Khadija Elbedweihy, a tech pioneer championing equal opportunities in STEM

January 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

PraxiLabs, an award-winning business in Egypt providing STEM education through 3D interactive virtual science lab simulations.

Khadija Elbedweihy is the founder of PraxiLabs in Egypt, an award-winning tech business founded in 2016 and which now employs 30 people. She graduated top of her class four years in a row, and went on to receive her PhD from the University of Sheffield to be the youngest lecturer in her faculty, with a PhD focused on human-computer interaction and user experience. Together with her belief in adopting technology for improving education and enabling equal opportunities, Khadija founded and is currently managing PraxiLabs with an amazing team who have the same vision as she does. This is her true passion and daily quest. PraxiLabs aims to provide equal opportunity for an enhanced STEM education for students everywhere by providing 3D interactive virtual simulations of science labs that are accessible, usable, and affordable for educational institutions and students alike. PraxiLabs not only provides an immersive virtual lab experience, but adds enriched content that provides students with more understanding and knowledge according to their own pace and learning style.

Siba Mtongana, a culinary entrepreneur tour de force

January 9, 2022 Melanie Hawken

The Siba Co and SIBA - The Restaurant, multifaceted food and hospitality businesses in South Africa

Siba Mtongana is a food authority, restaurateur, The Siba Co-Founder, a television Celebrity Chef, Judge and Mom. From aspiring home cook in the semi-rural Eastern Cape to restaurateur in one of the most prestigious hotel venues on the African continent, there’s simply no stopping the food authority and culinary tour de force that is Siba Mtongana. And it’s not just her loyal fans and patrons who say so. From academics and peers to international industry authorities, judges and newsmakers, the accolades keep accumulating for this humble, acclaimed chef who has her roots firmly grounded in her mom’s kitchen, her proudly South African food heritage, and her family.

Nogaye Ndiaye Mourgaye, an entrepreneur professionalizing the beauty industry

December 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Fantaisika, a leading professional nail and beauty training academy in Senegal

Nogaye Ndiaye Mourgaye is a leading nail and beauty institute entrepreneur in Senegal. Today, she heads a business which includes Ongle Mania Senegal, a leading nail shop chain in the country, and Fantaisika, a renowned nails and beauty academy, her specialist training school in professional makeup and nail styling. Her achievements in the field of professional make-up are remarkable for their finesse and artistic rendering. She has built up a reputation as a specialist business services builder in ceremonial make-up such as artistic make-up for cinema or music videos.

Luissandra Carvalho, a specialist aesthetics and makeup brand builder

December 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Maison de Beauté Luissandra, an Angolan beauty brand helping women find their best versions through makeup

Luissandra Carvalho is the founder of the Maison de Beauté Luissandra brand in Luanda, Angola. Her inspiration for starting in business came as a result of the desire to fulfill her personal dream of providing women with well-being. Luissandra always wanted to be a channel for the best that each woman can be in terms of beauty, self-love, self-validation. She has always wanted to help women be the best they can with the help of aesthetics, and has been working in the area for 6 years and serving only women. Luissandra has a degree in aesthetics and specialized in makeup.

Swaady Martin, an impact driven brand builder and social entrepreneur

December 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Yswara, a social enterprise that seeks to transform African agricultural commodities.

Swaady Martin is the founder and ceo of Yswara, a social enterprise that seeks to transform African agricultural commodities. The SWAADY Group is made of: YSWARA, a specialty tea company made in Africa, the first to offer a curated experience of fine and artisanal African teas. THE LOVINGKINDNESS BOMA, an Independent Publishing House of Mindful and Diverse Books for Children. Tounché, a non-profit organization producing global and diverse consciousness summit & events seeding Communities for Change.

Nkem Okocha, an award-winning entrepreneur changing lives through FinTech

December 5, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Mamamoni, a Nigerian FinTech social enterprise empowering low-income women with skills and small loans

Nkem Okocha is a serial award-winning social entrepreneur and the founder of Mamamoni in Nigeria, a FinTech social enterprise that empowers low-income rural-and-urban slum women with free vocational and financial skills, and small loans. She is passionate about the change that is possible from investing in poor women in underserved communities. Nkem’s vision is guided by the saying that, "No woman chooses to be poor, but we can choose to help poor women by investing in them". Mamamoni has impacted over 10,000 low-income women in Nigeria, and she has won many awards, local and international, for her work with women. Nkem is a 2015 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumna, 2016 outstanding LEAP Africa Social Innovator, Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) alumna, GSBI® accelerator Alumna and a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, A 2020 Innovative Justice Accelerator fellow and She is passionate about Women Empowerment, Financial Inclusion, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Annie Sibindi Muronda, a disruptive clothing manufacturer with a big vision

November 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rufaro Garments, an African school uniform manufacturing business making great garments affordable

Annie Sibindi Muronda is the founder and managing director of Rufaro Garments based in South Africa, and has overall executive management responsibility for the company. Annie has a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Nebraska and an MBA with a specialization in Finance from DeVry University. She began her career in the financial services space where she consulted at US based global management consulting firms Towers Perrin, Mercer Consulting and Watson Wyatt. It was here that Annie gained valuable experience in solving problems for clients and discovered a talent for operational management of large businesses. After immigrating to South Africa in 2010, Annie joined an actuarial benefits consulting firm as a senior consultant where she helped establish it as rising star in the retirement fund valuation and administration space.

