From Impact Project to Company: Bonny Joy Kaburuk Is Building the Future with SheLearns AI.

What happens when a mentorship project refuses to remain a project? For Bonny Joy Kaburuk, a 2025 Inspire Her Afrika mentee, the answer is SheLearns AI, a company born from an Impact Project and driven by a bigger question: How do we ensure African girls are not left behind in a world increasingly shaped by Artificial Intelligence?

What started as an idea during her time in the Inspire Her Afrika Mentorship Program has grown into a company with a mission to equip girls and young women with the AI and digital skills they need to thrive in the future of work. We caught up with Bonny to talk about her journey before IHA, the idea that became SheLearns AI, the role mentorship played in her growth, and what she is building next.

Before Inspire Her Afrika, what did your career journey look like?

Before Inspire Her Afrika, I was building my career in digital marketing, communications, and AI. I had the opportunity to work with organizations across different sectors, helping them grow their online presence, tell compelling stories, and connect with their audiences. While I enjoyed the work, I couldn't ignore the growing impact AI was having on every industry. I began asking myself an important question: How do we ensure African girls are not left behind in this new era? That question became the foundation of everything that followed.

What made you apply for Inspire Her Afrika?

I was looking for more than training. I wanted a community that challenged me to think bigger and turn ideas into action. Inspire Her Afrika stood out because it focused on creating impact, not just building careers. It gave women the opportunity to identify problems in their communities and develop practical solutions. I knew that was the environment where my idea could grow.

Your Impact Project eventually became a company. Tell us about the project and how it started.

My Impact Project was SheLearns AI, an initiative created to introduce girls and young women to Artificial Intelligence in a simple, practical, and accessible way. I wanted to demystify AI and show that it isn't just for engineers or people in Silicon Valley. Through workshops, mentorship, and hands-on learning, my goal was to help young women understand AI, build digital skills, and confidently explore opportunities in STEM and the future of work.

    

When did you realize that SheLearns AI could become something bigger?

The turning point came during the mentorship itself. As I developed the project, I realized the problem wasn't temporary. Everywhere I looked, AI was transforming industries, yet many girls and young women still had little or no access to AI education. I knew a one-time workshop wouldn't be enough. SheLearns AI needed to become a long-term solution. That realization transformed it from an Impact Project into a company with a mission to make AI education accessible and inclusive for the next generation of African women.

Sometimes, getting unstuck requires more than knowing what to do next. It requires the right people, conversations, and opportunities to help you see what's possible.

If you're at a point in your career where you're wondering "What's next?", our upcoming Virtual Mastery Session is for you. 

Unstuck 3.0: Growing Beyond Your First Role is a conversation designed to help you think beyond your current position, navigate career growth intentionally, and explore what it means to keep evolving professionally. Whether you're trying to move into a new role, grow where you are, or figure out your next career move, come ready to learn, reflect, and ask the questions that matter.

Register for Unstuck 3.0: https://luma.com/og9ca480

So, what exactly does SheLearns AI do?

SheLearns AI is an AI education and digital empowerment company dedicated to preparing girls and young women for the future of work. We make Artificial Intelligence easy to understand through practical workshops, digital literacy training, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences. Our mission is to bridge the gender gap in technology by ensuring more African girls do not just use AI but understand it, build with it, and create opportunities through it. We believe every girl deserves the confidence and skills to thrive in an AI-powered world.

How did Inspire Her Afrika influence your journey from mentee to founder?

Inspire Her Afrika gave me the confidence to believe in my vision and think beyond an Impact Project. I was fortunate to have an incredible mentor, Bolanle Onilogbo, whose guidance and encouragement helped me refine my ideas and grow as a leader. Winning first place in the Inspire Her Afrika PitchFest was another defining moment. It validated my vision, inspired me to dream even bigger, and gave me the confidence to transform SheLearns AI into a company with a long-term mission.

What challenges have you faced while building your company?

Like many founders, one of my biggest challenges has been balancing ambition with limited resources. Building something meaningful requires funding, partnerships, and time. There have also been moments of uncertainty, especially as a young founder entering the AI education space. However, every challenge has strengthened my resilience and reminded me that meaningful impact takes persistence. I have learned that consistency is just as important as a great idea.

What is one lesson you've learned about entrepreneurship that every young African woman should know?

You do not have to wait until you are ready. If I had waited until everything was perfect, SheLearns AI would not exist today. Start with the knowledge, skills, and resources you have. Growth comes through action. The biggest opportunities often come after you take the first step.

What would you say to someone who has an idea but is afraid to start?

Someone out there is waiting for the solution only you can create. Do not let fear convince you that your idea is not good enough. Every successful company started as a simple idea that someone chose to act on. Your first version will not be perfect, and that is okay. Progress will always matter more than perfection.

What's next for you and SheLearns AI?

The vision for SheLearns AI is to become one of Africa's leading platforms for AI education and digital empowerment for girls and young women. We plan to partner with schools, organizations, and communities to deliver AI literacy programs across the continent, develop accessible learning resources, and build a generation of confident female innovators who are ready to lead in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

What does Inspire Her Afrika mean to you today?

To me, Inspire Her Afrika is more than a mentorship program. It is where an idea became a mission and where I discovered that impact can grow into something sustainable. It reminded me that mentorship has the power to change lives by helping people believe in themselves and their potential. I will always be grateful for the support, community, and opportunities that inspired me to become the founder of SheLearns AI.

Bonny's story is a reminder that sometimes, the idea you are working on today is only the beginning. An Impact Project can become a business. A question can become a solution. A mentorship conversation can become the confidence you need to take your idea seriously. And perhaps most importantly, you don't always need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes, you just need to start. At Inspire Her Afrika, this is the kind of growth we want to see: African women who don't just receive opportunities, but use them to build, create, lead, and make an impact of their own. Bonny started with an idea; today, she is building SheLearns AI, and this is only the beginning.