a message of focusing on their vision to be independent and to fight for what they want. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Yvette Muhayemariya is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, losing many members of her family. As time went on, she found a sense of purpose in creating her own identity and owning her future by starting her own business. It grew out of struggle she experienced when building her home, realizing a need for businesses that sold construction materials. While her business has grown, it’s had a set of challenges such as ensuring suppliers deliver on time and taking a chance on customers by extending credit. She plans to expand her supplier base as part of her efforts to keep the business growing. Her success is an example to her three children, showing her daughter a woman can succeed by working hard and being focused on her goals. She hopes her sons will respect women and understand girls can succeed, just like boys. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/    

Agnes Muhanus owns Nova Coffee, which is grown in the volcanic regions of Rwanda. As a mom to four children, she is an example to her family about how a woman can build a successful business and make her own path. Her husband offers advice on agriculture, and is sometimes needed for obtaining credit due to existing cultural attitudes about lending solely to women. Yet the business is going strong, selling coffee to European, Asian, and American markets. The coffee off season doesn’t stop her, as she sells jewelry from a network of suppliers who hand make the merchandise to support their families. In this and her coffee business, she is constantly supporting women who want to get ahead and build themselves up. She’s open about the challenges of having a women-led business in Rwanda, but wants to keep speaking out and empowering women in her country to chase their dreams. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/    

From an early age Umutasha Ruzibuka developed an eye for clothing and fashion from a family housemaid in Rwanda. As a little girl she was able to model to experience how clothing can powerfully shape how one feels. This experience stuck with her, and she would develop a passion for clothing and helping other women by founding Ki-pepeo Kids Clothing, a children’s apparel store with a focus on fashionable options for kids and empowering female employees to build greater autonomy with their career. She mentors her team in tailoring skills and helping them find success in the workforce, as many women in Rwanda must really push to make their way into a professional industry. Ruzibuka also has ambitions to grow the business beyond the small group of tailors into a larger operation with a full-blown factory. Anyone can buy Ki-pepeo Kids clothing online, but she hopes to make it them available through Amazon. It’s part of her desire to build a sustainable company that empowers women with confidence and long-term skills for success. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Rachel Kakize saw a problem that needed to be fixed. After high school she started working in the medical field and noticed a regular lack of essential supplies available. She was inspired to take action by forming her own medical supply company, PrimeMad Technologies LTD. As a Rwanda businesswoman, she speaks about the hope she has for her country and the role she is playing in helping to rebuild the nation's structure after the horrors of the genocide. As a businesswoman, she is playing a leading role and hopes to inspire future generations. A wife and mother of three sons, she’s committed to being a part of a peaceful and successful Rwanda. To build up the success of her company, she continually works at creating a more efficient supply chain and building long-standing relationships with her contractors. When it comes to future growth, her ambition is to have her own manufacturing plant to close the time gap in ordering equipment and having it delivered to customers in a timely manner. As the medical field grows in Rwanda, she plans to be a part of a better future. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot Trailblazers and Trendsetters: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Menizha Wafeqh was raised by her parents to believe that women could be strong, confident, and achieve great things. She’s put that ethos to work in her life as an advocate for women in her native Afghanistan, who often face discrimination. Wafeqh is the co-founder and president of Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which supports women in their entrepreneurial pursuits. She has spent almost two decades working with governments to assist women in business, leading seminars for how women can forge ahead, and training men to be allies. Her journey saw the struggles that women still face in Afghanistan, with many men she’s encountered still believing that women don’t belong in the working world or shouldn’t have equal access. Much of her work involves debunking this thinking misconceptions regarding Islam and the role of women. Through the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS PROGRAM®, she has been an ally for training women to pursue business opportunities in Afghanistan and changing the narrative about what women can achieve. Her goal is that Afghan women will continue to move from just being economic beneficiaries to economic actors who drive change and opportunity. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

