As part of Lionesses of Africa's month-long celebration of social entrepreneurs who are making a real difference in Africa, we are profiling some of the women social entrepreneurs from the US who have stood out for us over the last year. Their passion for the continent, combined with their desire to solve some of the biggest challenges in Africa, can be seen in the real impact that these women social entrepreneurs are making. Often collaborating with inspirational women on the ground in countries across the African continent, they are creating new and exciting business opportunities for women artisans, stimulating micro-entrepreneurship ventures that empower women in local communities, and improving and uplifting people's lives. We salute all these inspirational social change-makers and the women they collaborate with!
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Gabriella von Ille - No questions are stupid questions
Gabriella von Ille, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa)
No questions are stupid questions....
"Never be afraid to ask for help and to give the same help in return. No questions are stupid questions. It is not a competition, and not knowing everything is not a weakness. Working together helps you get more out of being an entrepreneur."
- Gabriella von Ille is the founder of Lifa Communications in South Africa, a boutique consultancy firm focused on Africa and Natural Resources. Lifa specializes in PR & Strategic Communication, Digital Design and Marketing & Branding. Gabriella has a double degree in Political Science and Communications from Sweden and the US.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Mame Khary Diene
“I want to show young people that it is possible to succeed in Africa, it is not necessary to take boats, there is hope, but yes, you have to work hard.”
- Mame Khary Diene is the founder and CEO of the Bioessence Laboratories, a Senegalese natural beauty brand founded in Dakar in 2007. Bioessence Laboratories produces a range of "luxury" age-defying shea butter skin care products that are marketed around the world. Mame has a Masters of Information Systems degree from the University and was awarded a Cartier Women's Initiative Award in 2008; and the United Nations IFAD award for Diaspora Entrepreneurship in 2015.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Kynaro Kinnear - You will find a way to be successful
Kynaro Kinnear, founder of K2 PR and Events (South Africa)
You will find a way to be successful....
"My advice to women wanting to start up a business is to ‘go for it’. Women are the strongest species in all ways - lionesses hunt, human females work, we look after the children, run a household and still have energy to go to a soccer match - if we can give birth to life, than we can do anything, no matter how difficult or challenging it may look. So take a breath and jump in because you will find a way to be successful."
- Kynaro Kinnear is the founder of K2 PR and Events, an event management and PR company in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kynaro is passionate about helping people, and today her company is centred around helping people, whether it be to help plan a wedding or help an NGO to launch a campaign.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi
“African heritage plays a huge role in my work. It’s time for African fashion to really shine and show our culture.”
- Akosua Afriyie-Kumi is a Ghanaian designer and founder of the Accra-based label AAKS who create uniquely hand-crafted bags in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of ancient traditions characterised by bright exuberant colours. Akosua started the company with the goal of introducing the world to her favourite weaving techniques done by the women of Ghana while also creating and igniting sustainable jobs within Africa.
Read moreSusan Barnes - The startup story of a social entrepreneur providing South African girls with dignity and education
Susan Barnes, founder of Subz Pads (South Africa)
The Subz Pants and Pads - Project Dignity social entrepreneurship venture was born out of one woman’s desire to address a major problem amongst young rural girls in South Africa - the lack of access to sanitary pads, meaning loss of education and dignity. Susan Barnes is addressing this challenge head-on through her company, Subz Pants and Pads, manufacturing and distributing packs of sustainable, reusable panties and pads to girls.
Read moreEssential Read: Success is a Journey for Startups by Olivia ‘Moy” Fung
Olivia ‘Moy’ Fung, author and founder of You Inspire Me Women
In Success is a Journey for Startups, author Olivia ‘Moy’ Fung has taken her personal experiences of being an entrepreneur and created a practical self-analysis handbook. It helps any startup entrepreneur to identify underlying setbacks, realise their talents and passions, and learn how to monetize them to build a successful business. The book also provides a source of inspiration from someone who has been there, got the T-Shirt, overcome all the hurdles and obstacles in life and business, and emerged as an entrepreneurial success story.
Read moreRuth Mwanzia - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur bringing pure drinking water to the country
Ruth Mwanzia, founder of Koola Waters (Kenya)
The challenge of water scarcity and improving access to clean, safe drinking water in Africa is one that entrepreneur Ruth Mwanzia understood only too well growing up in Kenya. That experience was the inspiration behind her company, Koola Waters, a business venture which manufactures and distributes pure water to the country’s citizens.
Read moreGabriella von Ille - The startup story of a South African-based boutique consultancy with a passion for Africa and its natural resources
Gabriella von Ille, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa)
Lifa Communications is a specialist consulting firm servicing the traditionally male dominated industry sectors such as mining, agriculture, oil, gas, energy and technology, and is the brainchild of founder Gabriella von Ille. The company prides itself on its global experience and expertise, combined with unique African industry insight - a powerful combination.
Read moreVIDEO: Thato Kgatlhanye, founder of Rethaka Repurpose Schoolbags, is turning plastic waste into a solar-powered school bag
South African entrepreneur Thato Kgatlhanye, founder of Rethaka Repurpose Schoolbags, explains how her innovative company designs and manufactures school bags from recycled plastic bags in South Africa.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Innocentia Maine - Never let fear get in your way
Innocentia Maine, founder of MIS Poultry Farm (South Africa)
Never let fear get in your way....
