Quote of the Day by Anna Savage

January 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Anna Savage, founder of I ♥ Market, Durban, South Africa — **Anna Savage**, founder of I ♥ Market, Durban, South Africa

"Mistakes are a brilliant learning curve."

- Anna Savage is the owner and founder of the popular I ♥ Market in Durban, South Africa, providing a platform once a month for local foodies and designers to showcase their products. Anna has turned her small artisan market into a hugely successful business that provides a wonderful showcase for Durban's innovative décor and design, delicious food and live entertainment offered to all, once a month.

Quote of the Day by Ally Angula

January 8, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings — **Ally Angula**, co-founder of Leap Holdings

“Everything comes from the effort that you put in, act even in a small way towards realising your dreams daily.”

- Ally Angula is a qualified charted accountant and co-founder of Leap Holdings, a group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail in Namibia. She is also the founder of My Republik Brand, Namibia’s first locally designed, manufactured and retailed clothing brand with a flagship store situated in the Grove Mall in Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe suburb. She currently serves as non-executive director for Old Mutual Life Assurance (Namibia) and Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium mine in Namibia. Ally was chosen as a Desmond Tutu Fellowship programme Associate in April 2013 and was one of two Namibian entrepreneurs selected to attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Kenya.

Quote of the Day by Cherae Robinson

December 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Cherae Robinson, founder & CEO of Rare Customs — **Cherae Robinson**, founder & CEO of Rare Customs

"I think too often we allow ourselves to fall into what society accepts as possible and we don’t try to tackle the big things, we do what we already know we can and we don’t stretch ourselves enough."

- Cherae Robinson is founder & CEO of Rare Customs a company that creates products, brands, and strategies that are shaping the future of travel to Africa. They operate at the intersection of tourism and development focusing on modernizing the tourism value chain, engaging travelers in innovative ways, and ensuring that the industry grows sustainably. Cherae is a real champion of Africa's growth story through private sector engagement in the tourism sector.

Quote of the Day

December 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Emma Kaye, founder and ceo of Bozza — **Emma Kaye**, founder and ceo of Bozza

"In my experience, women tend to create a collective around them and then it is ‘let’s go into battle together’. For me, it is this type of collaborative, collective thinking that is useful in this industry, an industry full of innovation."

- Emma Kaye is a serial techpreneur and most recently the founder and CEO of a startup venture called Bozza. Bozza is a plug & play solution for African musicians, poets & film makers to promote and sell their digital content. Emma was previously a founder of South African companies, Triggerfish Animation and Breakdesign.

Quote of the Day

November 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

“Corruption leads to a lot of missed opportunities, .... Corruption stops someone to think that he can be an entrepreneur. Corruption makes you fear to take the risk. When you have corruption in a country, people are just discouraged. There is no hope. They don’t see themselves successful in the long term. They just feel that they need to know a minister or the son of the minister to be successful in a country.”

- Lydie Hakizimana is co-founder and Managing Director of Drakkar Limited, a specialist reseller and distributor of educational textbooks in Rwanda. Today, Lydie manages 45 employees and thirty part-time distributors covering the five provinces of Rwanda. Lydie has also added exclusive distributor deals with Longman, Heinemann and Penguin to her Pearson contract.

Quote of the Day by Sibongile Sambo

November 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sibongile Sambo, founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRS Aviation Ltd.

"Nobody will see you if you are sitting in your own corner. You have to go out there, you have to be visible, to do something to be able to get even more support and assistance,"

- Sibongile Sambo is a pioneering woman of South African aviation. She is founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRS Aviation Ltd., the first 100 percent black, female-owned aviation services company in South Africa. Launched in 2004, SRS is an integrated provider of private aviation services offering South African and international clients professional and personalized flight options including VIP Charter, tourist charter and helicopter services, to destinations around the world. Today, the company also provides maintenance, sales and fleet management services to private jet owners.

Quote of the Day by Amanda Blankfield-Koseff

November 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, founder & CEO of Empowervate (South Africa) — **Amanda Blankfield-Koseff**, founder & CEO of Empowervate (South Africa)

"On this Women’s Entrepreneurship Day I wish to encourage all women to start making positive changes in their lives, the lives of their community members and countries - it is up to us as we lead our families and we can lead our nations if we all work together!"

- Amanda Blankfield-Koseff is founder & CEO of Empowervate in South Africa, a youth development, non-profit organisation that aims to empower and motivate a new generation of proactive and positive citizens. Their flagship programme is the Youth Citizens Action Programme (YCAP), which was founded in 2009 and operates in every province of South Africa in Primary and Secondary Schools to teach active citizenship experientially. Their other programmes include social entrepreneurship for youth.

Quote of the Day by Ally Angula

November 18, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia) — **Ally Angula**, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia)

"Having your own company is a constant learning curve, but in this way one can also grow as a person."

Quote of the Day from Julian Omalla

November 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Julian Omalla, founder of Delight Uganda Limited — **Julian Omalla**, founder of Delight Uganda Limited

"My only means of transport was my wheelbarrow. The local market responded positively to my juice products and I could see my dream coming true."

- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.

Quote of the Day

October 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lani Stenvert, founder of Good Dog Designs — **Lani Stenvert**, founder of Good Dog Designs

“Step out of your comfort zone and do what makes you happy”

- Lani Stenvert is the founder of Johannesburg-based graphic design company, Good Dog Designs. She made the tenacious move from design studio employee to graphic design solopreneur and in the process found freedom of expression and a unique design style all of her own. Lani is one of a growing number of successful African solopreneurs in the design industry who are thriving in their own creative spaces and, at the same time, producing innovative and quality design work to be proud of.

Quote of the Day

October 20, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria) — Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (Nigeria)

“There are parts of this country where women cannot own land or property. We intend to go and build there and we intend to ensure that at least 50% of our buildings are owned by women.”

- Chinwe Ohajuruka is the founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria. Chinwe is a US-based architect who splits her time between the US & Nigeria working on sustainable housing development projects. She is a passionate championof green building solutions for Africa and she engineers and builds affordable green houses that are both energy and resource-efficient. Chinwe was selected as the Sub-Saharan laureate of the 2015 Cartier Women's Awards.

Quote of the Day

October 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Stacey Davidson, director at Redisa (South Africa) — **Stacey Davidson**, director at Redisa (South Africa)

"How is running a business different from running a home? Just as a business has to budget, manage its cash flow, do administration and develop human capital, so do women who run families. Women have always been in business and they have always been resourceful."

- Stacey Davidson is the director at Redisa, the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa. Stacey joined REDISA in 2010 as a director, after working in various industries including finance. Her interest in the economic empowerment of previously disadvantaged communities resulted in her volunteering for community-based organisations such as NICRO, CAFDA, and Triple Trust Organisation. It was Stacey's passion for community development which prompted her to join REDISA.

Quote of the Day

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"Competition is normal and makes for good quality products at good prices to consumers. We have to ensure that we get our positioning right – be an afropolitan brand with a striking label and irresistible story."

- Malmsey Rangaka is co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines, a family wine farm located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M’hudi wine brands are sold not only in South Africa but also the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Nigeria. M’hudi was founded in 1999 by Malmsey and her husband, and is said to be the first black-owned wine tourism farm in South Africa.

Quote of the Day

September 30, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Paula Brown, co-founder and ceo of Okuhle Media — **Paula Brown**, co-founder and ceo of Okuhle Media

"Being an entrepreneur is not always a conscious decision, you find yourself simply following a passion and one day realise that you’re rather unqualified for the journey you’re on. It’s what you do next that matters. It’s been a challenging 13 years but what encourages us is the ability to change lives, sometimes in a big way, and sometimes just a little. It still feels good."

- Paula Brown, is co-founder and CEO of Cape Town-based Okuhle Media. Paula’s career highlights are numerous, including co-founding the company that produced and strategically managed the new children’s block, Craz-e for e.TV in South Africa. A mentor by nature, one of Paula’s strengths is her ability to recognize and develop the often-untapped potential within others.

Quote of the Day

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

“Across the world, it has become a global agenda that women must be empowered economically. It makes good economic sense because women have a natural instinct to do certain things. If you empower a woman, she tends to invest her earnings into the household, into the education of her children, and they go out to contribute to their communities, the nation and the African continent. So, why not give women the same opportunities men have?"

- Irene Ochem is the Founder and CEO of ICO Conferences & Events Limited the organisers of amongst other high profile events, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum. Irene had a long career of over 10 years with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Italy, where she held various positions in administration management. Subsequently, she was Research Administration Manager at University of Cape Town, South Africa and worked as an International Consultant for United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union Commission (AUC) in Ethiopia. More recently, she was a Conference Producer and Programme Director with a leading South African-based conference and event management company where she has produced Africa’s largest power and utilities conferences and exhibitions.

Quote of the Day

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"Our economy needs more women entrepreneurs to take the plunge. To break down these age-old barriers, women entrepreneurs need all the encouragement and support they can get,"

- Robyn Farrell is executive head of 1st for Women, a South African insurance company that caters specifically for the needs of women. Over the years, 1st for Women has become an advocate for women, and its social arm, the 1st for Women Insurance Foundation, has raised over R30 million for South African women in need.

