Quote of the Day

December 5, 2014 Melanie Hawken

"Female entrepreneurs are critical to building a stronger economy and a healthier global society. They will spend more of the money they've earned on their families and education, and they are a force for good in society, whether it is in the U.S. or around the world."

- Penny Pritzker has been serving in Washington as the United States Secretary of Commerce since 2013. She is, however, probably best known as one of America's leading women entrepreneurs, a Chicago billionaire who's founded five companies that have created thousands of jobs. These include PSP Capital Partners and Pritzker Realty Group. She is also heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune.

Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola founder of WeCyclers wins the 2014 Sustainia Award

December 4, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, founder of WeCyclers and winner of the 2014 Sustania Award — **Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola**, founder of WeCyclers and winner of the 2014 Sustania Award

Wecyclers, founded by Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, has won the 2014 Sustainia Award, chaired by Arnold Schwarzenegger, for a solution that enables low-income communities to make money from waste piling up in their streets. By deploying a fleet of cargo bicycles to collect and recycle unmanaged waste in Nigeria’s capital Lagos, Wecyclers lets families exchange garbage for consumer goods via an SMS-based point system.

House of Tara: Nigerian beauty brand founded by Tara Fela-Durotoye launches in Kenya

December 4, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Tara Fela-Durotoye (centre) at the Kenyan launch of House of Tara — **Tara Fela-Durotoye** (centre) at the Kenyan launch of House of Tara

Source: Capital FM Kenya | December 2, 2014

House of Tara International, a Nigerian beauty and cosmetics brand founded by Tara Fela-Durotoye launched its products in the Kenyan market as part of its continental expansion strategy. House of Tara has developed makeup products with international standards that are tailor made for the African woman by an African woman.

Swaady Martin: Trium graduate symbolises an entrepreneurial generation

December 4, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: Financial Times | October 19, 2014

The fledgling business in Parkhurst, one of Johannesburg’s affluent northern suburbs, is the brainchild of Martin-Leke, who forged ahead with the project in spite of initial scepticism among her friends and peers. “I did my research, but no one believed in it,” she says, sipping a new blend she is testing at the elegant townhouse that has been transformed into a chic store....

Tara Fela-Durotoye - The startup story of a home-grown Nigerian make-up brand that sparked a revolution

December 4, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder of House of Tara, Nigeria — **Tara Fela-Durotoye**, founder of House of Tara, Nigeria

More than ten years ago, House of Tara founder Tara Fela-Durotoye, sparked a revolution that reverberated across Nigeria, creating a powerful corporate brand, a range of interesting makeup and skincare lines aimed at women of colour, and setting up Nigeria’s first make-up school.

Teta Isibo – The startup story of a Rwandan jewellery and accessory brand builder

December 3, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Teta Isibo, founder of Inzuki Designs, Rwanda — **Teta Isibo**, founder of Inzuki Designs, Rwanda

This remarkable award-winning Rwandan designer made the move from career urban planner to African-inspired jewellery and accessory creator and retailer.

Entrepreneur advice from Kelsey Ramsden: Don’t Start A Business Just For The Money

December 3, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Don’t start a business just for the money....

"We see plenty of entrepreneurs jump in the game of business ownership for one reason only — big dollar signs.... If you’re in the game solely for the money, you will end up disappointed. Yes — money is a way to keep score and it’s an important factor. But, most seasoned entrepreneurs will tell you money is usually the last thing to come."

- Kelsey Ramsden is one of Canada’s top female entrepreneurs and founder of kelseyramsden.com. This serial entrepreneur has founded and run businesses as diverse as construction and children’s toys. A formerly wayward student, Kelsey triumphed when she graduated with her MBA from the highly regarded Ivey School of Business. She credits that same grit and determination for helping her overcome a devastating cancer prognosis last year – a cancer she has since overcome. Kelsey is a select member of Ernst & Young’s Winning Women Entrepreneurs for 2013 and on the Richard Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship as a mentor.

