the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder and CEO of House of Tara International, Nigeria
Source: CNN African Voices | January 26, 2015
Tara Fela-Durotoye is founder and CEO of House of Tara International, a household name in her native Lagos, her company develops makeup, perfume and accessories all created specifically to meet the needs of Africa's beauty market. Learn more about this inspiring woman entrepreneur who is rapidly developing her pan-African cosmetics and beauty training brand in this fascinating interview.
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Karin Rae Matthee, founder of Dear Rae Jewellery, South Africa
In the world of jewellery design in South Africa, Karen Rae Matthee is a young entrepreneur with a vision, a unique design and creative aesthetic, and a deep commitment to skills development and upliftment in her community.
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The start up story of a serial entrepreneur who has created a unique business in South Africa by elevating the nailbar to a world-class boutique and luxury girls club experience.
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Akosua Afriyie-Kumi (Ghana), Loza Maléombho (Ivory Coast), Katherine-Mary Pichulik (South Africa)
Vogue Italia has announced the final shortlist for its "Scouting for Africa" contest, an event organized by Vogue Talents in collaboration with the International Business Consortium Nigeria Limited. Included on the final shortlist of 11 designers are 3 of Lionesses of Africa's favourite women designers on the continent, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi of AAKS in Ghana, Loza Maléombho from Ivory Coast, and Pichulik by Katherine-Mary Pichulik from South Africa. We wish all three women the very best of luck in winning the ultimate accolade and prizes.
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International whisky brand Chivas Regal has just unveiled the five finalists of its Win the Right Way campaign. Included are two inspiring women-led social ventures from South Africa, Subz founded by Sue Barnes, and Rethaka Trading creators of Repurpose School Bags, founded by Thato Kgatlhanye and Rea Ngwane.
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Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of YSWARA
It takes creativity, commitment and hard work to build a successful brand....
- Swaady Martin-Leke, an Ivorian entrepreneur, is founder of YSWARA, a growing African luxury brand. YSWARA creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. Products include gourmet tea, chocolates and home and accessories collections such as homeware, spoons, home fragrances and artisan jewellery. Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship. YSWARA is present in 4 countries -- South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and France -- with 15 different direct and indirect retail points.
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Rapelang Rabana, founder of Rekindle Learning (South Africa)
Source: InfoRocked | by by Anesh Sukhnandan | 22 January 2015
The temptation to idolize an international role model seems as natural as the globalization of business celebrities, who becomes more mainstream with young entrepreneurs, regularly glorified as they sell their start up for millions, rather billions of dollars. Why stray so far away when these stars can be found on our shores.
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L-R: Essma Ben Hamida, Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Njideka Harry
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is hosting 25 social entrepreneurs from around the world who will substantially contribute to the 2015 edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Three of Africa's leading women social entrepreneurs Essma Ben Hamida (Tunisia), Anne Githuku-Shongwe (South Africa), and Njideka Harry (Nigeria) have been included.
Read moreHow do you use ICT to create social impact? Ashoka in partnership with the Intel Foundation have published a new report on how social innovators are making the most of information and communication technologies to create social impact and change the world!
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Lynn Worsley and the inspiring team of ecopreneurs of All Women Recycling, Cape Town
All Women Recycling is an inspiring women-led social enterprise in South Africa turning discarded plastic soft-drink bottles into beautiful upcycled, highly decorative giftboxes.
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Ellen Chilemba, founder and director of Tiwali, Malawi
Congratulations to Ellen Chilemba the founder of Tiwali, a social enterprise in Malawi, for being one of the five winners of Ashoka's Future Forward: Youth Innovations for Employment in Africa challenge.
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Ethel Cofie, founder Edel Consultancy, Ghana
Ethel Cofie is an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the highly competitive and traditionally male dominated tech industry on the African continent. Through her own business building efforts, and as a successful network builder for pan-African women in tech, she is helping to change the face of the industry, breaking down barriers to entry along the way.
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Monica Umwari, co-founder of Angaza, Rwanda
Two young Rwandan eco-preneurs are showing the world that great design combined with a passion for finding environmentally friendly ways of dealing with the country’s non-biodegradable waste, can create something beautiful. Monica Umwari and Maria Mayanja have founded a young and funky eco-brand, Angaza, producing fashionable and highly desirable accessories made from upcycled waste products.
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Kofo Akinkugbe, founder and CEO of SecureID, Nigeria
Kofo Akinkugbe the founder of SecureID in Nigeria has launched the first EMV Plant in Sub-Saharan Africa that enables the local production of SIM cards, and SIM packages for the telecoms industry, bank payment cards and other high security polycarbonate identity cards.
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Following on from the hugely successful launch of her Naturals Beauty R&R Baby Range, South African natural skincare entrepreneur, Tanya du Bois, has just launched another great range, this time for kids.
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Being a good communicator improves your chances of success as an entrepreneur ....
- 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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Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
If there is one woman that is proof positive of the power of individual entrepreneurs to make a difference, it is Dr Jennifer Riria. She has singlehandedly transformed the microfinance industry in Kenya in order to tangibly improve the lives of women. Because of her efforts, hundreds of thousands of Kenyan women now have access to finance, previously not available to them.
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Sangeeta Bharadwaj Badal and Jim Clifton, co-authors of 'Entrepreneurial Strengths Finder'
Entrepreneurial Strengths Finder is a really interesting read for any entrepreneur that is trying to understand how best to achieve business success and to identify those traits that make success more of a possibility. This book focuses on the psychology of the entrepreneur, understanding what drives entrepreneurs to start a business venture in the first place, and thereafter sustain and grow it into a successful company. It examines the critical personality characteristics and behaviors that lead to business venture creation and success, and asks key questions about whether an entrepreneur is born, or can learn the skills required.
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Okay, it is the start of a new year and, as entrepreneurs, we are all busy motivating ourselves and making our resolutions to be firmly stuck to over the year ahead. Our energy levels are up after the holidays, we are full of enthusiasm, and everything seems possible again. So, how do we ensure that once this initial new year upbeat euphoria has begun to wane, we are still able to be happy, healthy, productive and focused people for the rest of the year, and achieve our goals? Here are our 5 top tips for beating stress and achieving a level of happiness, health and motivation in 2015.
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Lionesses of Africa is celebrating Africa’s women social entrepreneurs this January. During this month we will feature the continent's leading social-preneurs and bring you the latest news on the rise of social enterprises that are focused on making Africa a better place.
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