Our Team

Whole Woman Network, WWN, is an Advocacy, Empowerment and Leadership Social Enterprise founded by two Nigerian Canadian women, Diana Barikor-Wiwa and Juliet ‘Kego Ume-Onyido, while both were undertaking their Masters degree programs at the University of Toronto, Canada and Manchester Business school, University of Manchester, UK, respectively.

WWN was initially started as an informal collective – a networking group for a few African women in the diaspora. The objectives were to provide a safe space to thrive, hold one another accountable for their various goals and dreams, and motivate and share peer-to-peer support and strategies for living a healthy lifestyle (‘Business-Financial-Spiritual-Leisure-Health-Work-Life’ integration).  The collective harnessed the power of an informal financial co-operative model – “SUSU” aka ROSCA (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations), to pool capital and other resources and invest collectively towards their socio-economic power and freedom.

As the membership base expanded to include all BIPOC demographics, the group had a formal launch event on December 4, 2010 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. The organization’s head office is still in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. However, several programs have also been delivered to different countries in Africa and across the globe. In January 2022, WWN was formally incorporated as a for-profit Social Enterprise Corporation.

WWN is a membership-based organization, and the membership fees are paid on an annual, rolling calendar basis. WWN training, coaching, consulting services, programs, and projects are delivered via several channels. They include collaborative projects partnerships with different value partners (Individuals, Corporate entities, Not-for-profit groups, Cooperatives, and Government agencies); certification training programs, personal development seminars, webinars, workshops, keynotes, creative and fun networking opportunities and inspirational learning sessions, all facilitated by our network of dynamic professional subject matter experts (SMEs). Presently, the WWN membership base extends to over eleven (11) countries across Africa, the Caribbean and North America.

WWN runs a sustainable social enterprise model, in which at least fifty per cent (50%) of the organization’s profits are reinvested back into its Co-operative arm, WWN Co-op, to run subsidized projects and programs that enhance equity, social justice and socio-economic freedom, with a particular focus on BIPOC women and youth.

Our Proprietary Programs and Services:

i) SEED4Her Initiative – Sustainable Education and Empowerment Development programs for young girls in secondary schools and universities. (It includes a unique ‘Signature Style’ program, Leadership, Empowerment and Community Development training).

ii) FLOW: Financial Literacy & Economic Opportunities for Women  – A holistic and collective approach to understanding money and the financial environment, building financial resilience, confidence & liberation, and creating sustainable economic empowerment for women, their households and communities.

iii) POETRY4Change  – An initiative that uses the power of poetry, spoken word and creative writing to create awareness about societal issues and realities and catalyze positive action and change. It empowers the youths (especially girls) to develop confidence and communication skills by finding, embracing and using their voices.

iv) ROSCA Matching Funds and Peer-2-Peer (P2P) Lending Programs – Making your money work for you by applying common sense to money sense! A focus on creating sustainable economic empowerment for women by directly providing community-based, peer-2-peer loans to fund business expenses, skill acquisition training and other lifestyle needs. We currently offer two streams: WWN Community Lending Circles for members based in Canada ($500 to $25,000) and “Nwanyibuife” Peer-to-Peer Loans for members based in Africa and the Caribbean (The range varies).

v) WWN Self-Leadership and Life Transformation Coaching Programs

vi. Co-operative Education Training Programs

At Whole Woman Network, we take a unique approach to Training and Coaching. Our programs are based on Universal Cooperative principles and values, Indigenous African values, Strategic Intervention (SI) Principles, Science (Behavioural and Neuro-Sciences), Top Industry Leadership Principles and Frames and Plain Old Common Sense! Our Leadership programs are a fusion of top mind-body tools and unique indigenous and proprietary frames harnessed to build the ‘Whole Woman.’

Our unique approach is results-driven and based on measurable outcomes. It focuses more on sustainable behavioural re-patterning and ACTIONABLE steps! We aim to provide our members,  clients and value partners with a compelling ‘call to action’ on issues affecting their overall well-being by empowering them with tools to transform ALL facets of their lives.

Programs are delivered through customized one-on-one and/or group experiential coaching sessions, via online and offline (on-site, face-to-face) channels. We believe that no matter your income level and background, it is everyone’s Fundamental ‘WoMan’ Right to live an empowered, joyful, whole, authentic, dignified and fulfilling life, and transform their worlds!

WWN platforms, coaching and training programs are tour guides on a journey to co-create empowered individuals, families and communities. WWN is committed to delivering sustainable leadership coaching, training and consulting programs that enhance excellence by unlocking untapped Human Potential. Our goal is to engage, educate & empower under-served demographics to become influential leaders and catalysts of socio-economic transformation in their immediate and expanded environments, with dignity on their terms.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐔 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧® | 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬.