Navigating Career through Pain
Honest stories.
Real pain.
Remarkable purpose.
A discreet, powerful gathering of accomplished women who have faced deep personal pain—yet continue to lead, build, and transform the world.
Applications close once 30 exceptional women have been shortlisted.
Host
Uyoyo Edosio
Chief Innovation & ICT Expert
African Development Bank
Date
15 August 2026
Time
18:00 WAT
Venue
Virtual
Attendance
30 Women Only
Behind every success is a story.
Let's tell the truth.
H.I.G.H (How It Genuinely Happened) is a carefully curated gathering where accomplished women share the untold stories behind their success—the pain, turning points, resilience and purpose that shaped their journeys.
Raw & real conversations
about pain behind professional success
A safe, confidential space
for reflection and connection
Practical insights
for navigating career, purpose & healing
A curated community
of high-achieving women
Meet Our Speakers
Learn from women who have navigated extraordinary leadership journeys while remaining authentic to themselves.
Uyoyo Edosio
Founder of H.I.G.H.
Chief Innovation & ICT Expert, African Development Bank
Creator of H.I.G.H (How It Genuinely Happened), a platform helping accomplished women tell the honest stories behind success. She has spent her career leading innovation, digital transformation and strategy across Africa while championing authentic leadership.
Creator of H.I.G.H (How It Genuinely Happened), a platform helping accomplished women tell the honest stories behind success. She has spent her career leading innovation, digital transformation and strategy across Africa while championing authentic leadership. Her work bridges the gap between personal resilience and professional excellence, creating safe spaces for women leaders to share their journeys.
Phyllis Wangui Kamau
Founder & CEO
Clarity Policy House
Phyllis is one of Africa's leading public policy and government affairs experts with over 15 years of experience across financial services, fintech, regulation and cross-border public affairs. She previously served as Senior Director and Head of Government Solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa.
Phyllis is one of Africa's leading public policy and government affairs experts with over 15 years of experience across financial services, fintech, regulation and cross-border public affairs. She previously served as Senior Director and Head of Government Solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa. Through Clarity Policy House, she provides strategic counsel to governments, regulators, and private sector organizations navigating complex policy environments. Her expertise lies in translating policy complexity into actionable business strategy.
Surayyah Ahmad
Managing Partner
Sabou Capital
Surayyah leads Sabou Capital, investing in high-growth SMEs across West and Central Africa with a gender lens. She also leads the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank initiative and serves on multiple corporate boards.
Surayyah leads Sabou Capital, investing in high-growth SMEs across West and Central Africa with a gender lens. She also leads the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank initiative and serves on multiple corporate boards. With a passion for empowering emerging entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, Surayyah combines strategic investment expertise with a commitment to sustainable economic development across the African continent.
The conversations are deeper. The questions are bigger. The mission remains the same.
Why only 30 women?
Intimacy matters. Trust is earned. Real conversations require safety.
At 30 women, we create space for genuine connection without the noise of larger crowds. Every voice is heard. Every story matters. Every woman shapes our collective healing.
This isn't just another conference. It's a circle of women who understand that even in pain, we rise.
Application Form
Please fill in the form below to apply.
Founder & Host
Uyoyo Edosio
Chief Innovation & ICT Expert at the African Development Bank, Uyoyo is a pioneering thought leader in digital transformation and inclusive innovation across Africa.
With over a decade of experience leading transformative initiatives, Uyoyo believes that the most powerful catalyst for change is a community of women who dare to share their untold stories.
H.I.G.H Conference is her love letter to the women she's mentored, learned from, and grown alongside—a safe space where excellence and vulnerability coexist.
Even the most remarkable careers are lived in the real world—and life tests the best of us.
— The stories that shape us
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about H.I.G.H Conference 2026.
We welcome accomplished women from all industries and backgrounds who have navigated significant professional success while carrying personal pain. If you've led through challenges, built resilience, and transformed your pain into purpose, this gathering is for you.