Rachelle Best, a South African entrepreneur creating an app to help parents manage their children’s online safety

May 22, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Rachelle Best, founder, FYI play it safe (South Africa)

Rachelle Best founded FYI play it safe, a downloadable app that helps parents protect their children from online harm and potential physical danger. She wanted to create a solution she and other parents can use to navigate the harsh realities of managing children’s online safety. Being confronted by the dangers associated with social media platforms and the open world of the internet, led Rachelle to embark on a research study to get a clear view of the available solutions.

Jean Archary, a South African financial wellness coach empowering people about money matters

May 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Jean Archary is a Certified Financial Planner® and created MONEY MESSAGES, a financial education and wellness company in South Africa that offers a range of solutions for employees and their families. Jean is a published and AfriCan award-winning author, financial wellness coach, speaker and mom. Her passion is to empower as many people about money matters and shift the way they think, feel and behave with money. Her company is based on the philosophy that "When you know better, you do better - (Maya Angelou).

Sian Louw, an entrepreneur in eSwatini on a mission to change lives and organisations

May 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Sian Louw, ceo and owner, The Pacific Institute Swaziland

Everyone wants to have the opportunity to become the best versions of themselves, but achieving the desired end goal is not always easy with out expert help. In eSwatini, entrepreneur Sian Louw, ceo and owner of The Pacific Institute Swaziland, is assisting those who are looking to transform themselves and their organisations.

Oghenetega Gbadagri, an entrepreneur delivering on-demand mobile spa services to customers in Lagos, Nigeria

May 8, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Oghenetega Gbadagri, founder, The Mobile Spa (Nigeria)

Oghenetega Gbadagri is a well-being entrepreneur and the founder of Nigeria’s foremost on-demand Spa, The Mobile Spa, founded in 2017 and now a business employing 17 people. She is certified by the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC UK), and she has certifications in various therapies including – Massage, Facials, Collagen Induction, Electrocautery and Advanced Skin Peel. Oghenetega is committed to helping people improve their skincare and well-being by making rejuvenating spa services easily accessible to them in their personal space.

Gugu Mpungose, a South Africa entrepreneur with a passion for media and storytelling that inspires

May 8, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Gugu Mpungose, founder, Black Tie Media and Communications (South Africa)

There is nothing quite as powerful as women who share their experiences and insights through storytelling in order to inspire others. Gugu Mpungose, founder of Black Tie Media and Communications, is creating platforms through publishing, content creation and event experiences to tell stories and share information that can help and inspire others.

Marie Behrens, a serial entrepreneur in Mauritius building a pan-African marketplace for beauty and wellness professionals

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Marie Behrens, founder and CEO, Kipepeo (Mauritius)

Marie Behrens is the founder and CEO of Kipepeo in Mauritius. She is a serial entrepreneur with over 13 years experience developing beauty salons and spas internationally, and with that skillset and passion for the industry she is now building a pan African marketplace that provides beauty and wellness professionals with a management and booking solution to optimize their business. It is the first start up of its kind in Mauritius and has been operational for more than a year, creating a community and business support to over 100 professionals. Her vision is to create equal growth opportunities for these professionals across Africa by using an end-to-end digital solution.

Tatum Billson, a South African baby stroller business and brand builder

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

NoolaBaby (formally known as NulaBaby) is a South African online retailer founded by Tatum Billson that specializes in baby strollers. Since launching the brand, the range has expanded to over seven different strollers (including a twin stroller), and now also sells nursery furniture, rocking chairs, as well as 360-degree rotation car seats and accessories.

Bertha Kgokong, a serial techpreneur from South Africa developing software applications and platforms

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Skhokho is a software development company based in South Africa and launched by tech entrepreneur Bertha Kgokong. Bertha is a self taught developer who graduated with an Engineering degree in 2003 and has spent over 15 years in corporate. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2017, where she founded Tati Software. Since then she has created numerous software applications, and also runs an online tech learning platform called Skolo https://skolo.online - where she provides free programming lessons on Youtube, and some paid courses on her website skolo.online.

Helen Viljoen, a South African sustainability focused luxury jewellery brand builder

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Helen Viljoen, founder Nebü (South Africa)

Nebü is a transparently priced, pure investment-grade gold jewellery brand inspired by and made in South Africa by entrepreneur Helen Viljoen. She creates legacy pieces for clients that will not only hold their value but grow in capital appreciation Helen believes this value not only enriches her customers but preserves our precious natural heritage.

Dr Hajira Mashego, a South African business founder making fitness and exercise more accessible

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Dr Hajira Mashego, founder, Fitness Junction (South Africa)

Dr Hajira Mashego is the founder of Fitness Junction in South Africa. She is a qualified sport physiotherapist who studied further to complete a Master’s Degree in Public Health (with a focus on fitness) and a PHD in Human Movement Science (also focusing on fitness). She has vast experience in sport physiotherapy, exercise science and sport management and has served a combined 26 years in the health, wellness and sports sectors. Hajira resigned from a senior management government position, took her pension contributions and established Fitness Junction, a gym company in February 2018. The company has been bootstrapped and has grown organically, now employing 14 people. Fitness Junction is a provider of commercial, corporate and home gyms.

