Diana Mbogo, an award-winning Tanzanian renewable energy entrepreneur

February 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Millennium Engineers Enterprises Limited, a Tanzanian renewable energy company specializing in solar and wind energy technologies

Diana Mbogo, 30, is a mother of two beautiful children and the founder/ managing director of Millennium Engineers Enterprises Ltd, a fast-growing renewable energy company in Tanzania that specializes in discovering untapped markets in different industries and sectors. The company then develops customized innovative business solutions by understanding the challenges, exploring solutions alongside customers/beneficiaries, and taking action in the best way to craft sustainable energy solutions. Founded in 2016 while still in her final academic year pursuing a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering, she managed to grow the company from ideation stage to a fast-growing and award-winning renewable energy company in Africa.

Jumoke Dada, a Nigerian e-commerce furniture and lifestyle brand builder

January 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Taeillo, Nigeria’s first e-commerce furniture business to enhance customer experience through augmented virtual reality

Jumoke Dada is an award-winning entrepreneur, international keynote speaker, and the founder of Taeillo, an e-commerce furniture and lifestyle brand based in Lagos Nigeria and Nairobi Kenya. By the age of 26, she had built a muti-million-dollar furniture and lifestyle brand from zero capital a couple of years prior. An advocate and a role model for women’s empowerment, Jumoke is an inspiration to a lot of upcoming women and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and outside the country. Elle Decoration South Africa named her as one of the creatives doing something interesting on the continent at the moment. Taeillo was launched in 2018 and today employs 99 people.

Judith Marera, a renewable energy sector champion in Zimbabwe

January 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lanforce Energy, a Zimbabwean for-profit social enterprise creating affordable access to renewable energy

Judith Marera is the founder and CEO of Lanforce Energy a women-led, for-profit social enterprise in the renewable energy sector. Born and raised in rural Zimbabwe she realised the challenges that women and children go through in search of firewood for cooking. Human Resource practitioner by profession, having worked for both private and the public sector. Her background supplemented with her experience at the Meteorological Services Department and the World Meteorological Organisation, urged her to find solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. She is a Woman in Africa 2021 laureate (WIA54), 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurship program beneficiary, 2021 Small and Medium Enterprises Association Zimbabwe (SMEAZ)and the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Zimbabwe (CIPMZ) award winner. 2021 Uplink World Economic Forum Climate Justice Challenge Top Innovator.

Mylene Bosch, a South African entrepreneur passionate about training

January 8, 2023 Melanie Hawken

iCALC Training Academy, changing lives through training and development in South Africa

Mylene Bosch is the founder of iCALC Training Academy in South Africa, a private college that empowers individuals within their chosen careers. Specializing in Engineering, Business and IT studies, the business offers individuals quality education. What Mylene has done at iCALC Training Academy is to add to the mix a number of specialist mentoring and coaching groups. These help companies achieve the bottom line with efficient individuals that are cohesive in their workplace with qualified and certified coaches. The business was started in 2014 and today employs 23 people.

Carmen Miral, Mozambique’s natural skin and haircare brand builder

January 1, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Black Khakhela, a proudly environmentally-friendly Mozambican brand celebrating natural hair

Carmen Miral is the founder and inspiration behind the growing Mozambican natural skin and haircare brand, Black Khakhela. The brand, created in 2015 by Carmen, started as a social intervention against the preconception that natural / kinky hair is not beautiful or professional. She believed that by exposing this issue and her brand message on social media, “very important people” in different areas (with local and globally impact) using their natural hair would inspire younger generations to respect and embrace their own natural skin and hair.

Nara Cardoso Nunes, a pioneer of healthy food bars in Angola

December 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Paradise Saudável, a business focused on providing healthy and flavoursome eating experiences in Angola

Nara Cardoso Nunes is the founder of Paradise Saudável, one of the first healthy food bars, located in the heart of the Angolan Capital in Luanda. Nara is a leading entrepreneur in Angola when it comes to offering fast, healthy, natural flavoursome juices, smoothies and a variety of healthy dishes to suit all consumer needs. Nara’s business is focused on using locally produced fruits and vegetables to create tasty and healthy 100% fruit juices, smoothies, detox drinks, salads, soups, burgers, dried fruits foods, all freshly produced in-house.

Mary Njoki, an award-winning Kenyan PR agency founder

December 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Glass House PR Ltd, a diversified PR agency helping businesses to position their brands in Africa

Mary Njoki is an award-winning entrepreneur in Africa, a thought leader, a PR guru who founded Glass House PR Ltd in Kenya in 2012 at the age of 23. She is an influencer, a technology enthusiast, trainer and mentor through a platform she also founded called a billion start-ups, connector and a leader. She has a background in Mathematics, Business Information Technology, and Public Relations. Mary has worked with renowned brands for over 10 years, and she has been recognized globally for her immense contribution in the field of PR. She is equally feted for her volunteering contributions in the Marketing and PR industry as well. Mary has worked alongside 100+ organizations across Africa and globally. Today, Glass House PR employs 30 people.

