The Chief Executive Officer of Genescis RCAI Ltd, Baroness Mavis Leonards, has shared a powerful account of how compassion and entrepreneurship can transform lives, particularly those of young people living on the streets.
Speaking on Asaase Café on Thursday (12 March) Leonards reflected on her personal journey—from humble beginnings and a childhood dream of becoming a secretary or air hostess—to becoming a business leader and social advocate dedicated to empowering vulnerable youth.
From childhood inspiration to entrepreneurship
Leonards credited her upbringing and her mother’s resilience as a major influence on her life. Growing up, she watched her mother juggle work as a petty trader while also caring for family members.
That experience, she said, shaped her own desire to help others.
“I have always wanted to empower people,” she said, explaining that her ambitions gradually evolved during her education.
Leonards studied at the University of Cape Coast before travelling to the United States to continue her education. While abroad, she worked with several Fortune 500 companies for about 15 years before making a life-changing decision to return home.
“One day I just packed my bags and told my sister I was moving back to Ghana,” she recalled. “I was determined that there was no way those suitcases were going back to the US.”
Encounter with street life sparks action
After returning to Ghana, Leonards said she became increasingly concerned about the number of young people living on the streets, particularly young women.
Her experiences in markets and urban areas exposed her to what she described as people “screaming for help” through their circumstances.
That concern led to the creation of a social intervention initiative known as “Jewels in the Street”, built on the idea that every person has potential.
“Everybody is a jewel,” she explained. “Sometimes they just have rough edges that need refining.”
Through the programme, Leonards and her team identified young women living on the streets and provided shelter, counselling and education.
She recalled one emotional encounter with a young mother sleeping outside with a baby.
“I asked her if that was where they slept. She said yes,” Leonards said. “It made me realise how much we take for granted.”
Giving street girls a second chance
Leonards said the programme eventually helped several young women transition off the streets.
Some were enrolled in educational programmes and training courses through scholarships arranged with partner institutions. Others received professional training and job opportunities in different sectors.
Several of the girls, she said, went on to excel academically.
“Some of them graduated with straight As,” she noted.
Others pursued careers in cosmetology, fashion and production, with some even travelling abroad to continue their education.
Leonards said one former street girl can now design wedding dresses—an achievement she described as a powerful reminder of what opportunity can do.
“You would never think she was once on the street,” she said.
Technology solution to workplace challenges
Beyond her social work, Leonards also discussed her role as CEO of Genescis, a digital verification platform designed to improve trust in recruitment and business relationships.
The platform verifies personal and professional records to ensure that information presented in CVs and profiles is accurate.
Leonards said the idea emerged after repeated frustrations with hiring employees whose credentials or skills did not match what they claimed.
“We realised something had to be done,” she said.
The Genescis platform is designed to verify identities and references for businesses, landlords, tenants, artisans and students, creating a more transparent system for employment and partnerships.
Call for collective responsibility
Leonards emphasised that addressing poverty and street life cannot be left to government alone.
Instead, she called on businesses, organisations and individuals to contribute to helping vulnerable people build better futures.
“If we all tried to impact just one life,” she said, “we could change the country.”
For Leonards, true success is not measured by wealth or possessions.
“Being successful is not just about the cars in your driveway,” she said. “It is the impact you have made on someone’s life.”
