“Laziness is definitely not an option,” declared Nsibirwa in her speech. “Complacency is definitely not an option. Corruption is definitely not an option. Sleeping your way to the top is definitely, definitely not an option!”

While speakers did not hesitate to name challenges facing women in business, the overall mood of the day was positive. For women in the audience, the event was an opportunity to be encouraged and learn from others.

Mahoney reiterated the program’s message saying that women in Uganda need educational opportunities — and within themselves need to establish a belief in their contribution and importance to the country.

“Last year was very good, that’s why we’ve come back,” said Margaret Kajuma, a child protection worker and nurse for i.HUG Foundation. Along with her colleagues, she brought disadvantaged girls ages 9 to 15 from the local i.HUG school, Kabalaga Community Academy.

“The girls were so excited about the mentoring walk. We need them to interact with others, to get inspired. What others can do, they can do. In business you need to involve people who know about the particular area you want, and you need to become sensitized about finances. People get money and they don’t know how to spend it. They don’t know how to prioritize.”

Harriet Kobugabe, owner of a laundry and dry-cleaning business, is an enthusiastic participant of the Month of the Woman Entrepreneur events. She agreed with Mahoney and explained that Uganda’s educational system is poor because job experience as opposed to job creation is a staple institutional scheme.

“At the end of the day, the world does not want to know how many degrees I have on my head. The world wants to know how successful I am,” Kobugabe said.

“The [MOWE] events do make a difference. We are living in a society where women are treated like second-class citizens. When you see or listen to a fellow woman giving their experience of how they made it, it really does encourage you. It gives you a different mindset.”