Lindiwe Nakedi, a South African diversity-focused mining entrepreneur

November 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Gubhani Trading (Pty) Ltd, a South African surface diamond drilling business making its mark in the mining sector

Lindiwe Nakedi is a wife, a mother, and the Owner and Managing Director of Gubhani Exploration, a South African surface diamond drilling company, with over 10 years’ experience in the surface core drilling in the mining industry since 2009. The business employs 20 people. She holds a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Industrial Psychology and Philosophy from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed the New Managers Program from Wits Business School focused on Business Management. Lindiwe served as Chairperson of WiMSA in 2017 and 2018 and is now a Patron in the Organization. She is also the founder and Director on the board of WIMBIZ. On a personal level, she has been married for 17 years to her all-time crush and has 3 children aged 15, 12 and 5.

Vera Osei-Bonsu, a Ghanaian children’s nutrition focused entrepreneur

November 20, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Eat smart Foods and Start Right Nutrition Ltd, a food business putting baby and children’s nutrition first

Vera Osei-Bonsu is the founder and CEO of Eat Smart Foods and Start Right Nutrition in Ghana. Back in 2012, she was looking for a vibrant local business that made nutritious local food products for babies that are naturally fortified. Seeing the lack of healthier local baby food options in the area, she saw an opportunity. Start Right Nutrition was created in 2012 to advocate for healthy balanced foods for children from the ages of 6 months to 5 years and Eat Smart Foods was created in 2021 with the goal of bringing and manufacturing naturally fortified local baby food options. Currently, the business has over five products selling across the retailing sectors in Ghana, and has created jobs for 10 employees.Vera was awarded as the Emerging Star in Agribusiness in Africa in 2022, and the International Business Award in Africa in 2022 by Women in Agribusiness and Guzakuza.

Mamela Luthuli, a pioneering South African security-focused techpreneur

November 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

TakeNote IT, a South African cyber security business providing innovative IT solutions to clients

Mamela Luthuli is a well-known business leader, founder, entrepreneur, and CEO of Take Note IT in South Africa, which provides cyber security and innovative IT solutions to its clients. The business was established in 2007. Her purpose is “I am dedicated to protecting and keeping businesses and our people safe in South Africa and the rest of the world. I believe that technology and 4IR are only at the tip of a disruptive revolution that will create a new way of life for us all.” As a CEO, she guides her team of 65 young leaders to build a future for themselves the business, and the future of the country. Her contribution to the Cybersecurity and IoT industry has been realized through engineered products & services that secure digital and physical assets by proactively mitigating the risk of hacking, vandalism, and theft, through engineered cyber security and IoT solutions - helping to protect your business, protect your people, protect your reputation.

Stacey Menga Onyango, a Kenyan entrepreneur building a visionary construction business

November 6, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Minkoti Agencies Limited, a specialist, high-growth, Kenyan construction company specializing in building and civil works

Stacey Menga Onyango is the Director / Founder of Minkoti Agencies Limited in Kenya. Stacey is the sole director of the company that was founded in 2009 as a small enterprise business dealing in general supplies, and has since grown into a middle enterprise business with over 60 employees. Stacey has a background in Human Resources and Strategic Management but decided to defy the odds and get into the construction sector in 2018. The company offers quality building and civil construction services both to the government and private sector, and has in the past year upscaled the operations of the company to South Sudan.

Ararat Tamirat, an Ethiopian ethical lifestyle brand-builder creating jobs

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Tuba by Ararat, an ethical Ethiopian lifestyle brand, specializing in hand-woven basket-ware for home accessories and textiles.

Ararat Tamirat is an architect and basket weaver, and the founder and ceo of Tuba by Ararat in Ethiopia. She established her business in April 2020, but has already won recognition by the Female in Business Acceleration Program 2022. The focus of the business is on improving the lives of the local women by using their skills and establishing a viable, high quality basket production industry in Ethiopia. Ararat has already created sustainable job opportunities for almost 40 women in rural areas, and has a big vision to employ up to 500 women by the year 2030.

