Quote of the Day by Nelly Tuikong

July 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nelly Tuikong, founder of Pauline Cosmetics (Kenya) — **Nelly Tuikong,** founder of Pauline Cosmetics (Kenya)

"I started the business with only $400 to produce product samples and bootstrapped my way to where we are today"

- Nelly Tuikong is the founder of one of Kenya's first homegrown cosmetics brands, Pauline Cosmetics. Nelly provides practical solutions to women's beauty and lifestyle. Her brand not only delivers great quality and beautifully packaged products, but also creates unique, fun and interactive ways to learn makeup techniques and product knowledge so that women can become their own makeup expert and artist. Nelly's products are available all over Kenya and East Africa.

Quote of the Day by Donna Rachelson

June 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“Our entrepreneurs are resilient. They are primarily working from home and funding themselves with small amounts of capital while facing the well-known challenges of finding customers and raising finance.”

- Donna Rachelson is an entrepreneur, branding and marketing specialist, author and well-known speaker. As a successful businesswoman and investor in businesses, Donna is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and women, uplifting them with her unique brand of inspiringly practical, results-driven guidance. Donna is the author of three books: Play to Win: What Women can learn from Men in Business; Branding & Marketing YOU and Branding & Marketing YOU Through Teams. She is founder of Branding & Marketing YOU and currently Chief Catalyst at Seed Academy – a training and incubation ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

Quote of the Day

June 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Margaret Hirsch, co-founder of Hirsch's Homestores — **Margaret Hirsch**, co-founder of Hirsch's Homestores

"Think big. It’s easier to think big than it is to think small."

- Margaret Hirsch is one half of a dynamic husband and wife duo that founded Hirsch's Homestores. Back in 1979, as a secretary, together with her husband Allan, then an appliance repair man, they unwittingly became entrepreneurs who went on to build an appliance, electronics and furnishing retail empire. Today, Hirsch's Homestores is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics business in Southern Africa, with seventeen branches and concept stores spread throughout South Africa.

Quote of the Day by Shima Barakat

June 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Dr Shima Barakat, Research and Teaching Fellow in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the Cambridge Judge Business School

"You need a women-only forum because it allows them to speak about things they will never speak about in a mixed setting."

- Dr Shima Barakat is a Research and Teaching Fellow in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School. Shima started her career as a construction engineer, which led to an interest in how organisations understand and act in relation to the natural environment and global issues, and ultimately to inspiring and supporting entrepreneurialism and business ‘not as usual’. More.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

June 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"For people to be innovative... they don't have to really travel a long way or copy somebody's business idea. It's right there."

- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world's fastest-growing African footwear brand and the only Fair Trade-certified footwear company in the world. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and today exports to no fewer than 45 countries and is targeting 50 stand alone soleRebels retail stores across the United States by 2018 and 500 worldwide by 2022.

Quote of the Day by Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine (Nigeria) — Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine (Nigeria)

"Definitely more African women need to tap into technology. I’m often amazed at what I’ve created with just a laptop and internet connection."

- Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola is the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine in Nigeria. She's a public health advocate with a Doctorate in Pharmacy and Master's in Public Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. Radiant Health is Nigeria’s first women’s health magazine offering easy-to-follow tips and advice on health and wellness, fitness, healthy eating, beauty and style and expert advice, all wrapped up in one enticing title.

Quote of the Day by Essma Ben Hamida

June 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

“I discovered I can’t change the world, but let’s start with my country.”

- Essma Ben Hamida is a Tunisian born development activist, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe in Tunisia, and President of the Sanabel Microfinance network of Arab countries. Essma launched Enda in 1995 as the first microcredit institution in Tunisia. Today, with a staff of 1300 working out of 79 branches, Enda serves 270,000 micro-entrepreneurs (70% are women) with a US$150 million loan portfolio and a repayment rate above 99%. Essma was selected Social Entrepreneur of the year for the MENA region in 2010 by the prestigious Schwab Foundation.

Quote of the Day by Elsie Kanza

May 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Elsie Kanza, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum — **Elsie Kanza**, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum

"I strongly believe that the 21st century will be Africa’s century, that its young population has the potential to build a world where they are not only materially better off but also where things are fairer, more sustainable and more tolerant than at any other time in history."

- Elsie Kanza has been the Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum since 2014 and is a Member of the Executive Committee of World Economic Forum. She is also an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow; a Global Leader nominee of the World Economic Forum; and a Rising Talents nominee of the Program of the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society.

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

May 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"I think the belief that Africa is rising must move from the mere rhetoric to actual practical achievements. Africa cannot be rising if we cannot produce enough electricity for businesses to grow, amongst other things. So it is nice to say Africa is Rising or Ghana is Rising. But the rhetoric must be backed solidly."

- Ethel Cofie is a Ghanaian-born entrepreneur and founder of Edel Technologies. This techpreneur is passionate about technology, female leadership and empowering women entrepreneurs. Ethel is a Mandela Fellow for President Obama’s Young African Leaders initiative(YALI), and has beenfeatured in BBC and CNN for work in technology and women leadership. She is the founder of Women in Tech Ghana, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meetup and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for her work supporting women in ICT.

Quote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch

May 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"I believe stress is fear and I honestly am not afraid of anything. There has never been a challenge that I had to face that I haven’t been able to get sorted.”

Quote of the Day by Tabitha Karanja

May 9, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“When people look at me, they don’t see me as a woman; they see me as an entrepreneur.”

- Tabitha Karanja is founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries. She is one of Kenya's leading entrepreneurs, a remarkable trailblazer and an example of a woman made good against all the odds. Tabitha chose to venture where none before her had dared. She took on an 87-year-old business monopoly and entered an industry with a deeply entrenched male gender stereotype. Tabitha broke the mould to become Kenya’s first home-grown beer and alcoholic drink manufacturer. Today, her company's state-of-the-art production facility is targeting 20% of the Kenyan market.

