Chantelle Beukes, a South African toymaker telling stories and stimulating imagination through her handcrafted work

April 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Chantelle Beukes, founder of La Fede (South Africa) — **Chantelle Beukes**, founder of La Fede (South Africa)

La Fede, which means ‘faith’ in Italian, is a handcrafted heirloom toy company with a difference, as each individually created piece is inspired by a character or a story. The company, created by South African entrepreneur, Chantelle Beukes, is on a mission to bring a smile to young children’s faces as they harness the power of their imaginations to play with the beautiful, quirky toys she makes.

Jazeera Suwani, an entrepreneur creating artisan chocolates for those with dietary challenges in Kenya

April 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jazeera Suwani, founder Say it with Chocolate (Kenya) — **Jazeera Suwani**, founder Say it with Chocolate (Kenya)

For the many people who long for the wonderful taste of chocolate but their dietary regimes mean it is not an option, Kenyan entrepreneur Jazeera Suwani, founder of Say it with Chocolate, has the answer. She has created a business making fabulous handmade chocolates that specifically cater for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan.

Lilly Alfonso, the startup story of a Malawian fashionpreneur building a unique fashion brand that is taking the continent by storm

March 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Building a fashion brand with a unique personality, great style appeal, and a social conscience can be a tall order for many. But for the talented designer and entrepreneur, Lilly Alfonso, a leading light on the Malawian fashion and businessscene, this is the nature of the business and brand she is building.

Sanja Hanekom, a chocolatier creating a growing South African handmade chocolate brand with a 21st century twist

March 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Sanja Hanekom, founder of Noir Chocolates SA (South Africa) — **Sanja Hanekom**, founder of Noir Chocolates SA (South Africa)

Chocolate lovers who are on the look out for high quality chocolates that are produced using the finest ingredients and that are also gluten free, have found a champion in Sanja Hanekom, the founder of Noir Chocolates SA. She is creating delicious chocolate gifting ideas for individuals and corporates alike.

Mary-Jean Treloar, a South African jeweller putting her passion for Africa into precious metals

March 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mary-Jean Treloar, founder of MΛRY JEΛN JEWELLERY (South Africa) — **Mary-Jean Treloar**, founder of MΛRY JEΛN JEWELLERY (South Africa)

Some people are born creative, and others are born entrepreneurial, and if you are lucky, you get to be a combination of the two! South African entrepreneur and talented jewellery designer, Mary-Jean Treloar, displays both of these traits in huge quantities. Her highly personal brand, MΛRY JEΛN JEWELLERY, is inspired by the continent she loves and the stories that are woven into the very fabric of society. Her unique work is winning fans of great jewellery design both at home and abroad.

Helen Asimegbe, a Nigerian entrepreneur building a great children’s clothing and accessories retail brand

March 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises (Nigeria) — **Helen Asimegbe**, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises (Nigeria)

It’s not always easy, making the transition from corporate to entrepreneur, but for Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises in Nigeria, it was a personal dream and a promise to herself. Today, she is doing what she loves, building a highly customer-centric retail business, whilst at the same time playing her part in helping other entrepreneurs to realize their dreams too.

Vicki Bain, a South African chocolatier taking the country by storm with her unique brand of Belgian chocolates with a truly African twist

March 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Vicki Bain, founder of Chocoloza (South Africa) — **Vicki Bain**, founder of Chocoloza (South Africa)

For all true chocolate lovers out there who are constantly on the search for the purest of taste sensations and the highest quality ingredients, there is a new, proudly African brand that is getting people talking. Chocoloza, the brainchild of entrepreneur and passionate chocolatier, Vicki Bain, combines the best Belgian chocolate with the finest local, fresh African ingredients. The result is a taste sensation unlike anything else you will taste in the chocolate world.

Jetto Myaba, an inspirational Malawian entrepreneur with ambitions to keep growing her business to become a market leader

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jetto Myaba, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi) — **Jetto Myaba**, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi)

For many women entrepreneurs, thinking big can be daunting in business, but for Malawian entrepreneur, Jetto Myaba, Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises, having a big vision is all part of the journey.

Michelle Pires Mbilizi, a Malawian serial entrepreneur creating customer retail and service experiences to remember

March 14, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi) — **Michelle Mbilizi,** serial entrepreneur (Malawi)

There are some women entrepreneurs who don’t just think of building one business, but have the vision and imagination to create several, and Malawian entrepreneur Michelle Mbilizi is one of those.

