Phumzile Mthembu, a South African entrepreneur inspired to create a natural baby skin care brand

February 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Phumzile Mthembu, founder of PureB Baby Care (South Africa)

Inspired by her son who was diagnosed with eczema as a baby, South African entrepreneur Phumzile Mthembu created a natural baby skincare brand, PureB Baby Care, providing a solution to her own family and many others too. Today, her company Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd, trading as PureB Baby Care, is a wholly black-owned manufacturing company that specializes in producing coconut oil based baby ointments that are 100% natural and without harmful chemicals.

Susan Nel, an entrepreneur building a creative business that harnesses her passion for photography

February 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Susan Nel, founder of Susan Nel Photography (Namibia)

There is a well known saying that a picture says a thousand words, and in Namibia, entrepreneur Susan Nel, founder of Susan Nel Photography is helping her clients to tell their own unique stories through powerful images.

Rebecca Tshuma, a South African foodpreneur focused on supplying fresh produce to customers

February 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca Tshuma, founder of Becks Foods (South Africa)

From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs. In South Africa, Rebecca Tshuma, founder of Becks Foods, is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm.

Lelanie Basson, an entrepreneur building a boutique management consultancy in both Namibia and South Africa, helping clients to build sound businesses

February 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lelanie Basson, founder of Twafiika Consultant (Namibia)

For boutique consulting business, Twafiika Consultants, the phrase ‘it’s all in a name’ is particularly apt. Lelanie Basson’s business name was chosen as it is derived from Oshiwambo, and Twafiika means “to arrive”. This is one business in Namibia that has definitely arrived, building a solid reputation for developing highly creative and insightful strategies for businesses who are looking for that competitive edge.

Zeenat Ghoor, a South African award-winning engineer transforming spaces

January 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Zeenat Ghoor, founder of Aspire Consulting Engineers (South Africa)

The construction sector is a notoriously tough one for women entrepreneurs to break into in Africa. But Zeenat Ghoor, founder of Aspire Consulting Engineers in South Africa, is one woman who is changing that by her example. She is building a successful civil and structural engineering business that is people centric, transforming spaces that are accessible and safe for everyone to use.

Pam Snyman, a doyenne of South Africa’s real estate industry

January 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Pam Snyman, founder of REDZetc (South Africa)

The real estate sector in South Africa is one that is highly competitive, and to build a business that has longevity and importantly a trusted reputation, requires a long and hard road to be travelled. Pam Snyman, founder of REDZetc has done just that, and today she is duly recognized as one of the true doyennes of the real estate sector in the country and on the continent. Not only that, she continues to innovate and to make real and lasting contributions to the future of the sector.

Silungile Mokoena, a South African fashion designer creating much needed manufacturing jobs

January 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Silungile Mokoena, founder of Sluvin Designs (South Africa)

Silungile Mokoena is the passion-driven founder and CEO of Sluvin Designs a fashion house based in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The business was established in 1999 and now employs 6 full time employees and up to 10 part-time employees, contributing to the growth of the sector in the city. It also outsources some of the company’s accessory production to more than 15 women who specialize in beadwork and work from the comfort of their homes mainly in rural areas.

Michelle Hammond, a woman entrepreneur fusing her Ghanaian culture with modern accessory design

January 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Hammond, founder of Ruahh (Ghana/USA)

Often the inspiration to launch a creative brand is drawn from an entrepreneur’s heritage and cultural influences. In the case of Michelle Hammond and her accessories brand, Ruahh, her Ghanaian heritage has provided a rich source of inspiration and symbolism that she is rightly proud of. Today, Michelle’s customers can experience that sense of belonging she feels through her vibrant accessories.

Liz Creates, a South African creative entrepreneur on a mission to help clients find their brand voice

January 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Liz Creates, founder of Ostara Studio (South Africa)

Every business wants to stand out in the crowd, to reach potential customers with their product and service offerings, and to make their brands resonate in the marketplace. In South Africa, that’s where Ostara Studio, founded by Liz Creates, comes to the rescue, bringing a wealth of specialist expertise in strategic brand communications and design.

Noushinah Ganey, a South African entrepreneur passionate about wellness and aesthetics

January 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Noushinah Ganey, founder of Cowey Park Pharmacy & Skin Time Aesthetic Clinic (South Africa)

Noushinah Ganey is the Founder and Managing Director of Cowey Park Pharmacy and Skin Time Aesthetic Clinic. She has been a part of the Aesthetic industry for 18 years and the pharmaceutical industry for 5 years. She has been interviewed on many radio platforms and been a TV personality for 2 years hosting a weekly lifestyle show targeted at females. Noushinah was also recently selected to participate as a panelist for an International Cosmeceutical Company.

