When we unveiled the theme for the 8th Sustaining Impact Summit: “Systems that Sustain – Building Impact that lasts in Africa”—we knew we were asking our community to lean into a challenging conversation. We are moving away from the “Hero Phase” of social entrepreneurship and stepping into the “System Phase.” But what does that actually look like?
To bring this to life, we recently hosted a live session with three of our past Impact Prize winners: Omoyemi Oladiran (El Plethora Vocational Academy), Oguguamobi Oyesiji (Mobi Designs), and Happiness Adama (Happi LC & Totes).
These women didn’t just share success stories; they shared their evolutions. Their journeys offer a roadmap for anyone currently navigating the messy middle of sustaining and scaling an impact-focused organization in Africa.
As we kicked off the session, there was a palpable sense of reflection. We started by going back to the beginning—the ‘Pre-Prize’ days. It wasn’t just about the wins; it was about the weight of the problems they were carrying. From tackling youth unemployment to facing the staggering reality of fashion waste, these founders weren’t just ‘running businesses’—they are intentional about addressing some of Africa’s toughest challenges.
The biggest hurdle they all shared? The exhaustion of trying to sustain impact without a clear roadmap.
Beyond Skills: The Pivot to Revenue Systems
Omoyemi Oladiran of El Plethora Vocational Academy started with a mission many of us can relate to: tackling unemployment through skills training. But as time went on, she realised that training people alone was not enough to keep the organisation running and growing.
Through the Impact Prize mentorship, Omoyemi realized that for her impact to be sustainable, her business model had to evolve. El Plethora Vocational Academy shifted from being “just a training center” to becoming a production hub for sustainable, beaded, and upcycled crafts. By building a system that connects training directly to revenue, she ensured that her trainees aren’t just skilled—they are employed, and her organization is self-sufficient.
The Power of External Perspective
For Oguguamobi Oyesiji at Mobi Designs, the challenge was visibility and communication. How do you scale a sustainable fashion brand when the world doesn’t yet fully grasp the value of upcycling?
She highlighted a truth we often overlook: you cannot see the picture when you are inside the frame. The feedback from the Impact Prize judges and mentors acted as a mirror, helping her clarify her mission and build the internal capacity needed to expand.
Transitioning from “Founder Energy” to “Team Operations”
Happiness Adama of Happi LC & Totes gave us a transparent look at the leap from a side project to a full-fledged enterprise. Before the prize, she was tackling fashion waste with immense passion but limited resources.
Winning the Impact Prize was her turning point. It wasn’t just the funding—it was the validation of the good work she was doing. Happiness moved from being the sole “maker” to expanding her team and supply chain. This shift allowed Happi LC & Totes to scale its operations and tackle fashion waste at a level that passion alone could never reach.
One of the most revealing moments of the night was when we discussed the application and judging process itself. Many people see judging as stressful or intimidating, but Happiness, Oguguamobi, and Omoyemi shared a different perspective. For them, the feedback from the judges helped them better understand their organisations and spot areas they needed to improve, even before winning the prize. They explained that the process gave them more confidence, clearer direction, and helped strengthen how they presented their work to partners and supporters.
The Road to SIS 2026
To close the session, I asked them: What would you say to those applying for the 8th Edition right now? Their advice was unanimous—don’t just apply for the money. Apply for the growth. They urged this year’s applicants to be honest about their ‘knowledge gaps’ and to use the application process as a tool to refine their own vision. As one of them beautifully put it: “Don’t overthink it and certainly don’t doubt yourself. I remember applying on the very last day because I didn’t think I stood a chance, but I was wrong. My advice? Stop procrastinating and just put yourself out there—you might be one email away from a total pivot.”
What stood out across all three stories was that long-term impact is rarely sustained by passion alone. Behind every growing organisation was a system slowly being built, systems for revenue generation, partnerships, team building, mentorship, learning, and decision-making. The Impact Prize became valuable not simply because of the support it offered, but because it helped these innovators think more intentionally about what it takes to sustain their work over time. This connects closely with the focus of this year’s Sustaining Impact Summit (SIS 2026): Systems that Sustain: Building Impact that Lasts in Africa. This year, we will be exploring how social innovators and ecosystem actors build the structures, relationships, and support systems that allow impact to continue beyond individual effort.
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We are already warming up for August 27-29. The momentum is building and, you won’t want to miss what we have in store.
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• Deep Dive: [Click here to download the SIS8 Summit Brief] and get a head start on the themes we’ll be tackling.
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