SBM Bank Kenya is taking significant strides to create a more inclusive financial ecosystem with a bold focus on empowering women entrepreneurs.
This new commitment materialised through the launch of the Smart Biz Lab programme, which was developed in partnership with Tactive Consulting.
The initiative aims to transform the way women run their businesses by providing them with the tools to thrive in a competitive market.
By offering specialised training and coaching, SBM Bank seeks to address the gap in financial literacy and business acumen among women entrepreneurs.
Through this initiative, participants will gain practical knowledge to improve financial management, optimise cash flow, and enhance overall operational efficiency—skills that are crucial for sustaining profitable enterprises.
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Shakilla Jhungeer, SBM Bank Kenya's Board Chairperson, highlighted the programme's importance, pointing out that financial empowerment is the foundation for women to thrive in today’s business environment.
“Financial literacy and business management skills are critical enablers for women-led enterprises to thrive. By imparting this knowledge, we are empowering a key segment of our society to unlock their full economic potential,” she said.
This programme follows a commitment made by Shakilla during the International Women’s Day celebrations on 7th March, where she pledged to train 500 women entrepreneurs in the SME sector.
“We are glad to partner with organisations such as Tactive Consulting, which shares in our vision of empowering entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth," she added.
"As a signatory to the UN Women Empowerment Principles, we at SBM are steadfast in our pursuit of promoting gender equality and creating opportunities that empower women to thrive in business, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic fabric of our nations."
The training kicked off yesterday with a pilot session, marking the beginning of a year-long series of immersive workshops.
These sessions will go beyond theory, incorporating coaching that fosters business strategy, innovation, and long-term growth for the participants.
Kaye Matereke, Senior Partner at Tactive Consulting, outlined the initial goals of the programme.
“Our plan is to initially onboard 20 women-owned SMEs over the course of this training, providing them with actionable knowledge and tools to sustainably grow their ventures," Matereke stated.
"Beyond the training, we will offer continued mentorship and coaching to ensure these female entrepreneurs can realise their full potential and access new markets, leveraging SBM’s networks and value proposition.”
SBM Bank Kenya has long championed women’s financial inclusion, with over 15,000 women positively impacted through past initiatives.
Last year, the bank partnered with the Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) to help women entrepreneurs prepare for international trade.
So far, 15 women have completed export readiness training, setting them on a path to global business expansion.
