As women entrepreneurs, we are used to pouring time, capital, and energy into our businesses to make them thrive. But in the rush to nurture growth and profitability, we often forget the most important asset: ourselves. 

October has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for women entrepreneurs, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a vital reminder that health and wellness is not a luxury, but a vital business asset. Just as we manage cash flow, nurture clients, and build teams, we must also manage our most important investment – ourselves. 

Moving forward, let’s pause and make health a non-negotiable part of our business strategy. Our businesses depend on our ability to show up as a leader – and to show up with the energy, clarity, and resilience that brings sharper focus to meetings, greater stamina to negotiations, and more creativity to problem-solving. Poor health and wellness will prevent us from demonstrating these vital business attributes and prevents us from enjoying the benefits thereof. Just as airlines remind us to put on our own oxygen masks first before helping others, we too must care for our wellbeing before we can effectively lead our businesses, families, and communities. 

Here is a tragic health alert: breast cancer is the most fatal cancer in Ghana and kills nearly half of the 4,000 women diagnosed each year, due to late diagnosis. Reasons for not seeking prompt medical attention include lack of time and financial pressures. This echoes excuses women entrepreneurs often make that impact their health negatively – no time to sleep adequately, exercise, eat properly, and no money for a holiday to rest and recoup one’s energies. 

Notwithstanding the demands of our businesses, we owe it to ourselves to make health wellness non-negotiable. For many women entrepreneurs, time is the biggest barrier to getting the balance right. Between business demands, family responsibilities, and stakeholder expectations, it can feel impossible to prioritize health. But just as we wouldn’t cancel a meeting with an investor, we can’t cancel on ourselves. 

Too often women are uninformed about their own bodies, how they function, and the unique health risks associated with being designed to bear children. Such risks include conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, cervical and ovarian cancers, and complications of menopause that can occur at different stages of life. In addition to the general lack of understanding, there are cultural taboos discouraging open discussion. For women entrepreneurs the resulting lack of self-awareness of their bodies and health needs is compounded by their extra busy schedules that leave time for little else. Being time-poor could make them fall into the trap of only seeking medical attention when problems arise. 

At the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC), we are acutely aware of the challenges that cause women to sacrifice their wellbeing and that are strategic business risks that can hinder growth, innovation, and sustainability. Our Women Entrepreneurs Transformation Programme (WETP) is therefore designed to empower women entrepreneurs with the knowledge on how to better manage these challenges for improved business and personal outcomes. These sessions frequently focus on the need for balance and remind participants to pause and do the things we love that will nurture our souls and support our overall health such as spending time with loved ones, engaging in yoga, prayer and spirituality, meditation, and hobbies, that are relaxing. WETP reminds women that health is not a luxury, it’s smart business and some of our workshops equip entrepreneurs with knowledge on preventive screenings, life-stage health needs, and practical ways to restore balance. 

Optimal health requires a proactive approach and making a conscious effort to understand how our bodies work across different life stages, and how lifestyle choices, preventive care, and early detection can enable us to live more fully and with greater confidence, vitality, and balance. 

Lets act.
Book a screening – Breast cancer checks save lives.
Schedule rest like a meeting – Sleep, exercise, and downtime are business priorities.
Feed your body and mind – Healthy meals, joyful hobbies, and stress relief are investments in resilience. 

Health is wealth, and for women entrepreneurs, it is also strategy. By prioritizing ourselves, we give our businesses, our families, and our communities the gift of longevity, vitality, and success.