What began as a simple act of helping her family has grown into a thriving support system for women balancing motherhood and business.
In September 2015, Mary Abena Serwaa Dickson had what she describes as an “aha moment.”
For years, she had supported her older sister, a businesswoman and mother of two, stepping in to care for her children whenever work required travel. In those moments, she saw firsthand the realities of motherhood intertwined with ambition.
“I realised that as a mother who still wants to pursue her dreams, you need a lot of support to keep going,” she told The Mirror in an interview in Accra on Tuesday.
That realisation sparked the birth of her platform for women entrepreneurs, starting almost instantly. Without hesitation, she created social media pages and a blog, sharing stories of mothers navigating business and life. At the time, the goal was simple: connection.
Initially, the platform, WeMompreneurs, focused on storytelling—creating a space where women and mothers could see that they were not alone. But as the community grew, so did its purpose.
“Initially, what I wanted to do was share stories of mothers. If one person shares her story, another mother sees it and realises she’s not alone.”
But over time, she noticed something deeper.
“With time, I realised that aside from the experiences, mothers also needed education. They needed resources, something tangible they could hold on to,” she added.
Drawing from her own experience working in a small business management role, she began integrating entrepreneurship training into the platform. By 2017, her work had evolved into digital education—introducing mothers to tools and strategies that could transform their businesses.
From teaching social media marketing to introducing platforms like Canva, Mrs Dickson’s approach was rooted in simplicity and accessibility. Over time, she began to see the results.
“Many women now monetise these tools, promote their businesses, and gain financial independence. Some even come back years later to say thank you,”
One of the most powerful examples she explained has been the adoption of simple digital tools.
“Talk of Canva—the number of mothers who are now monetising Canva, creating digital products, promoting their businesses. Those times, I was just sharing something I discovered.
I didn’t even think it would go this far.
“I love sharing my discoveries. When I find something useful, I want people to know how it can help them,” she said.
Challenges
Mrs Dickson’s journey has also revealed critical challenges facing women entrepreneurs.
“Many women start businesses out of necessity or during maternity leave, but they don’t build the foundation needed to grow. Without systems, the business remains small, even when it has potential,” she said.
Another common challenge is the misconception about funding.
“People often say they need money, but sometimes what they really need is clarity—understanding their business, their numbers, and whether they’re truly committed.”
“They need to understand their business, what they want to do, how they will use the money and how they will grow it.”
She recalled working with women who received loans from a seed investor.
“Some didn’t even know what they were going to use the money for. Only a few had their numbers and plans.”
Confidence is another barrier. She has observed that many women hesitate to show up visibly for their brands.
“You don’t have to do everything, but you need to own your business. No one will push it for you,” she added.
Winning together
Despite these challenges, the impact of her work is evident—especially in how women connect and collaborate within the community.
Through initiatives like weekly business presentations, webinars and networking sessions, women have learned to support rather than compete with one another.
“I’ve seen women selling the same products share a table at exhibitions; they understand there’s space for everyone.”
Mrs Dickson’s platform has also opened doors to funding opportunities, global exposure, and business formalisation. Some members have gone on to scale their businesses internationally—shipping products across borders and building sustainable brands.
“About three years ago, I realised that a lot of the women we engage have so much knowledge and experience, but they are scared to share,” She recounted.
It wasn’t that they didn’t have anything to say—they just didn’t feel comfortable putting themselves out there publicly.
“A lot of them didn’t want to be vocal or post on their own pages, but they were willing to share differently.”
That insight led to the creation of the WeMompreneurs Magazine.
“I decided to launch a digest where they could contribute,” she says.
The response was overwhelming. Over 30 women shared their knowledge and personal experiences across different fields.
“We had people from real estate, nutrition, health—even women sharing their postpartum journeys. The depth of knowledge was amazing,” she added.
Breaking barriers with simplicity
Her work has not been limited to women already comfortable with technology.
Through partnerships with organisations such as CAMFED and the Oxford Women Leadership Institute, she has trained hundreds of women, many with little to no digital experience.
“One of the biggest eye-openers was last year. Women who didn’t even know how to use tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini were creating logos and products by the end,” she recalled.
“They were so excited. The feeling was amazing.”
Her approach, she explained, is intentionally simple.
“Sometimes it’s just a 10-minute session, and they get it. It’s not that they don’t want to learn, but they just need someone to break it down. I always make it very basic. Nothing complicated.”
What next?
Now, after a decade, she is entering a new phase.
After years of running the platform largely for free, Mary and her team are working to formalise and expand its impact.
Plans include structured programmes, advisory support, partnerships with financial institutions, and a more robust digital hub for training women entrepreneurs.
Profile
Mary Dickson has more than 10 years of professional experience in technology, marketing, and women’s empowerment.
She currently serves as a Local Consultant for the CBI Youth in IT Project and as a Business Development Manager at GP Business Consulting.
Writer’s email:
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh