Quote of the Day by Juliana Rotich

February 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Juliana Rotich, co-founder and executive director of Ushahidi

"I am guided each day by these three questions: ‘What are you fixing?’ ‘What are you making?’ and ‘Who are you helping?'"

- Juliana Rotich is a technologist, strategic advisor, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. She is Executive Director of BRCK.org, a not for profit affiliate of BRCK Inc. for deploying reliable technology for the edges of society, and advocating for internet access and literacy. Juliana co-founded Ushahidi Inc., a non-profit tech company, which specializes in developing free and open source software for changing how information flows in the world. She is passionate about driving partnerships for tackling social problems through connectivity and appropriate technology.

Read Juliana's full LoA Profile here.

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#QOTD Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa

#QOTD --- We find that an inspiring quote can be a great source of motivation. And, as entrepreneurs we all need a little something to motivate us from time to time. Find more inspiring quotes from Lionesses of Africa here: https://buff.ly/2NHJBOA

#QOTD @worldoftiossan @skinisskinunite - Magatte Wade is one of the most notable female entrepreneurs to emerge from Africa. Born in Senegal and educated in France, she is the original founder of Adina World Beat Beverages, a San Francisco beverage company that manufactures coffee, tea and fruit juices based on indigenous traditional beverage recipes from across the world, using organic ingredients sourced from small-scale farmers across Africa and Asia. Magatte then went on to start Tiossan, a company that produces luxury organic skin-care products based on traditional Senegalese skin care recipes.

Image of the Day @africanthings : ‘Celebrating Ankara’ … by African Things, maker of contemporary African inspired lifestyle products that are functional with innovative designs in a manner that empowers Africans. Founder Oluwatosin Lawson from Nigeria aims to change the negative image associated with African manufacturing and become a symbol for high quality products, whilst at the same time empowering Africans. Her product range includes backpacks, bow ties, earrings and bangles and several other fashion related items. Read Oluwatosin's startup story → https://buff.ly/2yzhpdA

#QOTD @hive_earth - Joelle Eyeson is the co-founder of Hive Earth in Ghana, a company creating affordable housing solutions that are eco-friendly. Joelle Eyeson is bringing a new and innovative solution to Ghana that is replicable across the continent. Her company uses the rammed earth method of construction, using locally sourced, eco friendly and sustainable materials. The company constructs all of its buildings with mud and granite chippings. Read Joelle's startup story: https://buff.ly/2FON9cN

YOUNG #LIONESSLEANIN MAPUTO! Our young #WomenEntrepreneurs got to be inspired by 3 wonderful guest speakers this afternoon. A big thank you to our guest speakers Dirce Abdala, Marcia Maposse & Jessica Matos for sharing their startup journeys and knowkedge with our audience. Our event was powered by Standard Bank Mozambique in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mozambique.

Image of the Day @kakawamoz : ‘Delicious Chocolate Truffles’ … from Kakawa Chocolates, an artisanal chocolate company in Maputo, Mozambique who produce a wonderful range of chocolate bonbons using exotic local and international flavors. Co-founder Séfora Noor along with three of her best friends who have all known each other since childhood have turned their collective passion for chocolate into a thriving business. Read their startup story → https://buff.ly/2I05QQU

Let's #LIONESSLEANIN Maputo! A big thanks to our fantastically inspiring guest speakers this morning. There's nothing like having women entrepreneurs share their very personal journeys and knowledge gained along the way. Thank you ladies!

#QOTD Debra Mwodza is the founder of Quest Support Solutions @questsupportsolutions in South Africa, a company offering a wide range of business support solutions to individuals and small to medium sized entities that cannot justify or afford full time assistants of their own. Debra’s service offering includes Secretarial and Office Support Services, Administration Services, Bookkeeping services, Database Maintenance, Word Processing, HR Management and Personal Organizing Tasks. She has a passion to support her clients in utilizing their time and resources more efficiently and effectively by providing the support they need - when they need it. More about Debra: https://buff.ly/2KaGI7A

Image of the Day @okanabar : ‘Afro-inspired Mixology’… Bénédicte Mendy is the founder of Okana, a unique Afro-inspired mobile bar in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Having spent more than 10 years working in the global wines and spirits industry, her passion for African terroirs and flavours led her on a journey to creating Okana, a world of unique cocktails and event experiences, all inspired by African flavours and ingredients. In 2016, she was voted "best bartender in Ivory Coast" by winning the Marie Brizard Masters Cocktail Competition. Read More → https://buff.ly/2pghivR

#QOTD @deolasagoeofficial --- Deola Sagoe is a leading lady of African fashion and a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. More: https://buff.ly/2pgtsVD

#QOTD Jazeera Suwani is the founder of Say it with Chocolate in Kenya, a business producing artisan chocolates for lactose intolerant and vegan customers. What started as a hobby has quickly become a thriving business meeting a growing demand for good quality chocolate that is dairy free and suitable for people that are lactose intolerant or vegan. Today, this former Physiotherapist is producing a wonderful range of up to 52 delightful flavours. Read Jazeera's startup story - https://buff.ly/2Mw0lqA

Image of the Day @monchoco_artisanchocolatier - ‘Pure Chocolate’… MonChoco is an Artisan Chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire producing chocolate from organic cocoa beans. Founder Dana Mroueh makes raw chocolate to preserve the taste and the natural nutrients of cocoa beans. Her chocolate is made using only organic cocoa and brown sugar and her approach to production is responsible and sustainable, always trying to reduce her impact on the environment. Read Dana's startup story → https://buff.ly/2KJHhEY

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