Susan Wosene

Ethiopian entrepreneur who pioneered e-commerce for African women entrepreneurs

Susan Wosene is a visionary entrepreneur from Ethiopia who made a significant difference in the African business landscape through her groundbreaking work in e-commerce. Born in Addis Ababa in 1975, she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing global markets. This inspired her to create Women of Africa Marketplace in 1998 - the first online platform connecting African women artisans directly with international buyers. The platform now operates in 15 countries and has enabled over 50,000 artisans to earn sustainable incomes.

Her innovation in creating a culturally sensitive payment system using mobile money networks revolutionized transactions in regions without traditional banking infrastructure. Wosene's advocacy for digital inclusion led to partnerships with UN Women and the African Development Bank. She also founded the Pan-African Digital Literacy Initiative, training 200,000 women in tech skills since 2005. Her TED Talk 'The Power of Africa's Women Makers' has been viewed over 3 million times.

Wosene's work has been featured in Forbes Africa and Harvard Business Review. In 2010, she received the African Entrepreneur of the Year award from the World Economic Forum. Her latest venture, the EthioTech Hub, is building Africa's first AI-driven design platform for traditional crafts. Through her relentless efforts, Susan Wosene has transformed the economic prospects for countless women across the continent while preserving cultural heritage through modern technology.