the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Dorcas Muthoni, founder & CEO of Open World, Kenya
As part of LoA’s continuing focus on 'Women in Tech', we took time out of the busy schedule of successful Kenyan techpreneur, Dorcas Muthoni, to chat about her own entrepreneurial journey and the building of her impressive company, Open World.
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Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
Women need to see that it can be done....
- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa 2013, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.
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The reality is that behind every successful entrepreneur is one person who takes care of these must-do’s for them. And, a Virtual Assistant is the perfect solution for this. Now you may be wondering how do I go about finding this perfect Virtual Assistant?
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Guest Blog: by Lireko Dorothy Ncube
Tick tock, tick tock – let’s be honest, we have all sat listening to the sound of a clock ticking away the hours and minutes whilst we procrastinate about doing the things we really need to be doing. But the reality is that time really doesn’t wait for anyone, so we all need to stop the habit of saying: “I will do it tomorrow”. Here are 5 simple tips to stop your procrastinating.
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Ugochi Ugbomeh, co-founder of Tranzit, Nigeria
Ugochi Ugbomeh is a woman who thinks big and harnesses of the power of technology to make a difference. Her entrepreneurial vision is for her company to become a curator of truly world-class transportation, location based and mobility services in Africa, effectively moving people and things from one destination to another.
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In the highly specialist and competitive world of the health and beauty industry, there is one woman who is successfully combining traditional African medicine with modern science to create world-class products for people of colour. Eunice Cofie is a woman entrepreneur harnessing her passion for science to make a difference to people’s lives and, at the same, build a new global health and beauty powerhouse.
Read moreSource: TEDx | published on Mar 26, 2015
Dr. Victoria Kisyombe has founded micro-financing for women in Tanzania, and is now working to empower women worldwide. Victoria is a leader who has used innovation, initiative, and determination to empower women in Tanzania to become economically self-sufficient. Watch her address at TEDx Berkeley.
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Source: BizNews.com | 25 March 2015
It goes without saying that media content is saturated with negativity. Stories and images of the world’s sad state of affairs are in abundance. That’s why balance is crucial – for every bad story, there needs to be a good one. And there is goodness in this world. Take the following interview below. Cape Town-based Rapelang Rabana is using her education, skills and knowledge for the greater good of society.
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Ally Angula, co-founder Leap Investments & My Republik
Congratulations to Namibian serial entrepreneur, Ally Angula, who has been chosen as one of the 17 Sub Saharan Members on the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum. Ally co-founded Leap Investments in Namibia and South Africa, an integrated group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail. She also recently launched Namibia's first commercial clothing brand, My Republik.
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Alison Stewart, co-founder of FEAT. sock, South Africa
My top advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs....
- Alison Stewart is co-founder of FEAT. sock a startup building a new designer sock brand with a global appeal. Her aim: to brighten up people’s daily footwear with beautiful, lovingly made, and ultimately fun socks. She is passionate about supporting local industry, so all her company's socks are proudly made in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Erika van der Merwe, CEO of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
- Erika van der Merwe is chief executive officer of the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, an organisation that promotes the venture capital and private equity profession across Southern Africa. Erika’s career has extended from economic analysis within the asset management industry to financial journalism. Her most recent position has been that of anchor at CNBC Africa’s Johannesburg bureau.
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Lisa Ackroyd, founder of Colony, South Africa
There is something wonderfully evocative about wandering through Lisa Ackroyd’s incredible Johannesburg-based Colony store and studio, and seeing at first-hand the most beautiful and meticulously hand-crafted leather accessories being made. The sights, sounds and smells of leather being hand-worked by Lisa and her dedicated team of craftspeople, all of whom have been trained by her, are truly memorable.
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Guest Blog: by Lireko Dorothy Ncube
In business, as in life, I frequently hear the saying: “There is light at the end of the tunnel”. However, we need to remind ourselves that even though sometimes it is quite difficult to walk through the tunnel, particularly in the face of challenges or hurdles (and this particularly applies in the entrepreneurial space), we just need to give ourselves a little push and keep walking.
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Sarien Lategan, founder of Travelling Tortoise
They say the ethos of a business can often be found in its name, and that can certainly be said of South African entrepreneur, Sarien Lategan’s company, Travelling Tortoise. It conjures up images of leisurely and languorous journeys to interesting destinations at a pace which allows for the discovery of new and wonderful things. Sarien’s love of Africa and a passion for encouraging more people from around the world to discover the continent’s unique beauty, is at the heart of her business.
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Ommo Clark, founder of iBez, Nigeria
If there is one thing that women in tech love to do, it is to shake up the industry and to genuinely create things that are both entrepreneurial and innovative. Nigerian techpreneur, Ommo Clark, is one such industry game-changer, building a software house, iBez, that creates not only proprietary software products that help to solve local challenges, but also develops and showcases local tech talent.
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Nkemdilim Begho, Ashim Egunjobi & Ijeome Nwoke, founders of 'Always Me by Anne Li', Nigeria
Seeing the truly adorable and uniquely African baby and maternity products created by multi-talented Nigerian serial entrepreneurs, Nkemdilim Begho, Ashim Egunjob and Ijeome Nwoke, for their new company brand, Always Me by Anne Li, definitely brings out those ‘Aaah’ moments in life. The exquisitely handmade and beautifully designed products are absolute must-haves for any design conscious parent!
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Alison Stewart and Chelsey Wilson, founders of FEAT. sock co, Cape Town
If you have ever spent time looking at people’s sock wearing habits, for the most part, they are boring and conventional. However, for two highly creative young South African designers and entrepreneurs, Alison Stewart and Chelsey Wilson, brightening up people’s daily footwear with beautiful, lovingly made, and ultimately fun socks, is a real passion and they have dedicated their business to making customers’ sock dreams come true!
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Cape Town, March 2015: Little Bo Babies launches its 'When I Grow Up…' doll, an initiative that will help young girls from poor and underprivileged areas have a vision for their future, and a tangible reminder of that vision as they grow up.
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Linda Rottenberg, CEO and co-founder of Endeavor, author of 'Crazy Is a Compliment'
Linda Rottenberg, the co-founder and CEO of Endeavour, in her new book, Crazy Is A Compliment: The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags, (we love this book title!) encourages everyone to start thinking and acting like an entrepreneur. In today’s highly competitive and fast-paced world, she reminds us all of the need to be nimble, adaptive, daring—and maybe even a little crazy—or risk being left behind.
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For many aspirant women entrepreneurs in Africa who have a particular specialist expertise or depth of experience in an industry sector, the key to getting going in business is having a great idea and finding a niche that you can slot into in order to achieve success. LoA guest blogger, Comfort Badaru, shares her personal thoughts on the importance of finding your niche.
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