Eldari Visser, a South African entrepreneur aiming to be the expert on your side of the fence

November 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa) — **Eldari Visser**, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a professional expert in a particular field walking your life journey with you and providing support and advice along the way? Well, entrepreneur Eldari Visser knows the value of having such experts at hand, and her unique company, Picketfence Life, is providing access to information, advice and a powerful network of such experts.

Chaymaa Rhou, a Moroccan entrepreneur on a mission to encourage more digital nomads to explore the world of film

October 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Chaymaa Rhou, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco) — **Chaymaa Rhou**, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco)

For all those who love the idea of global travel and filming combined into one unique offering, then the Nomadic Filmland Academy has a great proposition. Entrepreneur Chaymaa Rhou and her film expert colleagues are providing the opportunity for travellers to experience not only fascinating trips to new places, but also the chance to record a film of their travels at the same time.

Sarah Munyiva, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to help busy people and companies with their cleaning needs

October 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Munyiva, founder of Royal Maids Cleaning Services (Kenya) — **Sarah Munyiva**, founder of Royal Maids Cleaning Services (Kenya)

For both homeowners and business owners alike, the challenge of keeping important living and work spaces clean and tidy is one that Kenya-based Royal Maids Cleaning Services is happy to deal with. Founder and CEO Sarah Munyiva is providing a useful and much-needed service to those requiring hassle-free cleaning solutions in their lives.

Rafiat Kasumu, a social entrepreneur passionate about celebrating the fine weaving craftsmanship of Ghana

October 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rafiat Kasumu, founder of Kente Master (Ghana/USA)

For all those Ghanaian students who have proudly graduated from university or college and worn their official graduation stoles, the chances are they may be wearing the entrepreneurial success story that is Kente Master.

Mapeka Polane, creates one of a kind cakes and children's party experiences in Lesotho

October 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mapeka Polane, founder of Spegelicious Cakery And Party Rentals (Lesotho) — **Mapeka Polane**, founder of Spegelicious Cakery And Party Rentals (Lesotho)

Children’s birthday parties are synonymous with special cakes and in Lesotho, one company, Spegelicious Cakery And Party Rentals, created by entrepreneur Mapeka Polane, is making a name for itself by creating fun celebratory cakes to remember.

Bryony Parr, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help you declutter your business and personal lives

October 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bryony Parr, founder of Oh So Organised (South Africa) — **Bryony Parr**, founder of Oh So Organised (South Africa)

It’s true what they say, in order to declutter your mind you also need to declutter your space. And, for all those people who find it difficult to achieve the latter, South African entrepreneur Bryony Parr has the solution, Her company, Oh So Organised, is on a mission to bring a little order in to your work and home living spaces, creating the space for you to think more clearly and live more freely.

Memuna Williams, the story of an entrepreneur turning a passion for language and the art of translation into a global business

October 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Memuna Williams, founder of Avantgarde Translations — **Memuna Williams**, founder of Avantgarde Translations

Anyone who has ever been in the position of needing to translate information into different languages will appreciate just how critical it is to have the right specialist support. One company providing truly world-class translation and interpreting services, both globally and here in Africa is Avantgarde Translations.

Messaynesh Geberesilassie, an entrepreneur bringing Ethiopia’s beautiful hand-woven cotton and leather goods to South Africa

October 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Messaynesh Geberesilassie, founder of Mela — **Messaynesh Geberesilassie**, founder of Mela

Often in business, finding an idea that is unique and that will resonate with customers can be hard. But in the case of Messaynesh Geberesilassie and her business Mela, she is tapping into the traditional handcrafted tradition of her home country to create a unique business opportunity in another marketplace - and she is winning new fans along the way.

Paula Quinsee, a South African entrepreneur helping people and companies with their relationship issues

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Healthy relationships are at the heart of successful personal and workplace environments, but often those relationships need a little specialist help to thrive. Paula Quinsee: Relationship Expert has the insights, personal experience and specialist expertise to provide that help for those that need it.

Lucilla Blankenberg, a South African entrepreneur with a vision for harnessing the power of the media to make a difference

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lucilla Blankenberg, founder of Off the Ground Media (South Africa) — **Lucilla Blankenberg**, founder of Off the Ground Media (South Africa)

Many small companies recognise that they need media and marketing support, but do not always have the time or money to develop these plans or produce the media to support their businesses. For entrepreneur Lucilla Blankenberg and her company Off the Ground Media, she is not only providing a great solution, but creating a company that makes a difference to the lives of others at the same time through those efforts.

Susan Granger, a proudly South African accessory manufacturer creating exclusive leather handbags from the heart of Johannesburg

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Susan Granger, founder of Nubian Queen on 101 (South Africa) — **Susan Granger**, founder of Nubian Queen on 101 (South Africa)

Nubian Queen on 101 is a disruptive new name on the leather accessory scene, creating exclusive, world-class, contemporary products that are both investments yet will not break the bank.

