Debora Samatar

Pioneering Ethiopian entrepreneur empowering women through business

Debora Samatar (born 1972) is a visionary entrepreneur from Ethiopia who founded Dorcus Group in 1995, one of Africa's largest woman-owned businesses. Starting from a small handicraft stall in Addis Ababa, she built a multinational enterprise operating in 12 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Her company employs over 3,000 people, 80% of whom are women, creating economic opportunities in regions where women's entrepreneurship is severely underrepresented.

Samatar's Dorcus Group focuses on textile manufacturing, retail, and financial services. She pioneered the 'Women's Empowerment through Business' initiative that provides training and microloans to over 15,000 women annually. Her work has been recognized by the African Business Awards and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. In 2018, she launched the Dorcus Leadership Academy, offering free business education via an online platform accessible in 10 African languages.

Samatar's advocacy extends to policy-making: she advised the Ethiopian government on women's economic inclusion strategies and co-authored the 2020 National Women's Entrepreneurship Framework. Her TED Talk 'How to Build a Business That Builds Communities' has over 2 million views, inspiring global audiences.