Heather Cresswell and Savannah Sefor, two entrepreneurs on a mission to ignite the hearts and minds of employees

September 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Heather Cresswell & Savannah Sefor, founders of Firebrand (South Africa) — **Heather Cresswell & Savannah Sefor,** founders of Firebrand (South Africa)

Firebrand is a South African business that lives up to its name when it comes to employee engagement, literally firing up their minds and imaginations and getting them to work differently. The company is the brainchild of business partners Heather Cresswell and Savannah Sefor who have been co-facilitating personal development programmes for years, but who are now taking their work to the next level through their company Firebrand.

Saloni Kantaria, a Kenyan entrepreneur bringing the world of high tech fitness to Nairobi’s residents

August 31, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Saloni Kantaria, founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio (Kenya) — **Saloni Kantaria**, founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio (Kenya)

The current global trend for fitness is now being seen in Africa, and in Kenya, one athlete turned entrepreneur, Saloni Kantaria, founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio in Nairobi, is bringing something fresh to the exercise scene.

Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, a South African natural skincare entrepreneur focused on promoting the country’s indigenous ingredients

August 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa) — **Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi**, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa)

There is a growing interest in skincare products that have a natural provenance with ingredients sourced from the African continent, and South African entrepreneur Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, is tapping into that interest with her brand Yivani Naturals.

Sinoneliso Xaba, a South African entrepreneur bringing African print textiles and design to the attention of the world

August 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sinoneliso Xaba, founder of Egoli Textile Designs (South Africa)

Often, indigenous design can remain a best kept secret to the country it is found in, but thanks to passionate South African entrepreneur, Sinoneliso Xaba and her company Egoli Textile Designs, that is about to change. She is on a mission to bring the continent’s most innovative African print textiles to the global marketplace, and to win a legion of new fans along the way.

Rosemary Obi, a Nigerian entrepreneur creating the first make-up reality show in Africa

August 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rosemary Obi, founder Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria) — **Rosemary Obi**, founder Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria)

On a mission to take Africa’s most talented make-up artists to the world of film and television, Project FX Make-Up Show Africa, the brainchild of Rosemary Obi, is looking to supercharge the careers of a new generation of home-grown African make-up artists.

Susan Kinuthia, a Kenyan entrepreneur taking on the skin and haircare industry by providing natural alternatives

August 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Susan Kinuthia, founder of Ruzena Naturals (Kenya) — **Susan Kinuthia**, founder of Ruzena Naturals (Kenya)

Starting any business with a personal passion is always a good building block, and Susan Kinuthia is taking her love of natural skin and hair products to the next level, using it as the inspiration for her own company, Ruzena Naturals. This new kid on the beauty block is creating high quality, natural skin and haircare products for people who are sensitive to mass produced, chemical laced products on the market.

Bridget Edwards, a South African stress expert on a mission to help others to overcome challenges in life

August 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bridget Edwards, author and emotional change catalyst — **Bridget Edwards**, author and emotional change catalyst

For many people, stress can have a devastating impact on their lives, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Bridget Edwards is an entrepreneur and specialist stress counsellor showing people how to harness stress as a positive force, rather than a negative one. Her consulting work and her books provide an inspirational guide to living life more positively and differently, resolving personal challenges and issues along the way.

Gloria Michelle Otieno, a Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for human resources and skills development

August 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gloria Otieno, founder of Recours Four Kenya Consultants (Kenya) — **Gloria Otieno**, founder of Recours Four Kenya Consultants (Kenya)

Finding the perfect niche for a business is always a tricky thing, but for Gloria Otieno, she knew intrinsically that her entrepreneurial journey would like in the field of human resources and training. Her business, Recours Four Kenya Consultants Limited, is allowing her to live her dream and fulfil not just her aspirations, but also those of all the young people who use its services. She is making a huge difference to the development of a new, well-trained population who will drive the future economy of the country.

Amanda Ioannoy, a South African entrepreneur enriching brands through her corporate gifting and event management expertise

August 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Amanda Ioannoy (founder) & Varisha Singh, the dynamic duo behind Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts (South Africa) — **Amanda Ioannoy** (founder) & Varisha Singh, the dynamic duo behind Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts (South Africa)

Being customer centric is the key to business success, and in the case of Amanda Ioannoy’s business, Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts in South Africa, she understands how to connect with customers by providing quality gifting and promotional merchandise options that can effectively promote company brands.

Claire Keet, a South African entrepreneur making the world of yoga and fitness a more inspirational design place

August 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Claire Keet, founder of Sentiens (South Africa) — **Claire Keet**, founder of Sentiens (South Africa)

For those of us who have spent hours in yoga studios, with boring yoga mats tucked under our arms, help is at hand. Claire Keet, founder of Sentiens, is on a mission to create beautiful yet practical yoga mats that will inspire anyone looking for that perfect zen moment as they exercise and meditate.