Manyara Chigunduru, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur with a never give up attitude to business, and a great brand builder

September 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Manyara Chigunduru, Founder & Managing Partner Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe) — **Manyara Chigunduru**, Founder & Managing Partner Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe)

Integrity is everything in the fields of financial advisory services, auditing and accounting, and for the founder of Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants, Manyara Chigunduru, she was driven by the desire to build a company with integrity at its foundation.

Mthuthukile Msibi, a South African entrepreneur transforming PVC into weather resistant trendy apparel and accessories

September 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mthuthukile Msibi (L), founder of Rain Dear (South Africa) — **Mthuthukile Msibi (L)**, founder of Rain Dear (South Africa)

How many times looking back in history have great companies and brands been created as a result of necessity. In the case of Mthuthukile Msibi and her company Rain Dear, she saw opportunity in Cape Town’s bad weather, creating a range of rainproof clothing and accessories that is winning fans at home and abroad.

Charmaine Ngobeni, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for branding and supporting creatives in the industry

September 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Charmaine Ngobeni, co-founder of Conté Creatives (South Africa) — **Charmaine Ngobeni**, co-founder of Conté Creatives (South Africa)

In the world of branding and design, standing out from the crowd is always a good thing, and Conté Creatives the Agency, the brainchild of South African entrepreneur Charmaine Ngobeni and her business partner Amanda Sibiya, is certainly doing that. Their unique differentiator in the marketplace is not only a great service offering, but also a wonderful creative portfolio magazine showcasing some great work by highly talented designers.

Lana de Klerk, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for marketing into a specialist corporate gifting business

September 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lana de Klerk, founder of Prestige Marketing (South Africa) — **Lana de Klerk**, founder of Prestige Marketing (South Africa)

Most entrepreneurs know from experience that the journey to building a business can be tough, with many hurdles to overcome along the way - determination and self-belief are key. In the case of Lana de Klerk and her business, Prestige Marketing, she knows only too well how important these two traits are. She has displayed both over the years to get to where she is today, building a successful business and brand and with great ambitions for the future.

Tariro Makina, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur providing virtual assistant solutions to clients across the world

September 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tariro Makina, founder of Twenty47 Virtual Assistant (Zimbabwe) — **Tariro Makina,** founder of Twenty47 Virtual Assistant (Zimbabwe)

For many small to medium sized businesses, getting ahead can be challenging when you don’t have the resources in-house at your disposal. Recognising this challenge, Zimbabwean entrepreneur Tariro Makina, was keen to find a solution, and her business today, Twenty47 Virtual Assistant, is helping clients to streamline their business processes by providing a range of virtual business solutions.

Julie Cassidy, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for creating high quality HR and accounting solutions for small businesses

September 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Julie Cassidy, co-founder of ProFlex People (South Africa) — **Julie Cassidy**, co-founder of ProFlex People (South Africa)

They say that a business is only as good as its people, and for South African entrepreneur Julie Cassidy and her company ProFlex People, those words were the inspiration needed to create an innovative and highly flexible resourcing solution tailor-made for small businesses.

Mumbi Muturi-Muli, a Kenyan entrepreneur harvesting Africa’s natural ingredients to create a new hair and body product range

September 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mumbi Muturi-Muli, founder of Harvest of Sunshine (Kenya) — **Mumbi Muturi-Muli**, founder of Harvest of Sunshine (Kenya)

The world is becoming much more attuned to the health and wellbeing benefits of natural ingredients that are harnessed from the local environment and transformed into world-class products. With her proudly African brand, Harvest of Sunshine, Kenyan entrepreneur Mumbi Muturi-Muli is embracing the best of the continent’s raw materials and creating a company that puts local and natural at the heart of its ethos.

Fatuma Abdullah, a Kenyan born entrepreneur and passionate advocate of entrenching a positive image of the African child amongst children

September 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Fatuma Abdullah, founder of Akiki Dolls (South Africa) — **Fatuma Abdullah**, founder of Akiki Dolls (South Africa)

Many companies are inspired by a dream or a vision to make a difference in some way. For company founder, Fatuma Abdullah, the visionary behind Akiki Distributors, aka Akiki Dolls, that dream came in the form of storytelling and creating dolls that embodied her vision of a new normal in Africa.

Mimi Shodeinde, a Nigerian entrepreneur pushing the boundaries of the furniture and design world globally

September 4, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat Designs (UK) — **Mimi Shodeinde**, founder of Miminat Designs (UK)

Many global consumers have a traditional concept of African design, but creative entrepreneur, Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat Designs, is looking to change all that with her contemporary design outlook. She is demonstrating that African design is not only exciting in a minimal context, particularly when it comes to furniture design, but can also celebrate the best of tradition and technological innovation.

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