Featured image (archive): A panel discussion at EWN’s 2019 annual conference. Image source: Modern Ghana.
The Executive Women Network (EWN) is entering its second decade with four initiatives aimed at giving women and girls more pathways into leadership, entrepreneurship, skills development and mentorship.
Launched at the EWN@10 Conference and Expo in Accra, EWN 2.0, the network’s new phase as it enters its second decade, comprises the Collaborative Ecosystem, EWN Skills Catalogue, EWN VentureHer and an expanded EWN Ellevate programme. According to the Ghana News Agency report on the launch, the initiatives are intended to turn conversations about women’s advancement into practical pathways for greater impact. (Ghana News Agency)
For women wondering which opportunity is right for them, however, there is an important distinction. Not all four programmes currently have publicly detailed application processes. Here is what is known about each initiative and how prospective participants can follow up.
Collaborative Ecosystem: Connecting organisations for greater impact
The Collaborative Ecosystem is built around partnerships rather than a conventional individual training programme.
EWN describes it as an alliance involving nine strategic partners, with a focus on advancing greater gender parity in decision-making positions. (Ghana News Agency)
That makes the initiative particularly relevant to organisations and leaders looking to collaborate on women’s advancement.
However, EWN has not publicly provided a separate application form, intake date or individual eligibility criteria for women seeking to join the ecosystem. Prospective participants should therefore monitor the official EWN website for partnership announcements and further participation details.
EWN Skills Catalogue: A pool of mentors and coaches
The EWN Skills Catalogue is designed to provide access to EWN mentors and coaches with expertise in leadership development and capacity building. (Ghana News Agency)
For a professional seeking guidance on leadership, career development or particular skills, the catalogue could offer a useful connection to experienced women within the network.
However, EWN has not yet published a dedicated public Skills Catalogue link or confirmed detailed instructions for accessing the catalogue. Its current website does describe the Lift2Rise brand as covering mentorship, coaching and individual career development, but this does not establish that the newly announced Skills Catalogue is currently open for public access. (Ewntree)
Women interested in the initiative should therefore watch EWN’s official channels for confirmed access instructions rather than assume that the catalogue is already available through the homepage.
EWN VentureHer: A focus on women entrepreneurs
For women building businesses, EWN VentureHer puts entrepreneurship at the centre of the new phase.
According to GNA, the initiative is designed to help women entrepreneurs strengthen their capacity and gain access to key markets. (Ghana News Agency)
That focus gives VentureHer a distinct place among the four initiatives. While the Skills Catalogue centres on expertise and the Collaborative Ecosystem on partnerships, VentureHer is aimed at women seeking to strengthen their businesses and access new markets.
EWN has not yet published full public details covering VentureHer’s application dates, eligibility requirements, geographic reach, programme duration or costs. Women interested in the initiative should therefore check the official EWN website for the opening of applications and confirmed participation requirements rather than assume that enrolment is already open.
EWN Ellevate: Mentorship for the next generation
One programme that should not be described as new is EWN Ellevate.
EWN’s official Ellevate page documents the programme as an existing initiative created to mentor and inspire young girls and equip them with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to pursue future careers.
The programme has since developed into a structured mentorship initiative. EWN says its mentorship manual and personal journal form the implementation backbone of a one-year programme designed to support girls across areas including leadership, self-awareness, career exploration, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, communication, health and wellbeing, and resilience. (Ewntree)
Separately, a September 2026 report on EWN’s 10th anniversary said the Ellevate initiative had reached more than 600 girls in the Northern Region since its launch. (Ghana News Agency)
The latest October 5 GNA report, however, gives the current programme position: the expanded EWN Ellevate mentorship programme is engaging 500 Senior High School girls in Tamale, with plans to extend it to another region. (Ghana News Agency)
For students, parents and schools interested in Ellevate, the existing programme model provides the clearest indication of how participation works. EWN’s published materials show that the initiative has been implemented through selected educational institutions rather than as a general public application programme. (Ewntree)
Who can access EWN beyond the four programmes?
Women seeking a broader connection to the Network can also explore EWN membership.
EWN’s current membership page lists Full Membership for corporate and entrepreneur executives, including C-suite executives, CEOs, directors and heads of department with 10 years or more of work experience. The page also lists Associate Membership for corporate and entrepreneur managers with at least three but fewer than ten years of work experience, at GH¢600 a year. Prospective applicants should check the current offer directly with EWN before applying. (Ewntree)
The current annual fee is GH¢1,200 for Full Members, alongside a non-refundable GH¢100 application fee. EWN’s membership page also outlines the application process: applicants submit the application form, pay the application fee, wait for approval and then pay the annual membership fee. (Ewntree)
Women who meet the requirements can apply for EWN membership through the official membership page.
Beyond mentorship: The push for access and sponsorship
The thinking behind the initiatives goes beyond telling women to find mentors.
At the EWN@10 Conference, Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana Matilda Asante-Asiedu stressed the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, noting that mentorship provides guidance while sponsorship opens doors. She called for more leaders to advocate for capable women and create opportunities for them. (Ghana News Agency)
That distinction gives the four initiatives a wider purpose. The new phase is not simply about adding another mentorship programme. It is an attempt to connect women with skills, networks, markets, leadership opportunities and people willing to use their influence to create access.
For now, women interested in participating should use EWN’s official channels as their first point of contact and watch for programme-specific application announcements. Where EWN has not yet published an intake date, eligibility requirement, cost or access route, those details should be treated as pending rather than assumed.