Angela Livu, a Kenyan entrepreneur providing her customers with luxury, ethically sourced hair products

August 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Angela Livu, founder of Luxury Hair (Kenya) — **Angela Livu,** founder of Luxury Hair (Kenya)

Having beautiful hair is something many women long for, but often can’t attain. For one Kenyan entrepreneur, Angela Livu, this provided an opportunity to create a business that would provide the solution. Her company, Luxury Hair, is providing discerning women with the highest quality hair products that are 100% ethically sourced and beautiful to look at and wear.

Mignionette Fair, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to improve the quality of written communication

August 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mignionette Fair, founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services (South Africa) — **Mignionette Fair**, founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services (South Africa)

In the world of business, the art of storytelling is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a necessity. People connect with brands through stories and therefore companies are becoming more aware of the need to tell those stories in a way that will best connect with consumers. Entrepreneur and language guru, Mignionette Fair, the founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services, has a passion for helping companies to master the art of language to make that all important connection with customers.

Karené Wedekind, a creative photographer on a mission to help businesses succeed through great imagery

August 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Karené Wedekind, founder of Karené Wedekind Photography (South Africa) — **Karené Wedekind**, founder of Karené Wedekind Photography (South Africa)

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and in the case of South African entrepreneur, Karené Wedekind, she is capturing eye-catching images that can help businesses to portray themselves and their products in the best possible light.

Hanita Muthray, a South African entrepreneur making her mark in the spa and wellness industry

August 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nish & Hanita Muthray, founder of Nt Shonalanga Valley Resort (South Africa) — **Nish & Hanita Muthray**, founder of Nt Shonalanga Valley Resort (South Africa)

Many entrepreneurs find themselves pivoting along their career journeys, often by finding a passion that can translate into a business. Hanita Muthray’s entrepreneurial journey took such a turn, making the move from physiotherapy and joining the family business. Today, her experience and passion for wellness has found a new mission through the creation of a successful company, Nt Shonalanga Valley Resort, that creates a unique spa and wellness experience for individuals and corporates alike.

Christine Khasinah Odero - A Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to connect and inspire mums in her country

August 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Christine Khasinah Odero, founder of Supamamas (Kenya) — **Christine Khasinah Odero**, founder of Supamamas (Kenya)

Every mum and mum-to-be knows how important it is to learn as much as possible about being a parent and caring for those precious little ones. Seeing a gap in the market for a focused online and event platform that would bring the best information, networking and support for mums in Kenya, led to entrepreneur Christine Khasinah Odero creating Supamamas, a destination of choice for discerning mums.

Abisola Owolawi - a Nigerian entrepreneur harnessing communications to positively impact human capital

August 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Abisola Owolawi, founder of 30Watt Media (Nigeria) — **Abisola Owolawi**, founder of 30Watt Media (Nigeria)

Nigerian woman-owned startup 30Watt Media understands the power of exceptional service delivery and great communication, helping companies to make the necessary business shifts from simply selling products to offering real customer experiences. At the heart of the business is an understanding of the power of human capital to make a difference to the way consumers experience brands and businesses.

Valerie Nyamwaya, a Kenyan fashionpreneur putting local designers on the global map

July 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Valerie Nyamwaya, founder of Afrivazi Limited (Kenya) — **Valerie Nyamwaya**, founder of Afrivazi Limited (Kenya)

Kenya is fast becoming a rising star of African fashion, with new talented designers emerging every day. Afrivazi is a company helping those designers reach discerning customers looking to support proudly ‘Made in Kenya’ brand names, and its founder Valerie Nyamwaya, is an entrepreneur on a mission to make it happen.

Michelle Ntalami, a Kenyan haircare entrepreneur making natural products for the African woman

July 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Ntalami, founder of Marini Naturals (Kenya)

Marini Naturals is a proudly Kenyan natural haircare brand, designed to celebrate women’s natural kinks and curls. Founded by entrepreneur Michelle Ntalami, the vision for the brand is to create a range of haircare products that take their inspiration and ingredients from nature, but which help beauty conscious women to really showcase their beautiful and naturally curly hair.

Tiguidanke Mounir Camara - The Guinean woman entrepreneur breaking barriers in African mining

July 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tiguidanke Mounir Camara, founder of TIGUI MINING GROUP TMG (Guinea) — Tiguidanke Mounir Camara, founder of TIGUI MINING GROUP TMG (Guinea)

Africa’s mining sector is focused on sustainability, entrepreneurship, and contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the continent. Local communities depend on these natural resources for their futures and this requires new ways of thinking, not to mention a new approach to ensuring diversity in the sector. One woman entrepreneur is leading the way - Tiguidanke Mounir Camara is the founder of the woman-mine owned TIGUI MINING GROUP (TMG) and is carving a new and exciting pathway for women in Africa’s mining sector.

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