SHE MEANS BUSINESS| From political refugee to women’s leadership champion- Yawa Hansen-Quao

Her father noticed her retreating from the world and offered advice that would shape the rest of her life: “Don’t dim your light.”

Those words ignited a journey that would eventually see Yawa dedicate her life to helping women and girls step into their own light and live fully as leaders, changemakers, and purposeful individuals.

Today, Yawa is the founder of the Leading Ladies Network, a platform devoted to raising women leaders across Africa. Through the network, she empowers women to embrace leadership not just as a title, but as service — rooted in authenticity, purpose, and impact.

In her conversation on this week’s episode of She Means Business, Yawa shares insights on leadership and growth including why no one is truly “self-made” and the importance of collaboration in unlocking potential; how coaching is about strategy and perspective rather than appearances or titles; and the spiritual dimension of leadership, and why coaching is about helping people unlock what already lies within them.

Watch the full episode of She Means Business here.