"Never let fear get in your way, its just there to hold you back. Women are capable of doing anything they set their minds on, so they must never be afraid of challenges. We just need to think positive, always dream big, and leave no room for negativity."
- Innocentia Maine is the founder of MIS Poultry Farm in South Africa. She is taking her love of farming and building a poultry business that she sees as the first step in creating a multi-faceted successful agribusiness of the future, and one that will hopefully inspire other aspirant women agripreneurs to follow in her footsteps.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Ruth Kwalanda
Ruth Kwalanda, founder of CIAR Management Institute (Kenya)
“Whatever it is you do, it’s got to be something you’re passionate about. There comes a time when all you have is the passion and nothing else and you need to be able to count on your passion to see you through the tough times.”
- Ruth Kwalanda is the founder of CIAR Management Institute, a corporate training business and provider of Kenya’s first E-learning platform. Ruth has been a leading provider of human capital development solutions to professionals and business communities in Africa for more than 5 years, facilitating business knowledge and skills transfer through cutting edge conferences, training programmes and e-learning.
Read moreEntrepreneur Smarts: Don't be Shoemakers' Children!
“I must have made a mistake”, I thought, “this company has been written up in the Wall Street Journal as one of the most exciting startups in audio technology. This cannot be their website”. But it was their site. A site that looked like one created in the 1990’s. Doing damage to their image every day.
Read moreMaking News: A.T.L Events and Promotions launches new South African fashion showcase event for young designers working in lingerie, swimwear and sleepwear
Thandiwe Makhanya, founder of A.T.L Events and Promotions (South Africa)
The challenge for any young woman fashion designer just starting out is finding effective ways of getting their brands and their creations out into the marketplace and connecting with customers. South African entrepreneur, Thandiwe Makhanya, and her company A.T.L Events and Promotions, which specialises in creating, managing and executing brand awareness events, campaigns as well as promotions, has found a solution, and is launching a new event platform this February.
Read moreKynaro Kinnear - The startup story of a PR and Event Management entrepreneur inspired by her mother’s original business dream and on a mission for success
Kynaro Kinnear, founder of K2 PR and Events (South Africa)
There is a considerable market that exists for specialist event management and PR companies in Africa, and one young startup in South Africa, K2 PR and Events, is looking to make its mark too. Founder Kynaro Kinnear is following in her mother’s footsteps to take her original business dream and turn it into a reality.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Essma Ben Hamida
Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder of Enda Inter-Arabe, Tunisia
“One of the objectives for me with microfinance is to change the mindset from charity to counting on your own resources – for men and women alike. This involves opening up women’s minds to micro-business, and men’s minds to accepting that their wives and daughters can run a business and contribute to the family and the country’s economy.”
- Essma Ben Hamida is a Tunisian born development activist, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe in Tunisia, and President of the Sanabel Microfinance network of Arab countries. Essma launched Enda in 1995 as the first microcredit institution in Tunisia. Today, Enda has 235,000 active clients (70% women), a $110 million portfolio, 78 branches, and 1,100 staff. Essma was selected Social Entrepreneur of the year for the MENA region in 2010 by the prestigious Schwab Foundation.
Read moreInnocentia Maine - The startup story of a young South African entrepreneur turning a love of farming into a successful business enterprise
Innocentia Maine, founder of MIS Poultry Farm (South Africa)
Africa needs more women entrepreneurs helping to address the continent’s food security challenges, and one such entrepreneur is Innocentia Maine, the founder of MIS Poultry Farm in South Africa. She is taking her love of farming and building a poultry business that she sees as the first step in creating a multi-faceted successful agribusiness of the future, and one that will hopefully inspire other aspirant women agripreneurs to follow in her footsteps.
Read moreSia Alexander - The startup story of a highly creative Nigerian social enterprise bringing joy to the marginalized Lagos youth
Sia Alexander, founder of Children’s Art Workshop (Nigeria)
For those underpriviliged young children and youth who live on the margins of the larger society in Nigeria, having the opportunity to be creative and enjoy being with others to express themselves artistically is a dream come true. One social enterprise is making this dream a reality - the Children’s Art Workshop in Lagos is the brainchild of social entrepreneur, Sia Alexander and is making a real difference to the lives of young people in underpriviliged communities.
Read moreLiz Atukunda and Bunda Anne Katende - The startup story of two young women entrepreneurs from Uganda who are creating authentic one-of-a-kind handbags
Liz Atukunda & Bunda Anne Katende, founders of BIIKA (Uganda)
Capturing the spirit of Africa is central to the vision of the women entrepreneurs behind the BIIKA brand, which celebrates Africa Rising by harnessing local creative talent and materials to create its uniquely Ugandan range of accessories.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Anna Savage
Anna Savage, founder of I ♥ Market, Durban, South Africa
"Mistakes are a brilliant learning curve."
- Anna Savage is the owner and founder of the popular I ♥ Market in Durban, South Africa, providing a platform once a month for local foodies and designers to showcase their products. Anna has turned her small artisan market into a hugely successful business that provides a wonderful showcase for Durban's innovative décor and design, delicious food and live entertainment offered to all, once a month.
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