In the world of African entrepreneurship, Yasmin Belo-Osagie has carved a path that defies convention and redefines what it means to create inclusive ecosystems for women in business.
Trained first as a lawyer and later as a management consultant, Belo-Osagie is best known as the co-founder of She Leads Africa (SLA), a pan-African social enterprise and media company that has become one of the most influential platforms supporting female entrepreneurs on the continent.
Her journey into entrepreneurship began with a desire to solve a gap she had seen repeatedly: the underrepresentation and underfunding of African women in business.
After working at McKinsey & Company and briefly studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Belo-Osagie pivoted from traditional career paths to tackle this challenge head-on.
In 2014, alongside co-founder Afua Osei, she launched She Leads Africa, a bold experiment that quickly grew into a global movement.
SLA provides resources, training, and digital content to millions of African women. Through its programs—such as the She Means Business partnership with Facebook and the Accelerator Program funded by development organizations and private sector partners—the company has supported thousands of women-led startups across diverse industries.
More than just a business incubator, SLA has evolved into a multimedia powerhouse, with its engaging content, masterclasses, and community-building efforts redefining how women access entrepreneurial education in Africa.
Belo-Osagie’s leadership has been recognized internationally. She has been featured in Forbes’ “20 Youngest Power Women in Africa” and was also listed on OkayAfrica’s 100 Women.
Her voice has resonated at global stages, from the World Economic Forum to the United Nations, where she continues to advocate for the economic empowerment of African women as a key driver of sustainable development.
Her entrepreneurial growth mirrors the evolution of SLA itself. What began as a small idea to host pitch competitions has expanded into an influential ecosystem where women from Lagos to Nairobi, Johannesburg to Accra, and even in diaspora hubs like London and New York, can access mentorship, funding opportunities, and skills development.
In doing so, Belo-Osagie has built more than a company—she has cultivated a movement that empowers women to see themselves not just as participants in the economy, but as leaders and innovators shaping its future.
Her impact lies not only in the businesses SLA has helped launch but also in the cultural shift it has sparked.
By normalizing the narrative of ambitious, entrepreneurial African women, Belo-Osagie has contributed to dismantling long-standing stereotypes about gender and leadership on the continent.
She embodies the new face of African business: globally educated, locally invested, and unapologetically committed to ensuring women thrive in boardrooms, markets, and innovation hubs alike.
As she continues to expand her reach—bridging technology, media, and education—Yasmin Belo-Osagie remains a testament to what is possible when vision and purpose intersect.
Her work underscores a truth that is increasingly evident: the future of African business is female, and through initiatives like She Leads Africa, that future is already being built.
Image credit: Metis Capital Partners
