LoA had the great pleasure of chatting with Rania Habiby Anderson, the inspirational author and leading expert on the professional advancement of business women in developing and emerging economies, who was speaking from her home in Kansas in the USA.
Read moreKenya'S Jennifer Riria wins EY Entrepreneur Award
Dr. Jennifer Riria (Right) with her EY Award in the master category for the Kenyan region
Source: CNBC Africe | by Elayne Wangalwa | 12 February 2015
The award was won in the master category for the Kenyan region. The internationally acclaimed entrepreneur awards being held in Monte Carlo, Monaco saw Riria represent East Africa alongside other regional master category winners from more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries across the globe.
Read moreVideo: Dr. Jennifer Riria wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Source: CNBC Africa | 12 February 2015
Jennifer Riria, CEO, Kenya Women Holding, has won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Master Category for the Kenyan region. Joining CNBC Africa for more is the winner herself Jennifer Riria, CEO, Kenya Women Holding.
Read moreDates announced for 6th Annual Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair 2015
Calling all South African designers and artisan food and wine makers - the 6th annual Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair will take place a little earlier this year on 9-11 October 2015. The venue will still be on the fabulous rooftop of Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, founder of SELFINA (Tanzania)
"It was that 'a-ha moment.' If a woman could have a cow like I had, she could have an asset that could generate income, then we could go around the problem of not being able to access financing."
- Victoria Kisyombe founded SELFINA in 2002 and pioneered micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing with a focus on widows and young girls. Victoria helped women overcome many of the traditional stumbling blocks that made it difficult for them to own land and assets. SELFINA has gone on to economically empower more than 25,000 women with a total credit worth 25 billion Tanzanian Shillings (approximately $16 million US dollars). Over 200,000 lives have been impacted through the benefits accrued.
Read moreAngela Van Herzeele - The startup story of a South African vintage homeware designer who has battled against the odds to realise her dreams
Angela van Herzeele, founder of Angel Rose Trading Company, KZN, South Africa
If there is an example of an African woman entrepreneur who passionately believes in making her business dreams a reality, despite all the challenges that life throws at her, then Angela Heather Van Herzeele is such a woman. Her Angel Rose Trading Company is a testimony to sheer determination, hard work and a great designer’s eye.
Read moreTara Fela-Durotoye launches new women economic empowerment initiative in Nigeria - ‘Beauty Business on the Go’
Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder of the House of Tara International, Nigeria
House of Tara International in partnership with First City Monument Bank has launched a new women economic empowerment initiative in Nigeria known as the ‘Beauty Business on the Go’ (BBOG). The initiative is aimed at empowering women to become entrepreneurs, setting them on a path to realise their aspirations and dreams. With this wonderful new initiative Tara aims to recruit and empower 5,000 women to become beauty representatives.
Read moreLoA Founder Melanie Hawken talks women entrepreneurship in Africa with JoburgToday Television
Video: Joburg Today Television | Published on February 3, 2105
This month, top South African business television programme, Leading Opinion, invited Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa into the studio to discuss the rise of African women entrepreneurship and its socio-economic impact on the continent.
Read moreLucy MacGarry - The startup story of a South African art curator turned entrepreneur who is creating wearable art
Lucy MacGarry the founder of L’Mad Collection creates genuinely wearable art by designing accessories and pieces of clothing made from 100% luxurious silk and printed with unique artworks by highly talented artists. The resulting products are truly unique and breathtakingly beautiful, and good enough to hang on a wall, not just on the body.
Read moreKeri Muller - The startup story of a talented designer and artist reinventing old books as objects of beauty
Keri Muller, founder of Simple Intrigue, South Africa
Finding design inspiration literally in the pages of old books has given South African artist, designer and entrepreneur, Keri Muller, the opportunity to create incredibly beautiful decor pieces from recycled books. Her company, Simple Intrigue, and the unique products it creates, is a wonderfully refreshing antidote to so much of the bland, mass produced decor swamping the marketplace today.
Read moreVictoria Verbaan - The Startup story of a designer, illustrator and entrepreneur creating design products that are truly works of art
Victoria Verbaan, founder and creator of The Smoking Daxi
Design conscious consumers across Africa and around the globe will love the highly individual and stunningly beautiful handprinted and illustrated designs and products from South African designer and entrepreneur, Victoria Verbaan. Her uniquely named company, Victoria Verbaan and The Smoking Daxi, is one to look out for on the African design scene.
Read moreTumi Frazier - The startup story of a passionate entrepreneur who is inspiring and mentoring women across Africa
Tumi Frazier, founder of Tumi Frazier International, South Africa
Tumi Frazier, a passionate South African entrepreneur, is a powerhouse in every sense of the word. Through her inspirational leadership, combined with an ambitious vision and an endless source of energy, her company, Tumi Frazier International, is helping to develop thousands of new women leaders in Africa.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder of House of Tara, Nigeria
"There are certain things telling you that you cannot make it; that you will not make it; that Nigeria is not a place where people make it. I beg to differ."
- 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 moreBethlehem Tilahun Alemu's passion for leather sees her launch a new venture - Republic of Leather
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is a woman passionate about leather, especially when its handcrafted by talented artisan craftsmen and women in her home country, Ethiopia. So much so, that Bethlehem, who has achieved great success with her global shoe brand soleRebels, has in 2015 launched a new business, Republic of Leather, which creates bespoke, handcrafted luxury leatherwear for men and women. Given Bethlehem's track record of success as a leading woman entrepreneur we are sure her new venture is headed for great things.
Read moreDiana Opoti - The start up story of one of Africa's most formidable fashion connectors
Meet Diana Opoti, founder of leading Kenyan fashion consultancy, Diana Opoti PR, a true champion of the continent’s fashion design industry and one of Africa’s most formidable fashion connectors.
Read moreLani Stenvert - The startup story of a creative graphic designer turned happy solopreneur
Lani Stenvert, founder of Good Dog Designs, South Africa
Lani Stenvert, the founder of South African-based start-up, Good Dog Designs, made the tenacious move from design studio employee to graphic design solopreneur. In the process, she found freedom of expression and a unique design style all of her own.
Read moreSebenzile Matsebula – The startup story of an inspirational South African entrepreneur who proves that disability is not a barrier to success
Sebenzile Matsebula, founder of Motswako Office Systems, South Africa
Sebenzile Matsebula, the founder of Motswako Office Systems, is proof positive that if you have the ambition, are prepared to work exceptionally hard, and demonstrate to others that you are an entrepreneur first and foremost and successful at what you do, then disability is not a barrier to success.
Read more6 Women founders of social ventures selected 2015 Acumen East-African Fellows
The selections for Acumen's fourth cohort of East Africa Fellows were announced on 1 February after a competitive application process. This year’s Fellows are fighting poverty and changing lives across East Africa through unique social initiatives that range from providing much-needed ambulance services to helping make hygienic sanitation more accessible and affordable to empowering young women to start viable agro-enterprises and more.
Read moreFebruary designated Design Month as Lionesses of Africa celebrates the continent’s talented women designers
Africa has always had a vibrant design scene, but no more so than today, with a host of incredibly talented young women designers emerging from every corner of the continent. So, at Lionesses of Africa, we are declaring the month of February as Design Month, each day showcasing some of the finest design talent and telling their unique start-up stories.
Read moreJenna Clifford - The startup story of a world-renowned South African jewellery designer and entrepreneur
Jenna Clifford, founder of Jenna Clifford Designs, South Africa
Jenna is an inspirational example to women entrepreneurs across Africa that despite significant challenges in personal and business life, with many setbacks and considerable personal heartache along the way, it is possible to find business success.
Read more