On 19 March In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the E4Impact MBA was launched for the first time in French in October 2015 in collaboration with the Centre de Recherche et d’Action pour la Paix (CERAP), a Business Model Competition was launched by the programme. It was won by local woman entrepreneur, Anne-Auguste Andrée Stéphanie Nda, whose start-up business venture, Prosperité 2.0., aims to be the first crowdlending platform in Côte d’Ivoire.
Read moreNEWLY LAUNCHED: Tanzanian edupreneur, Faraja Nyalandu, founder of Shule Direct, introduces a new learning frontier in the country
Faraja Nyalandu, founder Shule Direct (Tanzania)
Shule Direct, a Tanzanian edtech startup producing world-class digital learning content, has just launched its newest product, MAKINI SMS, to the public. It is an SMS learning and revision platform for Secondary School students in Tanzania accessible via all types of phones, feature phones and smartphones.
Read moreJoycee Awojoodu - The startup story of an African luxury personal grooming brand fusing the continent’s beloved botanicals with scientific research
Joycee Awojoodu, founder ORÍKÌ (Nigeria)
As the fast developing world of personal grooming and skincare grows in Africa, so too does the desire to find products that harness the unique natural ingredients from the continent for their inspiration. One luxury brand, ORÍKÌ, is not only creating a range of products that truly celebrate Africa’s natural resources, but it also positively touches the lives of those who harvest those raw materials.
Read moreFrances Edwards - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur who quit the world of finance to create the finest handcrafted shoes and handbags
Frances Edwards, founder of House of Cinnamon (South Africa)
They say one of the most successful ways of building a company and a brand is to follow a passion, and in the case of South African entrepreneur Frances Edwards, that has certainly been the inspiration for the launch of her business, House of Cinnamon. Today, Frances is creating a unique luxury footwear and accessories brand, that celebrates the art of fine craftsmanship in Africa.
Read moreAKRAFO, a new socially responsible gourmet brand launched by the SWAADY Group
Swaady Martin, founder of AKRAFO
A new and lovingly created, socially responsible gourmet brand, AKRAFO, has just been launched by one of the leading AfroLuxe exponents on the continent, the SWAADY Group, headed by inspirational founder, Swaady Martin. AKRAFO offers a wide range of organic and natural products with wellness properties including teas & herbal teas, honey, jams, mineral water, oils, spices & condiments.
Read moreChristelle Kwizera - The startup story of a social entrepreneur on a mission to provide much-needed affordable water solutions in East Africa
Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda)
Water scarcity in Africa is a huge challenge today, but one young woman socialpreneur is building an enterprise that is looking to bring an answer that is both affordable and durable. Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda), a company providing essential water filtration solutions, is already making a difference in her country.
Read moreCarine-Zoe Umutoni - The startup story of a Rwandan fashion entrepreneur bringing a great sense of style combined with big ambitions to a proudly Rwandan fashion brand
Carine-Zoe Umutoni, founder of ONYX (Rwanda)
Developing a distinctive fashion brand which celebrates African fabric and inspiration with contemporary design that reflects the uniqueness of Rwanda, is what makes ONYX stand out in the marketplace. Founder Carine-Zoe Umutoni has a passion for her country which is only matched by her talent for creating must-wear garments which the fashion conscious want to own.
Read moreHow to be a powerful woman leader of the future
If there’s one thing you could ask your future self, what would it be? Perhaps you would ask for advice on how to be a better person or seize well-presented opportunities without hesitation. Would you ask your future self what you could have done to be a better leader? The wisdom of hindsight is infinite - and yet you’re still living in the here and now. Begin by visualising how and where you would like to see your future self.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Pam Golding
“I have always believed that women can do anything they set their hearts on”
- Pam Golding is one of Africa's most successful women entrepreneurs and an icon of the real estate industry. She founded Pam Golding Properties in South Africa in 1976 with no start-up capital and just a single sales assistant. The company now has over 300 offices in Africa as well as international offices in the UK, Germany, France and Mauritius. It is one of South Africa’s largest independent property trading companies with 2010 turnover of US$1.7 billion. Pam is now retired from active management, but remains the Life President of the company she founded.
Read moreWunmi Amokeodo - The startup story of a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur celebrating the country’s traditional fabrics in contemporary design
Wunmi Amokeodo, founder of Design for Love (Nigeria)
For many entrepreneurs, their businesses start with a passion or a need to address a key challenge that exists in the marketplace - in the case of talented Nigerian fashion design entrepreneur, Wunmi Amokeodo, founder of Design for Love (DFL), it was both of these factors.
