WISCAR - Women In Successful Careers

What WISCAR - Women In Successful Careers does

WISCAR (Women In Successful Careers) is a Nigerian non-profit organisation founded in 2008 by Amina Oyagbola and headquartered in Lagos. Its mission is to develop professional women in Nigeria and across Africa through structured mentoring, leadership development, and gender-equity advocacy. The organisation operates a portfolio of programmes including the flagship WIN-with-WISCAR mentoring programme in three tiers (WIN I for early-career, WIN II for mid-career, and WIN III for senior executives), the Gates Foundation–supported Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), the Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference, the recurring WISCAR Career Series, Meet-A-WISCAR sessions, the Beijing+25 Intergenerational Mentoring Programme, and the alumni-run WISCAR GLIN (Grow and Learn Initiative) for secondary-school girls.

WISCAR is not a technology company; its core delivery model is human-intensive mentoring supported by standard digital tools (virtual conferencing, online registration through Paystack, email newsletters, and the WISCAR Membership Hub launched on 1 January 2023). Its proprietary knowledge asset is the WISCAR Mentoring Book, a 17-year legacy document endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and adopted by organisations nationwide. Brand and credibility are anchored by the Distinguished WISCAR Award, given to figures such as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The business model is a non-profit funding mix: corporate sponsorships and donations from major Nigerian banks and corporates (First Bank, Access Bank, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC, MTN, Shell, Maersk, Ecobank), grants (Gates Foundation, UN Women), fee-based conference registrations, and bespoke corporate mentoring programmes delivered to clients such as FCMB She-Ventures, CHI Limited, HP, ARM Pensions, and Canon. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. WISCAR serves three primary segments — early-career, mid-career, and senior-executive women — alongside specialised cohorts in law and politics, and a corporate-client segment purchasing workplace mentoring.

Name

WISCAR - Women In Successful Careers

Legal name

WISCAR LTD BY GUARANTEE

Website

https://wiscar.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WISCAR is a Nigerian non-profit founded in 2008 that develops professional women through structured mentoring (WIN I/II/III), legal-sector programmes (WILMP), an annual leadership conference, and gender-equity advocacy, serving early-career to senior-executive women, women in law and politics, and corporate clients across Nigeria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Leadership Development and Mentoring Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACANAI

Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Training, Learning & Development Services

SECONDARYEDABAMAM

Coaching, Feedback & Mentoring Skills

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Soft Skills Development

SECONDARYEDAIAFAM

On-Site Mentoring, Supervision & Program Management Services

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Internships, Co-ops & Work Placement Programs

Keywords

• Women's leadership mentoring
• Professional development programs
• Corporate mentorship services
• Gender equality advocacy
• Annual leadership conference

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: WISCAR relies on corporate sponsors and donors for funding. Sponsors include major Nigerian banks (First Bank, Access Bank, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC), multinational corporations (MTN, Shell, Maersk, Ecobank), and other organizations. Donations are solicited through the Pay It Forward program on the website.
2. Conference and Program Fees: Registration fees for annual conferences and discounted fees for Career Series programs. Bank transfer and online payment options available via Paystack.
3. Corporate Partnership Programs: Bespoke mentoring programs delivered to private sector organizations including FCMB She-Ventures, CHI Limited, and Canon Women Who Empower Project. Programs built on history of success with corporate clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WISCAR delivers structured mentoring, leadership development, and advocacy programmes for professional women in Nigeria and Africa. Its flagship offerings include tiered mentoring cohorts (WIN I, II, III), the Women in Law Mentoring Programme, an annual flagship conference, monthly Career Series workshops, and bespoke corporate mentorship programmes. The organisation also distributes the WISCAR Mentoring Book, runs the WISCAR Membership Hub community platform, and conducts gender-equality advocacy including the #35PercentandBeyond campaign.

