Rwanda has recently been ranked the Best Place to be a Woman in Africa, according to the Global Gender Gap Report, and ranked 6th overall in the world in terms of closing gender gaps. It is also one of the most encouraging and supportive places to be a woman entrepreneur in Africa. Rwanda is highly progressive in seeing entrepreneurship as a key driver for transformation, economic development and business growth in the country, particularly for women. Here are 20 of the inspirational women entrepreneurs in the country who have captured our attention.
Read moreGloria Kamanzi Uwizera - The startup story of a rising star of the Rwandan design and interior decor scene, putting the country’s design talent on the global map
Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda)
Tapping into the growing global interest in African design, entrepreneur Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera is building an award-winning company, Glo Creations, that is celebrating traditional batik printing techniques but with a contemporary twist.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Jenna Clifford: People always remember client service - make sure it's great!
People always remember the client service you provide - good, or bad....
"People always remember service — whether it was exemplary or below standard, people will remember how they felt. As a brand — as part of our organisational culture — we have a strong desire to be known for our professionalism, memorable experiences and service excellence... we like to make people feel good! When I hear of a problem I try to sort it out immediately; customer service is so important to us. I often do cross-checks myself."
- Jenna Clifford is a world-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique designs and superlative craftsmanship. Established in 1992, her company has steadily grown its clientele and improved its profile to institute itself as a powerful force in the jewellery industry. Her bold and dramatic designs are sought after by some of the most recognised business icons and celebrities from around the world. Today, Jenna Clifford Designs employs around 70 people, including some of the finest jewellery artisans and craftsmen in South Africa.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tara Fela-Durotoye: Discover your unique purpose driven mission
Discover your unique purpose driven mission....
"Find yourself, your purpose in life. Don’t just get a job, do something that is tied to a purpose. Even if you get a job, let it be tied to a purpose .... I am learning every day that this is not just about making money or turning a profit. There are people who need my call and my assignment and I need desperately to answer to their voices."
- 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 morePascale Bukize - The startup story of a Rwandan TV production company lighting up the country’s TV screens with great content for women
Pascale Bukize, founder of Nawel Company Ltd (Rwanda)
There is something truly inspirational about women entrepreneurs who harness the real power of the media, in particularly TV and Radio, to empower women in their countries through positive messaging, great storytelling, and powerful women role-models. Rwandan entrepreneur, Pascale Bukize, and her fellow team members founded Nawel Company Ltd to produce not only great content and TV shows, but also to launch a pioneering show The Real Women Show, to uplift and inspire other women in the country.
Read moreDenise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza - The startup story of a Rwandan talent management company that believes in the power of tapping potential
Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, founders of RightSeat (Rwanda)
The challenge for any company or organisation is finding the right people and building great teams, and one entrepreneurial team is making this process a whole lot easier. Right Seat is a specialist talent management company in Rwanda, spearheaded by two young women entrepreneurs, Denise Umunyana and Celine Uwineza, who are focused on building a strong HR pipeline in the country.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Wendy Ackerman
Wendy Ackerman, co-founder of Pick n Pay, South Africa
"I would say that everybody can be a philanthropist. Its a very fancy word for helping your neighbour. The more you give, the more you get back.”
- Wendy Ackerman is one of the founders and an Executive Director of Pick n Pay Stores. Together with husband Raymond Ackerman she helped build up one of South Africa’s pre-eminent FMCG retailers, consisting of over 450 stores including 121 supermarkets and 14 hypermarkets. Operations are in food, clothing, and general merchandise sectors as well as financial services. The company operates throughout South Africa, southern Africa and Australia and employs around 49,000 people. Today, much of Wendy's boundless energy is devoted to her family's philanthropic endeavours and her personal work for the underprivileged.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Teta Isibo: Plan yes, but expect to be flexible
Teta Isibo, founder of Inzuki (Rwanda)
Planning is important, but be flexible....
"Plan before you start and always leave room for change because things will most likely not go exactly the way you want them to."
- Teta Isibo is the creative mind behind Inzuki a dynamic young Rwandan brand specializing in jewelry, accessories and interior decor hand-made primarily from local materials. With no background in fashion or business, Teta quit her job as an urban planner with the city of Kigali to start her own business. Today Inzuki (bees in the local language) is part of a wider Rwandan cultural Renaissance.
Read moreThokoza Mjo - The startup story of a social entrepreneur with a passion for providing economic opportunities for South Africa’s teenagers
Thokoza Mjo, founder of Beyond the Lemonade Stand (South Africa)
South Africa’s future economic prosperity depends on its young people making active contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. Yet with unemployment being a major challenge, the future lies in creating a new generation of entrepreneurs who can make a difference. Beyond the Lemonade Stand, the brainchild of founder Thokoza Mjo, is a social venture looking to do just that!
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Carrol Boyes: Don't panic when your loan request is turned down
How to respond when your loan application is turned down and funds are tight....
“In retrospect, that was most likely a good thing as it forced me to be extremely conservative. As far as materials and equipment were concerned, I bought only what I could afford. The initial expansion of the business was definitely curtailed by the fact that I did not have access to huge sums of money.”
- Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.
Read moreVIDEO: Ally Angula's story
Ally Angula, Group Managing Director and Chief Strategist of Leap Holdings, talks about her business and the challenges she faced when building a sustainable agribusiness. And what fashion has to do with it? Watch the video and learn more.
Read moreEssential Read: Go Against the Flow by Charu Sharma
Charu Sharma, author and founder of Go Against the Flow
An innovative and ground-breaking new book brings together wisdom from several established and up and coming women business leaders who share their candid and introspective insights on how to become a successful entrepreneur. From getting started on concept, building technology, hiring, getting funded and scale, to finally launching a business with success, this book is a must-own for every budding entrepreneur.
Read moreRoxanne Edson - The startup story of a social entrepreneur inspired to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and in foster care in South Africa
Roxanne Edson, founder of Hidden Halos (South Africa)
The challenge of dealing with the effects of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and the devastating impact it can have on the lives of innocent children, is a major one in South Africa. Social entrepreneur Roxanne Edson, and her team of supporters at Hidden Halos, are working tirelessly to champion foster care advocacy and support for those children affected by the syndrome.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Work out what success means for you
You need to be clear about what success means to you personally....
“First, success for me is a journey. It is not a place you would say you have reached. It is not only about money, it is not about awards or accolades. It is about what you stand for, what your values are. For me, there has to be a wholesome definition to success.”
- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.
Read moreCôte d’Ivoire crowdlending woman entrepreneur wins E4Impact Business Model Competition in Abidjan
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 more