the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Gillian Holl, founder, VELD Architects (South Africa)
Startup Story
Gillian Holl, founder of VELD Architects in South Africa, has built a business renowned for creating spaces that serve not as statements but as sanctuaries. It’s an architecture deeply connected to the African landscape, fostering a sense of belonging and calm.
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Inez Ferreira, founder, IF Property Solutions (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)
Startup Story
Inez Ferreira is the founder of IF Property Solutions (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, a business with over 75 years of combined experience, and a trusted partner for all property-related services. This expert team excels in everything from building plans and town planning to architecture, engineering, and sectional title management, with clients’ glowing feedback speaking to the company’s commitment to excellence and quality. Inez launched the business in 2024, creating jobs for 8 people.
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Susan Venter, founder, SM Architectural & Town-planning Services (South Africa)
Startup Story
For those property owners in need of updated and approved building plans, Susan Venter is a Professional Architectural Draughtsperson and owner of SM Architectural & Town-planning Services in South Africa is the person to meet. She brings both her passion and a decade of experience in helping her clients with affordable architectural drafting services for their residential and commercial building needs.
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Tamara Bhatt, co-founder, Atelier (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Tamara Bhatt is co-founder of Atelier, a Mozambican architecture firm founded in 2012 and which today employs 5 people. She has a degree in Architecture from the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal, she is pursuing a Masters in Urban Planning at Eduardo Mondlane University, focusing on ecological structure and urban green infrastructure. Her main areas of specialization include Architecture and Urbanism, with more than 13 years of experience working in the production and coordination of projects as a Senior Architect, Urbanist and Project Manager, with experience in physical planning, urban design and building design in Mozambique, Portugal, and Angola. Tamara has extensive experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, making projects compatible, as well as managing projects and clients.
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Chinwe Ohajuruka
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Comprehensive Design Services, an innovation-focused organization building climate resilience through architecture
Chinwe Ohajuruka is a Green Architect and Project Manager who is an ardent advocate for sustainability in the built environment. She is the CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (CDS), an innovation-focused organisation that stresses the importance of building Climate Resilience as a basis of all projects. She is successfully able to work globally through teamwork, technology and travel. In addition to her extensive architectural experience, Chinwe is a green building trainer and coach. Chinwe has worked on several award-winning projects in the United States & Nigeria. She was the 2015 Sub-Saharan African Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards in France. Chinwe holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. She has also attained four Accreditations from the US, UK and South Africa Green Building Councils.
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Natércia Mondlane, founder & CEO of Natercia Mondlane Arquitectura & Imobiliária (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Finding a specialist, experienced and professional consultant who can navigate their way around any complex architectural real estate project can be tough. But in Mozambique, Natércia Mondlane, founder of Natércia Mondlane Arquitectura & Imobiliária, is creating highly innovative design solutions to meet all her clients’ urban design needs.
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