the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
- Tory Burch is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. In addition to being the CEO behind an internationally-renowned clothing line bearing her name, she is also the philanthropic driving force of the Tory Burch Foundation which aims to support women business owners and their families.
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Kofo Akinkugbe, founder of Secure ID
This remarkable Nigerian woman founded a company that is recognised globally as a market leader in Africa's smart card technology and digital security industry.
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This lawyer turned butcher is passionate about the 100% certified free-range, grass-fed and ethically reared meat she sources from farmers she gets to know and trust.
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Sarah Taylor, founder of Bee Balmy
A journalist-turned-natural skincare product entrepreneur works with nature to create a range of soothing and healing skin balms, bringing relief for allergy sufferers.
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Jeanette Phasha and sister Charlotte, the creative duo behind Baroka Fashions
This South African, Limpopo-based clothing and textile manufacturer is successfully carving a niche for herself producing ladies clothing, bags, accessories and printed fabrics.
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- Bobbi Brown is a professional makeup artist and the founder and CCO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. She became a name in the cosmetics business by pushing moderation. In the 1980s, when look-at-me colors, stark contours, and shiny red lips were in fashion, Bobbi designed cosmetics to highlight a woman's natural look. She had moved to New York City in 1980 with a degree in theatrical makeup and a beginner's portfolio. Before the decade was done, she'd hustled her way from freelance makeup artist at magazine shoots to product designer with her name behind a global brand.
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You can build a big business from small, humble beginnings....
- Tara Fela-Durotoye is a Nigerian-born lawyer turned Africa's leading beauty and makeup entrepreneur. She started House of Tara at the age of 20, from her living room, whilst an undergraduate at university back in 1998. She's since gone on to launch Nigeria's first ever bridal directory in 1999, and in 2004 she opened the country's leading beauty academy. Today, Tara has over 3,000 reps spread across Nigeria and 14 stores to her name and she is steadfastly dedicated to realising her vision of building a globally respected beauty company of African origin. Tara remains an inspirational role-model and mentor to make-up artists and aspiring beauty business owners across Africa.
Read moreSource: Time | September 12, 2014
British-Nigerian doctor Ola Orekunrin may be only 28, but she’s already founded Nigeria’s first emergency air ambulance service. Flying Doctors has become an essential service, airlifting patients from remote areas to hospitals, and providing care en route. It has helped hundreds of patients, particularly employees in the country’s oil and gas sector, who are among Flying Doctors’ top clients.
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- Sibongile Sambo is a pioneering woman of South African aviation. She is founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRS Aviation Ltd., the first 100 percent black, female-owned aviation services company in South Africa. Launched in 2004, SRS is an integrated provider of private aviation services offering South African and international clients professional and personalized flight options including VIP Charter, tourist charter and helicopter services, to destinations around the world. Today, the company also provides maintenance, sales and fleet management services to private jet owners.
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You should consider banks as the last resort when looking for sources of funds ....
- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.
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Swaady Martin-Leke, founder and CEO of Yswara
The story of an Afropolitan entrepreneur building a unique global luxury brand by creating elegant, high-end products using the continent’s finest natural resources.
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Reviving an industry; creating jobs; starting a new venture - sometimes this means you have to swim against the tide of conventional thinking....
- Aïssa Dione, a renowned Senegalese painter and textile designer, founded the company that bears her name, Aissa Dione Tissus back in 1992. Her mission: to revive Senegal's traditional and unique fabric weaving craftsmanship and build a production chain that is truly '100% Made in Senegal'. Her approach is to combine unique design, know-how and artisan craftsmanship to transform African grown cotton into a valuable product. She has succeeded in this, building a high-end fabric brand underpinned by centuries old cotton processing and weaving skills. Today, Aissa has more than 100 employees whose traditional handwoven fabrics are delivered to the absolute top-end interior design brands across Africa, Europe and the United States. Aissa's designs and fabrics grace major design salons and brands such as Hermés, Fendi, Christian Liaigre and Peter Marino.
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This month, the Choiseul Institute of France has just published its inaugural list of Africa’s 100 Most Promising Young Business Leaders Under the Age of 40, and making the rankings are seven women entrepreneurs, our Lionesses of Africa.
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The challenge is getting people to believe in your dream....
- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.
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It’s official - women entrepreneurs get their own global day of recognition this month – Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, 19th November 2014. Let's join to celebrate, support and empower women entrepreneurs worldwide and especially women on our own continent, Africa!
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Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of Yswara
Video Source: BBC New Africa | November, 3 2014
As part of the BBC's African Dream series, Swaady Martin-Leke the French-Ivorian founder of luxury tea brand Yswara discusses the importance of being based on the continent, where people feel "alive". Swaady says she decided to "implant" her luxury brand in South Africa. The entrepreneur opened her first shop in Johannesburg. She then decided to aim for Nigeria before turning her attention to the entire continent via digital sales.
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- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.
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- Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. She is best known for being elected the first female chancellor of Germany and for being one of the lead architects of the European Union. Ms Merkel is former research scientist, who has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and the leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000.
Read moreSource: Bruno demeocq
Watch highly skilled artisan weavers at work in Assia Dione's workshop in Dakar, Senegal as they create beautiful fabrics prized by many of the high-end interior design brands of the world.
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Source: Forbes | September 16, 2014
Named one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011 by FORBES, celebrated Ethiopian entrepreneur, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu launched her first US offering at the beginning of this month; a flagship store of her eco-friendly shoe brand, SoleRebels, in Silicon Valley, California.
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