Our Purpose
Lead by example
Inspire with grace
Facilitate with humility
Empower with purpose
Try to live your life in a way that you will not regret years of useless virtue, aimless inertia, and timidity. Take up the battle, take it up! It’s yours, this is your life, this is your world. I am a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal Woman, that’s me.
Maya Angelou
OUR OWN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
A nation’s reputation is intrinsically linked to its economic fortunes and international standing. It can attract people and money through foreign investment, trade, tourism, as well as provide ‘soft power’ in the shape of political, diplomatic and cultural leverage. We empower our partners to collectively campaign for our own public diplomacy.
H.E. Dominique Ouattara, First Lady Côte d’Ivoire
OUR NARRATIVE
For too long, women have struggled to overturn outdated, negative images, or reputations created through fear and ignorance. Today’s world has a plethora of organizations, goodwill and latent energy, but the challenge remains a towering one.
W/U provides a unique and exciting platform for every right-minded, well-intentioned, motivated person to contribute to building an ethical, balanced, and equitable society.
First Lady of Sierra Leone, H.E. Fatima Maada Bio, W/U International Spokesperson
First Lady of Republic of Congo, H.E. Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, W/U Patroness
THE POWER OF A
STORY
Before technology our ancestors used to gather around the fire and tell stories. They shared ancient tales of wisdom and folklore. Through stories we create a sense of purpose and educate one another about our history and our destiny. Today our storytelling has become more sophisticated and the community we share is now a global one.
Yet, the power of the story remains. W/U supports and amplifies women leaders who articulate their vision in empowering and exciting ways in order to set a powerful and compelling vision for the future through the Malkia Podcast.
Listen to our stories here
RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
W/U leverages responsible leadership from a network of influencers who have the power to raise their collective voices to deliver their own and narrative and drive change. We provide a prestigious platform and a global community space whereby W/U members’ ideas, experiences, existing and new initiatives and opportunities can be shared. Through our internal information exchange and organizational framework, members can exert a force multiplier effect for the communications and implementation of selected projects.
First Lady of Nigeria H.E. Aisha Buhari discussing with the First Lady of Namibia, H.E. Monica Geingos during the high level meeting of African First Ladies as one of the side events of the General Assembly of the United Nations Head quarters, New York, U.S.A.
W/U Founder and Executive Director, Deborah Mwamba and Dr. Hoda Galal Yassa, President of AWIU in Cairo, Egypt
ARAB WOMEN INVESTORS UNION
W/U synergy is multi-level and multi-directional. Through a strategic association with the Arab Women Investors Union and the one-on-one relationships with the most powerful women in the Middle East W/U gets things done including raising interest and funds for projects and initiatives. Importantly, the influence of these well-placed, powerful women will extend to policy and decision making at the highest levels in their countries.
ORGANIZATION OF AFRICA’S FIRST LADIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
The close strategic link between W/U and the First Ladies of Africa creates a unique fit-for-purpose partnership to rapidly impact socio-economic challenges through solutions. Through our direct access to social media and communications power-houses, W/U transmits its messages instantly.