Divine Ndhlukula wins Exceptional Entrepreneur Category at the 2014 EY Southern Africa Chapter of the World Entrepreneur Awards

December 2, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe — **Divine Ndhlukula**, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe

This year's Exceptional Entrepreneur Award at the 2014 EY Africa Chapter of the World Entrepreneur Awards has been awarded to the inspirational Zimbabwean woman entrepreneur, Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico.

Video: Ethel Cofie discusses Women's Leadership, Technology and Entrepreneurship

December 1, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Video published on 1 December 2014

Ethel Cofie is tech entrepreneur and founder of women in tech Ghana/Africa. In this video she shares her thoughts on Women's Leadership, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Juliana Rotich - The startup story of an innovative social techpreneur

December 1, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Juliana Rotich, co-founder of Ushahidi, Kenya — **Juliana Rotich**, co-founder of Ushahidi, Kenya

The world, and in particular Africa, needs more women social techpreneurs like Juliana Rotich who can identify a major challenge or need and develop effective, accessible technologies and software to provide a solution.

Aissa Dione – The startup story of an inspirational African textile revivalist who has captivated the world’s leading interior design brands

December 1, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Aissa Dione, founder of Aissa Dione Tissus, Senegal — **Aissa Dione**, founder of Aissa Dione Tissus, Senegal

Senegalese entrepreneur and textile designer, Aissa Dione, has made it her lifelong mission to revive her country’s ailing textile industry, and in the process, create products that are highly desirable the world over.

Nkemdilim Begho – The startup story of a leading Nigerian technology services entrepreneur

November 30, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Nkemdilim Begho, founder of Future Software Resources, Nigeria — **Nkemdilim Begho**, founder of Future Software Resources, Nigeria

A leading Nigerian techpreneur building a powerful business focusing on online solutions, e-learning and IT security, and taking Africa’s tech sector by storm.

Quote of the Day

November 29, 2014 Melanie Hawken

"You have to remember that even if you have a good idea, people could still say no 100 times."

- Susan Coelius Keplinger, is is a San Francisco entrepreneur and the co-founder of Triggit, an online advertising technology company building technologies around ad buying on the real time display advertising exchanges.

Lydie Hakizimana – The startup story of a textbook entrepreneur with an incredible vision for improving children’s literacy in Rwanda

November 29, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Lydia Hakizimana, co-founder and managing director of Drakkar Limited — Lydia Hakizimana, co-founder and managing director of Drakkar Limited

If there is one woman that is living proof of the power of women entrepreneurs to make a real difference in the world, it is Lydie Hakizimana co-founder of Drakkar Limited in Rwanda.

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao - The startup story of a passionate African natural beauty product entrepreneur

November 27, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao, founder of Malee Natural Science — **Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao**, founder of Malee Natural Science

This is the story of one woman’s journey to create a unique, luxury, natural beauty and skincare brand that has a uniquely African story and essence.

Video: Dr. Jennifer Riria talks women's empowerment with CNBC Africa

November 26, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: CNBC Africa | Published on 26 November 2014

CNBC Africa's profiles Dr. Jennifer Riria, CEO of Kenya Women Holding, who works tirelessly to empower women in her native Kenya by giving them small loans to start businesses.

Divine Ndhlukula - Top businesswoman shares secrets of success

November 26, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, founder and managing director of Securico — **Divine Ndhlukula**, founder and managing director of Securico

Source: The Zimbabwean | by Nelson Sibanda | November 11, 2014

Dynamic Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Divine Ndhlukula has been honoured by the United Nations for her success in business. She was runner-up in this year's UNCTAD’s Empretec Women in Business Awards and received her award from Tarja Halonen, the former President of Finland at a ceremony held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. Here, she shares some of the secrets to her success.

Monica Musonda - The startup story of a tenacious food manufacturer that is looking to bring better nutrition to Zambia

November 26, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and ceo of Java Foods, Zambia — **Monica Musonda**, founder and ceo of Java Foods, Zambia

This inspirational and award-winning entrepreneur is a testimony to hard work, perseverance and a can-do attitude to building a major food brand, Java Foods, and also improving the nutrition of a country and a continent.