LYF's
West Africa Program
Rooted locally, growing globally.
“Africa isn’t just where
my family comes from
- it’s who I am.”
Founder LYF Socials
I grew up in Germany, biracial – half German, half African – always navigating what it meant to belong. My father’s family is from Guinea, and even though I was raised far from there, Africa was always present. In the food, in the rhythm of our home, in the way we moved through life with faith, laughter, and resilience.
But outside our walls, I rarely saw people who looked like me. I didn’t see women who shared my skin, my curls, my story – running companies, creating art, or leading movements. And as a young girl, that absence planted a quiet question inside me:
Where do I fit in?
There was even a time I wished I were white – not because I didn’t love who I was, but because I thought blending in would make life easier. That maybe if I looked like everyone else, I wouldn’t be questioned, stared at, or made to feel “other.”
But deep down, I always knew that erasing who I was would mean losing the most beautiful part of me. It took years and distance to understand that my difference was my strength.
Over time, I realized being both African and European wasn’t a conflict; it was a gift. It meant I could bridge worlds. It meant I could translate cultures, move between spaces, and build belonging wherever I went.
When I left Germany with just a suitcase, I thought I was chasing opportunity.
But what I was really chasing was connection.
New York gave me that. It was here that I first saw women of color living out loud – building, creating, leading – without apology. And I remember thinking, this is what it looks like when you stop asking for permission to exist.
That realization became my mission.
For the first time, I didn’t feel “too much” or “out of place.” I felt seen. I felt home. And that feeling became the foundation for everything I’ve built since.
Offerings
1. Digital Resource Hub
Free access to downloadable guides, templates, and masterclasses in social media, branding, content creation, and small-business management – all designed for accessibility on mobile devices and low-bandwidth connections.
2. Virtual Membership Circles
Monthly mentorship sessions led by LYF alumni, industry experts, and partner mentors across Africa and the diaspora.
Each circle creates a safe space for sharing experiences, exchanging knowledge, and building genuine community.
3. Skills & Storytelling Workshops
Interactive online sessions designed to teach practical and creative skills – from marketing and financial literacy to personal branding and storytelling. Women learn to articulate their values, communicate their ideas, and build brands that feel authentic to who they are. Because even behind a screen, connection runs deep and when women come together to learn, they don’t just grow businesses; they grow belief in themselves.
4. Local Partnership Collaborations
In-country partnerships with women-focused organizations, creative hubs, and NGOs to deliver on-ground activations, community projects, and visibility campaigns across major West African cities.
5. Access & Visibility Initiatives
Quarterly features spotlighting standout participants – connecting them to brand collaborations, funding opportunities, and global audiences. Because representation creates ripple effects far beyond one story.
About LYF HerRoots
LYF HerRoots is a free initiative empowering women across West Africa – including Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal – through mentorship, education, and access.
Born from Lena’s Guinean roots, LYF HerRoots is an extension of home – a reflection of the women who shaped her and the spirit that raised her.
It’s a love letter to the women of West Africa who dream without permission, who build with what they have, and who continue to rise even when the world underestimates their strength.
This initiative was created for them – for the women whose brilliance deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated. It’s a bridge between local creativity and global visibility, between what’s possible and what’s always been within reach.
Through free mentorship, education, and creative resources, it helps women turn ideas into something lasting – sustainable brands, thriving communities, and stories told with pride.
Because when an African woman believes in her power, she doesn’t rise alone.
She lifts others with her – her sisters, her community, her country.
And that is how we build a future rooted in us.
“We are the products of the soil of Africa. We have the obligation to use our talents for the benefit of our people.”
- Nelson Mandela
Being African is my pride. It’s my rhythm, my patience, my way of seeing the world. It’s community before ego, storytelling before silence, resilience before fear. It’s knowing that even when you start with nothing, you can create something extraordinary with your hands, your voice, your spirit.
Africa is not asking for a seat at the table – it is the table.
So much of what the world celebrates – our music, fashion, art, and innovation – began there. In the heartbeat of a continent that has always created beauty out of struggle.
That’s why I created LYF HerRoots.
It’s my love letter to West Africa – to the women of Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and beyond – who carry generations of brilliance in their bones.
Women who dream even when no one’s watching.
Women who build even when resources are scarce.
Women who remind me of my grandma, my aunties, my cousins, my ancestors – the foundation of everything I am.
Lena
Your Turn.
Share your details and and one thing you’re excited to create, learn, or achieve.
We’re excited to get to know you!