TransformHer Pitch: Women Tasked On Telling Own Stories To Inspire Change

Women entrepreneurs, innovators and young professionals have been urged to tell their stories more intentionally as a way of inspiring change, influencing policy and creating opportunities for others.

This call resonated strongly during a recent Purple School engagement, where participants shared personal journeys of resilience, entrepreneurship and innovation, demonstrating how ordinary challenges can be transformed into solutions with lasting social impact.

Speaking during the session, participants highlighted the importance of recognising and amplifying stories that often go unnoticed despite their significant contributions to communities and economic development.

Founder of Purple School, Mrs. Olive Obioma, was commended for creating a platform that brings together diverse voices across communication, advocacy, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

Speaking during the programme, Ms. Foluso Shado of the Justice Research Institute Nigeria described the session as a powerful exchange of experiences that demonstrated how individuals are converting limited resources into opportunities and transforming survival strategies into thriving enterprises.

According to her, the discussions highlighted the reality that innovation is not always driven by large corporations or advanced technology, but frequently emerges from individuals seeking practical solutions to everyday challenges within their communities.

She cited the example of Marvelous Paul, a fashion entrepreneur at the TransformHer Pitch who developed clothing designs tailored to the needs of breastfeeding mothers returning to the workplace, while also creating bespoke outfits that help brides project confidence and elegance.

“It goes beyond needle and thread. It is about solving real-life problems and improving people’s quality of life,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr. Faidussi of African Fashion Festival Vogue praised the experienced professionals and mentors who participated in the programme, noting that their contributions provided practical guidance and connected emerging entrepreneurs with platforms capable of helping them scale their businesses and ideas.

She warned that many inspiring stories risk being overshadowed by the fast-paced nature of social media, where algorithms often determine which narratives gain visibility.

“Social media constantly pushes certain narratives and shapes public attention. If we do not deliberately amplify stories of resilience, innovation, entrepreneurship and community transformation, they may be drowned out,” he noted.

Participants also reflected on the importance of changing perceptions around social and economic backgrounds, stressing that talent, creativity and leadership potential are not defined by circumstances.

The presentation by an 11 year old bead maker and artiste, Zuriel George, was highlighted as a compelling example of how age and background need not be barriers to achievement and global impact.

Contributors observed that some of Africa’s most impactful innovations emerge from individuals seeking solutions to challenges within their immediate environment before eventually attracting global attention.

“It is wonderful to see Africans solving African problems and then going on to become world changers,” one participant remarked.

Purple School, an initiative of Image Dot Africa, is a transformational leadership and executive development platform dedicated to equipping women and young female professionals with the confidence, competence, communication skills, etiquette and leadership capacity required to thrive in today’s competitive environment.

Through practical learning experiences, mentorship opportunities and leadership development programmes, the platform seeks to bridge the gap between potential and executive excellence while creating pathways for women to achieve greater impact in their careers, businesses and communities.

Participants expressed optimism that conversations initiated through Purple School would inspire stronger collaborations, expand opportunities for emerging leaders and contribute to building a more inclusive and innovative society.