The start to young Jeannette Gakwandi’s life was beyond tragic - her parents and siblings were killed in the Rwanda genocide. It was the remainder of her fractured family who sustained her and nourished her to find a path forward. While much of her story is painful, Gakwandi’s inner strength is palpable in this interview. One way to overcome her experience was a vow one day build a house of her own. Her ambition then grew to make this skill a livelihood, slowly and meticulously learning the trade of construction and building her own business. Her company now has several employees and contractors working to advance housing in Rwanda. Being a woman in housing construction has come with many challenges — some men have refused to work with her, and she must continually assert herself to keep the business moving forward. It took a lot of scrambling for resources and learning skills on the fly, but today she has a steady business with an eye towards further expansion. Her message to young girls is to not be afraid to tackle industries that have traditionally been closed to them. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Chantal Munanayire lost her mother, sisters, and other members of her family in the Rwanda genocide. Yet she was determined to build a life and overcome the tragedy, doing so in a society where women have to work extremely hard to enter into business and entrepreneurship. In this episode she describes how a typical happenstance, the need to fix her car, became the catalyst she needed to move forward with building a business. Chantal became a female repair garage owner — extremely rare in Rwanda at the time. This was the start of a remarkable turning point in her life, as she went on to build a successful business and was elected as the first woman president of the Rwanda Garage Association. Chantal was also honored by the American Embassy as a Woman of Courage for her entrepreneurial contributions and leadership. She remains committed to being a model to low-income women and girls, who can look up to a powerful and strong example of leadership and courage. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Hasina Aimaq’s father died in Afghanistan, leaving his wife and a daughter. Girls were not allowed to go to school or study under the Taliban. Her mother took her to a house who taught children and always hid Hasina under her burqa since both would have been killed if discovered. She talks about how men feared educating women because “they might not listen to us anymore.” Finally, when the Taliban left, she was able to go to school. her mother sat outside the school gate all day for 12 years, waiting for Hasina. At one point, she raised her burqa to see and “they beat her with wooden things.” Hasina says her mother is her role model. Hasina now has a food business, specializing in selling desserts her mother makes. If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Judith Mutamba recalls at a very early age losing her father and four siblings due to the uprising in Rwanda. She wanted to be in Rwanda and wanted Rwanda to be free, so at a young age she was one of the first to to join the fighting. She heard that if you got training, the instructor would make you his wife. They thought she had served in the military in Uganda, but instead she trained herself and “added some age” to her 14 years so she would be accepted. It was guerilla fighting with hand-to-hand combat. Eventually she became company commander and then captain. After the war, she was the only woman who received a medal and was the best in the training and one of the best fighters in the infantry. She always competed with men. After leaving the military, she started a church in Rwanda with now more than 100 people. Through the church, Judith trains women to empower themselves. Judith also owns a tour company called Amazing Eco-Africa. Today, she knows “we are all Rwandans.” If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

When attending the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS PROGRAM® training sponsored by the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, podcast host Nan McKay intended to record an episode with the organization’s founder and then return back to her regular schedule with the Trailblazers Impact podcast. Instead she met so many inspiring women who had overcome life-shattering tragedy, she was compelled to tell their stories. The business women are connected with a mentor who equips them with leadership and entrepreneurial principles to excel in their home countries of Afghanistan and Rwanda. The program has trained over 755 business leaders, who are responsible for more than 16,000 employees. This episode introduces listeners to the work of the IEEW and discusses how the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS PROGRAM® is empowering women to be entrepreneurs and leaders in their fields.   If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/

Terry Neese is a prolific entrepreneur who is dedicated to mentoring women both locally and abroad in starting their own businesses and turning their ambitions into reality. As founder of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW), her organization has grown a network of women business owners in Afghanistan and Rwanda who are provided with leadership skills and business strategies to reach their goals. In this episode, Neese talks about her Oklahoma upbringing and what she learned about the value of hard work and honesty on her parents’ farm. Her passion and commitment to hard work led her to several successes, such as founding Neese Personnel in 1975, an Oklahoma City staffing agency. Her advocacy and philanthropic work in business led to a call from The White House, and the inspiration to create IEEW to help women in the developing world develop business strategies and advocate for policy change with local governments. Neese shares why passion is at the heart of any successful entrepreneurial endeavor, and what it takes to create large-scale change for women in business. Please visit our website for more inspiring stories: www.TrailBlazersImpact.com/peacethroughbusiness and FOLLOW US! If you liked what you heard, please hit the SHARE button above and share this episode with your network! Subscribe to our email list to get all our latest podcasts directly to your inbox: http://bit.ly/2ZBeoW9 Did this episode get you thinking? Please share your thoughts with us at hello@trailblazersimpact.com Keep in touch with Trailblazers Impact here: Twitter: @TrailblzrsImpct Facebook: @TrailBlazersImpact Instagram: @trailblazersimpact LinkedIn: TrailBlazers Impact Podcast Rated #27 in Pretty Progressive: https://prettyprogressive.com/inspiring-podcasts-for-women-in-their-20s/ Rated #2 in Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/trailblazers_podcasts/