Aasiyah Ravate, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning her passion for cooking into a business

January 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Aasiyah Ravate, founder of Home Cooking With Love (Mozambique)

For many people, cooking is an expression of love, and for entrepreneur Aasiyah Ravate, founder of Home Cooking With Love in Mozambique, that is certainly the case. Every day, she prepares delicious meals and snacks for her customers that are both delicious and convenient.

Jane Bisset, a South African food entrepreneur passionate about business as a force for good

January 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Jane Bisset, founder of We are Food (South Africa)

A passion for cooking on the part of Jane Bisset collided with a demand for high quality convenience meals and a desire to create impact. All of this led to the creation of We are Food, a frozen meal production wholesale and retail business launched in South Africa.

Tasneem Ebrahim Latib, a South African agri-processor with a taste for chillies

January 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Tasneem Ebrahim Latib, founder of Chill-e Organics (South Africa)

Chilli relishes and sauces have long been a favourite with food lovers, and no more so than in South Africa where they often the accompaniment of choice at mealtimes. For entrepreneur Tasneem Ebrahim Latib, founder of Chill-e Organics, this love of the chilli presented an exciting business opportunity. Today, her brand and much loved range of chilli sauces, chutneys and mayos are exciting palettes around the country.

Mary Nyaga, an entrepreneur creating a floral business in Kenya with a difference

January 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Mary Nyaga, founder of LorMar Florium (Kenya)

Everyone loves flowers, for their homes and their offices, and in Kenya, entrepreneur Mary Nyaga, founder of LorMar Florium, is harnessing the power of technology to bring flowers to everyone’s lives. The business combines a flower subscription business using silk flowers, with a new app called Flowerhood, creating virtual floral arrangements and messages for customers to send to their family and friends.

Edna Reis, an entrepreneur passionate about active wellness in Angola

January 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Edna Reis, founder of Active Wellness (Angola)

Companies and organizations know that their strength lies in their people, and it’s why employee wellbeing is key to their success. Helping employees to avoid burnout and ensuring they have support in managing their mental and physical balance is important. In Angola, entrepreneur Edna Reis, founder of Active Wellness, has created a business to meet this growing demand for better health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Pitsi Ledwaba, a South African entrepreneur building a natural, organic beauty brand

January 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Pitsi Ledwaba, founder of Bonolo Naturals (South Africa)

Pitsi Ledwaba is from Polokwane in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and the founder of Bonolo Naturals, a growing natural, organic beauty brand. For the past 12 years she has been in the retail industry managing both local and international brands. It is where she fell in love with beauty, fashion and everything that makes people look and feel good.

Nidia D’Almeida, a Mozambican entrepreneur helping businesses protect their intellectual property

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Nidia D’Almeida, founder of API - Agência de Propriedade Intelectual (Mozambique)

So many businesses wonder if you can protect your Intellectual Property Rights in Mozambique, and the answer is yes, you can. Entrepreneur Nidia D’Almeida, founder of API - Agência de Propriedade Intelectual, is there to show you how.

Josefa Amélia Massinga, a Mozambican entrepreneur taking floral decor to a new level

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Josefa Amélia Massinga, founder of Florista Flor Khyathu e Servicos (Mozambique)

Every great event needs great floral decorations to create memorable occasions, and it is the same with creating the right impression in a home or office. In Maputo, Mozambique, entrepreneur Josefa Amélia Massinga, founder and CEO of Florista Flor Khyathu e Servicos, has just the floral decorations and expertise to turn any event or space into something truly special.

Charlene Shapiro, a South African entrepreneur supplying the hospitality industry with quality food products

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Charlene Shapiro, founder of CNC Products (South Africa)

Charlene Shapiro is the founder and Managing Member of CNC Products in South Africa. She is an all-rounder entrepreneur and has 29 years’ business experience working in the hospitality industry. Charlene's business is focused on providing high quality service and affordable food products to the hospitality industry, corporates and home users at large. Her experience in sales and marketing come from her years spent in the newspaper industry. She is proudly continuing a family legacy of service and is proud to have her daughter, Kerry, continuing with the same passion at CNC Products.

Esta van Heerden, a South African biotech leader in environmental clean-up

December 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Esta van Heerden, founder of iWater Pty Ltd (South Africa)

Many women entrepreneurs in Africa are driven to start their businesses because of an identified need. For Esta van Heerden, founder of iWater Pty Ltd in South Africa, she is passionate about the environment and wants to ensure that all citizens have access to clean water in the future. She also believes that companies that have contaminated the environment MUST clean it up! Her business is now offering companies a solution to this clean-up need, harnessing the best of technology solutions to aid the process.

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