Quote of the Day by Uche Pedro

June 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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

"We need to build our own national social networks and not be dependent on those coming from mainly the USA. We need to build home grown social media networks."

- 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 Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch

June 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa) — **Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch**, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa)

"Make friends with your competitors, there's enough space for everyone; its wonderful to be able to sit and discuss the industry as a whole with people who are in it."

- Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch are the co-founders of The Chocolatiers, an artisanal chocolatier company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This mother and daughter team are passionate champions of slow food, and their approach is steeped in tradition, taking their time to hand make every chocolate with love and to perfection. The Chocolatiers ethos lies in our value of both people and planet and they believe in delivering to their customers chocolate for connoisseurs.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

June 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"If you have a crazy idea, go for it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes."

- 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 Mariéme Jamme

June 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mariéme Jamme, founder Spotone Global Solutions — **Mariéme Jamme**, founder Spotone Global Solutions

"... one imperative solution is to educate entrepreneurs on understanding basic business principles. They need honest mentoring in order to scale their businesses - this is really lacking at present."

- Mariéme Jamme is a Senegalese born-British businesswoman, who runs a technology consultancy business, Spotone Global Solutions, that helps technology companies to identify a new markets, generate leads, increase revenue and set a foothold in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. Mariéme is best known for her role in promoting technology, good governance, transparency and a better education standard in Africa. She was recently named as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2014 by the Africa Business Magazine and Forbes Magazine.

Quote of the Day by Tania Reid

May 31, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tania Reid, founder of Ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa) — Tania Reid, founder of Ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa)

"Women should be helping each other, collaborating with each other, referring each other, supporting each other and mentoring each other, instead of being threatened by each others' success."

- Tania Reid is the founder of Ithemba Office Solutions in South Africa, a company that has positioned itself to be the Business Concierge of choice to corporates within Johannesburg. Tania is passionate about finding solutions for her clients’ day-to-day business operations, taking a personalised, tailor-made approach to the services she offers. Her goal is to be a trusted first port-of-call to source essential products and services on behalf of the companies she lists as her clients.

Quote of the Day by Edith Venter

May 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Edith Venter, founder of Edith Unlimited (South Africa)

"Keep things simple. That way, they work!"

- Edith Venter is the doyenne of event management in South Africa. She is the founder of Edith Unlimited, taking the world of prestigious and glamorous event management to a whole new level, in keeping with the style and elegance she is well known for. Today, she is also a highly sought after motivational speaker, a role model to millions of South African women, and a tireless campaigner and fundraiser for the causes she is passionate about.

Quote of the Day from Tabitha Karanja

May 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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

“Morocco is at the top of Africa. Until I reach Morocco with Summit (one of Keroche’s beer brands) and go all the way down to South Africa, I am not stopping. I will never say I am tired because there is still more ahead.”

- 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 Banke Kuku

May 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Banke Kuku, founder of Banke Kuke Textiles — **Banke Kuku**, founder of Banke Kuke Textiles

“Women are the corner stone of African economic development and are currently under represented. I think it’s time for a balance in the business arena throughout the continent. Women hold dynamic and valuable characteristics which are an asset to the business terrain.”

– Banke Kuku is founder and CEO of Banke Kuku Textiles, a company she started in 2011. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Banke moved to the United Kingdom at age eight giving her the innate ability to cross-pollinate traditional African and Western culture to create unique, luxurious fabrics for the interior and fashion industries. Anointed by leading commentators as the ‘Queen of Colour’, Banke promotes African tradition and culture through her exquisite textiles sold in the major capitals of the world and supports and promotes local textile mills in Nigeria. Her interiors range can be been found in major retailers like Selfridges London, and her fashion fabric designs have graced the catwalks of London, Paris and New York.

Quote of the Day by Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana

May 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, founders of Gahaya Links (Rwanda) — **Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana**, founders of Gahaya Links (Rwanda)

"Something small can create an impact, .... You don’t have to have a lot of money to start a business. You can start small, but you must have a passion for what you’re doing."

- Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives 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 has grown to include over 5,000 women weavers in 52 different cooperatives across Rwanda, providing 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 Dr. Ola Orekunrin

May 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Ola Orekunrin, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria — **Dr. Ola Orekunrin**, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria

"Governments simply must take health seriously if they wish to sustain and advance socioeconomic outcomes. Empirically, high levels of population health go hand-in-hand with high levels of growth and income."

- Dr. Ola Orekunrin is a medical doctor, helicopter pilot and the healthcare entrepreneur founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, West Africa’s first Air Ambulance Service. She's dedicated to bringing trauma care to the most remote parts of Western Africa and her company, an air ambulance service based in Lagos, is doing just that. She was motivated to start the company after her younger sister tragically died whilst traveling in Nigeria as a consequence of there being no medical air service available to transport her to hospital. Ola graduated as a medical doctor from the University Of York in the UK and is a member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

May 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"Entrepreneurship is not new to Africans. We are after-all masters of survivalist entrepreneurship What needs to be taught is how to create strong, scalable industry giants…"

- 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 been featured on BBC and CNN for her work in technology and women leadership. She is the founder of Women in Tech Africa and was recently named one of the 'Top 5 Women Impacting I.T. in Africa' by South Africa's Mail & Guardian.

