EMERGE has officially launched with the aim of helping young African professionals access the skills, mentorship, networks and employment opportunities needed to build sustainable careers across the continent.
Developed with support from the Mastercard Foundation, the platform seeks to address the lack of the infrastructure required to help professionals progress in their careers.
Many young Africans are technically skilled and ambitious, but often struggle to gain access to structured career development, professional networks, mentorship and visibility to employers, says TheBoardroom Africa.
EMERGE combines several career development resources into a single platform, offering structured learning, leadership assessments, mentorship, peer networking, employer engagement and curated career opportunities.
The platform is designed to benefit both professionals and employers by creating a stronger talent ecosystem. Young professionals gain access to career development resources that improve their employability and long-term growth, while employers are able to identify and develop a more prepared talent pipeline.
The platform has already attracted more than 1,700 young professionals from across Africa, with women making up approximately 60% of its membership, reflecting its focus on expanding access to career opportunities for underrepresented talent.
“The issue has never been a lack of capable talent in Africa,” said Marcia Ashong-Sam, Founder and CEO of TheBoardroom Africa.
“The real challenge is that access to opportunity remains uneven, and career progression is too rarely supported in a structured, intentional way. EMERGE was created to change that.”
She added that the platform is designed to help professionals transform their ambition into sustainable careers while enabling employers to connect with a stronger pool of African talent.
The platform also provides employers with aggregate development insights, allowing organisations to monitor employee progress, identify capability gaps, and support internal leadership development and retention strategies.
Ashong-Sam said employers and professionals ultimately share the same objective.
“Employers want people who can grow with the business, contribute to strategy, and take on greater responsibility over time. Professionals want work that gives them progress, purpose, and financial stability. EMERGE brings both sides into the same conversation, with a focus on readiness, development, and opportunity.”
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