‘When we invest in one young woman, we touch many more lives’ – YSA Global opens Impact Circle Cohort 3

Fifty young women have been selected for a year-long leadership and career development programme organised by youth development NGO YSA Global (Young Smart Africa), bringing the total number of women enrolled in its Impact Circle initiative to 150 since its inception three cohorts ago.

The new Impact Circle Development Programme cohort pairs each participant with an experienced professional mentor. It also commits them to nine months of outreach in senior high schools, so the young women are expected to pass on what they learn, not just receive it.

Founder of YSA Global, Antoinette Gyan, an Internal Communication Consultant and Career Coach, said the programme’s ambition goes well beyond mentoring a set number of women each year.

“Our goal is not simply to mentor 50 young women every year. We want to build a community of women who are confident in their abilities, intentional about their careers and willing to create opportunities for others,” she said at the opening session.

“When we invest in one young woman, we create the potential to influence many more lives.”

Three months in the classroom, nine months in the community

Ms. Gyan explained that each cohort runs for a full year in two phases.

“The first three months focus on capacity development with speakers from Africa and beyond, while the remaining nine months provide opportunities for community outreach and engagement, particularly in senior high schools,” she said.

At the centre of the programme is a mentor-matching scheme that links participants with professionals in seven fields. These are Technology and Innovation; Business and Entrepreneurship; Health and Social Impact; Communication and Creative Industries; Finance, Economics and Consulting; Sustainability and Climate Action; and Law, Policy and Governance.

The scheme gives the women direct access to industry guidance and networks connected to their career goals.

Ms. Gyan opened the session with a reflective conversation on the theme, “Seizing the Moment.”

“Everything has a season, and you should know the season you are in,” she told the participants.

She used the picture of young birds learning to fly to explain that every stage of life brings its own work of reflection, preparation, learning and growth.

“Like a bird learning to fly, every season of life brings its own opportunity to reflect, to prepare, to learn and to grow. Know your season, make the most of it and take responsibility for your next step,” she said.

Participants were asked to name the season they were in and the steps they needed to take to move forward.

In a financial literacy session, Priscilla E. Onyameama, Partnership Lead at Built Financial Technologies, urged the women to build healthy money habits early in their careers.

“Before you can plan, you must know exactly where you stand financially. Draw up a realistic budget, save consistently and set goals you can actually achieve,” she said.

She encouraged participants to explore more than one source of income, track their spending and think carefully before taking on debt.

Drawing on her own experience of managing money while living in Accra, she warned that small decisions add up.

“The everyday choices you make about money, what you buy, what you borrow, what you put aside, will shape your financial stability in the long run,” she said.

Certificates alone will not get you hired

Human Resource Manager Gloria Awurama Nartey, who has more than a decade of experience in the field, told the young women that employers look beyond academic results.

“Your qualifications may get you through the door, but your attitude, your conduct and your willingness to learn are what keep you there,” she said.

She listed punctuality, professional communication, workplace etiquette, adaptability and accountability as the qualities that set young professionals apart.

“Employers notice the person who shows up on time, communicates properly and takes responsibility for their work,” she added.

Participants used the interactive session to ask about recruitment processes, career decisions and how to handle expectations in different workplaces.

Communication coach Comfort Doe led a practical session on public speaking. She cautioned the women that audiences judge the speaker before they judge the message.

“People form an impression of you before they fully engage with what you are saying. If your audience does not find you credible, your message will struggle to land,” she said.

Her session focused on five elements of effective communication: clarity, structure, confidence, connection and credibility. Participants practised organising a presentation, capturing attention, maintaining eye contact and delivering with confidence, and the session closed with a live demonstration.

Alumni: from fear of the microphone to advocacy platforms

Two alumni from the second cohort, Esther Agyei and Precious Ofori, shared how the programme had shaped them.

“We have grown tremendously and built strong networks in the Impact Circle programme,” Ms Agyei said.

According to YSA Global, some members of the second cohort have overcome their fear of public speaking and developed stronger critical thinking and leadership skills. Others have started advocacy platforms on social media to raise awareness about issues they care about, reaching audiences beyond their own communities.

Several have gone on to further education, career advancement and leadership roles.

YSA Global (Young Smart Africa) is a youth development NGO that prepares young Africans for the future through leadership development, mentorship, career readiness and community engagement. It says its work aims to bridge the gap between what young people learn in school and the practical skills, networks and experience they need to succeed.

Its flagship initiatives are Impact Circle, a leadership and career programme for young women; Groundwork, a youth workforce readiness conference that connects young people with industry professionals and mentors; and Femme Retreat, a wellness and mental health retreat for young women.