Thelma Chimbganda, a visionary trailblazer in the logistics industry in Zimbabwe

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Thelma Chimbganda, CEO, Beyond Borders Logistics Group (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Thelma Chimbganda is a dynamic entrepreneur and leader in e-commerce, supply chain, and logistics, with over five years of impactful experience across Africa. As the CEO of Beyond Borders Logistics Group in Zimbabwe, founded in 2020, she has guided the company to become a significant player in the industry, delivering practical solutions in first- and last-mile logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding, and supply chain management. Her leadership is characterized by a focus on tackling industry challenges, enhancing operational efficiency, and continuously improving services to meet the unique needs of clients and stakeholders.

Lindiwe Masuku, a fleet management solutions business builder in Botswana

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lindiwe Masuku, founder & ceo, Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Startup Story

Lindiwe Masuku is the founder and ceo of Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd, a fleet management solutions entity whose head office is currently in Gaborone but which services clients from all over the country. She is a business professional with a Degree in Business Administration, currently pursuing her master’s in business administration and management with the University of East London. Lindiwe has 16 years' experience in Business Management having worked in Finance and Administration before forming Frotcom. Her entrepreneurship journey began in 2019, but months later the Covid 19 pandemic started, and despite the challenges Frotcom has had to emerge as a solution post Covid 19, used by reputable entities across the country. The business has created jobs for 9 people.

Amanda Etuk, a logistics management game-changer in Nigeria

March 10, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Messenger, a logistics platform that provides financing and aggregation for end-to-end logistics and supply chain operations in Nigeria

Amanda Etuk, co-founder of the Nigerian logistics solutions business, Messenger, is an accomplished, results-driven business management professional. She has a depth of experience in supply chain management, logistics and distribution, and sales and marketing. Amanda has a proven track record of business optimization. She has driven the competitiveness of organizations in the healthcare industry, the FMCG sector, e-commerce, and logistics, where her passion lies. In all her roles, she has delivered business and revenue growth and efficiency gains, and successfully strengthened client relationships.

Lisa Munsamy, a South African transportation and logistics industry game-changer

February 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lisa Munsamy, founder, Lisa’s Carriers (South Africa)

Startup Story

Lisa Munsamy is the founder of Lisa’s Carriers in South Africa. She is a seasoned businesswoman with a passion for the transportation and hospitality industries, as well as a passion for Life Coaching. With over 18 years of experience in road freight, Lisa has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of logistics, ensuring seamless and efficient transportation solutions. She has also been the proud owner of a guesthouse for the past 14 years. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and is also a Certified Life Transformation Coach.

Dr Patricia Nzolantima, a transportation market disruptor in Africa

July 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Bizzoly Transport & Logistics, an innovative business empowering women in Democratic Republic of Congo

Dr Patricia Nzolantima is a pure Africa product with over 18 years of experience in entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. As a serial entrepreneur, Patricia is a seasoned leader in market disruption initiatives on the African continent. She is the founder and chairwoman of Bizzoly Holdings, a women-owned company and foundation. She is also the co-founder and managing director of EXP-Comuni-cart, a Sub-Saharan Africa marketing agency. Patricia founded the first women’s economic empowerment hub in Kinshasa, an accelerator program for women entrepreneurs to scale up their business; and also a driving license school for women and young women. She is the owner of the Bizzoly Transport and Logistics company that operates under Ubizcabs, the first female-driven taxi company in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and “Ubizdelivery”, the first women logistics services.

Dorothy Mofomme, a South African entrepreneur building innovative, specialist technology solutions for Africa’s railway sector

April 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Dorothy Mofomme, founder of Valotech228 (South Africa) — **Dorothy Mofomme**, founder of Valotech228 (South Africa)

The railway sector has always been a tough one, particularly for ambitious women entrepreneurs to enter. But for entrepreneur Dorothy Mofomme, founder of Valotech228 in South Africa, she saw the railway sector as one filled with businesss opportunities and one that had the potential to create employment for young people. Her growing business is testimony to her tenacity and vast specialist experience.

Benji Coetzee and Empty Trips scoop a number of exciting awards for their innovation

October 23, 2018 Melanie Hawken

(L) Benji Coetzee, founder & ceo of Empty Trips (South Africa)

Awards and Accolades

This is an exciting time for South African entrepreneur Benji Coetzee and her company Empty Trips, which is on a mission to make cargo transportation more eco and cost efficient. The company has just received some valued recognition through a number of exciting global awards.

Benji Coetzee, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to make cargo transportation more eco and cost efficient

October 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Benji Coetzee, founder of Empty Trips (South Africa) — **Benji Coetzee**, founder of Empty Trips (South Africa)

How many times a day whilst we are travelling on the highways, railways and flightpaths of countries across the African continent do we see underutilized freight carriers. This results in more expense and a bigger environmental impact. But that is about to change with the entry into the marketplace of EmptyTrips. This innovative, digital company is a game-changer in the logistics and freight transportation business.

Ugochi Ugbomeh - The startup story of a Nigerian techpreneur changing the face of public mobility in her country

March 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ugochi Ugbomeh, co-founder of Tranzit, Nigeria — **Ugochi Ugbomeh**, co-founder of **Tranzit**, Nigeria

Ugochi Ugbomeh is a woman who thinks big and harnesses of the power of technology to make a difference. Her entrepreneurial vision is for her company to become a curator of truly world-class transportation, location based and mobility services in Africa, effectively moving people and things from one destination to another.

Susan Mashibe - The startup story of a Tanzanian woman entrepreneur with an aviation dream

December 23, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Susan Mashibe, founder of Via Aviation, Tanzania — **Susan Mashibe**, founder of Via Aviation, Tanzania

There are not too many young 4 year old girls in the world who have a dream of a career in aviation and go on to launch a unique and highly successful technical and logistics company to support private jets in Africa - but the inspirational Susan Mashibe is one of those few!

Ola Orekunrin - The inspirational startup story of a young woman doctor who pioneered West Africa's first air ambulance service

December 10, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Ola Orekunrin, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria — **Dr. Ola Orekunrin**, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria

There are certain people you come across in life that are truly inspirational on a number of levels, but medical doctor, pilot and healthcare entrepreneur, Ola Orekunrin is certainly one of those.