Deola Sagoe - The startup story of this leading lady of the African haute couture fashion

November 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Deola Sagoe, founder of Deola fashion house — **Deola Sagoe**, founder of Deola fashion house

With top models, A-List celebrities and famous society personalities making up her clientele lists, Deola Sagoe, founder of haute couture fashion house Deola, is an entrepreneurial success story of note.

Wendy Ackerman- The start up story of a retail doyen and a committed philanthropist

November 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Wendy Ackerman, co-founder and executive director, Pick n Pay — **Wendy Ackerman**, co-founder and executive director, Pick n Pay

This incredible woman not only contributed to building Pick n Pay Group as a socially responsible retail empire, but has also devoted her life to making a difference to others in South Africa.

Adenike Ogunlesi - The startup story of a market leader in designer children’s clothing in West Africa

November 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Adenike Ogunlesi, founder and ceo of Ruff'n Tumble — **Adenike Ogunlesi,** founder and ceo of Ruff'n Tumble

This highly successful Nigerian designer went from selling clothes from the boot of her car to becoming a world class children’s clothing brand.

Kofo Akinkugbe - The startup story of a Nigerian innovator and technology market leader

November 14, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Kofo Akinkugbe, founder of Secure ID — **Kofo Akinkugbe**, founder of Secure ID

This remarkable Nigerian woman founded a company that is recognised globally as a market leader in Africa's smart card technology and digital security industry.

Caroline McCann - The startup story of a butcher with a passion for ethically reared meat

November 14, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This lawyer turned butcher is passionate about the 100% certified free-range, grass-fed and ethically reared meat she sources from farmers she gets to know and trust.

Sarah Taylor - the startup story behind the Bee Balmy range of skin balms

November 14, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Taylor, founder of Bee Balmy — **Sarah Taylor**, founder of Bee Balmy

A journalist-turned-natural skincare product entrepreneur works with nature to create a range of soothing and healing skin balms, bringing relief for allergy sufferers.

Jeanette Phasha - The startup story of this Limpopo-based clothing and textile manufacturer

November 13, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Jeanette Phasha and sister Charlotte, the creative duo behind Baroka Fashions — **Jeanette Phasha and sister Charlotte**, the creative duo behind Baroka Fashions

This South African, Limpopo-based clothing and textile manufacturer is successfully carving a niche for herself producing ladies clothing, bags, accessories and printed fabrics.

Swaady Martin - The startup story of this stylish purveyor of African Luxury

November 6, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Swaady Martin-Leke, founder and CEO of Yswara — **Swaady Martin-Leke**, founder and CEO of Yswara

The story of an Afropolitan entrepreneur building a unique global luxury brand by creating elegant, high-end products using the continent’s finest natural resources.

Lorna Rutto - The startup story of an ecopreneur who is making a difference in the urban slums of Kenya through plastic waste recycling

October 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This leading woman eco-preneur is recycling the vast amount of waste plastic in Kenya and turning it into an environmentally friendly alternative to wooden fencing products.

Dorcas Muthoni - The startup story of this leading Kenyan techpreneur

October 2, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This leading Kenyan entrepreneur, computer scientist and inductee of the Internet Hall of Fame founded her tech company at the age of 24.

Tabitha Karanja - The startup story a Kenyan beer brewer who started small and built an empire

October 1, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This mould-breaking Kenyan woman has battled monopolies, gender-descrimination, industry sceptics and other challenges to create a Kenyan business success story that is internationally admired.

Pam Golding - The startup story of an inspirational woman who became the icon of the property world in Africa and beyond

September 1, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This iconic woman opened the doors to her property business in the 1970's and went on to become one of the most admired and respected female entrepreneurs in the world.

Margaret Hirsch - The startup story of one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurs who fearlessly built a retail power house

August 22, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This inspirational woman has risen from difficult beginnings in life to build along with her husband a major retail success story.

Carrol Boyes – The startup story of an iconic South African designer who built a global homeware brand

August 18, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Carrol Boyes, founder and ceo of Carrol Boyes — **Carrol Boyes**, founder and ceo of Carrol Boyes

This incredibly creative designer with a sculptural flair and an eye for the unusual has taken the global homeware market by storm with her distinctive designs and must-have tableware pieces.

Njeri Rionge: The startup story of this celebrated Kenyan serial entrepreneur

July 27, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This is the startup story of Njeri Rionge one of Kenya's most celebrated serial entrepreneurs. Njeri is truly passionate about growing businesses and igniting potential and believes in Africa being the next economic frontier.