Read moreBhavya Kalsi - The startup story of a Ugandan company and brand influenced by Indian roots
Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath, founders of KONA (Uganda)
KONA, the name of a unique new accessories and homeware company in Uganda was inspired by a mixture of cultures, the word literally meaning CORNER in Swahili Luganda and Hindi. So, from a little corner in Africa, two women entrepreneurs, are creating an exciting new brand with a distinctive personality.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Bushera Bashir - It's all about executing your vision
Bushera Bashir, founder of Trebene (South Africa)
Executing your vision is the true test for an entrepreneur....
"Focus on unraveling your passion, develop a compelling vision, and finally, and most importantly, create a thorough execution plan. A true test of an entrepreneur is not just creating the vision but executing it."
- Bushera Bashir is the founder of Trebene an ethical South African fashion label, designing, printing and handweaving luxury Cashmere scarves. Bushera combines the rich heritage of traditional Kashmiri textile weaving with contemporary designs creating truly unique products. At the heart of the business model lie the Kashmiri women weavers; the Trebene label invests up to 20% of its profits into the education of their children.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Sonia Mugabo: Find that one thing that you are really passionate about and go for it
Sonia Mugabo, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda
Find that one thing that you are really passionate about....
"My advice would be to find that one thing that you are really passionate about and go for it, it won’t be easy and even when you succeed, stay humble and remember to use your talents to serve others. At the end of the day it is not about you, but what you are doing for your people and your community. For me it is about creating jobs, and building a successful Rwandan Brand."
- Sonia Mugabo is the founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda , a fashion brand established in 2013. It was born out of Sonia’s strong interest in design; and the desire to tap into the existing local artisan talent to make high quality men and womenswear. Sonia Mugabo develops 2 collections each year, and all year round makes bespoke items for its clientele. A pioneer of Rwanda’s fashion industry; Sonia is setting the standard for Rwandan fashion in global and local markets.
Read moreApril is Focus on Women Fashionpreneurs Month
Africa’s creative women fashionpreneurs are putting the continent on the global map through their unique designs and approach to entrepreneurship and all this month Lionesses of Africa is celebrating the continent’s leading women in the business of fashion.
Read moreBernadette Umunyana - The startup story of a Rwandan leather fashion accessories company committed to Fair Trade principles and the training of young people
Bernadette Umunyana, founder of Dokmai Rwanda
A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for Made in Rwanda products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company and a brand that would celebrate the skills and raw materials of Rwanda. Today, her company is producing a range of high quality leather fashion accessories that are proudly made and designed in Rwanda, and custom tailored to meet the needs of the brand’s discerning customers.
Read moreEssential Read: 'The Accidental Entrepreneur - The Juicy Bits' by Janine Allis
Janine Allis, entrepreneur and author
The Accidental Entrepreneur tells the incredible and inspiring story of Janine Allis' journey from adventurous backpacker to becoming one of the world's foremost global businesswomen. In chronicling the challenges and triumphs of her story, Janine reveals step-by-step the essential tips for budding entrepreneurs wishing to change their life and turn their business dream into a highly-successful reality.
Read moreSonia Mugabo - The startup story of a fashion entrepreneur in Rwanda, building a strong men and womenswear brand that celebrates local artisan craftsmanship
Sonia Mugabo, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda
Recognising the high potential of the Rwandan fashion scene, and having a passion for mainstream and bespoke clothing design, was the inspiration for Sonia Mugabo to make the move and establish a new and exciting fashion company in the country. Her label, Sonia Mugabo (SM) is winning legions of new fashion conscious fans along the way.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Dr. Jennifer Riria
Dr. Jennifer Riria, CEO Kenya Women Holding
“You need to believe that tripping is not falling. You trip, you get up and you move on. Sometimes you break a toe, you wrap it and you move on.”
- 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.
Read moreNkem Okocha - The startup story of a Nigerian social entrepreneur empowering poor rural and urban women with free vocational skills and mobile loans
Nkem Okocha, founder of Mamamoni Limited (Nigeria)
Empowering women who come from low-income rural and urban backgrounds, but who have the potential to become independent micro-entrepreneurs, is the mission of Mamamoni Limited, a social enterprise founded by Nkem Okocha. She is providing a powerful combination of free vocational skills and mobile loans to help them on their way to becoming financially independent.
Read moreVideo: Tabitha Karanja - If women are empowered they will go places and can play an important role in growing the economy of their country
Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries in Kenya, talks about the importance of empowering women and allowing them to play a key role in growing the economy in their country.
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