Maria Auma, a Ugandan entrepreneur helping startups to build sustainable businesses with impact

February 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda) — **Maria Auma**, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)

For many startups, taking their businesses to the next level can be challenging. In Uganda, one woman entrepreneur is helping small business owners to increase their production capacity and access finance. Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments, is bringing her expertise and investment community to help startups to fulfill their potential.

Liesl Esau, a South African entrepreneur passionate about health, safety and environmental compliance

February 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Liesl Esau, founder of HSE Matters (South Africa) — **Liesl Esau**, founder of HSE Matters (South Africa)

Every company needs to ensure their workplace is safe and their employees are trained in best practice health, safety and environmental compliance, and that’s where Liesl Esau comes in. Her company HSE Matters is helping companies to get it right.

Katy Valentine, a South African jewellery designer creating collections inspired by two continents

February 23, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Katy Valentine, founder of Katy Valentine Collection (South Africa) — **Katy Valentine**, founder of Katy Valentine Collection (South Africa)

Jewellery is such a personal thing, and often those buying pieces to wear or to give as gifts are inspired by the stories behind each unique piece, or by the cultures they reflect. The Katy Valentine Collection, a business and brand named after its creator, uniquely takes its inspiration from Africa and India, but with a contemporary design aesthetic.

Gaceri Kirimi, a Kenyan entrepreneur building a niche on-demand laundry business for busy people

February 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Gaceri Kirimi, co-founder of Destello Laundry Cleaning Services (Kenya) — **Gaceri Kirimi**, co-founder of Destello Laundry Cleaning Services (Kenya)

As entrepreneurs, we all know how difficult it can be to balance work and life commitments, and when it comes to managing household chores such as laundry, it can be difficult without help. That’s where Destello Laundry Cleaning Services comes in, helping Nairobi’s busy professionals and families to deal with the chore of doing laundry each week.

Naledi Toona, a South African entrepreneur taking her skills as a private chef to the next level in business

February 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Chef Naledi, Private Chef and Cooking Instructor (South Africa) — **Chef Naledi**, Private Chef and Cooking Instructor (South Africa)

They say that to build a successful business, you should start with your specialist skills, passion and knowledge, and harness those as the basis for a business that can grow. This is an approach being taken to the full by the talented Chef Naledi, a South African private chef and culinary instructor who is now helping others to build their knowledge and experience of cooking at home.

Maria Natália João, a Mozambican entrepreneur mastering the art of event planning and related services

February 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Maria Natália João, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços (Mozambique) — **Maria Natália João**, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços (Mozambique)

The world of eventing is a hugely competitive business, so the secret to success is building a reputation and service offering that is differentiated in the industry. For entrepreneur, Maria Natália João, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços, that meant harnessing her considerable expertise and experience as an event MC and building upon that to create a multifaceted business.

Wambui JL, a Kenyan serial entrepreneur harnessing the power of publishing to celebrate Africa’s natural lifestyles

February 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Wambui JL, founder of Hairpolitan Lifestyle (Kenya) — **Wambui JL**, founder of Hairpolitan Lifestyle (Kenya)

These days, there is growing interest in the use of natural products for health, wellness and beauty in Africa, and a growing audience to learn more about trends and products in the marketplace. Hairpolitan Lifestyle is an online magazine, created by Kenyan entrepreneur Wambui JL, and aimed at sharing stories about people who are celebrating and living natural lifestyles.

Samantha Rice, a South African creative media expert with a passion for helping her clients to realize their business visions

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Samantha Rice, founder of Creative Compass (South Africa) — **Samantha Rice**, founder of Creative Compass (South Africa)

For many successful businesses, it’s all about ensuring they stay on message and have a strong brand identity and digital presence to support that goal. For entrepreneur Samantha Rice, founder of Creative Compass, that’s where her specialist expertise and insights can make the difference.