Quote of the Day

September 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sebenzile Matsebula, founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions — **Sebenzile Matsebula**, founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions

“It’s important to remember no-one owes you anything, so don’t expect anyone to do favours for you – take ownership of our life!”

- Sebenzile Matsebula is the founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions, one of South Africa’s leading office automation and document management solution providers. Sebenzile is also an internationally recognized disability rights activist. She previously worked as the Director of the Office on the Status of Disabled People (OSDP) in the Presidency of Thabo Mbeki for 8 years. In 2009, she was appointed to the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council, which is mandated to advise the government on Black Economic Empowerment in order to remedy the economic legacy of Apartheid.

Quote of the Day

September 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia) — **Essma Ben Hamida**, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia)

"Women in Tunisia are active; they want to work and own a business; they have Phoenician blood from Dido and the Queen of Carthage .... Money empowers women and lets them contribute in decision-making. After 20 years I can see the changes. Everything changed completely for these entrepreneurial women."

- Essma Ben Hamida is director of Enda Inter-Arabe (Enda), which she co-founded in 1990. She is also the President of the microfinance network of Arab countries Sanabel. In 1995, Enda launched the first microcredit institution in Tunisia, which today reaches around 40,000 active clients, mainly women, in the poor areas of Tunisia. Previously, Essma worked as a secondary school teacher and as a TV journalist/reporter. She opened the first bureau of the national press agency, TAP, in New York at the United Nations.

Quote of the Day

August 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"The biggest thing that has enabled women entrepreneurs is technology and the internet. You can find customers and get publicity without massive amounts of money."

- Deborah B. Jackson is the founder and CEO of Plum Alley, a crowdfunding platform for women entrepreneurs founded in 2012 to increase the economic strength of female founded companies and to provide greater access to capital. Deborah's expertise comes from a two decade long career raising capital for companies, governments and other issuers in both the public and private markets starting at Goldman Sachs in 1980.

Quote of the Day

August 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Pam Golding, founder of Pam Golding Properties — **Pam Golding**, founder of Pam Golding Properties

“I’ve lived my life by one simple motto: Do the right thing. It’s the right thing to do.”

- Pam Golding is one of Africa's most successful women entrepreneurs and an icon of the real estate industry. She founded Pam Golding Properties in South Africa in 1976 with no start-up capital and just a single sales assistant. The company now has over 300 offices in Africa as well as international offices in the UK, Germany, France and Mauritius. It is one of South Africa’s largest independent property trading companies with 2010 turnover of US$1.7 billion. Pam is now retired from active management, but remains the Life President of the company she founded.

"Mistakes are a brilliant learning curve."

“Everything comes from the effort that you put in, act even in a small way towards realising your dreams daily.”

"I think too often we allow ourselves to fall into what society accepts as possible and we don’t try to tackle the big things, we do what we already know we can and we don’t stretch ourselves enough."

"In my experience, women tend to create a collective around them and then it is ‘let’s go into battle together’. For me, it is this type of collaborative, collective thinking that is useful in this industry, an industry full of innovation."

"Nobody will see you if you are sitting in your own corner. You have to go out there, you have to be visible, to do something to be able to get even more support and assistance,"

"On this Women’s Entrepreneurship Day I wish to encourage all women to start making positive changes in their lives, the lives of their community members and countries - it is up to us as we lead our families and we can lead our nations if we all work together!"

"Having your own company is a constant learning curve, but in this way one can also grow as a person."

"My only means of transport was my wheelbarrow. The local market responded positively to my juice products and I could see my dream coming true."

“Step out of your comfort zone and do what makes you happy”

“There are parts of this country where women cannot own land or property. We intend to go and build there and we intend to ensure that at least 50% of our buildings are owned by women.”

"How is running a business different from running a home? Just as a business has to budget, manage its cash flow, do administration and develop human capital, so do women who run families. Women have always been in business and they have always been resourceful."

"Competition is normal and makes for good quality products at good prices to consumers. We have to ensure that we get our positioning right – be an afropolitan brand with a striking label and irresistible story."

"Our economy needs more women entrepreneurs to take the plunge. To break down these age-old barriers, women entrepreneurs need all the encouragement and support they can get,"

“It’s important to remember no-one owes you anything, so don’t expect anyone to do favours for you – take ownership of our life!”

"The biggest thing that has enabled women entrepreneurs is technology and the internet. You can find customers and get publicity without massive amounts of money."

“I’ve lived my life by one simple motto: Do the right thing. It’s the right thing to do.”

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