Based in Cotonou for the past four years, Danielle Adjot, an Ivorian entrepreneur with a unique career path, is developing Parmer Training, a firm specialized in employability and career guidance for young people across West Africa.
As a pioneer in a still underdeveloped market and a business leader building her company step by step, she reflects on her journey, her challenges, and the impact of Entourage’s support on her entrepreneurial growth.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
I am Danielle Adjot, Managing Partner of Parmer Training, a firm dedicated to supporting young people in West Africa with career orientation, professional project development, and the skills necessary for successful workforce integration. At Parmer Training, we work with schools, universities, companies, and parents to help young people clarify their direction and structure their professional ambitions. Our observation is clear: too many educational choices are made by default under pressure, without guidance, or without a clear vision. The result is lost time, frustration, and discouragement. Our mission is to bring structure, methodology, and clarity to these critical decisions.
What challenges did you face when launching Parmer Training?
The first challenge was being a pioneer in this field. In our region, structured post-secondary orientation and early employability support are not yet seen as essential. Many believe things will “fall into place” naturally. When we explain that we train young people to clarify their professional goals, the initiative is not always taken seriously. The second challenge was entrepreneurial: building a viable business model in a sector with strong social impact but limited financial recognition. Today, in 2025, we have trained over 100 young people, with more than 70% having clarified or redefined their career paths. The journey, however, remains demanding.
How did you discover Entourage?
Entourage felt like a gift to my entrepreneurial journey in Benin. My first experience was a collective session with Nabou Fall. We had prepared our questions in advance. Her answers were clear, structured, and direct. She energized me. It was the voice I needed to move forward with confidence.
What impact did Entourage’s support have on you?
That first session acted as a trigger. It pushed me to take action more decisively. I also realized something essential: you cannot rely solely on other people’s networks. You must build your own. Networking was not natural for me. Through Entourage Dinners, L’Arbre à Palabres, and ENTOURAGE+ meetings, I entered a stimulating ecosystem where I no longer felt alone. Conversations during L’Arbre à Palabres with Régis Akotegnon helped me clarify my “why” and accept that my pace is different. Being a pioneer means accepting a longer road. With Sylvie Becker transformed my vision of wealth management and resource structuring. These were not just pieces of advice. They were mindset shifts. Today, I am not the same entrepreneur I was at my first Entourage dinner.
How would you evaluate Entourage’s follow-up and support?
What stands out most is the coherence of the journey: individual sessions, strategic dinners, targeted connections, consistent follow-up. When I faced an urgent legal need, I contacted a member I had met through ENTOURAGE+. The meeting was scheduled the very next day. This network works in practice. If I had to rate the experience, I would give it 8.5 out of 10.
What advice would you give to those who want to start a business or return to Africa?
Do not wait for everything to be perfect. I build my business model progressively. I test and adjust along the way. The system is different from Europe. Interactions differ. Problem-solving approaches differ. You need to “tropicalize” observe, understand, and adapt. Most importantly: invest in guidance. Experts have already paid the price of mistakes. We invest to learn from their experience.
If, like Danielle, you want to structure your project, strengthen your entrepreneurial posture, and move forward with clarity, book a session with Entourage experts today.
