the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of soleRebels & Republic of Leather, Ethiopia
As part of International Women's Day celebrations ILO News spoke to Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, a young Ethiopian entrepreneur who has created one of the world’s fastest growing footwear brands by betting on decent work.
Read more
March 8 marks the celebration of International Women’s Day, a global observance day which started out in the early 1900s. This year, the theme of the day is "Make It Happen", a call to the world to help support the empowerment of women and to positively change women's lives.
Read moreSource: SABC News | Published on March 4, 2015
Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO Of Kenya's Keroche Breweries talks about her latest move and major investment to increase her company's production capacity. Keroche Breweries plans to raise its share of the beer market by 20 percent over the coming twelve months. It started in 1997 as a wine maker, then diversified into beer and spirits in 2008.
Read more
Our favourite fashionistas at Bold Kampala are living up to their name, as they are about to embark on their first-ever, hugely exciting world tour, taking their concept store to cities from London to Nairobi, Kigali to Luanda.
Read more
Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, founder Vanhu Vamwe
Fashion journalist turned highly successful global accessory designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, understands the power of story-telling in African culture. She is drawing on that inspiration to create highly sculptural, extraordinarily beautiful handbags that are deeply rooted in her African heritage, yet have a fresh, contemporary look. These are unique accessories to treasure.
Read more
Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products and services, and their passion for what they do. This month (March), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women in Tech, those truly innovative pioneers who are building unique, high impact businesses and shaking up the tech world at the same time through their efforts.
Read more
Kenya's Keroche Breweries is investing 5 billion shillings ($55 million) to increase its capacity tenfold and help it grow its share of the alcohol market six-fold to 20 percent in about a year, its chief executive said. Founder, Tabitha Karanja told the Reuters Africa Investment Summit the money was being used to build a new 1 million hectolitres-a-year brew house and bottling line to be launched this month that would help the company raise its market share from 3 percent.
Read more
Brenda Katwesigye, co-founder InstaHealth, Uganda
Brenda Katwesigye is a tech entrepreneur with a passion for making a difference in Uganda’s health sector by harnessing her considerable telecommunications skills. Her company, InstaHealth, has developed a new mobile app which instantly connects users to health centres, medical specialists and ambulance services, using simple technology that ordinary people in Uganda can use. Together with her co-Founder, Elizabeth Kasujja, these are two African woman entrepreneurs finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges by using the power of technology.
Read more
As February comes to an end, we reflect on what has been a really wonderful and particularly colourful month, as we have been celebrating some of Africa's finest and most creative women designers. From fashion designers and jewellery makers, to glorious shoemakers and architectural designers to name but a few, we have shared their inspirational stories and showcased their work. There is such a wealth of design talent here in Africa and it has been a pleasure showcasing just a few of them.
Read more
Comfort Badaru, Comfort Mosha, Anitah Hakika, founders of ANZA Magazine, Tanzania
A passion for architecture and a love of East African cityscapes led three young women, all highly creative and ambitious architectural students, to come together with a fourth male colleague to create an online platform and magazine dedicated to showcasing East African architecture and cityscapes. ANZA Magazine is a beautiful and highly aesthetic publication and online platform and forms the backbone of their entrepreneurial venture together.
Read moreThe South African edition of the The Global Women's Summit will be a one-day event where women learn from experts, network with each other, discuss women’s issues and enjoy entertainment.
Read more
Adiam Emnay & Anne-Sophie Wass, founders of DUBARUBA
The concept behind Dubaruba is a wonderful one, showcasing the work of some of Africa’s most talented designers and brands to a discerning European marketplace and who are often not widely known outside their own countries. Founded by two passionate and dedicated women entrepreneurs, Aidam Emnay, originally from Eritrea, and her business partner, Anne-Sophie Wass, Dubaruba celebrates the finest in contemporary African design and products.
Read more
Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
Hiring a Virtual Assistant is so hot right now it’s trending! But before we get into the nitty-gritty of this, let’s first define what a Virtual Assistant is.
Read more
Nahida and Nadia Bhegani & Olga Mugyenyi, founders of DEF.I.NI.TION Africa, Uganda
Meet Ugandan sisters, Nahida and Nadia Bhegani who together with their childhood friend, Olga Mugyenyi are the founders of fashion sensation, DEF.I.NI.TION Africa. Their youthful energy promises an alternative approach to fashion, where everyday Ugandan life inspires each of their new designs. Their aim: to have products that are 100% African made, that redefine the market place, and importantly redefine the perception of 'African' fashion.
Read more
Gayathrie Schatz, founder of The Little Bo Baby Company
How often in life do you experience one of those truly wonderful ‘aah’ moments, when you see a beautiful handmade product that is not only exquisitely produced, but is truly unique and manages to touch the soul? Well, South African children’s handmade toy entrepreneur, Gayathrie Schatz, is creating such an experience with her aptly named business, The Little Bo Baby Company.
Read more
Keroche Breweries, founded by leading Kenyan entrepreneur Tabitha Karanja, is all set to launch its new, ultra-modern and automated beer bottling plant in March. The Naivasha-based bottling plant will commence full operations end March producing over 30 beer brands, increasing Keroche Brwereries annual beer production from 10m litres to 100m litres. The investment in the new plant has been estimated at 2.5 Billion Kenyan Shillings.
Read more
Jesslynn Schlamm, founder of Lulu & Marula, South Africa
Frustrated by not being able to find skincare products that ticked all the boxes in terms of health, wellbeing, sustainability and eco-friendly production with a minimal impact on the environment, South African entrepreneur, Jesslynn Schlamm, was inspired to create her own from her small kitchen. Today, her Lulu & Marula skincare range is testimony to that original passion and dedication.
Read moreSource: Cadillac Dare Greatly Series | Published on February 22, 2015
Njeri Rionge was a hairdresser with an entrepreneurial streak. She dared to trust her instincts and in doing so helped bring low cost internet to East Africa, and built its biggest internet service provider. In the video below Njeri is featured in Cadillac's 'We Dare Greatly' series - celebrating daring changemakers, whose passion and vision have reshaped their industries, our lives and our future. She discusses what it means to #DareGreatly and how to empower daring entrepreneurialism in Africa.
Read more
Katherine-Mary Pichulik, founder of Pichulik, South Africa
For Katherine-Mary Pichulik, a hugely talented and creative South African entrepreneur and jewellery accessory designer, the inspiration for her work comes from the alchemy of transforming everyday materials through craft, touch and design, and elevating them into something precious and covetable.
Read more
Juliana Nasasira, founder of Kwesh
Many of us day-dream of fulfilling our lifelong ambitions and entrepreneurial dreams one day, but talented Ugandan designer, Juliana Nasasira, went from a career in property management to becoming a global fashion brand builder in the making. She is a testimony to the power of passion, drive and a real can-do attitude.
Read more