EmpowerHER: Unveiling Stories of Women's Triumphs and Transformations

Dear Silverbacks Community,

Step into the heart of Silverbacks Valley, where we amplify the voices of innovators shaping Africa's future and showcase conversations with entrepreneurs driving progress in key fields like sports, technology, entertainment, and fashion. Through the spotlight on these pioneering leaders, we unveil the resilience, innovation, and limitless talent thriving within communities across the continent. Their success stories highlight the enormous promise and untapped potential that pave Africa's path forward.

Joyce Banda, the former President of Malawi, once said, "The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children." Our podcast echoes this sentiment by spotlighting women-led initiatives across Africa. We share inspiring tales and dialogues that honor the tenacity and inventive spirit of these women leaders, helping to foster a prosperous environment where women are pivotal in steering the continent's destiny.

Join us in this special edition of Silverbacks Valley as we celebrate International Women's Day (March 8) and shed light on the outstanding women entrepreneurs revolutionizing Sports, Tech, Entertainment & Media and Fashion. These trailblazers are not just breaking barriers—they're completely reshaping their industries. From the sports arenas to the runways, from the media studios to the stages, our guests are the forces pioneering innovation, inspiration, and profound impact.

Insights on a Media & Entertainment Odyssey:

Just in time for TODAY’s newsletter, Netflix announced that it will soon air Postcards, the new movie series of Filmmaker Hamisha Daryani Ahuja . Netflix who recently purchased the movie, made the announcement as it was celebrating this month the leading women movie directors of its ecosystem. Get the full story on https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-presents-a-slate-of-2024-films-and-series-from-women-filmmakers-from.

We honestly could not be more proud, as our parent company, Silverbacks Holdings, is an investor in Podcards. We will share more on this fast developing story in the coming days. In the meantime, we invite to discover Hamisha on our podcast show as she?shares the behind-the-scenes tale of her previous Netflix hit 'Namaste Wahala,' reflecting on her cinematic journey during the pandemic. Discover the dynamic world of storytelling with Hamisha in this insightful episode.

Lethabo Sithole , a lawyer and partner at the Impact Fund for African Creatives, shares the creative industry challenges hindering success, advocates for the better regulations under the AfCFTA and stronger intellectual property protection to enhance creative value. The space is in its early days on the continent and we should expect more surprises.

Pioneering Women in Sports Business

Gbemisola Abudu , the National Basketball Association (NBA) ’s Vice President and Country Head in Nigeria, views expanding basketball's influence as a national responsibility. She emphasizes its pivotal role in nation-building and envisions harnessing basketball programs to cultivate future leaders, spurred by the transformation witnessed in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Abudu anticipates a growing recognition among African governments of sports as a powerful catalyst for development, nation-building, and economic prosperity.

Michaella Rugwizangoga , Rwanda Development Board's Chief Tourism Officer, influenced by Germany's post-war nation branding, aspires to illuminate Africa's diverse allure globally. Michaella's vision extends beyond Rwanda, starting with hosting the 2023 World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit to put Africa's diverse attractions in the spotlight.

Brace yourself for an exhilarating foray into sports business with Sandrine Nzeukou, MBA , founder of Playbook, Africa's premier sports business platform. Sandrine strongly advocates for women and minorities to take ownership in sports and outlines her evolution from athlete to executive, revealing the inception and growth of Tessa Sports. Join us as she eloquently traces her transition from the locker room to the boardroom, painting a vivid narrative of her origin story and the transformative journey of into Sports.

Our host Ibrahim Sagna talks with the founding partners (and first check) of Cape Town Tigers, two standout women owners, Chante Butler , and Dia Martin, CFA . Chante, who serves as Chairperson, discusses the emotional significance of her role as a black female owner breaking boundaries and dreaming beyond reality, while Dia, who serves as CFO, addresses the expansive business potential of sports, highlighting diverse revenue streams through technology, fan engagement, merchandising, and fashion. Their leadership exemplifies the changing face of sports team ownership and serves as inspirational figures for others in the industry. They have enabled many business women to join their platform and benefit in particular from the backing of 'Tokunboh Ishmael, CFA , another powerful woman investor in the team and who serves as Strategic Advisor. It is not a secret that our parent company, Silverbacks Holdings, is a significant investor in this venture and a big fan of their work.