Abira Mahumane, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a niche business focused on invitations and gifting

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Abira Isabel Mahumane, founder, Bibi Invites e Flores (Mozambique)

Abira Isabel Mahumane, graduated in Financial and Insurance Management and is an entrepreneur and founder of the brand Bibi Invites e Flores in Mozambique. She started her business in 2019, a company specializing in invitations and gifts for various occasions, which operates in e-commerce. She has always been passionate about art and decided to turn this art into work. She now has three employees who carry out various tasks with great passion for its growth.

Erica Paiva, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a strong personal media brand

April 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Erica Paiva is a creative woman entrepreneur from Mozambique who decided to use her own unique skills as a tv host, writer, actress, master of ceremony, and event planner to create a niche, personal brand in the marketplace. Erica’s brand has been in the market for 7 years, but she has been working for a total of 15 years.

Eliana Silva, a Mozambican communications specialist with a passion for storytelling

April 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Eliana Silva, founder, Marcas Por Escrever (Mozambique)

Eliana Silva is the founder of Marcas Por Escrever in Mozambique, an online publication focused on Lusophone communication, marketing, entrepreneurship and social responsibility. She is a communication specialist with a career spanning more than a decade working in journalism, public relations, and advertising. Her professional experience is currently focused on advertising, brand activation and strategic communication. Eliana began her career in the Portuguese media industry, at Revista Máxima in 2009, and then migrated to the world of public relations. Over the years, Silva has always been interested in storytelling and has developed her media tools by working with video, writing and photography. In Mozambique since 2014, Eliana completed a degree in Journalism in Lisbon, and after a postgraduate degree in the same city in Digital Marketing, she attended courses in London and São Paulo.

Aurora Matavel, an award-winning Mozambican entrepreneur building a successful eco-cleaning business

April 3, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Aurora Matavel, founder and CEO, SCS, Lda (Mozambique)

Aurora Matavel is Founder and CEO of SCS, Lda (Mozambique). She is an experienced and award-winning entrepreneur. The business of SCS, Lda is focused on providing ecological cleaning services and integrated pest control that preserve the environment. She founded the business 2 years ago and now employs 5 people, many of them women from the Local Community. She has 5 years of experience in business and as customer service with one of the main banks in the country.

Jessica Lairs, a Mozambican event planner creating memorable customer occasions

March 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Jessica Lairs, founder, D'Lairs Encantos E.I (Mozambique)

Jessica Lairs is the founder of D'Lairs Encantos E.I, an event planning and decoration company in Mozambique. She started her entrepreneurship journey in 2019 with a combination of passion and good leadership skills. Today she has six permanent employees and six employees for occasional events. Her team is composed of men and women aged from 21 to 57 years of age. She brings to her entrepreneurial journey 9 years of experience in the job market as a trader and manager and has always worked with women in different areas.

Gracia Bampile, a South African entrepreneur taking African fashion to the world

March 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Gracia Bampile is the founder of fashion brand, Haute Afrika based in South Africa. The company has built a reputation for creating clothes for every occasion and every kind of person, inspired by traditional fabrics that are authentically African.

Lutea Magaia, a Mozambican entrepreneur contributing to environmental education and the green ecosystem

March 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lutea Magaia Alberto, an Environmental and Agribusiness professional, is the founder and manager of Mentes Sustentáveis (Sustainable Minds) in Mozambique. She has a degree in Agronomic Engineering, from Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and more than 7 years of experience as an Environmentalist dedicating herself to areas such as Environmental Education, Waste Management and Ecosystem Recovery. She founded Mentes Sustentáveis in 2019 and has over the years been a pioneer in raising awareness of Mozambique’s environmental problems and bringing practical, ecological and sustainable solutions. Since then she has been dedicated to the development of eco-business models, development of eco-friendly products and carrying out environmental education activities, contributing to the green ecosystem in Mozambique.

Rachel Kobo, a South African natural hair care brand builder

March 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Rachel Kobo, founder of The Fro Avenue in South Africa, is a devoted natural hair care lover. With a background in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, her brand, The Fro Avenue, was born from her love for and interest in natural hair care. This led her to start up her business in 2020 which is aimed at natural hair care education and product manufacturing. She truly enjoys learning and sharing her knowledge base about natural hair with fellow naturalists and anyone starting out on their natural hair journey. Her aim is to promote a community that embraces their natural hair while learning to understand and love it for the beauty it is.

Brigette Mashile, a South African fashion entrepreneur creating custom designs for discerning clients

March 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Brigette Mashile, founder, Roka Roko (South Africa)

Many people dream of wearing clothes that are unique to them, designed to reflect their tastes and personalities. Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko is a South African fashion design entrepreneur who understands how to take a client idea for an outfit and turn it into a wonderful reality.

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