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*Financial Inclusion Must Be Lived, Not Just Spoken About* As we close February, let’s reflect on a harsh reality: financial systems are still failing those who need them most. Women in marginalized communities continue to struggle to access fair, affordable credit. Instead, they are forced into the hands of loan sharks – many disguised as fintechs, licensed and legitimized, yet preying on the most vulnerable. Take Hannah’s story (Not her real name). A hardworking entrepreneur, she took a loan from a popular mobile lender to restock and expand her bookshop. The promise? Quick, collateral-free credit. The reality? Unbearable interest rates, impossible repayment terms, and harassment when she couldn’t keep up. Within months, she lost her business – not because she lacked the drive, but because the system wasn’t built to support her. Financial inclusion isn’t just about making credit available; it’s about ensuring that access is fair, transparent, and sustainable. M-Pesa revolutionized financial access, proving that innovation can bridge the gap. But we must ask ourselves- what next? How do we continue to innovate and regulate responsibly? Government, financial institutions, and development organizations must prioritize financial solutions that genuinely uplift communities, not exploit them. As we onboard women like Hannah into SheEO’s MAP, we are giving them a shot at opportunities they would otherwise be denied. However, when the right financial systems fail to function, something else takes their place- and more often than not, it’s the predator. It’s time to rethink financial inclusion, not as a buzzword but as a lived reality. What policies do you think should be place to protect entrepreneurs like Hannah?