Quote of the Day by Juliana Rotich

August 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Juliana Rotich, technologist, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur (Kenya) — **Juliana Rotich**, technologist, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur (Kenya)

“We need to open up to experiences and to visiting other African countries to learn about them, so that when we talk about intra-African trade ... it’s not just the thing that people talk about at the World Economic Forum Africa,”

- Juliana Rotich is a technologist, strategic advisor, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. She is Executive Director of BRCK.org, a not for profit affiliate of BRCK Inc. for deploying reliable technology for the edges of society, and advocating for internet access and literacy. She drives partnerships for tackling social problems through connectivity and appropriate technology. She is a Venture Partner in Africa Technology Ventures (ATV) which is raising a fund to invest in and support the growth of tech enabled start-ups in key sectors in East and West Africa. She is a champion for internet connectivity and works to support entrepreneurs to scale their work and impact.

Quote of the Day by Uche Pedro

August 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Uche Pedro, founder of BellaNaija.com (Nigeria) — Uche Pedro, founder of BellaNaija.com (Nigeria)

"We might not be able to meet up in a town hall somewhere but via Twitter, via Facebook, via BellaNaija, we can, you know, we can come together, and we can make a change."

- Uche Pedro is founder of BellaNaija.com, a company that develops and delivers exciting online content aimed at Nigerian and Pan-African audiences. Uche’s savvy grasp of media trends has led to BellaNaija.com becoming the go-to lifestyle, entertainment and fashion portal in Africa. Her website has established a loyal following amongst the young, cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile set in Nigeria, with over 1 million unique visitors and 9 million page views each month.

Quote of the Day by Tammy Frazer

August 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tammy Frazer, founder of Frazer Parfum (South Africa) — **Tammy Frazer**, founder of Frazer Parfum (South Africa)

"I have always believed in Africa as a source of artisanal innovation and beauty."

- Tammy Frazer founded Cape-Town-based Frazer Parfum in 2008 creating organic and natural perfume products, all handcrafted in collaboration with local artists. Tammy is part of a growing new generation of African women entrepreneurs transforming quality local raw materials into world-class African luxury products.

Quote of the Day by Abai Schulze

August 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Abai Schulze, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia) — **Abai Schulze**, founder of ZAAF (Ethiopia)

“I don’t think business school was going to teach me how to run a business in Ethiopia. You don’t go by the book when you are running a business here. You just have to jump into it and learn as you go.”

- Abai Schulze is founder of the creative, new Afro-luxe brand ZAAF who create handcrafted luxury leather handbags and accessories produced by artisans in Ethiopia. Abai, born in a remote village in Ethiopia, has had a truly remarkable life journey. Her journey has taken her from an orphanage in Addis Ababa to the United States where she was raised, and back to Ethiopia. Today, she passionately uses her background in economics and fine arts to create unique and practical expressions of beauty, and to open avenues of opportunity for talented artisans in Ethiopia and the rest of Africa. Her designs draw upon precious cultural relics and allow them renewed expression through fresh, uplifting and modern designs.

Quote of the Day by Graça Machel

August 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Graça Machel, founder of the Graça Machel Trust — **Graça Machel**, founder of the Graça Machel Trust

"Our lives will only have a meaning if each one of us can confidently say that I was able to bring five, ten, fifteen and twenty women along with me. What I am saying is, do not climb alone!"

- Graça Machel is the founder of the Graça Machel Trust and one of the world’s leading advocates for women, children, and communities affected by conflict and injustice. Born in a rural part of Portuguese East Africa, she attended university in Lisbon before returning home to be a freedom fighter and schoolteacher. After the declaration of Mozambique’s independence, Machel became the country’s first Education Minister. In the years following her government ministry, Machel produced a ground-breaking UNICEF report on the impact of armed conflict on children that changed the way the United Nations and member states respond in conflict zones. Since then, she has worked tirelessly in support of global health, child welfare, and women’s rights and empowerment. Machel is a founding member of The Elders, and played a key role in establishing Girls Not Brides.

Quote of the Day by Janet Nkubana

August 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda) — Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda)

"Once you earn an income you are economically empowered. You are given a voice, you can argue your values, you can argue your point, you can argue your rights.”

- Janet Nkubana, co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives with her sister Joy Ndungutse shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. These inspiring sisters had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Today, Gahaya Links manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country, organised into around 52 cooperatives that help provide much needed income and stability. The sisters have successfully opened the business to international markets, partnering with the likes of Macy’s, Walmart, Oprah Magazine, and Kate Spade. Today, Gahaya Links "Peace Baskets” are sold and admired the world over.

Quote of the Day by Essma Ben Hamida

August 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

"Money empowers women and lets them contribute in decision-making."

- 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 Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola

August 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, founder and ceo of WeCyclers — **Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola**, founder and ceo of WeCyclers

"To improve innovation in Africa, we need to invest more in education. You cannot innovate when you do not have a good education."

- Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola is a Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, and founder and CEO of WeCyclers. This Lagos-based company is focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. Bilikiss holds an MBA from MIT and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University. She is also a 2013 Echoing Green Fellow.

Quote of the Day from Rapelang Rabana

August 9, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rapelang Rabana, founder of Rekindle Learning, South Africa — **Rapelang Rabana**, founder of Rekindle Learning, South Africa

"There will never be enough jobs for all the young people today – more and more of us must become entrepreneurs."

- Rapelang Rabana is a South African technology entrepreneur and founder of Rekindle Learning, a company looking to improve education in Africa by turning people’s compulsion to check their phones into an opportunity to learn. She previously co-founded Yeigo Communications a company that provided services that took advantage of the internet, mobile and cloud computing technologies to tackle the cost of communication in South Africa. In 2008, a European company acquired a majority stake in Yeigo, enabling the group to provide the full range of telecommunications services.