Product overview

WISCAR (Women In Successful Careers) is a Nigerian non-profit organisation focused on empowering and developing professional women to contribute to development and growth in Nigeria and Africa. The organisation operates primarily as a mentoring and advocacy platform rather than a technology product. Its core offerings centre around structured mentoring programmes (WIN-with-WISCAR with three tiers WIN I, II, and III), the Women in Law Mentoring Programme, the Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference, WISCAR Career Series, Meet-A-WISCAR sessions, the Grow and Learn Initiative (GLIN), Beijing+25 Mentoring Programme, Annual Mentoring Walk, and the WISCAR Mentoring Book. These programmes collectively aim to develop women leaders through mentorship, advocacy, and capacity building while working toward gender equality in Nigeria's public and private sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WIN-with-WISCAR Mentoring Programme: Flagship structured mentoring programme for professional women with three tiers: WIN I (beginners with under 5 years experience), WIN II (aspiring for senior management with 5-10 years experience), and WIN III (senior management aspiring for C-Suite/Board positions).
• Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP)
• WISCAR Career Series
• Meet-A-WISCAR
• Annual Mentoring Walk
• Beijing+25 Mentoring Programme
• WISCAR GLIN (Grow and Learn Initiative)
• WISCAR Mentoring Book

Products and services

• WIN-with-WISCAR Mentoring Programme A structured, tiered mentoring programme for professional women in Nigeria: WIN I for early-career women with under 5 years experience, WIN II for women with 5-10 years aspiring to senior management, and WIN III for senior managers aspiring to C-Suite, executive management and board roles.
• WISCAR Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP) A Gates Foundation-supported mentoring programme for mid-career women lawyers across Lagos, Abuja and Kano, designed to bridge the leadership gap in Nigeria's legal profession and prepare participants for judicial, legislative and executive leadership roles.
• WISCAR Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference An annual flagship conference that brings together 600–1,600+ delegates (in-person and virtual) for leadership development, the Distinguished WISCAR Award ceremony, fireside chats with notable leaders, networking, and mentorship matching.
• WISCAR Career Series A discounted open-series training programme for men and women that develops management, leadership and strategic skills through monthly virtual sessions.
• Meet-A-WISCAR A mentoring-journeys conversation series featuring recent CEOs, senior executives, and women thriving in male-dominated industries in dialogue with their mentors, role models and mentees.
• WISCAR GLIN (Grow and Learn Initiative) A pay-it-forward mentoring initiative run by the WISCAR Alumni body that provides mentoring sessions for young girls in secondary schools.
• Beijing+25 Mentoring Programme An intergenerational mentoring programme commemorating 25 years after the Beijing conference, delivered in partnership with UN Women Nigeria.
• Annual Mentoring Walk An annual walk event that combines physical activity with mentorship advocacy, emphasising the importance of mentorship, role modelling, networks and female leadership.
• WISCAR Mentoring Book A legacy publication distilled from 17 years of WISCAR mentoring experience, endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and adopted by organisations nationwide.
• WISCAR Membership Hub An exclusive member community platform where WISCAR members interact with one another, complementing the organisation's mentoring and membership proposition.
• Corporate Bespoke Mentoring Programmes Bespoke workplace mentoring programmes delivered to corporate clients (e.g., FCMB She-Ventures, CHI Limited, HP, ARM Pensions, Canon Women Who Empower Project) that institutionalise mentorship capability and develop women's leadership pipelines inside organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of WISCAR Mentees attribute the programme as contributing to their career growth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Women in Leadership (WiL) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition comprising WISCAR, WILAN (Women in Leadership Network), WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service), and Nigeria Governors' Forum. Formed to advocate for enhanced maternity and paternity leave policies and broader labour reforms addressing the care economy. Coalition advocates for 35% female representation in leadership.
• UN Women NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISCAR appointed Private Sector Liaison to UN Women Nigeria to strengthen private sector support for Gender Equality and Gender Empowerment initiatives. Manages Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) sign-up campaign with over 100 signatories. Co-developed Beijing+25 Intergenerational Mentoring Programme.
• FIDA NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with International Federation of Women Lawyers Nigeria for Women in Law Mentoring Programme, generating Needs Assessment Report and Policy & Advocacy Brief informing sector-wide reforms.
• Nigerian Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Women in Law Mentoring Programme supporting women's progression in the legal profession.
• Lagos Business SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration institutionalizing mentorship within academic and corporate leadership programmes through joint research and broad dissemination of WISCAR Mentoring Book.
• British Deputy High CommissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted book reading session for WISCAR Mentoring Book sparking national awareness of structured mentoring as pathway to leadership.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration positioning mentoring as cornerstone of modern HR practice, reaching 18,000+ HR professionals across Nigeria.
• CHI LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace mentorship institutionalization through structured training programme building mentor capability and strengthening organizational culture.
• CanonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanon Women Who Empower Project (Season 2) equipped women in media and publishing with creative and entrepreneurial skills.
• FCMB She-VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate mentorship partnership executing 5th through 7th cycles of She-Ventures Mentoring Programme, impacting over 200 female SMEs.
• Nigeria Governors' ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of WiL Coalition advocating for parental leave policies and women in leadership reforms across Nigerian states.
• Ebony LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMade premises available for graduating mentees ceremony.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• WomenLift Health: Stanford-affiliated global initiative advancing women in health leadership through mentoring, training, and convenings. Operates a structured cohort mentorship model very similar to WISCAR's WIN tiers and could expand into Nigeria, creating potential partnership or competition.