Eva Muraya, serial entrepreneur, brand innovator, and women’s champion

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

BSD Group, a regional award-winning brand strategy and communications company based in Kenya

Eva Muraya is the Founder and CEO of BSD Group, a regional award-winning brand strategy and communications company based in Kenya. It comprises four companies: Brand Strategy & Design Limited, Avid Public Relations Ltd, Whiteboard Advertising Limited and Brandquad Africa Limited, a knowledge sharing and talent development consultancy. Eva is an entrepreneur widely known in marketing and communication circles as a brand innovator and builder, with at least twenty years now in her crown. She has most recently gained attention as an advocate and champion for inclusivity and growth of women markets. She is a co-founder of the Kenya Association of Women Business Owners (KAWBO) and is currently a Director at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) – Gender and SMEs.

Refilwe Sebothoma, a visionary South African entrepreneur in PPE

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

PBM Group, a South African high-growth business helping companies to create safe employee work environments

Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of specialist PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) business, PBM Group, in South Africa, a company started in 2014 and today with 2500 employees. As the builder of a growing market-leading business, she continues to grow as a visionary entrepreneur with proven business savvy and qualities. Through such business acumen, she founded her business in an industry monopolized by large, well established business and manufacturing industries, and established it as high-growth start-up that is highly recognized as a valuable business partner. In the past two years, as part of her growth strategy, she has been acquiring business shares in huge businesses which own her value chain.

Rebecca Tshuma, a South African agripreneur with a big growth vision

October 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca Tshuma, founder, Becks Foods (South Africa)

Becks Foods, building a reputation for supplying fresh, healthy produce direct from the farm.

Ensuring food security and continuity of the agri value chain is important in South Africa and globally, and for agripreneur Rebecca Tshuma, founder of high-growth business, Becks Foods, that is her inspiration. She is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm. From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs, and Becks Foods is growing to be there for them.

Ruthida Kajumba, a transformation coach helping people live their best lives

October 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Ruthida Kajumba Consult, a Ugandan specialist coaching consultancy helping clients redefine their success

Achieving success, overcoming overwhelm, and finding happiness and fulfillment can be difficult for many people, particularly during these challenging times. Ruthida Kajumba, founder of the specialist Ugandan coaching consultancy that carries her name, is on a mission to help people live their best lives. Ruthida is a Fulfilment After Success Expert, a Keynote Speaker, Author and ICF credentialed Professional Transformation Coach. Other certifications are Success Goals, Happiness, Fulfilment, Life Purpose and Public Speaking. She focuses on helping busy individuals to redefine their success so they can overcome overwhelm and live their best everyday life with inner peace, joy, meaning, happiness and fulfillment. Backed with nearly 20 years of relevant life and entrepreneurial business experience, she founded her consulting business in 2018. Her areas of expertise are Authentic Success, Mindset, Overcoming Overwhelm, Happiness and Fulfilment.

Affiong Williams, an award-winning, innovation-driven agribusiness entrepreneur

October 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

ReelFruit, Nigeria’s largest dried fruit processing business generating employment across the value chain

Affiong Williams is the CEO/Founder of ReelFruit, the largest fruit processing, packaging and distribution company focused on being the 'leading fruit agribusiness in Nigeria'. The company, founded in 2012, retails a range of dried fruit and nut snacks through a variety of channels including over 400 supermarkets, airlines, schools, and hotels locally, while also retailing internationally in the US (Amazon.com), Switzerland, Belgium, Saudi Arabia. ReelFruit is an award-winning brand, winning an international Women in Business Competition in the Netherlands. Affiong has also been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the most promising '30 under 30' entrepreneurs in 2015. In 2017, she won “Entrepreneur of the Year”, awarded by the prestigious Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WimBiz).

Fade Ogunro, a digital pioneer empowering gig workers in Africa

October 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Bookings Africa, a digital work platform connecting clients to skilled professionals in Africa

Fade Ogunro is the founder and ceo of BookingsAfrica.com, a pan-African digital work platform that enables African service providers, agencies and professionals digitize and monetize their skills by connecting clients efficiently and transparently to skilled professionals in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. As a leading technology platform, Bookings Africa is the only African freelance marketplace with a video call feature that allows clients and Brands connect with service providers from procurement, payment to service delivery which is rendered end-to-end, online. Fade has over 15 years of experience in media and technology, and most recently is also the Africa Chair for the Cherie Blair Foundation. She is dedicated to the pursuit of gender equality, digital gig work opportunities and African prosperity. Her vision is to produce self-sustainable and dignified work through digital work for over 5 million Africans.

