EY and New Faces New Voices celebrate a new generation of female leadership. in Mozambique

With the closing of the third edition of the 'Be Like a Woman' Program last Friday, EY Mozambique and New Faces New Voices (NFNV) reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the female business and social ecosystem in Mozambique.

Over six months, the program empowered 61 women, including entrepreneurs, professionals in the corporate world, and leaders of social initiatives.

The focus was on developing skills in leadership, business management, innovation, and social transformation through a structured series of thematic workshops, individual mentoring sessions, networking opportunities, and access to strategic tools such as the EY 7 Drivers, essential for analyzing business scalability and sustainability.

The distinguishing feature of this edition was its international scope and the depth of the topics presented. The program included contributions from over 70 experts from 11 countries, including South Africa, Belgium, Brazil, the United States, Portugal, and Nigeria, among mentors and facilitators from the EY Global network and the Pan-African New Faces New Voices network of the Graça Machel Trust.

The event, marked by a celebratory atmosphere and high-level networking, culminated in the certification of 61 women participating in the Program, in recognition of their merit, dedication, progress, and leadership spirit.

Bruno Dias, Office Manager Partner and Consulting Leader at EY Mozambique, emphasized the strategic importance of the program. “The economic empowerment of women is essential for building a more prosperous and inclusive country; these 61 women…”

They are true agents of change. What impressed me most about this edition was the quality of the participants who already hold leadership positions. Each one brought a unique vision and inspiring determination."That official pointed out."

In addition to certifying the participants, the Program recognized the best practices in the immersion process into the business world, where four winners of this edition were 'Crowned': Maimuna Cutane Cruz – Entrepreneur and Founder of Cruz Trading, in first place; Esperança Matsimbe – Social Entrepreneur and President of the Executive Board of AMODEFA in second place; Elisa Simbine, Commercial Director of Belutécnica, in third place; and Shelzia Mucavele, Entrepreneur and Founder of RovumaTech, rounding out the Top four.

For Maimuna Cutane, the first-place winner, “The program brought a new perspective to my business. Here I discovered a much bigger world to conquer. The mentoring and topics covered helped me look at my business with more ambition, strategy, and confidence. I feel more prepared and determined to conquer my space in the market,” she stated, visibly emotional upon receiving the prize.

The participants were evaluated based on their active participation, involvement, and progress throughout the program, the results of the mentoring and challenges proposed, and above all, their commitment to personal and professional growth and positive impact on their community. For Tânia Saranga, President of New Faces New Voices Mozambique, this distinction represents more than individual merit. “Our commitment is to ensure that, at the end of each edition, the knowledge acquired is effectively replicated in the social context of each participant, promoting not only their personal and professional development, but also generating a positive and sustainable impact on their communities,” she said.

BCI, a partner and sponsor of the program since its first edition, announced at the time: “We want to continue supporting these women entrepreneurs and we will open the doors of BCI to better understand their businesses and support them in their financial organization, viability and preparation for investment or credit. This exercise will increase the confidence of these entrepreneurs in their dialogue with financial institutions,” stated Francisco Costa, CEO of this financial institution.

In addition to marking the end of the training program, the closing of the third edition served to inspire those present at the event, including participants from previous editions, executives, mentors, and partners, through the sharing of experiences.“The third edition concludes with the purpose of inspiring. Through the sharing of experiences among all those who make this program possible — from partners to executives and previous generations — we renew the energy for the future of leadership in Mozambique," said Leonete Mabjaia, one of the participants and panelists at this event.

The "Be Like a Woman" program reaffirms its commitment to strengthening female participation and leadership in all sectors, with a particular focus on the strategic role of women in the economy. The initiative promotes gender equality, boosts the economic empowerment of women in Mozambique, and fosters their active inclusion in decision-making, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The program has been expanding its social and economic impact, establishing itself as a fundamental platform for transforming realities and generating new opportunities.