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

August 8, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

“Access to the internet is critical – the internet is no longer a luxury; it’s important for development,”

- 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 Hend El Sherbini

August 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Hend El Sherbini, founder & CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holding (Egypt) — **Dr. Hend El Sherbini**, founder & CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holding (Egypt)

"If you’re like a man in business, then they call you aggressive. It’s not like this in Egypt alone. It’s like this all the time."

- Dr. Hend El Sherbini is a professor of clinical pathology and the founder and CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holding, the largest private sector healthcare diagnostics service provider in Egypt. She built her company from one lab founded by her mother into a company with 4,000 employees, 290 branches and four medical diagnostic labs across the Middle East. In May 2015, Hend led Integrated Diagnostics Holdings to an IPO on the London Stock Exchange that put its value at $700 million.

Quote of the Day by Kofo Akinkugbe

August 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Kofo Akinkugbe, founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd — **Kofo Akinkugbe**, founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd

"You will have opposition. If you're going to stand out, you are not going to be loved by the crowd. It can be lonely."

- Kofo Akinkugbe is recognised globally for her entrepreneurial success story and strong business track record. She is founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd a market leader in smart card technology and digital security in Africa. SecureID is a world-class manufacturing facility with the only smart card production plant in West Africa and one of only six on the continent. In January 2015 the company commissioned a new state-of-the-art EMV-certified smartcard manufacturing plant – the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company serves 16 countries across Africa and is fully certified by VISA, Verve and MasterCard. In 2012, Kofo won the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award.

Quote of the Day by Tabitha Karanja

August 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries — Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries

“Believe in yourself because you’re not likely to get much help from men if they perceive you as a threat. I knew what I wanted in life and I worked day and night to achieve it, and here I am.”

- 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 factory produces 10,000 bottles of gin and ready-to-drink vodka, as well as 15,000 bottles of beer per hour.

Quote of the Day by Wendy Ackerman

August 1, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"Everything is possible. Impossible just takes a little longer.”

- 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 Khanyi Dhlomo

July 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Khanyi Dhlomo, founder and Managing Director of Ndalo Media (South Africa) — Khanyi Dhlomo, founder and Managing Director of Ndalo Media (South Africa)

"There is power in having a vision, but it has to be articulated and be made a reality."

- Khanyi Dhlomo is the founder and Managing Director of Ndalo Media, which she founded in 2007. She is also the founder of DestinyConnect and the founding editor of Destiny Magazine. Before starting her own media company, Khanyi was editor of True Love magazine for eight years. In 2013, Khanyi ventured in retail and launched Luminance, a high-end fashion and lifestyle department store. Khanyi was named most influential woman in South African Media by The Media Magazine in 2003 and made the 2011 Forbes list of 20 Young Power Women in Africa.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

July 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder and Managing Director of soleRebels (Ethiopia) — Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder and Managing Director of soleRebels (Ethiopia)

"The most crucial lesson I have learned as an entrepreneur is that you must have a never-say-die attitude."

- 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 Deola Sagoe

July 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"The truth is, for every stereotype of corruption or extremism you hear of, there are a million motivated and driven Nigerians who add value and impact positively in and out of Nigeria."

- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey.

Quote of the Day by Njeri Rionge

July 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“In my experience women and men suffer the same experience; the only difference is that women have more responsibilities. As a player in the business world, you are still expected to be a mother, wife and homemaker. That increases the number of things you are responsible for. Men in our African culture, all they do is business and everything else at home is taken care of.”

- Njeri Rionge is one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and one of the very few women pioneers in the ICT sector on the African continent. This serial entrepreneur founded numerous companies including co-founding the internet service provider Wananchi Online, one of east Africa’s leading providers of pay-tv, broadband internet and VoIP services. Today she splits her time between strategy consulting, speaking engagements, and investment work, either personally or through one of her portfolio businesses. Her focus is on working with SMEs and entrepreneurs to grow indigenous businesses that can be scaled across Africa.

Quote of the Day by Olajumoke Adenowo

July 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Olajumoke Adenowo, founder of AD Consulting (Nigeria) — **Olajumoke Adenowo**, founder of AD Consulting (Nigeria)

"African entrepreneurs must be the alternative government and take up the task of human capacity development....We must see our staff, not just as resources for the business, but as human beings whose potentials we are to discover, develop, and deploy."

- Olajumoke Adenowo, founder of AD Consulting, is a Nigerian Architect, Speaker, Radio Host, Philantropist and Author. CNN has described her as “Africa’s Starchitect”. She has been featured in the World’s foremost Architectural Journal; Architectural Record and has spoken on several platforms including the Global Women’s Forum and Harvard Business School (African Business Club). Olajumoke also hosts a Syndicated Radio show on Leadership called “Voice of Change”.

Quote of the Day by Sarah Collins

July 8, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Collins, founder and CEO of Wonderbag — **Sarah Collins**, founder and CEO of Wonderbag

"It’s critically important to have somebody you can trust to guide you from a mentorship perspective in those starting years."

- Sarah Collins is the founder and CEO of Wonderbag, a simple non electric slow cooker which works in mud huts in Africa to Manhattan apartments. Voted one of the most powerful women entrepreneurs of the year by Fortune Magazine, in 2013, Sarah grew up in rural, apartheid-era South Africa. Determined to change the status quo, especially for women in Africa, she created the Wonderbag in 2008. She has sold over 1 million Wonderbags in over 40 countries, making an impact on the daily lives of women across the world.