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.

Tweets by @lionessesA

Image of the Day @inverroche : ‘Coco Carissa Gin’… a new gin from Inverroche, infused with red berries of the Carissa Bispinosa tree from the forests of the Southern Cape. Lorna Scott is the founder of Inverroche Distillery, a small batch, artisanal gin producer in the Western Cape, South Africa who sell their products throughout South Africa and in 14 countries across Europe, America, Asia and Africa. Lorna uses the extraordinary bounty of rare, aromatic medicinal and culinary herbs, flowers and berries, which grow all around her as the inspiration to create a range of uniquely South African gins.

#QOTD @ethelcofie --- Ethel Cofie is a leading tech entrepreneur from Ghana and the founder and CEO of Edel Technology Consulting, a company that provides IT and software services as an enabler and catalyst for businesses to achieve their goals. Ethel is the founder of Women in Tech Africa, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meet-up and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for work supporting women in ICT. She has been featured by the BBC and CNN for her work in technology and promoting women's leadership. Ethel sits on numerous boards and is also a President Obama Washington Fellow for Leadership (YALI). More about Ethel.

Let’s #LIONESSLEANIN #Abidjan! We have a great program lined up for our community of women entrepreneurs in Abidjan tomorrow. Prepare to be inspired!

#QOTD @midunuchocolates --- Selassie Atadika is the founder of Midunu Chocolates in Ghana, a chocolatier creating artisanal handcrafted chocolates made with Ghanaian cocoa. Selassie distills the essence and unique flavours of the African continent and now offers them to the world in Ghanaian chocolate. Her company is adding value to a cocoa heritage dating back to 1879, with Ghana renowned for both the quality and quantity of its cocoa.

#QOTD @i_amthecode - Mariéme Jamme is the founder of iamtheCODE, the first African-led global movement to mobilise government, private sector, and investors to advance STEAMED (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, and Design Education). Mariéme was named on the Powerlist 2017 of Britain’s 100 most influential people of African and African Caribbean Heritage. She is a Senegalese-born British businesswoman in technology and the founder of Spotone Global Solutions. Marieme was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was named as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2014 by the Africa Business Magazine and Forbes Magazine.

Image of the Day @akikidolls : ‘Story Time’ .… Fatuma Abdullah is the Kenyan-born founder of Akiki Dolls in South Africa, a company that makes and distributes African dolls known as Akiki Dolls. Fatuma is also an author and has published her first children's book based on the Akiki character called, 'Akiki’s Short Stories'. The Akiki Doll was born out of Fatuma's need as a mother to empower her daughter and her vision is to have all children embrace diversity and ethnicity by giving them access to a great playmate.

#QOTD @monchoco_artisanchocolatier --- Dana Mroueh is the founder of MonChoco, an artisan chocolatier in Côte d'Ivoire. Her products are made from organic cocoa beans sourced from Côte d’Ivoire and she makes raw chocolate to preserve the taste and the natural nutrient of cocoa beans. Her chocolate is very pure, it is made only from organic cocoa and brown sugar. Her approach is environmentally responsible and sustainable, trying at all times to reduce the impact on the environment.

Image of the Day @katannutadiamonds : ‘Love & Eternity’… a beautiful Celtic Knot ring from Katannuta Diamonds, an independent jewellery design and manufacturing company in South Africa. Clare Appleyard launched the company in 2007 to design and manufacture engagement and wedding rings, all manufactured to order. Additionally, the company sells loose gemstones such as tanzanite, rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious gems.

Image of the Day @miminat_designs : ‘Okuta Ceramic Pitcher Set’ .… is part of an exquisite new homeware accessory collection from Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat Designs. This talented creative celebrates African design in a contemporary, minimal context, combining the best of tradition with technological innovation. Her Okuta Collection is inspired by ancient Yoruba stone murals, and explores the organic and natural forms of late 14th century Yoruba design. Its combination of wood, brass, glass, ceramic and gold leaf, embodies the richness that the African continent and Yoruba culture have to offer.

#QOTD - Anicha Abdul is the founder of EP Management & Consultancy Services in Mozambique, a Management and Human Capital Consulting Firm founded in 2010. Over the years Anicha has successfully grown her business and has gained an impeccable reputation for service delivery. Today, EP Management & Consultancy Services is a 100% Mozambican company and one of the major players in this industry sector in the country. Her head office is in Maputo and she has branches in Matola, Beira, Tete, Pemba and Nacala. The range of services offered includes: Payroll Services, Labor broking/Outsourcing, Immigration Services, Commercial and HR Advisory Services, Recruitment and Selection, and Headhunting.

Let's #LIONESSLEANIN CENTURION! What a fantastic event we've got lined up for our final gathering of the year in South Africa. We kick off with a high powered VW driving experience followed by our inspiring speakers. Can't wait to get started! In partnership with @volkswagensouthafrica

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

Image of the Day @deolasagoeofficial @houseofdeola : ‘Queen of African Haute Couture’… 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.

#QOTD @spacepointe -- Sayu Abend is the founder and CEO of Spacepointe, a retail technology company that aims to bridge the gap between SMEs and their target market through technology-based business management. She founded SpacePointe in 2014 with the intention to innovate around the needs of small-to-medium enterprises.

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