Many entrepreneurs fail not because they work too little, but because they try to do everything on their own.
Without a network, without a safe space, without recognition, without access to the right tools and platforms, you get stuck faster than you realise.
At Empower & Connect We believe that growth is not a solo sport.
It's about community, cultural diversity, and the courage to make your story visible.
You don't just need strategies, you need people to pull you forward.
The Women Only Edition of Empower & Connect is a programme within WBA Academy, made up of sessions, Focus Days, get-togethers, and an international Experience in Marrakech with female entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
Each phase logically builds on the previous one: from identity and story to how you present yourself, make choices, and further map out your course.
This is not a series of standalone workshops, but a programme with progression, deepening, and exchange.
This route, in its current form, is unique in Belgium today.
Every entrepreneur carries context with them.
Your background, your surroundings, the expectations placed upon you, the way you've learned to be strong, to stay small, or to constantly prove your worth: that doesn't just disappear when you start a business.
For women, there's often an extra layer involved.
Roles. Loyalty. Adaptation. Doubt. Responsibility. Ambition which is not always well-received.
This is why we have created a process in which this reality is not pushed away, but is transformed into clarity, language, and direction.
You are not here to reinvent yourself.
You come here to see more clearly what is already there, what can be strengthened, and what must finally fall into place.
What you'll take away:
Karijn brings research, nuance and deep insight into female entrepreneurship in all its layers.
Nadia brings together entrepreneurship, brand thinking, and years of practical experience.
The combination makes this journey sharp and humane.
This is not a series of isolated moments.
Each session builds on the last one. What you uncover at the beginning gains shape, direction, and solidity later on.
The atmosphere is warm, but not therefore vague.
There is room for recognition, honest reflection, and conversations that set things in motion.
You're invited to break free from what has become familiar, so that what's within you has more space to take shape.
Sometimes you know a lot, but you can't get it clear.
You're not just working on insight, but also on how to strengthen your story, your choices, and your position as an entrepreneur.
Embark on a journey that not only makes you think, but also helps you build step-by-step. From foundation to direction, from inner work to what you effectively deliver.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own. You will enter an environment where women empower each other through genuine exchange, practical experience, and insights supported by research and data.
Yes, boarding can take place at any time.
At the same time, we recommend following along as much as possible from the beginning, as the course progresses thematically. What is revealed in the initial phases forms the basis for what will be further developed later.
Yes.
We consciously don't start straight away with execution, but from the foundation. First, we look at who you are, what you want to achieve, and what needs to be in order underneath that. From there, we build further. Those who stand stronger in the foundation can also develop what comes next more clearly and powerfully.
Yes.
Throughout the programme, you will be provided with frameworks, exercises, tools, and ways of thinking. Initially, the focus will be more on the fundamentals and foundation. As the programme progresses, it will become more concrete and intensive. During the two-day Focus Days, you will also actively work on marketing, structure, and development.
Sometimes yes, and that is intentional.
We work with female entrepreneurs at various stages of growth. Some participants are further along in their journey than others. That doesn't mean the basics are redundant. On the contrary: a return to the core can provide clarity, renewed insight, and a stronger foundation to build upon.
Yes, absolutely.
The strength of this process lies precisely in its structure. When you follow the complete process, you not only work more deeply conceptually, but also build greater trust within the group. This makes it easier to speak openly, show yourself more honestly, and work on layers that you often don't reach on your own.
For female entrepreneurs who feel they need direction, depth, and a solid foundation to build on. Whether you're still exploring or further along: the programme will help you see more clearly what works, what's missing, and what could be stronger.
Because for many women, entrepreneurship is still too often something they try to carry largely on their own.
With this community, we want to support, empower, and connect female entrepreneurs in a context where there is space for recognition, growth, and fair exchange.