Quote of the Day by Jennifer Riria

May 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Jennifer Riria is group chief executive of Kenya Women Holding — Jennifer Riria is group chief executive of Kenya Women Holding

“Women in Africa do not need charity to finance the issue. Control of the resources that they create is the issue, and respect in the financial sector is the issue.”

- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa 2013, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

May 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, founder of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana) — **Ethel Cofie**, founder of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana)

"My personal goal going forward is to ensure that my dreams are not small and comfortable, but rather big and audacious, even scary, so that I can be motivated enough to feel excited about the challenges ahead when I wake up in the morning."

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

April 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"Dream big, keep on trying, this is our time. This is Africa’s time."

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

April 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"Africa needs far fewer charity brands and much more of its own powerful brands whose global equity it can leverage for its own good. Most importantly in the creation of the prosperity that comes from well-paid, sustainable jobs. Good jobs mean people can afford to finance their own solutions and not wait for a handout to do so."

- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world's fastest-growing African footwear brand and the only Fair Trade-certified footwear company in the world. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and today exports to no fewer than 45 countries and is targeting 50 stand alone soleRebels retail stores across the United States by 2018 and 500 worldwide by 2022.

Quote of the Day by Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda) — **Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera**, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda)

"Never underestimate your gift or talent - develop it and make use of it to the fullest."

- Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera is the founder of Glo Creations, a Rwandan based textile design and printing company, specializing in creating African inspired quality patterns for garments and home interiors. Gloria, a talented artist from a young age, trained under Liberian batik artist Gabriel Saydee whilst she lived in Senegal, and eventually she started up her own art business in that country. Gloria later moved back to her home country Rwanda and in 2008 launched “GLO CREATIONS” specialising in batik and other types of painting on textile.

Quote of the Day by Wendy Ackerman

April 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Wendy Ackerman, co-founder of Pick n Pay, South Africa — **Wendy Ackerman**, co-founder of Pick n Pay, South Africa

"I would say that everybody can be a philanthropist. Its a very fancy word for helping your neighbour. The more you give, the more you get back.”

- Wendy Ackerman is one of the founders and an Executive Director of Pick n Pay Stores. Together with husband Raymond Ackerman she helped build up one of South Africa’s pre-eminent FMCG retailers, consisting of over 450 stores including 121 supermarkets and 14 hypermarkets. Operations are in food, clothing, and general merchandise sectors as well as financial services. The company operates throughout South Africa, southern Africa and Australia and employs around 49,000 people. Today, much of Wendy's boundless energy is devoted to her family's philanthropic endeavours and her personal work for the underprivileged.

Quote of the Day by Pam Golding

April 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“I have always believed that women can do anything they set their hearts on”

- 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.

Quote of the Day by Dr. Jennifer Riria

March 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria, CEO Kenya Women Holding — **Dr. Jennifer Riria**, CEO Kenya Women Holding

“You need to believe that tripping is not falling. You trip, you get up and you move on. Sometimes you break a toe, you wrap it and you move on.”

Quote of the Day by Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe

March 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe, co-founders of Uzuri K&Y (Rwanda) — Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe, co-founders of Uzuri K&Y (Rwanda)

"Don't have fear - no matter who you are and where you are from, your dreams are real and you should make it your business to achieve them."

- Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe are co-founders of U zuri K&Y in Rwanda, a company creating beautiful handcrafted shoes with a unique Rwandan aesthetic. These two former college classmates shared a passion for fashion and a desire to start a business venture that would create much needed jobs for their community. Despite little means, they decided to kickstart their business whilst still studying, launching Uzuri K&Y back in 2013.

"I started the business with only $400 to produce product samples and bootstrapped my way to where we are today"

“Our entrepreneurs are resilient. They are primarily working from home and funding themselves with small amounts of capital while facing the well-known challenges of finding customers and raising finance.”

"Think big. It’s easier to think big than it is to think small."

"You need a women-only forum because it allows them to speak about things they will never speak about in a mixed setting."

"For people to be innovative... they don't have to really travel a long way or copy somebody's business idea. It's right there."

"Definitely more African women need to tap into technology. I’m often amazed at what I’ve created with just a laptop and internet connection."

“I discovered I can’t change the world, but let’s start with my country.”

"I strongly believe that the 21st century will be Africa’s century, that its young population has the potential to build a world where they are not only materially better off but also where things are fairer, more sustainable and more tolerant than at any other time in history."

"I believe stress is fear and I honestly am not afraid of anything. There has never been a challenge that I had to face that I haven’t been able to get sorted.”

“When people look at me, they don’t see me as a woman; they see me as an entrepreneur.”

“Women in Africa do not need charity to finance the issue. Control of the resources that they create is the issue, and respect in the financial sector is the issue.”

"My personal goal going forward is to ensure that my dreams are not small and comfortable, but rather big and audacious, even scary, so that I can be motivated enough to feel excited about the challenges ahead when I wake up in the morning."

"Dream big, keep on trying, this is our time. This is Africa’s time."

"Never underestimate your gift or talent - develop it and make use of it to the fullest."

"I would say that everybody can be a philanthropist. Its a very fancy word for helping your neighbour. The more you give, the more you get back.”

“I have always believed that women can do anything they set their hearts on”

“You need to believe that tripping is not falling. You trip, you get up and you move on. Sometimes you break a toe, you wrap it and you move on.”

"Don't have fear - no matter who you are and where you are from, your dreams are real and you should make it your business to achieve them."

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