Salma Bougarrani, a water management change-maker in Morocco

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Salma Bougarrani, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer GREEN WATECH (Morocco)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

GREEN WATECH, a Morocco-based company with a low-tech solution for wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigating vegetables destined for human consumption

Salma Bougarrani is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GREEN WATECH, a Social Enterprise founded in 2018, and specializing in decentralized sanitation. Salma holds a PhD in Advanced Water Treatment Process from Med V University (Morocco), and Leipzig University (Germany). She worked as a project manager for "Women in Water Field" at Peking International University. In 2015, Salma joined the Institute of Chemical Technology, Leipzig University in Germany, as a researcher. Salma has been involved in several international projects in collaboration with teams from Malatya University and NIBEC Institute. Salma is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and she works as an expert consultant at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Yasmina Benslimane, a Moroccan women empowerment coach teaching leadership skills

December 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Yasmina Benslimane, founder, Women Empowerment Coaching Program (Morocco)

Startup Story

Yasmina Benslimane is a coach and the founder of the Women Empowerment Coaching Program in Morocco, guiding women to developing their skills for leadership. She is also the founder of Politics4Her, a feminist youth-led blog and is a young human rights activist with a multicultural background. Her professional experience involves national human rights institutions, non-profit organizations, and United Nations agencies.

Chaimaa Elghani, an entrepreneur providing co-working inspiration in Morocco

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Chaimaa Elghani, founder, GO4Work (Morocco)

Startup Story

The concept of co-working for entrepreneurs is not a new one globally, but in Morocco, Chaimaa Elghani, founder of GO4Work, there was a gap. Today, she is creating an inspirational co-working space for people to develop their entrepreneurial spirit and to network with like-minded people who are all on their own business building journeys.

Adama Ndjol Kouyaté, an entrepreneur bringing management consulting expertise to Morocco

September 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Adama Ndjol Kouyaté, founder, Farafina Consulting (Morocco)

Startup Story

For those businesses and organizations looking to expand onto the African continent and in need of strategic and organisational support, Farafina Consulting, founded by Adama Ndjol Kouyaté, is there with the right advice. Her specialist consulting expertise is also helping to grow a new generation of business leaders on the African continent and globally.

Sara Bouazza, a Moroccan entrepreneur providing web services to small businesses

September 5, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sara Bouazza, founder of SOSdigital (Morocco)

Startup Story

For those small businesses in Morocco that are looking to digitize their product and service offerings, Sara Bouazza, founder of SOSdigital, has the solution. She has a range of virtual digital platforms that provide showcase opportunities for those clients who are trying to connect with key markets.

Fatima Agoujil, a Moroccan entrepreneur creating a unique tourism experience for visitors to her country

August 15, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Fatima Agoujil, founder, Le Petit Riad (Morocco)

Startup Story

Fatima Agoujil is the founder of Le Petit Riad, a unique guest house business in the city of Ouarzazate in Morocco. She is an impressive example of a tourism professional and also of a woman entrepreneur who has taken the path of adventure. After a rich career as a tour guide and travel agent, Fatima created "Le Petit Riad" in order to welcome foreign visitors to the city in a warm family setting, sharing different cultures, traditions and typical Moroccan meals. She is a woman entrepreneur driven by the pleasure of moving forward and the curiosity to continually discover new things.

Dounia Tamri-Loeper, an entrepreneur lighting up the world

May 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

It’s often said that lighting makes a space or a room come alive, and for design entrepreneur Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home, lighting is her inspiration. She is creating beautiful, statement lighting pieces that not only celebrate the centuries-old techniques and designs that are uniquely Moroccan, but is elevating them to a whole new level.

LIONESS COLAB: Dounia Home X AphroChic

October 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dounia Home & AphroChic wanted to bring something special to the world, a lighting collection that is a true marriage between form, function and craftsmanship. The Amur collection, inspired, designed and handcrafted in the ancient city of Amur Akush, today known as Marrakech.