Dana Mroueh, an artisan chocolatier celebrating the quality of cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire through her wonderful raw chocolate brand

July 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco (Côte d’Ivoire) — **Dana Mroueh**, founder of MonChoco (Côte d’Ivoire)

Côte d’Ivoire is renowned for the quality of its cocoa beans, but up until now, the world has not had the opportunity to widely celebrate those beans in the finest of chocolate forms. But that is rapidly changing as Ivorian artisan chocolatier Dana Mroueh and her company, MonChoco, are producing a very special raw chocolate brand and range of products that is exciting taste buds in the country.

Oluwafemi Oyedipe, a Nigerian chocolatier bringing a proudly African bean-to-bar approach to chocolate making in her country

July 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Oluwafemi Oyedipe, founder of LoshesChocolate (Nigeria) — **Oluwafemi Oyedipe**, founder of LoshesChocolate (Nigeria)

Across Africa, more and more women entrepreneurs are becoming aware of the need to add value locally when it comes to making world class chocolate using Africa’s abundent cocoa resources. One entrepreneur in Nigeria who is part of this vanguard of African women chocolatiers, Oluwafemi Oyedipe, founder of LoshesChocolate, is doing just that with her bean-to-bar philosophy of chocolate making.

Milena de Lurdes Valoi, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for creating beautiful cakes that make customers smile

June 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Milena de Lurdes Valoi, founder of Anellim (Mozambique) — **Milena de Lurdes Valoi**, founder of Anellim (Mozambique)

Special occasions deserve special treats, especially personalised cakes and sweet treats, and that’s where one Mozambican woman entrepreneur comes to the rescue. Milena de Lurdes Valoi, founder of specialist catering company Anellim, creates beautiful, personalised cakes and confectionary for clients who want to celebrate.

Michelle Rumbelow, a South African entrepreneur building a unique ladieswear brand that women love to wear

June 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Rumbelow, founder of Liviya (South Africa) — **Michelle Rumbelow**, founder of Liviya (South Africa)

Following a successful career in clothing design and retail, Michelle Rumbelow is finally fulfilling a childhood ambition, to launch a ladies clothing brand of her own. Today, Liviya brings beautifully designed and manufactured leisurewear, lingerie and sleepwear, created for the busy woman who wants to feel and look good, 24/7.

Anicha Abdul, a successful serial entrepreneur in Mozambique building a business portfolio that is a real inspiration

June 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Anicha Abdul, founder of EP Management & Consultancy Services (Mozambique) — **Anicha Abdul**, founder of EP Management & Consultancy Services (Mozambique)

Building one business can be tough, but building several businesses at the same time takes real guts and determination, and Mozambican-based entrepreneur, Anicha Abdul the founder of EP Management & Consultancy Services, has both of these qualities in great quantities. It’s why she has built a business to be reckoned with.

Jacoline Wentzel, a South African specialist spa and beauty business expert with an enviable track record

June 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Jacoline Wentzel, founder of The Spa Warehouse (South Africa) — **Jacoline Wentzel**, founder of The Spa Warehouse (South Africa)

Who doesn’t love a relaxing spa experience, but creating that perfect environment with the right atmosphere and products is key to the success of any luxury spa business. That’s where Jacoline Wentzel’s expertise at The Spa Warehouse comes in, providing specialist experience, advice and luxury products to spas across the African continent.

Carmen Miral, a Mozambican entrepreneur on a mission to celebrate and care for natural hair

June 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique) — **Carmen Miral**, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique)

If passion drives profit as the saying goes, then Carmen Miral, founder of Mozambican natural hair and beauty brand, Black Khakhela, is destined for business success, as she has passion in vast quantities.

Andiswa Silinga, a South African entrepreneur providing geospatial data management solutions to industry

June 17, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Andiswa Silinga, co-founder of Gemini GIS and Environmental Services (South Africa) — **Andiswa Silinga**, co-founder of Gemini GIS and Environmental Services (South Africa)

Often the impetus to start a business stems from identifying opportunities where you can fully utilise your specialist expertise and knowledge, and where gaps in the marketplace allow you to make your mark. For Andiswa Silinga, co-founder of Gemini GIS and Environmental Services, this came in the form of harnessing cutting edge technologies to hep companies with their geospatial data management.