Direct peers

• LEAP Africa: Nigeria-headquartered non-profit focused on youth leadership, ethical leadership, and professional development for young Africans. Shares the same Lagos-based mission-driven NGO profile and overlapping corporate partnerships as WISCAR, though focuses on a younger demographic.
• Springboard Enterprises: US-founded but globally scaling accelerator and mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs and leaders. Operates a similar cohort-based mentorship model and could become a structural peer if WISCAR expands beyond Nigeria or partners on cross-continent programs.
• WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service): Nigeria-based non-profit dedicated to advancing and supporting women across management, business, and public service through mentoring, capacity building, and policy advocacy. WISCAR partners with WIMBIZ in the WiL Coalition, and they target the same Nigerian corporate sponsor base and mid-career professional women.
• WILAN (Women in Leadership Network): Nigeria-focused women's leadership coalition also active in the WiL Coalition alongside WISCAR. Both organizations compete for sponsorship, mentee attention, and policy influence on the same women-leaders agenda, including parental leave and 35% representation advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• African Women's Development Fund (AWDF): Pan-African grantmaking foundation supporting women's rights organizations across the continent. Operates at a larger scale than WISCAR but in a similar mission space, including leadership development for African women, and could be a future grantor or strategic partner.
• Vital Voices Global Partnership: Global non-profit co-founded by Hillary Clinton mentoring and investing in women leaders across more than 100 countries, including significant programs in Africa. A larger, well-funded incumbent whose leadership development and advocacy mission directly overlaps WISCAR's, with stronger international brand but weaker localized Nigerian presence.
• Cherie Blair Foundation for Women: UK-based foundation supporting women entrepreneurs in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia through training, mentorship, and access to capital. Overlaps WISCAR's FCMB She-Ventures work with female SMEs and competes for similar corporate and foundation funding pools.

Regional players

• Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF): Pan-African philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. Comparable to WISCAR's She-Ventures work with female SMEs and targets similar multinational corporate sponsors in Nigeria, though focuses on entrepreneurship rather than professional leadership.
• African Leadership Institute (AFLI): Pan-African organization developing the next generation of African leaders, with a strong focus on women and governance. Comparable to WISCAR's board-readiness and political-leadership work, though headquartered outside Nigeria.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WinWithWISCAR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmL86FiSzVvnF40ALj976uQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WINwithWISCAR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiscar-nigeria/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiscarng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WISCAR - Women In Successful Careers