The three entrepreneurs we’re currently working alongside - Irene from MAMLO Foods (Kenya), Ibrahim from Care_Link (Tanzania), and Sahera from Worldwide Sheroes (Australia)- are wrapping up the first phase of their mentoring.
If you’re new here, mentoring is the big kahuna of how we support our entrepreneurs during their year with us. The first phase is an intense two months working with our co-founder Rod, where they build a clear one-page strategic plan (their OPSP) and set out a working budget.
Next up is Phase Two, where they’re paired with a business mentor for one-on-one sessions throughout the year - keeping them focused and moving their plans from paper to progress.
We caught up with them to hear how it’s been going to date. Here it is, straight from the horse’s mouth:
As part of your strategic planning process with Rod, you’ve worked on defining your business purpose. Can you share where you’re at with that?
Irene, MAMLO Foods (Kenya): Yes, our core purpose is to bring prosperity closer to rural women smallholder farmers, by transforming the peanut value chain through innovation, inclusion, and local processing.
Ibrahim, Care_Link (Tanzania): Ours is to improve healthcare for patients [with non-communicable diseases] with the help of digital tools, ultimately saving lives. Quality healthcare is a right - not a privilege!
Sahera, Worldwide Sheroes (Australia, global): Our purpose is to expose the leadership potential of women from underserved and marginalised communities, through a global ‘sisterhood’ of expert mentors, so they can take their place in decision-making, become agents of change, and drive social progress at the grassroots level.
Irene Etyang, founder of Mamlo Foods and All Good Ventures cohort member, 2025
What have you found most valuable during this first phase of business mentoring?
Irene, MAMLO Foods (Kenya): The whole process of developing our one-page strategic plan (OPSP) with Rod has been extremely valuable - it’s brought clarity, focus, and alignment to MAMLO’s vision, goals, and next steps.
Ibrahim, Care_Link (Tanzania): The most valuable part for me has been defining clear team roles and responsibilities [as part of our OPSP development]. It’s given everyone a stronger sense of ownership and direction. Each month, our team revisits our OPSP document to remind ourselves why we serve.
Sahera, Worldwide Sheroes (Australia, global): It’s been really valuable to see the business through fresh eyes… and to become more strategic rather than purely operational - working on the business instead of always in it!
Sahera Sumar, founder of Worldwide Sheroes and All Good Ventures cohort member 2025.
How has your business idea, or how you think about your business, changed or evolved since starting the strategic planning process?
Irene, MAMLO Foods (Kenya): Since starting the strategic planning process, I’ve begun to view MAMLO not just as a social enterprise, but as a scalable system for transforming the peanut value chain through clear strategy and measurable impact.
Ibrahim, Care_Link (Tanzania): By introducing strategic action plans [within the OPSP], we have improved operations significantly. Today, every team member knows exactly what needs to be done and when. We’re a lot more goal focused.
Sahera, Worldwide Sheroes (Australia, global): The biggest shift for me has been moving from focusing purely on social impact to also building a truly competitive and thriving business.
Dr Ibrahim Batalingaya, founder of Care_Link and All Good Ventures cohort member 2025
Finally, What’s one important thing you’re working on to progress your business right now?
Irene, MAMLO Foods (Kenya): Right now, I’m focused on developing MAMLO’s financial blueprint and budgeting process to determine when we’ll begin shifting towards profitability.
Ibrahim, Care_Link (Tanzania): We’re currently developing Care_Link mobile and web applications (apps) for patients and doctors to make healthcare even more accessible and efficient.
Sahera, Worldwide Sheroes (Australia, global): The OPSP has created clarity and focus - and shown me the importance of having the right roles in the business. That’s what I’m looking at now.