Cidia Chissungo, a Mozambican entrepreneur training a new generation of young people to fulfill their potential

June 17, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Cidia Chissungo, founder of Gillipe (Mozambique) — **Cidia Chissungo**, founder of Gillipe (Mozambique)

For many young people, one of the biggest challenges facing them when they leave school is preparing for the world of work and giving themselves the best chance of finding meaningful employment. For Mozambican entrepreneur, Cidia Chissungo, founder of Gillipe, this challenge gave her the inspiration to launch a business with the solution.

Madina Esmeralda Davane Abacar, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning blogging into an influential business

June 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Madina Abacar, founder of Miss Abacar (Mozambique) — **Madina Abacar**, founder of Miss Abacar (Mozambique)

There is nothing more powerful than finding your voice and making it count, and in Mozambique, one entrepreneur is doing just that, in the process helping big businesses and brands to get themselves noticed. Madina Abacar, the visionary behind the highly popular Miss Abacar blog, is using her influential voice and her powerful blogging platform to great effect for all who use her services.

Tayo Bello, a highly creative jewellery designer from Nigeria taking her inspiration from global travel experiences

June 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tayo Bello, founder of Bello Creations — **Tayo Bello**, founder of Bello Creations

It takes a huge amount of passion and personal conviction to change careers, and start a business. But Tayo Bello, founder of jewellery design company Bello Creations, successfully made the brave leap from IT specialist to jewellery entrepreneur.

Úrsula Daniela Pais, a Mozambican business pioneer changing the face of the country’s retail sector

June 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Ursula Pais, founder of KA DA TERRA SUPERMERCADOS, LDA (Mozambique) — **Ursula Pais**, founder of KA DA TERRA SUPERMERCADOS, LDA (Mozambique)

Mozambique may be experiencing its fair share of economic challenges right now, but that has not detracted the pioneering entrepreneur Ursula Pais of KA DA TERRA SUPERMERCADOS, LDA, from seizing the opportunity to grow.

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, a Mozambican entrepreneur making events and celebrations memorable

May 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes (Mozambique) — **Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete**, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes (Mozambique)

Everyone organising a celebration or a special event wants to make it memorable, and that takes a huge amount of creativity. For Mozambican entrepreneur, Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes, she found a gap in the market to create two successful brands providing the solution.

Nicola Luther, a South African entrepreneur building an eco-fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by Nature

May 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

In a world that is dominated by fast fashion, there is a beautiful, eco-conscious antidote for consumers looking for a handcrafted, designer alternative. Lunar, a two decade old, nature inspired fashion and lifestyle brand is now moving into a new era, led by South African entrepreneur Nicola Luther.

Nonkuthalo Thithi, a South African entrepreneur bringing a sense of style to corporate executives

May 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Nonkuthalo Thithi, founder of Styled to a T (South Africa) — **Nonkuthalo Thithi**, founder of Styled to a T (South Africa)

In the corporate world, many executives struggle to find their personal style when it comes to clothing, and often just go with the crowd to fit in. Nonkuthalo Thithi, founder of Styled to a T, has made it her mission to help just such people to find an image that works for their business and personal lifestyles.

Charlotte Aubin, a pioneering entrepreneur dedicated to finding renewable energy power solutions for Africa

May 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Charlotte Aubin, GreenWish Partners (Mauritius) — Charlotte Aubin, GreenWish Partners (Mauritius)

Africa has a challenge in finding new, innovative and sustainable solutions to meet its growing energy needs, and that’s where GreenWish Partners headquartered in Mauritius has a renewable solution.

Bernie de Le Cuona, a South African born entrepreneur building a luxury fabric brand that is taking the world by storm

May 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona — **Bernie de Le Cuona**, founder of de Le Cuona

In the highly discerning world of luxury interiors, global designers and homeowners are always trying to source the most beautiful fabrics and furnishings to create the ultimate living environments. The de Le Cuona luxury fabric brand has built a global reputation at the forefront of this industry, producing some of the finest fabrics on the planet.

Christella Kirezi, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for natural haircare

May 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Christella Kirezi, founder of Moz Crespas (Mozambique) — **Christella Kirezi**, founder of Moz Crespas (Mozambique)

Many women in Mozambique find it a challenge to care for their naturally curly hair and keep it in good condition. But Christella Kirezi, founder of Moz Crespas, has the natural solution and is building up a business with a reputation for providing beautifully natural haircare for her customers.

Séfora Noor of Kakawa Chocolates shares the story of four friends turning a passion for chocolate into a business in Mozambique

May 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Many successful businesses are inspired by a combination of passion and friendship. That is certainly the case with Kakawa Chocolates, a Mozambican company that is winning a passionate following of chocolate lovers in the country.

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