Mayleen Kyster Nduli, an entrepreneurial pioneer of Africa’s steel industry

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Africa Steel Holdings, a boutique investment holding company in the steel and metals value chain

Mayleen Kyster Nduli is the founder of Africa Steel Holdings in South Africa, a boutique investment holding company with interest across the steel and metals value-chain. Her business ASH was founded on the foundation of her passion for the steel industry as well as her sound education and personal experience of 15 years in steel. Mayleen sits on various boards in her industry as either Non or Executive Director. Mayleen is passionate about woman empowerment and inclusion in all industries. Mayleen is a wife to Zano and mother to Rocco and Nala.

Leslie Okoye, skincare expert and educator for women of colour

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

L'Okoye Cosmetics, a skincare business for women and men of African descent in Nigeria

Leslie Okoye is the founder of L’Okoye Cosmetics in Nigeria. She is a skincare expert and educator and the founder of the CookieSkin brand - the melanin skincare line for women of colour to achieve healthy flawless skin the right way. The CookieSkin brand extends into a skincare Academy on Melanin Skincare Consulting. With this, the mother of two puts the power back in the hands of women and men of African descent to choose the right products, prevent skin damage, make money, get results, look great and feel great. With over fifteen years of hands-on experience with melanin skin issues, Leslie Okoye is the chosen skincare expert to many Nigerian and Ghanian celebrities. Her CookieSkin brand is sold on the website and all over Nigeria in top chain pharmacies and supermarkets.

Nabou Fall, an inspirational communications leader with a passion for coaching

September 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Vizeo, an advertising agency in Cote d’Ivoire helping companies get strategic about communications in Africa.

Nabou Fall is the CEO of Vizeo an advertising agency in Cote d’Ivoire which helps companies implement strategic publicity and public relations in Africa. She started her career as an executive board member for 15 years, as Sales and Marketing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Managing Director in Telecom companies such as MTN (Ivory Coast and Congo Republic), 2XTCOM Vodacom in DRC. She is a public speaker, personal development coach, and a coach of youth and women entrepreneurship, leadership and happiness. Nabou is a TEDx speaker, author and mentor in various empowerment NGOs, the President of Wimnet (NGO involved in women and youth empowerment ), and was recently appointed to be the president of the Women Investment Club in Ivory Coast. She is also the cofounder of Impact Hub Abidjan.

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, a champion for girls’ education in the Democratic Republic of Congo

September 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Malaika, a high impact social enterprise educating and empowering girls in their communities in DRC

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka is a Congolese/Cypriot philanthropist, an international model, and the Founder & CEO of Malaika. Founded in 2007, Malaika is a grassroots non-profit that educates and empowers girls and their communities in her home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through a school, a community centre, and a comprehensive clean water program. A unique and fearless spokesperson and the face of leading beauty and fashion campaigns across the globe, Noëlla is a voice for the power of girls’ education worldwide. Noëlla has shared her insight at a number of world-class forums spanning the World Economic Forum in Davos to the university halls of Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, and MIT. She is an Ambassador for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, an Advisor at Concordia, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Segal Family Foundation.

Salma Abdulai, a visionary agribusiness entrepreneur changing lives in Ghana

September 5, 2021 Melanie Hawken

AMAATI Co. Ltd, an agri-business processing Fonio to empower small-scale women farmers

Salma Abdulai is the Co-Founder and CEO of AMAATI Company limited, a company that reflects her experience and passion for agriculture and social consciousness. She has her background in Agricultural Economics and has 10 years of experience working on different projects with International non-profit organizations. Her extensive experience in the agriculture sector is particularly focused on working with small scale rural farmers and women groups across Africa. She has managed AMAATI CO. Ltd since 2013 to become profitable, an agri-business company she co-founded which is into the processing and marketing of Fonio for local and export market.

Kah Walla, a Cameroonian solution-driven entrepreneur and political leader

August 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

STRATEGIES!, a consultancy firm specializing in leadership and management solutions

Kah Walla is a Political Leader, Activist and Entrepreneur from Cameroon. She is the founder and CEO of the 26-year old consulting firm, STRATEGIES! and the current president of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP) she joined in 2010. In 2011, she became the first woman to ever run for President of the Republic of Cameroon. She has been recognized with several awards: The Vital Voices Global Leadership Award in public Life (2012), the DVF Award (2014), and the Vital Voices Vanguard Award (2015).

ReelFruit, Nigeria’s largest dried fruit processing business generating employment across the value chain

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