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Updated: 7 hours ago 2025 Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders: Claudette Ndayininahaze supports immigrant women navigating a new life

PHOTo / Tim Greenway Claudette Ndayininahaze, founder of In Her Presence
By Tina Fischer
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As an immigrant herself, Claudette Ndayininahaze understands the staggering number of challenges women face in moving to Maine. She founded In Her Presence with a focus on helping women develop language skills and cultural navigation. Over the past decade, the Portland-based nonprofit has expanded programming to include workforce development, leadership training, advocacy, and health and wellness initiatives to equip women with the tools they need to thrive. Outreach has grown from serving an original 12 women in its first year, to 843 today. With family members included, the organization helps 3,000 new Mainers.

Mainebiz: When you emigrated from Burundi in 2011, you came alone. How did you manage to adjust and go on to create a network of services to help others break through the barriers that immigrants face?

Claudette Ndayininahaze: When I arrived in Maine, I had no connections and no clear path forward. The transition was incredibly challenging. I faced language barriers, cultural differences and the uncertainty of starting over. However, I knew that the key to navigating this new environment was resilience, education, and building relationships. I started by immersing myself in learning English and understanding the systems around me. I met people who became mentors, supporters, and friends. Seeing firsthand the struggles of immigrant women who were trying to rebuild their lives too, led me to create In Her Presence.

MB: What are some of the biggest challenges facing the women with whom you work?

CN: Language is certainly one of the biggest challenges, but it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Immigrant women face barriers in employment, education, housing, and healthcare. Affordable childcare and accessible public transportation remain significant obstacles, making it difficult for women to get to work, school or to access essential services.

MB: How does In Her Presence facilitate education and employment opportunities for immigrants?

CN: We provide English language classes tailored to workplace and everyday scenarios, allowing women to gain confidence and communicate effectively. We also offer leadership training, professional development workshops and networking opportunities.

We have job coaches who speak Portuguese and French, and we have a career counselor who has been successfully placing individuals in mid- and high-level positions, demonstrating that immigrant women are valuable contributors to Maine’s workforce. We are working to attract more employer partners to create more inclusive hiring opportunities.

MB: Who are some of your supporting partners?

CN: Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We are supported by a diverse group of businesses, individual donors, private foundations, health and educational institutions and volunteers. We also access advocacy groups including ProsperityME, Mano en Mano, Maine Association for New Americans, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition and Community Housing of Maine. These partnerships provide essential resources and pathways to economic stability for the women we serve.

MB: Tell us about the Frances Warde House, which you opened in 2023.

CN: The Frances Warde House is a transitional home that provides a safe and supportive environment for pregnant immigrant women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Created in partnership with Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Community Housing of Maine, we offer shelter, health care, case management and guidance toward stable housing.

MB: What are your goals for the future of In Her Presence? And for you?

CN: The future of In Her Presence is about deepening our impact. We want to expand our programs to reach more women, enhance our leadership training, and continue advocating for policies that support immigrant communities. Strengthening our workforce development initiatives and building stronger employer partnerships will also be key priorities.

My personal focus is on continuing to lead with vision and collaboration, ensuring that In Her Presence remains a catalyst for change. I also hope to mentor and empower the next generation of leaders, creating a legacy of resilience and opportunity for immigrant women in Maine.

In Her Presence

inherprescence.org

4 Milk St., Suite 201, Portland

What it does: Nonprofit that provides structured programming to help immigrant women access education, develop leadership skills and economic opportunities.

Founded: 2015

Employees: 10 full-time plus 23 stipend teachers

Volunteers: 43

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