Quote of the Day by Monica Musonda

May 8, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and CEO of Java Foods, Zambia

"But the real question is what are we as Africans doing? Are we going to be active participants in the growth and development of our continent or are we going to be satisfied with being spectators? As Africans, we need to take advantage of the opportunities, create sustainable development and wealth. We need to lead the way and invest in Africa."

- Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.

Quote of the Day by Carrol Boyes

May 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“Employing people has always been very stressful for me, .... The idea of having someone’s life in my hands was nerve-racking. It was a responsibility I took very seriously and still do to this day.”

- Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.

Quote of the Day by Lydie Hakizimana

May 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“Reading skills build the foundation for all future learning, and it is proven that people who can read enjoy better health, make more money, and serve their communities more effectively,”

- Lydie Hakizimana is co-founder and Managing Director of Drakkar Limited, a specialist reseller and distributor of educational textbooks. It all started back in 2006 when this avid bookworm decided to follow her passion and opened a small bookshop. Before long, her entrepreneurial instincts had her developing relationships with numerous publishing companies. Eventually, she struck a deal that was to be the making of her company with UK publisher, Pearson Education. Drakkar rapidly evolved into a leading educational textbooks reseller in Rwanda, becoming an important enabler of her country's vision for building a knowledge-based economy. 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 Salma Abdulai

May 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Salma Abdulai, founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise (Ghana)

"Believe in yourself, if you believe in yourself you can even change the whole world – that is the business philosophy I have."

- Salma Abdulai is the founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise in Ghana, a company that processes and markets fonio, a nutritious and climate resistant indigenous cereal. Driven by a desire to tackle malnutrition and transform rural women’s lives, 31-year-old Salma, from the impoverished, drought-prone North Ghana, launched Unique Quality Product Enterprise to process Fonio, a sustainable indigenous crop with extraordinary health benefits. She started her business with 10 landless women and to date, the business has supported 500 farmers – 350 women and 150 men. In recognition of her remarkable social impact, Salma Abdulai was named Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards 2017 Laureate for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Quote of the Day by Olivia Nava

April 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“We need to work in inspiring women – to have powerful speakers and a new generation of female role models and, to be able to tell little girls they can achieve her dreams."

- Olivia Nava is the co-founder of Juabar in Tanzania, a social enterprise that deploys solar-powered media hubs in unelectrified African village centers and leases them to solar entrepreneurs to provide electricity and connectivity access to their communities. Previously she designed HIV programs in Mozambique and helped fund health innovation programs as a program officer at Tides/The California Endowment in San Francisco. Olivia is passionate about uncovering what drives human behaviors.

Quote of the Day by Nkemdilim Begho

April 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"I always say there is a market share for everybody, no matter how big or small you are. There are always people who need your services and will patronize you. All you need do is be at the right place."

Nkemdilim Begho is the founder and Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. As one of a few Nigerian women in the industry, her success is founded on a passion for driving innovative thinking, building a globally recognized technology brand and setting trends in the Nigerian Technology space.

Quote of the Day by Jenna Clifford

April 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"Although I work longer hours than men work, I still grow my own vegetables and cook and design and have children and a husband.”

- Jenna Clifford is a world-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique designs and superlative craftsmanship. Established in 1992, her company has steadily grown its clientele and improved its profile to institute itself as a powerful force in the jewellery industry. Her bold and dramatic designs are sought after by some of the most recognised business icons and celebrities from around the world. Today, Jenna Clifford Designs employs around 70 people, including some of the finest jewellery artisans and craftsmen in South Africa.

Quote of the Day by Christie Peacock

April 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr Christie Peacock, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd — **Dr Christie Peacock**, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd

“People have to believe in you, and believe that you’re true to the vision. So you have to do that in the way that you live and work, and your actions must match your words.”

- Dr Christie Peacock is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd, a social enterprise in Kenya offering quality livestock services through a network of branded franchises. Christie is an animal scientist and former Chief Executive of FARM-Africa. She has worked in agricultural development in Africa and South East Asia for over 30 years. She is a founding member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Agriculture and Food for Development and is a member of the Guardian newspaper’s Global Development website Advisory Panel. Christie was awarded a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Reading and selected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2011.

Quote of the Day by Fulufhelo Ramulifho

April 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Fulufhelo Ramulifho (L) founder of Careers For A Powerful You — **Fulufhelo Ramulifho** (L) founder of Careers For A Powerful You

"Dare to begin. Start small and anything is possible if you dare to do great things."

- Fulufhelo Ramulifho is the founder of Careers For A Powerful You (c4U) in South Africa, a goals-based career guidance academy on a mission to support high school learners’ ambitions using career guidance training, mentoring and coaching. Prior to starting her own business this Accounting graduate worked for KPMG as a forensic investigator and as a management consultant for an international consulting firm. Her passion for creating change and developing young people led to the launch C4U in 2013.