Portia Uwase graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a degree in Economics. She hopes to help other women become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. After graduation, Portia acquired an internship at BlueRidge Consulting. She is currently a Communication Officer at the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR). Portia hopes to aid in the development of Rwanda’s economy by being directly involved in the creation of economic policies.

While attending Lewis & Clark, Portia interned at Boeing as a Junior Financial Analyst. On campus, she was an Office Assistant for the Alumni and Parents Programs, where she helped with event preparations and encouraged alumni and parents to participate. In 2019, Portia volunteered at an orphanage in Dakar, learning how to work in a diverse environment and how to solve problems spontaneously. In January 2018, Portia won a full scholarship to participate in Winterim, an intensive entrepreneurship program at Lewis & Clark. The eye-opening experience provided her with ideas on how to help expand her mother’s business in Rwanda, how to bring in more women, and how to create additional employment opportunities. Portia was also a regular contributor to a local creative art and culture website, Mellowviews.com, where her team has released three digital magazines. 

Before joining SHE-CAN, Portia was fortunate to attend Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology. She graduated in 2015 and excelled in the Rwanda National Exam. Outside the classroom, she was the chief editor of the school magazine, the leader of a drama club, and led community service projects.