Small and growing businesses make the biggest impact on economies, and they need more support
As populations grow, millions of jobs will be needed in sub-Saharan Africa alone and SGBs will play an essential role in providing sustainable livelihoods.
Hamdiya has over 20 years’ experience in Finance and Investments and over 13 years’ experience in Venture Capital and Private Equity investing. Over this period she has led Venture Capital and Private Equity ecosystem development in Ghana through education and influencing policy and regulatory outcomes for the industry.
She is currently the General Manager of Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), where she oversees the investments and general operations of the Trust. She also manages the Venture Capital Trust Fund Technical Assistance Facility, which is designed to support fund managers and build the capacity of investee companies.
Prior to joining VCTF, she was a Deputy Director at the Ministry for Private Sector Development, where she led in the provision of business advisory services, financing arrangements, enterprise support services, skills development, entrepreneurship training, and promotional workshops for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
She is an angel investor and was instrumental in the design of the Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN). She is also a Director of the Ghana Angel Fund and a Founder of the Lady Angel Network – which invests in women owned/led businesses. She chaired the Ghana Taskforce, which successfully led to the establishment of Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh), the National Advisory Board (NAB) for Impact Investing in Ghana and serves on its Executive Committee. Ghana, through IIGh is now a member of the Global Steering Group (GSG) for impact investing. She has been at the forefront of impact investing over the last 8 years, working with stakeholders in promoting impact investing in the country.
Ms. Ismaila currently serves as a trustee of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. She is also a Council Member for the Ghana Alternative Exchange (a second tier listing platform for SMEs on the Ghana Stock Exchange) and a member of the Governing Council of the Star Ghana Foundation.
Ms. Ismaila holds an Executive Certificate in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School, a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in the City of New York, BBA (Sum Cum Laude) from Monroe College and an LLB degree from the GIMPA Law School.
She is a Fellow of the 2019 Class of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship and a Member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.