Liz van Zyl, an entrepreneur making magic with words to help clients get their messages across

March 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Liz van Zyl, founder of The Content Agency (South Africa) — **Liz van Zyl**, founder of The Content Agency (South Africa)

In a world where consumers are bombarded by information 24/7, it can be hard to get a brand and its messaging to breakthrough and connect, and that’s where The Content Agency comes in. The brainchild of South African entrepreneur Liz van Zyl, this specialist business venture creates high impact content capable of making that crucial breakthrough and connecting with audiences across all media formats.

Shola Ade-Okafor, an entrepreneur with a passion for bringing professional make-up tools and products tailor-made for African women

March 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Shola Ade-Okafor, founder of BlushinGirl Tools (Kenya) — **Shola Ade-Okafor**, founder of BlushinGirl Tools (Kenya)

For many women entrepreneurs in Africa, the inspiration for launching a new business, product or brand comes from trying to find a solution to a challenge or addressing the lack of a particular product in the marketplace. For Shola Ade-Okafor, the inspiration for her company, BlushinGirl Tools, came from not being able to find an eyeshadow primer suitable for professional make-up artists.

Bhatupe Mhango, a perfumier in Malawi creating unique fragrances for today’s modern woman

March 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Bhatupe Mhango, founder of Bha’s Fragrance Boutique (Malawi) — **Bhatupe Mhango**, founder of Bha’s Fragrance Boutique (Malawi)

A passion for creating contemporary fragrances led entrepreneur and perfumier, Bhatupe Mhango to launch her own unique label, Bha’s Fragrance Boutique, creating perfumes that are inspired by Africa but for women of the world.

Ndaneh Howard, a Sierra Leonean entrepreneur creating bold African accessories for the world to wear

March 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Ndaneh Howard, founder of Ngewormia (Sierra Leone) — **Ndaneh Howard**, founder of Ngewormia (Sierra Leone)

African women are proud of their unique style and creativity particularly in the world of fashion and accessory design. And for one Sierra Leonean entrepreneur, Ndaneh Howard, founder of accessory brand Ngewormia, this sense of pride is reflected in her work and her personal mission to get the world talking about the beauty of African accessories.

Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko, an entrepreneur creating a unique online English city guide for expats in Cote d’Ivoire

February 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko, founder of Abidjan4you (Ivory Coast) — **Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko,** founder of Abidjan4you (Ivory Coast)

It can be difficult moving to a new country as an expatriate and not speaking the local language. But in Ivory coast, English speaking residents now have a great new resource to help out, thanks to entrepreneur Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko, founder of Abidjan4you.

Jolene Roelofse, a South African marketing and communications specialist on a mission to help other SMMEs and entrepreneurs with their brands

February 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jolene Roelofse, founder of Bludoor Market (South Africa) — **Jolene Roelofse,** founder of Bludoor Market (South Africa)

One of the major challenges for any startup is understanding how to effectively to get their brands, products and services out into the marketplace and connecting customers. That’s where marketing and communications comes in, and for South African entrepreneur and marcomms specialist Jolene Roelofse, founder of Bludoor Market, it provided an opportunity to create a solution.

Cecilia Mnisi, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for the art of translation and interpretation in business

February 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Cecilia Mnisi, founder of MMJ Interpretation Services (South Africa) — **Cecilia Mnisi,** founder of MMJ Interpretation Services (South Africa)

In countries such as South Africa where there are so many official languages, and on the African continent in general where language can so often be the key to doing effective business across the continent, it can be challenging. But specialist language and translation expert, Cecilia Mnisi, founder of MMJ Interpretation Services Pty Ltd, has the solution, and her company is breaking down language barriers for business each and every day.

Leigh-Ann Gowland, a South African entrepreneur helping others to manage change for growth

February 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

**Leigh-Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change (South Africa)**

Change at a personal and business level can often be challenging and feel like an uphill struggle. But change specialist Leigh-Ann Gowland and her company Employee Driven Change (Pty) Ltd have a solution to make the journey easier to navigate.

Grace Mlimo, an entrepreneur providing a gateway to showcase Africa’s luxury brands on the continent

February 18, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Grace Mlimo, founder of Luxuria Lifestyle Africa — **Grace Mlimo**, founder of Luxuria Lifestyle Africa

Getting the world to sit up and take notice of Africa’s luxury products is a challenge, but for entrepreneur Grace Mlimo, founder of Luxuria Lifestyle Africa, she thinks she has the solution with her online platform.

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