Fireside Chat: Building Pathways for the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow in African Energy!

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
Rebeca, it’s always a pleasure to speak with you, and I think what we’re building together with the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) program at AOW: Energy 2025 is something the industry desperately needs right now. We wanted to spend a moment to really get under the surface of what the program means, what are the goals and how can it serve our industry.

Rebeca Lewis:
Thank you, Paul. It’s always great to be in conversation with you because we’ve been on this journey together for some time now since we first discussed this in 2024. From our perspective, D&I and Entrepreneurship in the African energy space is critical to the success of our passion for inclusive growth and entrepreneurship for women.

Personally, to achieve our energy goals we need balance, diverse workforces and the best minds to meet our energy challenges, a diversity of approach, ideas and of course thought. That’s how we’ll find the bold solutions that will shape the future. Since we first spoke, our partnership has always been about action. We’ve made it our goal to celebrate women who have a drive to develop businesses and break down barriers. A key highlight for me is the recent launch of AscendInnovators under AscendGlobal—a STEAM mentorship program specifically for young women in Ghana, designed to equip them with skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to launch their own energy-related ventures and drive innovation from the ground up.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
Absolutely Rebeca, I couldn’t agree more, and you are of course right. When we look back at how far we have come on this journey, it’s clear we have moved further on from just another discussion, we are now bringing in serious investors to Ghana to meet the entrepreneurs and to try and get funding, mentorship and businesses on the move. We have moved on from recognition and I am proud to agree with you that we have made impact and change.

Rebeca Lewis:
Exactly. This initiative is one of the things I’m most proud of, it’s really a statement of what can be achieved with a united and aligned effort for what is right. What’s amazing about the D&I Program at AOW is that we are creating a cross-border community that can literally lean into them for support and guidance. We’ve seen young women inspired by the leaders we feature, we’ll see women mid-career take that step into leadership after being celebrated on the platform, and we’ll see more men than ever step up as true allies because the stories resonated with them.

And now, with the launch of the West Africa Women in Energy Network at AOW: Energy 2025, we’re moving from celebration to coalition-building. This is a call to action for everyone to join, support, and actively build a sector that is representative, accessible, and fair. For instance, through my work with AscendGlobal and the recent launch of AscendInnovators—a STEAM mentorship program for young women in Ghana—we’re already seeing how targeted mentorship can ignite entrepreneurial sparks in underrepresented groups, bridging energy innovation with practical skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
The program we are creating is one of real change and action. We’ve been talking about needing to create real platforms that span regions and then play into a broader purpose. Tell me what this network is about and why it matters.

Rebeca Lewis:
The network is about sustainable connectivity and it’s about building a base for female entrepreneurs to exchange and grow their dreams, businesses and ideas. It’s also about bringing men into the conversation. We can’t build an inclusive sector in silos. Men in business and leadership positions also have a central role to play in educating their networks and supporting in breaking down barriers. Regardless of gender, we all have to be active participants in creating space for diversity and inclusion.

Also, the network is about youth. We need to inspire the next generation to see the energy sector as a place for them to build fulfilling, impactful careers. I always think that if we are not inspiring people to consider the energy sector, we are already losing young girls to different avenues. This ties directly into initiatives like Ascend Innovators, where we’re mentoring young women in Ghana through STEAM-focused programs under Ascend Global, empowering them to launch their own ventures and contribute to energy solutions with fresh, innovative perspectives. The launch of Ascend Innovators is a milestone in this effort, providing hands-on mentorship to help these young women turn ideas into actionable businesses in the energy space.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
That’s exactly why we’ve always focused on supporting women entrepreneurs and youth. At AOW: Energy, we want the next wave of women-led startups to thrive. Rebeca, how do you think we can make that a reality?

Rebeca Lewis:
The D&I program at AOW: Energy 2025 is built on three pillars:

1. Entrepreneurial Support
2. Mentorship and Leadership Pathways
3. Youth Empowerment and Inclusion

First, we’ll focus on financial access. One of the biggest hurdles for women entrepreneurs is seed funding and market entry. Through the D&I program, we’ll offer direct guidance on investment readiness, provide networking opportunities with financiers, and connect female founders with industry mentors who can help them pitch and scale.

