Beyond Employment: Bridging Business and Empowerment at Jobo Academy

Jobo: A Start-Up with a mission 

Jobo is a start-up founded in Côte d’Ivoire to tackle one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: the gap between job seekers and meaningful employment. By leveraging technology, data, and strong partnerships with employers, Jobo provides a platform that connects individuals with opportunities in the formal labour market.

Jobo's mission is rooted in the belief that inclusive employment not only transforms individual lives but also fuels sustainable economic growth.

While Jobo focuses on large-scale labour market solutions, the company recognised that many vulnerable groups, particularly women working in the informal sector, require more personalised support to bridge the gap. This insight led to the creation of Jobo Academy, Jobo’s nonprofit arm. 

The Academy is dedicated to empowering women by offering training, mentorship, and one-on-one guidance to help them transition into stable, dignified employment. In this way, Jobo Academy amplifies Jobo’s broader mission, ensuring that innovation and social impact reach those most at risk of being left behind.

Assessing needs and deploying training plans 

This summer, I had the privilege of interning with Jobo Academy. My responsibilities ranged from conducting needs assessments to helping design and monitor tailored action plans that supported beneficiaries’ socio-professional integration. These plans included digital literacy training, CV-building, interview preparation, and modules in marketing, sales, and client engagement. 

I also tracked participants’ progress through follow-ups, making adjustments as their needs evolved. On the organisational side, I contributed to building partnerships with financial and technical stakeholders and assisted in setting up a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the Academy’s long-term impact.

Among the most meaningful moments were witnessing the tangible progress of the women we supported. I will never forget one apprentice, who had never used a computer before, proudly completing her first online job application. Others presented their career goals with newfound confidence or celebrated securing formal employment that would support their families.

These milestones reminded me that empowerment is not abstract; it is visible, measurable, and deeply transformative.

Representing Jobo Academy in outreach meetings with potential partners was equally rewarding, as it revealed how collaboration can extend both impact and sustainability.

Reflections and takeaways 

My internship at Jobo Academy allowed me to apply my business education to real-world challenges in social innovation, workforce integration, and organisational strategy. More importantly, it reinforced my belief that business and social impact are not mutually exclusive; they can and should work hand in hand. 

Jobo and Jobo Academy illustrate how social impact initiatives not only advance equity but also strengthen businesses by widening the pool of skilled, prepared candidates and creating a stronger, more inclusive labour market.

This experience has deepened my appreciation for inclusive employment models and strengthened my commitment to bridging the worlds of business and social good. Witnessing how a company can align profitability with empowerment has inspired me to pursue a career where purpose and performance reinforce one another, and where social innovation drives lasting change.

This internship experience was supported by the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute Impact Internship Stipend.