This is a huge GAP.

Over time, the lack of entrepreneurial education targeted towards young females within our education system has clearly contributed to less opportunity for equally driven, resilient and ambitious young females like myself, as programmes are not supporting us from the ground up. 

Sisterhood is transforming this narrative.

Sisterhood is a social enterprise that creates pathways for young women and gender-expansive youth to design their place in the world. One such pathway is Sisterhood Summer.

Sisterhood Summer is bringing entrepreneurial education to support the new generation of founders and has partnered with NatWest Thrive, who align with the ambition to empower young people with financial and entrepreneurial support. Personally, having the opportunity to take part in the programme has enabled me to speak to role models from numerous different companies and carry out meaningful activities that have shifted my mindset into owning the change-maker title.

This programme has had a powerful impact on myself and my fellow peers who are currently being nominated for various awards, winning grants and attending further opportunities to develop their business.

It’s amazing to see and experience my cohort levelling their futures even 6 months after the Sisterhood Summer programme.

Yet there is still a significant challenge for the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial education is often an optional or extra-curricular activity across universities and schools; and yet, there is enough research to show the transferrable skills entrepreneurship offers, whether you choose to start your own business or not.

In addition to this, the funding disparity between male and female entrepreneurs is well-known and documented. With female entrepreneurs receiving less than 2% of venture capital investments annually. This speaks volumes and explains why in the UK only 18% of UK business owners are female.

Subsequently, these disparities in funding start in girlhood rather than womanhood. Research suggests that boys on average, received £3 a week compared to girls who receive £2.50. Furthermore, a study from the University of Michigan found that 32% of parents believe that boys are better at sports than girls. Often, the root cause of the gender disparity occurs early in life, dictated by parental bias and unchallenged societal norms, having major impacts on female confidence and self-esteem.

Whilst Sisterhood is actively working on changing the cycle of this system, what they do offer are tools to overcome educational disparity.

 By empowering the next generation to turn their ideas into a reality by creating opportunities for building our network, learning to prototype, and to confidently pitch etc. Sisterhood has helped me to overcome my own barriers such as fostering growth via honest feedback that has helped me understand the process of improving via seeing new perspectives.

Combine this with the support we receive due to the partnership with NatWest Thrive - offering additional resources, access to mentors and opportunities beyond the programme from the wider NatWest ecosystem – demonstrating their commitment to closing the gender gap. Together, Sisterhood and NatWest Thrive create sustainable change and a more inclusive future.

Additionally, it’s the sense of community that is perhaps the more heartwarming and a pleasure to be a part of.   Through quarterly meetings to check-in on our progress and connect, sharing opportunities from the Sisterhood network regularly – the Sisterhood helps our professional journeys beyond the programme – and we all feel a genuine sense of care and support. This kind of support goes a long way and builds unmatched strength and resilience as we go forth and pave our own way. Sisterhood genuinely do what they say – paving the way for an inclusive, innovative and economically dynamic future for the next generation.

As an aspiring entrepreneur, this programme gave me the confidence to bring my ideas to life. From being mentored and advised by inspiring leaders to pitching in front of an audience was uplifting because my ideas felt within reach and achievable. I have since experienced a mindset shift and applied the self-belief practices I gained, such as entering competitions like the L’Oréal Brand Storm Challenge.

Since Sisterhood, I have seen a change in not only myself but all the other sisters, from having the courage to put ourselves out there and develop our personal brand on LinkedIn to having the confidence to seize opportunities that enhance our careers. For example, sister Oluferanmi Balogun has been awarded a grant for her business Room 2, which she developed at Sisterhood Summer, which provides hybrid working spaces for young people. Meanwhile, sister Nicole Phan has become an ACT finalist to receive funding for her business, and so many stories of the sisters are alike!

The statistics speak for themselves, after the programme:

• 100% felt empowered 
• 100% felt they can achieve what they want
• 95% feel comfortable in public speaking.

The list of achievements as a cohort in only 6 months demonstrates the profound impact of the Sisterhood. We are the future business leaders, and the skills we have gained will ripple through the workplaces we join, the initiatives we create, the way we step into leadership and through to future generations.

Providing young women with the right tools, mentorship and support creates change. Sisterhood has demonstrated the importance of investing in future founders to reshape communities and industries. We need more support to achieve this impact and enforce an equal entrepreneurial future and I would invite you to join and support their efforts to create an equal entrepreneurial future.

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