Joy Wanjiru Machugu-Zenz is the founder of African Women in Europe (AWE), the CEO of African Women in Trade (AWT) and Africa Market in Europe (AME), Chairlady of AWE Diaspora SACCO and CEO of AWE Academy. She has reveived several awards, Winner of 2018 African Business Support Award (The Voice Awards Amsterdam), and Won African Diaspora living Legend in Germany. She is also an Author where she compiled and co-authoured the AWE Book Volume 1 She was born in Kenya and is a mother to two, living in Germany. Her aim is to connect African Women living in Europe and around the world through AWE platform irrespective of their geographical locations. Joy started AWE Networking website in 2008 and now has over 6000 signed and actively involved women networking among each other. Africa Women in Trade was created by the need for Africa Women in Europe to support Africa women and youth in business, to empower, share skills ,form sustainable partnership,support market access, informing of funding and Investment opportunities following the AfCFTA Agreement . She is a professional Event Organizer and together with her team, she has been able to move one step forward from networking online to face to face networking by organising successful events for the past 10 years. (Köln, Madrid, Rome, Paris, Berlin, London and Geneva). AWE Host the AWE Awards every second year to acknowledge the achievement of it’s’ members in different categories. Joy Zenz Compiled the first AWE Book, A collection of 11 co-authors, including herself, sharing true stories – a reflection of the strength and positivity of AWE Women. She is the chairlady of AWE Diaspora SACCO where she recently managed to mobilise Kenyan women in Europe to collectively mobilise their remittance money in a way they can develop the economy of Kenya. Prior to raising her children, Ms Zenz has worked in administration offices in UK. She has a diploma in Institution Management. She has worked in Pharmaceutical Company in Basel Switzerland as an administrator, communication expert and event assistant. She is currently involved in bridging Africa and Europe by joining different ventures with African companies and European Investors. Through African Women in Trade, she is able to connect business women and offer platform to market their goods and Services. Joy believes in African women empowerment here in Europe. Through the AWE platform, African women have been able to connect and build a positive image of African Women in Europe. Through the Awards, women have reflected a true icon to the future generation. She has the passion to encouraged women and African in the Diaspora especially in Europe to start investing in Africa. Through partnership and connecting investors in Europe and Africa to the right market and being the bridge. She believes diaspora are the ones to build the Africa continent. Joy believes in working together as a team and her Motto is: “Ubuntu. Together we are STRONG……..”