Championing female empowerment, one degree at a time

Phano Ramoeketsi is a social entrepreneur who is about to embark on a PhD in international business and strategy in the UK. She was granted her first scholarship by Henley Business School Africa to fund her MBA studies on the grounds of the contribution she has made to women empowerment in South Africa. Now she has secured a second full scholarship, this time from Henley UK, to fund her PhD. Motivated by the idea that education is a tool for transformation, not just for individuals, but for communities at large, Phano’s mission is the upliftment of women and girls across Africa, and beyond. This is her story.

When the Covid pandemic hit, I exhausted all my financial resources to enrol for Henley’s Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice. It was the beginning of a life-changing journey at Henley as I followed up the PGDip with an MBA. I secured a Dean’s Scholarship to fund my studies for my Henley MBA based on the service I offer to South African women. My dissertation focused on the challenges and opportunities that African women entrepreneurs like me face in international business, particularly at the micro-business level.

My academic research is closely tied to my advocacy and as a result of my passion for women empowerment, education and gender equality, I have been awarded a fully funded scholarship for my PhD through Henley Business School UK, in partnership with the University of Reading, where my research topic is centred around African women entrepreneurship.

It is truly an honour to be able to work towards strengthening my commitment to women empowerment, education and gender equality. The achievement of these goals will benefit all women in the long run. It will enable women to be engaged in the critical decision-making processes involving their livelihoods and communities. The ripple effect of empowering one person can extend to families, neighbourhoods, and even future generations and, for me, that is the legacy I want to leave.

Living with endometriosis has shaped my career such that my focus is entirely on empowering others in Africa who live with the same condition. One of the side-effects of endometriosis is early-onset menstruation and crippling period pains. As a child, I would miss several days of school every month because I was simply too unwell to attend. Young girls should not have to miss school because of their period; it’s heart-breaking. One of the results of this is that many girls end up incapacitated, unable to fulfil their dreams, trapped in premature marriages and facing family commitments for which they are unprepared. And all this because they did not receive the education they needed to plan properly for the future.

My experience with endometriosis made me want to change the narrative for other women. My company, Even Bow, manufactures feminine hygiene products, personally crafted by me, that help to address gender inequality and poverty. I have developed a menstrual pad which is specifically for women who have unusually heavy periods. My products are sustainable, reusable menstrual products designed to combat period poverty and other period-related problems faced by women. I also run gender equality sessions and women empowerment workshops across the country to expose women to the opportunities available to them to combat inequalities.

Running a business like Even Bow is not easy, so I was deeply honoured to receive two awards from the Black Management Forum late last year. I received the 2024 Woman Leader of the Year Award and the BMF Impact Award for SMME. Being recognised for my leadership, and my contribution to menstrual health education, women empowerment and education made me extremely proud. It made me realise that doing what I am doing, forging pathways for others, is something that is understood, needed, and appreciated.

At the onset of my academic journey at Henley I made a promise to make the school proud and to promote its ambition for excellence worldwide. My hope is to continue giving back to communities as I further my studies, with the support of Henley and the faculty I so dearly admire. I am committed to using my education and experiences to inspire others, championing the cause of equality and empowerment wherever I go.