She’s giving job opportunities to other women in Senegal – with peanuts

She’s known as the “Iron Lady of the Baol.” But at first glance, Fatou Sall Ndiaye Mbacké, who hails from the holy city of Touba in central Senegal (formerly the Kingdom of Baol), doesn’t exactly look like a steely leader. Ms. Mbacké, who is in her mid-20s and dresses stylishly, has a warm smile and a polite demeanor. And yet under this elegance and reserve is a palpable sense of drive and fiery ambition that is manifested in both her words and actions.

Since 2012, Mbacké has been changing the lives of women around her through her entrepreneurial project centered around peanuts, as well as through broader business initiatives. In the process, she’s bucked traditional and cultural mores regarding what a woman should do – and she’s done so with resilience and modesty.

“Many people don’t understand why I chose to become an entrepreneur. This is something