Women as Trailblazing Leaders in Africa's Technology Landscape

Discover Courtney Powell of 500Global? and her ascension from young team member to COO as a leading a venture capital powerhouse. She tackles biases in the VC ecosystem and emphasizes 500Global's commitment to inclusivity. The C suite of the firm is essentially all women. As an investor, Courtney sheds light on the importance of understanding both founder and investor perspectives and offers valuable insights to founders on adopting a customer-centric focus. Our parent company loves to co-invest and collaborate with 500Global.

Silverbacks Valley hosts Fope Adelowo , Co-Head of Venture Capital at Helios Investments Partners, who are the leading institutional investor in NBA Africa and Lexi Novitske, CFA , General Partner at Norrsken22. Fope reflects on her journey from a trained engineer to supporting tech founders in private equity and venture capital, while Lexi (for disclosure, a fund manager we have successfully backed in her previous life) shares her risk-taking experience that led to launching Norrsken22, addressing funding gaps in Series A and B startups in Africa. Together, they delve into breaking barriers, the importance of mentorship, and the evolution of women in finance, urging the next generation to shape new trends in Africa's venture capital ecosystem.

Explore the innovative world of fintech with Agnes Aistleitner Kisuule and Selma Ribica , founders of First Circle Capital. Uncover their unique investment approach, emphasizing access to a network of experts, and gain insights into their strategic focus on credit-led models and forward-thinking solutions for B2B and insurtech in the African market. Our parent company is joining the LP family of their new fund and remains a firm supporter of their work.

Biola Alabi , angel investor in Acasia Ventures , speaks about the symbiotic relationship between media and technology. Drawing on historical parallels, she emphasizes how media advancements drive technological progress, providing a unique perspective on the intertwined growth of technology, media, and capital ventures. For full disclosure, our parent company will be backing Biola and the Acasia team in their upcoming fund.

Ibrahim Sagna facilitates a dynamic discussion with influential venture capital leaders from Africa and the Middle East like Dina el-Shenoufy of Flat6Labs, Sara Enan of VentureSouq, and Mariam Kamel of LoftyInc Capital. We should mention that our parent company has been a long standing backer of Mariam’s fund management company. The conversation explores key insights, including the imperative of founder efficiencies, investment diversity, the nuanced contexts of African and Middle Eastern markets, and maintaining resilience through challenging times.

Reshaping African Fashion Narratives:

Tune into an episode where three extraordinary women redifine the African fashion landscape. Lulu Shabell , Founder and Chief Creativity Champion of LuluBell Group; Safiétou Seck , Founder & Director of the Senegalese fashion label Sarayaa; and Meron Demisse , Founder & CEO of Culture & Conversations on Africa share their inspiring journeys, intertwining culture and impactful dialogues. We are doing a lot with each of these three ladies and you should watch this space closely :)

Laureen Kouassi-Olsson , the visionary Founder and CEO of Birimian Ventures, champions African fashion and luxury ventures. She focusses on Africa’s exquisite craftsmanship and advocates for its recognition in the global narrative by highlighting the often-overlooked value in the production chain.

Join the conversation:

With 2 out 3 of our guests being women business leaders, you can rest assured that every month is pretty much Women Month at Silverbacks Valley!

Stay abreast and engaged with Silverbacks Valley's podcast, where we continue to amplify diverse voices and celebrate the dynamic spirit of Africa in sports, technology, media, entertainment, and fashion. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join more a community of over 12,000 subscribers and follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Anghami, and other streaming platforms to join the conversation and be part of our journey.

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