Irene Naa Korkoi Armah
University of Cape Coast (UCC)
Accra
1
Certification
21
years of professional experience
Results-driven Business Development Coordinator with 15 years in launching and scaling start-ups. Expertise in managing innovation hubs and developing business systems. Led grant fundraising, venture mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Specializes in design thinking, lean startup innovation, and agri-food systems to drive ecosystem growth and support sustainable youth enterprises.
Work History
Entrepreneurship and Business Development Officer
8 Months- Supported strategic implementation of entrepreneurship business model through targeted research
- Coordination of business development services to all partners across Central, Volta, Brong Ahafo and Northern regions of Ghana to impact 58,000 farmers and youth
- Coordinated business development services for partners across Central, Volta, Brong Ahafo, and Northern regions of Ghana, benefiting 58,000 farmers and youth
- Coordinated small business growth initiatives through pitch events, report submissions, and management of stakeholder activities
Program Officer - Central Region
3 Years 9 Months- Led regional and national operations of Agric start-ups, incubation programs in alignment with national agri-foods strategy in partnership with Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) and Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVETS)
- Managed, tracked and ensured financial compliance of incubated ventures with grant portfolios exceeding $300,000
- Managed financial compliance and tracking for incubated ventures with grant portfolios exceeding $300,000
- Prepared budgets and financial plans in line with reporting standards, initiating internal funding pipeline for sustained activities
- Engaged corporate partners, investors, development agencies and ecosystem stakeholders for resource support
- Engaged corporate partners, investors, development agencies, and ecosystem stakeholders for resource support
Director
3 Years 5 Months- Founded and led organization operations, supervised team, and delivered training programs for female youth in Ghana
- Prioritized performance targets, monitored KPIs, and coordinated recruitment for 20 ad hoc personnel
- Represented the organization at national entrepreneurship and gender equity forums to promote job opportunities for female youth
- Designed and implemented entrepreneurship and skills training program in fashion accessories for 100 women to launch income-generating businesses
- Ensured compliance with legal and administrative requirements of female owned startups
Creative Director & Founder
10 Years 7 Months- Launched and scaled start-up fashion enterprise positioned for local and international presence
- Promoted indigenous Ghanaian fashion accessories internationally through strategic branding in UK, Italy, Germany, Sweden, US, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Nigeria
- Established structured processes for sales tracking, production oversight, and customer pipelines, enhancing operational efficiency over 15 years
- Created sustainable revenue streams for B2B and B2C retail channels, driving business growth
- Elevated visibility of indigenous Ghanaian fashion accessories through strategic branding initiatives across UK, Italy, Germany, Sweden, US, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria
Retail Team Manager
2 Years 4 Months- Managed branch retail teams with clear KPIs and performance monitoring systems to achieve and exceed monthly targets
- Drove sales growth in loans and fixed deposits for client portfolios, enhancing client engagement
- Implemented compliance and operational controls aligned with banking regulations
- Conducted nationwide training for sales staff, improving product knowledge and sales techniques
- Provided one-on-one mentoring to enhance employee skills and coaching for performance reviews
Assistant Officer, Human Resource
2 Years- Coordinated recruitment, workforce planning, and training for junior staff to enhance team capabilities
- Streamlined internal documentation systems for legal, accounts, risk management, and treasury departments to improve operational efficiency
- Managed internal documentation systems across legal, accounts, risk management and treasury departments
- Assessed and facilitated timely disbursement of loans and welfare for staff to support employee well-being
Education
PhD Bus. Adm. - Entrepreneurship
MPhil
Bachelor of Arts - Publishing Studies
West African High School Certificate - General Arts- Home Economics
Skills
Startup Growth Strategies
Experiential facilitator
Sustainability training
Leadership for startups
Business strategy
Project management
Evidence-based decision making
Public speaking
Accomplishments
- 2024, 2025 – Mentor and Coach for the Women Empowerment Capstone Project in Ghana by Women in Faith Leadership Fellowship, UN program
- 2023 - 2024 - Selected Ghanaian female entrepreneur to represent the GIZ Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A)
- 2015 - CNN African Start-up entrepreneur feature
- 2011 - African Fashion Week Designer, London
Certification
- 2024 - Design Thinking (Foundation for Innovation)
- 2021 - Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals from AFOS Foundation
- 2019 - Entrepreneurship Skills Certificate (UCC Business School – Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise Development)
- 2019 - Business Plan Training Certificate – (Ghana Enterprise Agency)
- 2019 - Women in ICT Certificate - (Ghana Enterprise Agency)
Conferences
- 2026 - Africa Prosperity Dialogue, Ghana
- 2025 - Innovation, Investment and Ecosystem Hubs Forum – Kenya
- 2024 - British Council Stakeholders Engagement Forum, Ghana
- 2023 - The Education Collaborative June Convening (ASHESI)
- 2022, 2023, 2024 - Women Entrepreneurship 4 Africa (Ghana, Kenya – GIZ)
- 2021 - 9th Universities, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development in Africa Conference (Ghana - UEED)
- 2020 - Ghana Women in Entrepreneurship Summit – Accra
Trainings
- 2026 - Food Systems Management Training with The Nkabom Collaborative, University of Ghana
- 2025 - AI for startups, Coursera
- 2024 - Design Thinking (Foundation for Innovation)
- 2023 - Incubation Management for Startups (DAACHI Foundation)
- 2023 - Project management for SME’s (UCC)
- 2021 - Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals (DIGI CAP, AFOS Foundation)
Grants
- 2023 - 2024 Selected business for GIZ Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A)
- 2018 - Tony Elumelu Foundation for African Entrepreneurs Grant
Awards
2015 - Accessories Designer of the Year West Africa, 2013 - Accessories designer of the year Ghana, 2011 – Designer for African Fashion Week, London, 2007 - British Council Young International Fashion Entrepreneur Award
Timeline
Entrepreneurship and Business Development Officer
University of Cape Coast (UCC)
11.2025 - CurrentRead More
Program Officer - Central Region
Kosmos Innovation Center, Accra
06.2022 - 03.2026Read More
Director
Women’s Art & Research Institute, Accra, Ghana
10.2018 - 03.2022Read More
Creative Director & Founder
Inka Accessories Enterprise
03.2010 - 10.2020Read More
Retail Team Manager
Barclays Bank Ghana (now) Absa Bank
11.2007 - 03.2010Read More
Assistant Officer, Human Resource
GCB Bank Ltd
11.2005 - 11.2007Read More
Holy Child High School
West African High School Certificate from General Arts- Home Economics
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Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Arts from Publishing Studies
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University of Cape Coast
MPhil
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University of Cape Coast
PhD Bus. Adm. from Entrepreneurship
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