It is a new year and another opportunity for women to reset and realign goals with vision, explore untapped opportunities, leverage on the momentum of gender inclusion and economic shifts and prepare to break barriers, innovate and redefine success across all spheres because it has been stated that Africa’s future is undeniably female; not just in demographics but in innovations and transformative ideas waiting to be explored.
African women are increasingly being recognized as critical drivers of economic growth and 2025 presents a unique window for women, especially in Nigeria and the entire African continent to utilise their strengths and be better positioned to lead transformative endeavours.
2025 is the year for the unstoppable woman and to attain this height, it has been said that women must build on the global push for gender equality and increase recognition of women’s contributions to economic development. And in Nigeria, women must be ready to stand at the forefront of this shift, be ready to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape and create thriving businesses that impact communities and have a voice in issues and policies.
To be unstoppable, women must stand tall above perceived and existing headwinds that held them back in 2024 and be prepared for the estimated wealth takeover described as “The Great Wealth Transfer by the World Economic Forum in 2030; just five years from now. It was predicted that by that year, women stand to inherit $30 trillion by 2030.
To be among those that will partake in the wealth transfer, a woman must be prepared to be unstoppable. But the reality is that women are often responsible for stopping themselves and getting in their own way. Many women hinder themselves and hold themselves back, even when doors crack open by undervaluing their skills, experience, knowledge, and what they bring to the table.
Experts’ advice that to be unstoppable in 2025, especially as a professional, a woman must recognize her uniqueness; how much she knows, how much value she can bring, recognize how qualified she is for any opportunity that shows up, be willing to learn, be resourceful and intelligent to figure out strategies and tactics.
Women must know their worth and value and stop undermining their importance as according to researchers, women often have far more skills than their résumés. This was confirmed by
Celinda Lake, a veteran opinion research leader and President of Lake Research Partners, on Electric Ladies Podcast last year when she said, “Women often have far more skills than their résumés translate into. And actually, we’re going into a good period now where I think employers and organizations are looking for the skill set that you have, more than the job titles that you have. And that’s good for women, because we have a lot of skills that we will have acquired in different arenas. Bring in your all.
“People are really interested in public service and what you’ve learned from those non-paid roles, as well as those paid outside-the-home roles; don’t be discouraged if you put yourself out there and you’re rejected. By raising your hand, applying for that new role, asking for that bigger project, you are still getting noticed and on their radar and in their mental and literal databases.
Persistence and, don’t take it personally; it’s tough out there. It requires resilience, remember that you have a tremendous amount to offer and you know it,” she added.
Being unstoppable doesn’t mean you never feel fear or doubt, nor does it mean you won’t face setbacks or challenges; it is rather about the determination to keep going, no matter what stands in your way. The unstoppable woman isn’t someone who has all the answers or an easy path but the woman who refuses to give up, who gets back up after every setback and who stays focused on their goals even when things get tough.
How can you build this mindset to own 2025? The following tips can help:
Commit to a clear vision: Being unstoppable begins with knowing where you are going. What do you want to achieve? Why does it matter to you? Having a clear vision gives you something to focus on when distractions or challenges arise. Make your vision specific.
Embrace setbacks as lessons: Every individual faces setbacks but unstoppable people see them as opportunities to learn and grow. Instead of letting a mistake or failure stop you, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can I improve next time? Adopting this mindset keeps you moving forward.
Take consistent action: Progress doesn’t come from big leaps; it comes from small, consistent steps. Decide on one action you can take today that moves you closer to your goal. Then do it again tomorrow. Over time, these small steps create momentum and confidence.
Progress is built on persistence and not by avoiding challenges or waiting for the perfect moment. By embracing opportunities, tapping into support systems, women can become unstoppable and transform not just their businesses but entire communities, fostering economic growth and social progress. The future is female and for African women, the possibilities are truly endless; own what you know and what you are good at. Look at yourself differently in 2025.
and then