Smart Women, Smart Businesses: Ghana Hosts the Maiden Zoho Women in Business Summit
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The Women in Business Summit organized by Zoho Africa on March 31st was more than a gathering — it was a collective affirmation of resilience, integrity, and the transformative power of women in trade and technology. Participants left inspired, voicing on Zoho Africa’s platforms how deeply the conversations resonated with their own journeys.
On March 31st, the Marriott Accra Hotel transformed into a vibrant stage for history in the making: the maiden Zoho Women in Business Summit. With the theme “Smart Women Building Smart Businesses,” the gathering united Ghana’s most exceptional women — founders, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders — for a day of dialogue, inspiration, and meaningful connection.
Attendees arrived in imperial African attire, a striking celebration of heritage and pride that elevated the summit’s tone. The elegance of the dress code mirrored the strength and ambition of the conversations, creating a space where culture and commerce met seamlessly.
The program unfolded in dynamic dimensions: a warm welcoming speech by the organizers, a powerful keynote address by Esthy Ama Asante, insightful panel sessions exploring the realities of building smart businesses in Ghana, and a lively networking moment where women connected across industries. The day concluded with a group photograph — a symbol of solidarity and shared vision — and a sumptuous buffet, offering a celebratory close to a day of empowerment and exchange.
Delivering the keynote, Esthy Ama Asante, Founder & CEO of Organic Trade & Investments (OTI), shared her journey of resilience and innovation.
From bootstrapping OTI in 2017 into a blockchain‑enabled export partner now serving over 40 destinations worldwide, she emphasized that resilience is not survival but radiant growth. Her address, “Resilience through Ethical Trade and Technology: Scaling with Integrity and Impact,” highlighted OTI’s philosophy of co‑opetition — transforming competition into collaboration to build shared value chains.
Esthy illustrated how this approach has enabled OTI to scale production from 100 units of black soap in 2019 to 150,000 units monthly, and from 1MT of shea butter to 500MT, while empowering over 120 artisanal producers to access international markets.
These milestones, she noted, are not just numbers but symbols of empowerment, validation, and enduring partnerships.
A central thread of the keynote was the importance of leveraging smart tools to build sustainable businesses. Esthy Ama Asante reminded participants that resilience alone is not enough; in today’s fast‑moving markets, efficiency and foresight come from digital innovation. She highlighted how OTI has embraced technology not as a luxury but as a necessity, integrating systems that make the company more effective and proactive.
At the heart of this transformation is Kloe, OTI’s proprietary AI assistant. Designed to support customers with compliance guidance, product knowledge, and seamless communication, Kloe embodies the company’s philosophy of scaling with integrity and innovation. By introducing Kloe, OTI has not only streamlined operations but also created a smarter, more responsive interface for producers and buyers alike. This innovation reflects the summit’s theme — Smart Women Building Smart Businesses — showing how technology can be harnessed to empower communities, strengthen partnerships, and ensure sustainability in global trade.
The panel sessions deepened the conversation, with women leaders dissecting the challenges of scaling smart businesses in Ghana — from technology adoption to market positioning.
The networking session added a human dimension, as participants shared stories, exchanged contacts, and voiced on Zoho Africa’s platforms how the summit left them inspired. Comments described the day as “a reminder that resilience is our shared language” and “a celebration of courage and collaboration.”
The maiden Women in Business Summit, organized by Zoho Africa to celebrate women in business, proved that smart women are not only building smart businesses; they are building legacies.
It marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s entrepreneurial landscape, where women lead with integrity, innovation, and solidarity.
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