Second, we’re establishing mentorship tracks, not just one-off meetings, but long-term connections between senior executives and emerging women leaders. We want to build a living bridge to leadership. Drawing from my experience launching AscendInnovators in Ghana via AscendGlobal, these mentorship models have proven transformative, equipping young women with STEAM skills to innovate in energy and beyond, while fostering cross-generational support that accelerates career trajectories and business growth.

Third, and this is critical, we’re creating spaces for youth engagement. Through workshops and the broader network, we want to help young women see that the energy sector can be a space where they grow, innovate, and lead from day one. Programs like AscendInnovators under AscendGlobal exemplify this by providing STEAM mentorship to young women in Ghana, launching them into entrepreneurial roles that directly feed into energy sector innovation and inclusivity. Highlighting this launch underscores our commitment to turning inspiration into real-world opportunities for the next generation.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
I couldn’t agree more. If we want to shape a future that is fair, sustainable, and competitive, we need to bring all of society’s talent to the table.

Rebeca Lewis:
100%. Balanced teams out-perform all others, that is a given. Diverse leadership is more innovative. Inclusive companies attract and retain the best talent and therefore the industry thrives. We want to create that environment not only for females in business, but for the continent’s well-being as a whole. Everyone from all sectors of society have something to offer and we want to achieve this in the shortest time possible.

If we’re going to solve the energy dilemmas in Africa, whether it’s energy access, the energy transition, or unlocking frontier new industries, it’s very simple: we need everyone. Initiatives like Ascend Global’s Ascend Innovators, with its STEAM mentorship for young women in Ghana, are prime examples of how we’re launching the next generation into these solutions, ensuring diverse talents drive forward-thinking energy entrepreneurship. The launch of Ascend Innovators is a pivotal step in this direction, creating direct pathways for young women to enter and lead in the energy sector.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
This is why I’m so proud that AOW: Energy and our partnership, we are not only owning the narrative and creating the platform, but we’re also leading them, and the network and interactions are really providing dividends. We are committed to this agenda with you Rebeca, 100%. I genuinely feel uniting and creating access points to harness entrepreneurial spirit is critical for a young continent full of ambition.

Rebeca Lewis:
Paul, AOW: Energy is setting a new standard for what inclusion and entrepreneurship in the energy sector should look like, and we are delighted to be working with you. Together, we are building something that has the power to reshape the future of this sector and the lives of young women within it, and we fully intend to carry this powerful relationship forward into the future.

We will be launching our platform at AOW: Energy with your support, and we openly encourage Men, Women and all to join this critical conversation and movement to ensure our continent is reflective of an inclusive society. By integrating efforts like AscendGlobal’s AscendInnovators STEAM mentorship for young women in Ghana, we’re not just talking about change—we’re actively launching it through tangible, youth-focused programs that build entrepreneurial pathways in energy.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
Rebeca, before we close our chat, what’s the one thing you want people reading this to do?

Rebeca Lewis:

• Join us now!
• Join the movement and network
• Be a part of change
• Join the movement to build balanced workforces. (Register)
• Join the platform that’s working day and night to open doors, and building pathways for entrepreneurial spirit

Whether you’re a CEO, a student, an engineer, or an investor, you have a role to play. And if you’re inspired by real-world examples, look to AscendGlobal’s AscendInnovators, our recent STEAM mentorship launch for young women in Ghana, as a model for how mentorship can propel the next generation into energy entrepreneurship and highlight the power of targeted launches in fostering inclusive growth.

PAUL SINCLAIR (PS):
Rebeca, thank you. It’s an honour to build this with you, and I can’t wait to see the incredible impact we’ll make together at AOW: Energy 2025 in Accra.

Rebeca Lewis:
Thank you, Paul. This is just the beginning.