the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Ngozi Opara, founder of Heat Free Hair
Heat Free Hair is the story of a woman with a passion for natural hair combined with the entrepreneurial drive to start a business providing natural hair extensions, plus a movement to educate and inform women on how to care for their natural hair.
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Beth Malatji, founder of Wealth Ladder Magazine (South Africa)
As part of their day-to day business development, entrepreneurs need access to great information, insight and advice, and Wealth Ladder Magazine looks to provide all those things and more. Entrepreneur Beth Malatji is creating not just an informative and engaging published resource but she is also creating networking events that bring entrepreneurs together.
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Baitse Phejane, founder of Akili Communications (South Africa)
Understanding the power of scalable business is critical for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow successful enterprises of the future. South African entrepreneur Baitse Phejane, founder of Akili Communications, is looking to provide help and guidance in this regard, and her company is poised to develop entrepreneurs who have a passion for what they do, but need assistance in scaling those ideas.
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BusaBuntu Roaring, founder of BusaBuntu Pictures (South Africa)
Africa has always had a strong tradition of storytelling, but today stories need to harness the power of all types of media, both traditional and digital, to reach and connect with every type of audience. The talented South African media entrepreneur, BusaBuntu Roaring, founder of BusaBuntu Pictures, knows and understands this dynamic all too well and is leveraging her extensive knowledge and experience of all aspects of the media to tell powerful stories that resonate.
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Charlotte Steenekamp, founder of Africa Grace Botanical Skincare (South Africa)
Today, more and more consumers are making ethical and responsible decisions about the products they purchase, their sustainable footprint, and their community backstory. As a result, the marketplace for pure, organic and sustainable products, particularly in sectors such as beauty and skincare, is growing. Africa Grace Botanical Skincare, the brainchild of entrepreneur Charlotte Steenekamp, is a great example of a socially and environmentally responsible company and brand being created in Africa that is making a difference.
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Leslie Okoye, founder of L’Okoye Cosmetics Inc.
A personal mission to find a simplified skin care regime for women of African descent, led to entrepreneur Leslie Okoye launching her own line of holistic skincare products specifically created for women of colour. Today, her company, L’Okoye Cosmetics Inc. and her CookieSkin specialist skincare range, is providing a way for women to build confidence in their skin and to create flawless complexions.
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Jacqueline Rogers, founder of Label of Love (South Africa)
Tenacity, determination and passion are all unique attributes that to towards describing entrepreneur Jacqueline Rogers, the founder of the exciting maternity wear company, Label of Love. She is genuinely on a mission to create the most beautiful clothes that make any mum-to-be feel special during this important time in their lives, whilst at the same time designing each garment to be comfortable, practical and long-lasting. Her brand is winning fans in large numbers who have been on the look out for maternity chic wardrobes that make them feel and look great.
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Kristine Pearson, founder of Lifeline Energy
Women entrepreneurs understand the power of the media to reach communities and to provide essential communication and education to both adults and children alike, in particular to women in remote communities. Kristine Pearson, the founder of Lifeline Energy, knows only too well how much of a lifeline radio can be, hence the name of the enterprise. By harnessing the power of solar, she is creating access to radio to millions of listeners who would previously be denied the opportunity - she is a real game-changer on the African continent.
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Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash.T Design Studio (South Africa)
Interior design company, Mash.T Design Studio, is on a mission - to create beautiful spaces. Inspired by its creative founder, Thabisa Mjo, the company prides itself by continuously providing its clients with highly creative solutions to their spatial challenges. The company is constantly working to solidify its status as a design company synonymous with cutting edge, inspired design.
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Nana & Afua Dabanka, founders of MONAA (Ghana)
In the world of design, particularly luxury footwear, there is something truly inspirational about working with the finest leathers, fabrics and decorative elements that are reflective of a country’s design aesthetic. Nana and Afua Dabanka, the creative duo behind the incredibly beautiful MONAA brand, are taking the world by storm with their luxury footwear label that takes its inspiration from their proud Ashanti heritage.
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Nikki Davies, co-founder of Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods (South Africa)
Every parent knows how crucial it is to give their babies and toddlers the best start in life through a healthy diet, and yet in our increasingly busy lives, the convenience of a ready-made baby food makes all the difference. Finding options that are fresh and healthy, however, is a challenge. However, one South African company is changing all that. Nikki Davies, the inspiration and co-founder of the Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods company and brand is producing real food that both parents and babies will love.
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Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda)
Tapping into the growing global interest in African design, entrepreneur Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera is building an award-winning company, Glo Creations, that is celebrating traditional batik printing techniques but with a contemporary twist.
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Pascale Bukize, founder of Nawel Company Ltd (Rwanda)
There is something truly inspirational about women entrepreneurs who harness the real power of the media, in particularly TV and Radio, to empower women in their countries through positive messaging, great storytelling, and powerful women role-models. Rwandan entrepreneur, Pascale Bukize, and her fellow team members founded Nawel Company Ltd to produce not only great content and TV shows, but also to launch a pioneering show The Real Women Show, to uplift and inspire other women in the country.
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Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, founders of RightSeat (Rwanda)
The challenge for any company or organisation is finding the right people and building great teams, and one entrepreneurial team is making this process a whole lot easier. Right Seat is a specialist talent management company in Rwanda, spearheaded by two young women entrepreneurs, Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, who are focused on building a strong HR pipeline in the country.
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Thokoza Mjo, founder of Beyond the Lemonade Stand (South Africa)
South Africa’s future economic prosperity depends on its young people making active contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. Yet with unemployment being a major challenge, the future lies in creating a new generation of entrepreneurs who can make a difference. Beyond the Lemonade Stand, the brainchild of founder Thokoza Mjo, is a social venture looking to do just that!
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Roxanne Edson, founder of Hidden Halos (South Africa)
The challenge of dealing with the effects of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and the devastating impact it can have on the lives of innocent children, is a major one in South Africa. Social entrepreneur Roxanne Edson, and her team of supporters at Hidden Halos, are working tirelessly to champion foster care advocacy and support for those children affected by the syndrome.
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Joycee Awojoodu, founder ORÍKÌ (Nigeria)
As the fast developing world of personal grooming and skincare grows in Africa, so too does the desire to find products that harness the unique natural ingredients from the continent for their inspiration. One luxury brand, ORÍKÌ, is not only creating a range of products that truly celebrate Africa’s natural resources, but it also positively touches the lives of those who harvest those raw materials.
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Frances Edwards, founder of House of Cinnamon (South Africa)
They say one of the most successful ways of building a company and a brand is to follow a passion, and in the case of South African entrepreneur Frances Edwards, that has certainly been the inspiration for the launch of her business, House of Cinnamon. Today, Frances is creating a unique luxury footwear and accessories brand, that celebrates the art of fine craftsmanship in Africa.
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Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda)
Water scarcity in Africa is a huge challenge today, but one young woman socialpreneur is building an enterprise that is looking to bring an answer that is both affordable and durable. Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda), a company providing essential water filtration solutions, is already making a difference in her country.
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Carine-Zoe Umutoni, founder of ONYX (Rwanda)
Developing a distinctive fashion brand which celebrates African fabric and inspiration with contemporary design that reflects the uniqueness of Rwanda, is what makes ONYX stand out in the marketplace. Founder Carine-Zoe Umutoni has a passion for her country which is only matched by her talent for creating must-wear garments which the fashion conscious want to own.
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