Empoweing Young Women: Marieme Esther Dassanou's Journey In Gender Equity

“I never planned on a career in gender,” says Marieme Esther Dassanou, reflecting on her unexpected journey into advocacy. With an MBA and a career focused on bridging African entrepreneurs with American companies, she wasn’t initially drawn to gender issues. But as she worked more closely with African businesses, she noticed something troubling: “Women-led businesses struggled to meet international requirements—they just didn’t have the same access to resources, training, or finance.” This gap sparked a new focus for Esther, leading her to advocate for women’s economic empowerment.

Now, as Director of Gender at the Mastercard Foundation, Esther focuses on advancing gender equity in Africa and Canada. Previously, at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), she was part of a team that launched Africa’s first investment programs for Women-led small and medium enterprises. “It was a small team of six women, but we shared a passion to help women contribute meaningfully to their economies,” she recalls. Her journey is fuelled by a powerful mission: breaking down barriers for women entrepreneurs across Africa and Canada.

After joining the Mastercard Foundation, Esther saw firsthand the organization’s commitment to empowering young African and Canadian women. Since she joined, the Foundation has expanded its reach, now supporting around 4.2 million young women. “But this is just the beginning,” she insists. “We realized our programs weren’t necessarily young women-centred.” This insight led the Foundation to revisit its approach, diving deep into data on the specific challenges young women face, such as access to finance, social norms, and cultural constraints.

The Foundation’s ambitious goal is to reach 21 million young women by 2030. Esther is passionate about designing programs that truly address young women’s needs in education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. “We aim to create opportunities that genuinely empower young women,” she explains.

One of the challenges Esther has identified is that young women are often seen only as “girls in school,” not as a diverse group with the power to drive economic change. “Young women face compounded challenges,” she notes, “due to their age and gender, making it 10 times harder for them to succeed as entrepreneurs.” To address these challenges, the Foundation has adopted a segmented approach, recognizing the different needs of women from ages 15 to 35.

Esther is particularly focused on helping young women gain visibility as economic contributors. “There’s a tendency to see them as passive or as beneficiaries, but we want the world to recognize young women as agents of change,” she says. A poignant example she shares highlights how household responsibilities can hold young women back: “Imagine a young girl who misses a scholarship opportunity because she’s needed at home, and her brother takes it instead. This is a common story.” By sharing such examples, she and the Foundation aim to encourage partners to rethink their programs and consider the barriers young women face.

To reach its ambitious goals, the Foundation relies on strong partnerships, particularly with organizations that may not initially prioritize gender-specific programs. “Data has been instrumental in changing perceptions,” Esther explains. 

Through partner convenings focused on gender, the Foundation has encouraged Stakeholders to align their goals with inclusive practices.

The Foundation’s strategy is to create an ecosystem where partners understand the importance of gender equity, not just for young women but for entire communities. “When we became unapologetic about our commitment to gender equity, it made a real difference,” Esther observes. “It’s about building a sustainable impact that serves everyone, but it starts with making space for young women.”

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Esther concludes, “but there’s still much to be done.” Her story is one of resilience, vision, and dedication to ensuring that African and Canadian women have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to economic growth. “Our work is about creating genuine, lasting impact. By transforming obstacles into opportunities, we’re laying the foundation for a brighter, more inclusive future.”

To achieve its goals, the Foundation’s strategy centres on three main pillars, each focused on addressing young women’s specific needs:

1. Redesigning Programs for Young Women: “We’re collaborating with partners to refocus programs on young women’s needs,” says Esther. By redesigning existing initiatives, the Foundation is creating programs that are more inclusive and effective.
2. Building A Young Women Centered Approach: This pillar emphasizes training staff and partners on gender equity. “When we focus on young women, it benefits the whole community,” she explains. This shift is about creating a ripple effect that indirectly supports everyone.
3. Developing Glagship Programs: These initiatives will centre on entrepreneurship, climate leadership, and workforce development, aiming for at least 70 percent of participants to be young women. “We’re setting ambitious goals because we believe in young women’s potential to drive change.”