Janine Starkey, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to make others look and feel good

February 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Janine Starkey, founder of House of Janine (South Africa) — **Janine Starkey**, founder of House of Janine (South Africa)

As many successful entrepreneurs will tell you, achieving that success is often down to confidence, and lots of it, but for many women entrepreneurs, confidence doesn’t always come naturally. But South African entrepreneur, Janine Starkey, founder of image consultancy House of Janine, is about to change all that.

Phindi Msomi, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for helping employees to become more effective at work

February 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Phindi Msomi, founder of Olwazini Consulting Services (South Africa) — **Phindi Msomi,** founder of Olwazini Consulting Services (South Africa)

Creating a working environment where employees can thrive and excel is a challenge for many companies and organisations. For South African company, Olwazini Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, founded by Phindi Msomi, this represented a key business opportunity.

Wezi Moyo, a Malawian serial entrepreneur growing multiple businesses and a reputation for success

February 2, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Wezi Moyo, founder of Benequity Consultancy and Hillside Lodge (Malawi) — **Wezi Moyo**, founder of Benequity Consultancy and Hillside Lodge (Malawi)

In Malawi, many women entrepreneurs have not just one business, but several, working on the philosophy that it is better to both spread business risk and increase the chances of success. Wezi Moyo, founder of Benequity Consultancy and Hillside Lodge, is one such woman, demonstrating that it is indeed possible to be a successful serial entrepreneur in the country.

Sonia Paiva, a Swaziland serial entrepreneur making an impact in the agribusiness and food processing sectors in her country

January 27, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sonia Paiva, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland) — **Sonia Paiva**, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland)

Building one business is tough enough, but creating and running two successful, high impact businesses that both positively impact on society and the lives of those working in the agricultural sector is impressive. Sonia Paiva, founder of the Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Pty) Ltd is proof positive that it can be done.

Nancy Munderu, a Kenyan entrepreneur turning her passion for travel into the foundation of a successful business

January 27, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Nancy Munderu, founder of Travel Shore Africa (Kenya) — **Nancy Munderu**, founder of Travel Shore Africa (Kenya)

For many people, organising their corporate and personal travel arrangements can be a real chore, and often a logistical nightmare. That’s where specialist travel agencies come in to help make the process easier. Nancy Munderu, founder of Travel Shore Africa, is making it her personal mission to help people better navigate their travel arrangements.

Alethea Volanie, a South African accessory manufacturer winning fans with her designs and quality products

January 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Alethea Volanie, founder of Volani Creative Designs (South Africa) — **Alethea Volanie**, founder of Volani Creative Designs (South Africa)

Some of the most successful businesses are based on turning an existing skill or passion into the foundation of a creative and viable business. For Alethea Volanie, founder of Volani Creative Designs, that skill was the ability to handcraft leather into beautiful accessories.

Nyasha Mukombe, a South African entrepreneur helping clients take the stress out of organising their events

January 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Nyasha Mukombe, founder of Sakile Events Management (South Africa) — **Nyasha Mukombe**, founder of Sakile Events Management (South Africa)

For many companies and individuals, the thought of organising events can be a logistical nightmare, but for Nyasha Mukombe, founder of Sakile Events Management, it’s a pleasure.

Ntediseng Mwale, a South African culinary entrepreneur putting the love and passion into cooking for her clients

January 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Ntediseng Mwale (Teddy), founder of Excellere Foods (South Africa) — **Ntediseng Mwale (Teddy)**, founder of Excellere Foods (South Africa)

They say food is love, and when prepared by passionate chefs who have a love and respect for the ingredients they use, combined with a creative eye and hand, that love is passed on to the customer. South African chef and entrepreneur, Ntediseng Mwale (Teddy), founder of Excellere Foods, is passion personified in the kitchen.

Refilwe Sebothoma, a South African entrepreneur making her mark in the premium personal protective equipment business

January 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of PBM Creations (South Africa) — **Refilwe Sebothoma**, founder of PBM Creations (South Africa)

Creating safe working environments for employees in any industry sector is key, and that’s where specialist knowledge and equipment is essential. Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of PBM Creations, is helping companies and organisations to create those safe working environments through her provision of personal protective equipment.

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