A parenting workshop may seem unexpected within an entrepreneurship program. Yet for women building businesses while raising families, the connection is both practical and transformative. As one of the final masterclasses under the Global Affairs Canada SURGE program at Ashesi’s Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC), the session reframed self-balance not as a personal luxury, but as a leadership discipline essential to sustainable enterprise.

Facilitated by Elizabeth Abavana, the workshop explored “Self Balance: Work and Life,” examining how resilience, discipline, and ethical decision-making begin in the home and extend into business leadership. Parenting and entrepreneurship both demand vision, consistency, adaptability, and thoughtful action under pressure. When intentionally aligned, these roles reinforce rather than compete with each other.

Women entrepreneurs often navigate complex, intersecting responsibilities within systems shaped by financial constraints and gender expectations. These realities underscore the importance of intentional structures, shared responsibility, and strong support ecosystems that enable women to thrive.

The masterclass outlined ten practical principles for entrepreneurial parents, including presence and consistency, clear boundaries, intentional expressions of care, modeling healthy stress management, and building support systems. Participants were encouraged to cultivate independence in their children while fostering open communication and mutual respect.

Ultimately, self-balance is about alignment, aligning personal wellbeing, family systems, and enterprise leadership. Through initiatives such as the Women Entrepreneurship Transformation Program (WETP), GCIC continues to advance a holistic model of leadership that strengthens businesses, families, and Ghana’s green economy.