A Ghanaian entrepeneur, Mrs. Yawa Hansen-Quao has been awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship chaired by former US Secretary of State General (Rtd.) Colin Powell. 

Yawa Hansen Quao leads a nonprofit organization that provides capacity building centered on entrepreneurship and employability to more than 800 girls. For the past six years, the Leading Ladies Network has nurtured an ecosystem of women and girls who have ambitious goals, strong character and resolve, as well as immense curiosity and the drive to improve the world. 

Beyond Ghana, Hansen Quao’s organization also reaches out to support women-led and women-owned businesses in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. In addition to being an author, speaker and leadership consultant, Mrs. Hansen-Quao served for three years on the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community; and is a current member of the Board of Directors of Ashesi University College; a leading liberal arts university in Accra, Ghana.

Eisenhower Fellows are exceptional leaders in their countries, representing a diverse mix of private, public and NGO sectors. Although diverse in background and interests, each of them has demonstrated leadership ability and a commitment to better their communities and advance their professional disciplines as a result of the fellowship. As an Eisenhower Fellow, Yawa will travel independently around the United States meeting with relevant experts, professionals and leaders that will help her identify and take steps to implement concrete plans that can increase her impact once she returns home.

The Eisenhower Fellowships has distinguished nominating committees in 48 countries that identify and recruit a select number of outstanding achievers to compete for an Eisenhower Fellowship. Ms. Hansen-Quao was  selected from a pool of more than 800 applicants. Speaking ahead of her fellowship experience, Yawa said “It is such a priviledge and honor to be awarded such a prestigious fellowship. I do not take this honor lightly and I’m looking forward to leveraging my fellowship experience to make even greater impact in Ghana and across Africa.”

Eisenhower Fellowships identify, empower and connect innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. Since its founding, EF has hosted a total of 182 African Fellows, the first one a Ghanaian diplomat, Frederick Arkhurst, in the very first class of Fellows in 1954.