Sewela Setshogoe, a South African growth-focused engineering entrepreneur

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lefata Engineering, a growing specialist engineering and maintenance services and construction business

Sewela Basetsana Setshogoe is a South African entrepreneur operating in the traditionally tough and highly specialized engineering industry sector. She is the owner of Lefata Engineering, an engineering services and construction business which operates mainly within the mining and manufacturing industries. The business has been in operation for six years having launched in 2016, and harnesses the management team’s personal extensive engineering experience. Lefata Engineering currently employs 11 people, and has grown to undertake turnkey and high quality projects for large corporates and businesses across different sectors with a focus on the mining industry.

Elizabeth Adeshina, an entrepreneur improving healthcare access in Africa

October 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Wazima, a Nigerian Health Tech company providing care through smart diagnostic devices and telemedicine

Elizabeth Adeshina is the founder and ceo of Wazima, a Health Tech company based in Nigeria but with a Sub-Saharan Africa focus. She is an avid entrepreneur with a medical background who has over 18 years’ experience with building businesses in the UK and Africa. She successfully set up and for over 12 years ran and grew her own brand pharmaceutical wholesale business targeting 7 Sub-Saharan African countries with several high quality ethical and OTC products in various markets before exiting in 2016 to launch Wazima. She is passionate about health and improving the access to and delivery of quality healthcare services. She has worked on various projects in the UK NHS and with the UN and WHO in Africa.

Cleo Johnson, a South African hospitality marketing expert

October 2, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Nuecleo, a specialist marketing consultancy for hospitality and tourism businesses in South Africa

Cleo Johnson is the founder of Nuecleo, a hospitality marketing consultancy in South Africa. She is a seasoned marketing consultant and businesswoman with expertise in marketing and business strategy, e-commerce, and hospitality. A multi-award-winning businesswoman, she was recently recognized as Forbes Africa 30 under 30, the class of 2021 and has been named one of Africa's TOP 50 CEOs two years in a row. She has over nine years of industry experience and has improved the brand reputation, marketing, and sales revenue for various clients through strategic, innovative solutions and her collaborative mindset. Her business, Nuecleo was started in 2017 and today employs 6 people.

Lee Billy Chisale, a wellness and beauty brand-builder in Malawi

September 25, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Belle Afrique, a market leader promoting healthy lifestyle and beauty treatments in Malawi

Lee Billy Chisale is the founder and ceo of Belle Afrique in Malawi, a business that promotes healthy lifestyle and beauty treatments. She is an experienced entrepreneur with a focus on promoting wellness in the pan-African market. She founded the business over 20 years ago in 2001 and now employs 15 people. She is a stomatologist with a background in accounting and business management. Today, Belle Afrique provides outstanding clinical and client relations skills for delivering advanced services in aesthetics wellness and training education in the wellness and hospitality industry.

Dr Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi, a Tanzanian serial entrepreneur with a big vision

September 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

KOM Group, on a mission to be Tanzania’s leading local manufacturing and supplier company for industrial and agro-processing products

Dr Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and an education and business consultant in Tanzania. She serves as the ceo of KOM Group of companies and is also the Director of KOM Food Products. The business started in 2002 and today employs 300 people. Currently, KOM Group has investments in oil processing, cotton ginning, agriculture, steel, plastic and pipe manufacturing, food, and beverages. She has expertise in business development, business management, consulting, business strategy, supply chain management, food processing, small and medium enterprises, project management, human resource management, negotiation, analytical skills, Microsoft office, Accounting, Finance and Public Speaking.

Sandra Chukwudozie, a champion of renewable energy in Africa

September 11, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Salpha Energy, a Nigerian renewable energy company bringing solar power to Africa’s underserved homes and businesses

Sandra Chukwudozie is the CEO and Founder of Salpha Energy, a Nigerian-based leading technology-enabled renewable energy company that provides stand-alone solar home systems to homes and businesses in off-grid areas in Africa. She started the business in 2017 and today it employs 30 people. Salpha Energy develops, produces, distributes and finances a range of solar home system products, from entry-level to large productive use systems. It provides a broad range of products aimed at the consumer market and small entrepreneurial businesses. The African energy market is bottom-heavy, so Sandra’s business strategy is to bring the underserved and unserved homes and businesses in rural and urban areas into and up the energy ladder.

Roomila Roothoorodoo, an award-winning Mauritius-based creative audio-visual entrepreneur

September 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Focus Events Ltd, a specialist photography, audio-visual and event management services business in Mauritius

Roomila Roothoorodoo is the founder and director of Focus Events Ltd in Mauritius, a business providing specialist audio-visual and event management services. The company is also a Training Centre providing photography and videography courses at Floreal. Roomila is an active member of the associations, AMFCE, Association Mauricienne des Femmes Chefs d' Entreprises and YES, Youth Engagement in Society. She is currently in her final year for a bachelor degree in Business Administration and completing her Gold Award for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.

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