the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of soleRebels (Ethiopia)
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is a tireless foot soldier taking Ethiopian entrepreneurship to the world. She is building a $20-million shoe factory in Addis Ababa and is also soon launching a coffee brand.
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Dorcas Muthoni, founder and ceo of OpenWorld (Kenya)
RESTON, Va. – September 30, 2015 – Public Interest Registry — the not-for-profit manager of .org, .ngo and .ong — today announced the appointment of Dorcas Muthoni to the board of directors of nonprofit domain registrar Enset, a subsidiary organization. Muthoni, a member of the Internet Hall of Fame and CEO and founder of OPENWORLD LTD, will begin a two-year term as director this month.
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Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, co-founders of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda)
Joy Ndungutse the co-founder of Gahaya Links in Rwanda has been recognised with the prestigious Artisan Hero Award 2015 by the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, Aspen Global Health and Development, and The Aspen Institute. She was recognised for her wonderful work in creating an artisan-based, social enterprise that had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Congratulations to Joy, her sister and co-founder, Janet, and all the wonderful artisans who make up this inspirational co-operative, artisan project.
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While the creation of the Agro Marketing Trading Agency (AMTA) has addressed the issue of marketing fresh produce for Namibian farmers, it has not addressed the issue of pricing. This is according to Ally Angula, Managing Director of Leap Holdings, which also owns Leap Agriculture, the group’s farming arm that focuses on supplying fresh produce to retailers and the general public. The farming operation is based approximately 30 km outside Tsintsabis in the Oshikoto Region.
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Listen to Melanie Hawken, LoA's founder and editor-in-chief, being interviewed by Daudi Mugabi, host of Business Mic in Kampala, Uganda. Melanie talks about the power of women entrepreneurs to help drive a new and spirited approach to economic growth and development on the African continent.
Read moreThis month, top South African business television programme, Leading Opinion, invited Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa into the studio to discuss the high impact made by 'gazelle' entrepreneurs and their potential inspiration in driving a new wave of innovative women entrepreneurs across the continent.
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Ally Angula, Co-founder & Managing Director of Leap Group of Companies (Namibia)
Right on the heels of Namibia’s emergence as the third most entrepreneurial country in sub-Saharan Africa by the GEI ranking, the southwest African country is celebrating yet another global success in entrepreneurship. Serial entrepreneur, Ally Angula’s clothing company – My Republik was crowned the best woman-owned business at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit GES 2015 in July.
Read moreSource: CNBC Africa | Monday, 27 July 2015 06:09:49 GMT
Kenya successfully hosted the 6th Global Entrepreneurship Summit over the weekend. This saw a number of entrepreneurs and investors meet and share. However, with the conclusion of the summit, what is next for African entrepreneurs? What lessons can they learn? Juliana Rotich, co-founder of Ushahidi and Chair of World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Data Driven Development joins CNBC Africa for more.
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Source: All Africa | 22 July 2015 | By Richard Mugarura
Janet Nkubana is co-founder of Gahaya links, a company that has empowered and supported Rwandan women through job creation. Nkubana's company is committed to restoring hope and dignity of women who were affected by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. From a humble beginning under a tree in the remote village of Byimana in the Southern Province, Gahaya Links started organizing women in associations that were later transformed into cooperatives.
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Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Tabitha Karanja does not boast about being a woman in an industry dominated by men; rather, she asserts that an entrepreneur is defined by his or her innovation. “When I began Keroche Breweries in 1997, I did not believe in copying other brands that were in existence. Instead, I carried out research to understand the gap in the market,” she says. Her findings, a little savings and acres of land jointly owned with her husband formed the foundation for a thriving alcoholic beverages business worth billions today.
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Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)
Source: How We Made It in Africa | by Kate Douglas | 12 June 2015
In 2012 Monica Musonda left her 15-year career as a successful commercial lawyer to return to her home country Zambia and set up a food processing company, Java Foods. The company supplies the market with the eeZee instant noodles brand.
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Susan Mashibe, founder of VIA Aviation (Tanzania)
Source: The Guardian | by Anthony Demetriou and Nathan Gamester | 10 June 2015
Entrepreneurship can be an empowering experience that has impacts beyond economic development. Barriers need to be removed so more African women have tools to become entrepreneurs. Success stories like that of Susan Mashibe are still the exception rather than the rule, but it offers a model of what can happen when women have access to the tools for successful entrepreneurship.
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Source: Mail & Guardian | by Lee Mwiti | 3 June 2015
World Economic Forum Africa, Cape Town, 3 June 2015: Young people are key to increasing intra-African trade, which currently stands at a paltry 3%, some of the continent’s top entrepreneurs said Wednesday as the World Economic Forum on Africa got underway.
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Deola Sagoe, founder and designer, Deola (Nigeria)
Breathtaking was the word used to describe the latest designs created and launched by Africa’s Queen of Haute Couture, Deola Sagoe, who was showcasing her Spring/Summer 2015 Collection tagged “Wings By Deola”, at the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York this month.
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Kofo Akinkugbe, founder and ceo of SecureID, Nigeria
Nigerian specialist smart card company, SecureID, the brainchild of the highly-respected entrepreneur, Kofo Akinkugbe, is once again demonstrating why it is a leader in its field of expertise. This month, the company has unveiled a new pre-paid solution to aid the seamless enrolment of members to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.
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Tabitha Karanja, founder & CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Source: BBC News | By Maina Waruru | 4 May 2015
It was a thirst for success that saw Tabitha Karanja put herself in the role of a David taking on a Goliath. The 50 year old is the founder and boss of the only large-scale brewery in Kenya actually owned by a Kenyan. Mrs Karanja, one of only a handful of female brewery owners across Africa, set up the business - Keroche Breweries - with her husband back in 1997. Initially making a fortified wine, the company has since moved into spirits and, from 2008, making beer
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Dr. Jennifer Riria, founder and Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
Dr. Jennifer Riria, founder and Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding has been named as the Africa Economy Builders – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2015. She will be the first woman from East Africa to win this prestigious pan-Africa award that seeks to reward and recognize persons who have contributed significantly to Africa’s growth.
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Source: Modern Ghana | by Raindolf Owusu | 20 April 2015
In the past few years there has been a flourishing number of self-organisation amongst African women in technology. Many focus on encouraging women entering the field as coders, IT managers and to establish enterprises that increase women's socio-economic well-being. Projects have also focused on improving self-reliance and livelihoods in rural areas.
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Dorcas Muthoni, founder & CEO of Open World, Kenya
As part of LoA’s continuing focus on 'Women in Tech', we took time out of the busy schedule of successful Kenyan techpreneur, Dorcas Muthoni, to chat about her own entrepreneurial journey and the building of her impressive company, Open World.
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Source: BizNews.com | 25 March 2015
It goes without saying that media content is saturated with negativity. Stories and images of the world’s sad state of affairs are in abundance. That’s why balance is crucial – for every bad story, there needs to be a good one. And there is goodness in this world. Take the following interview below. Cape Town-based Rapelang Rabana is using her education, skills and knowledge for the greater good of society.
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