the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Alice da Silva
Not to be confused with the prison term reference, by ‘serving my time’ I mean that I visualize my time as a sort of pie. There is only a certain amount, which I can divide into slices and serve accordingly. And I try to choose carefully, because it’s easy to get distracted.
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by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation
I realized something the other day. I was so miserable, wondering if my job fulfilled me and if entrepreneurship is worth it. I was tired of feeling anxious, tight deadlines and constant cultivating relationships. Have you ever just wanted to stumble across a few million Rands and then switch off your phone? Spend your money and not worry about anything? Well, that was me, unmotivated and frustrated.
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Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa)
Start small…
Melanie Finch Keshwar & Ann Finch, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa)
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Dirce Abdala, founder of D-Fruit (Mozambique)
Being inspired by Mozambique’s wonderful array of fresh fruit led to the creation of an added-value enterprise, D-Fruit, founded by Dirce Abdala. Today she is extending the value of the fruit by producing healthy snacks that celebrate the raw ingredients but in a convenient, eat at any time, form.
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Mirriam Murenga, co-founder of Trudy Mara (Zimbabwe)
Everyone loves a great handbag, and particularly one that stands out due to the craftsmanship shown in its creation. So for all those searching for a unique handbag that is the epitome of exquisite handicraft, Trudy Mara is the brand to look out for. Founders Mirriam Murenga and her sister Getrude are on a mission to introduce the beauty of macramé to discerning, stylish women customers.
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Thandekile Moloko, founder of Simwealth (South Africa)
Managing personal and corporate finances for growth and creating generational wealth can be a challenge for any entrepreneur or business. But specialist advisory help is now at hand from South African finance expert and business coach, Thandekile Moloko, founder of Simwealth. This month sees the launch of a new series of financial literacy and coaching programmes for both individuals and corporates alike.
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On a hot summer’s day in New York on 16 July, Lionesses of Africa Founder and CEO, Melanie Hawken, was at the United Nations to participate in a number of high level discussions as part of the Companies to Inspire Africa New York Day. One of the highlights of the day was the Senior Ministerial Roundtable event, co-hosted by UK and Kenya UN missions on supporting investment into Africa, where Melanie had the opportunity to speak about mobilizing investment for women entrepreneurs across the African continent.
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Lindsay Teague Moreno
If you need to put your business on the map and get the ideas you’ve previously only dreamed about into the marketplace, then Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno is the book for you. It will help you overcome your fears of starting out in business, and the guilt of embarking on this crazy entrepreneurial journey, to find a fulfillment that changes you and your families lives for the better. And it will help you break free of the hard and boring in business and allow you to have fun along the way.
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by Marta Mulungo
If you are reading this blog post, chances are that you are an adult and as such, there is at least one thing that you desire in life. Human beings are goal orientated and this means that regardless of the level of achievement they are in, there is something else that they desire, it is how we are wired and we cannot get away from it, and it’s a good thing – it took us from the stone age, to the current digital era, it took us from carriages and horses to airplanes and space travel…
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by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
The word ‘passion’ has become a huge buzzword lately. Experts sharing their tips on how to discover your calling, your passion, your purpose for being on this planet. What I have found is that this is starting to become a destructive word. It creates this huge sense of fear – ‘what if I am not doing the thing I meant to be doing?’ It makes the present moment insignificant, it’s this thing we need to get through in order to get to the next more important moment because maybe we’ll discover it then. It has the ability to create huge self-doubt because the word passion indicates there is ONE thing we should be doing and that we should instantly know what that thing is.
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Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona
It was a love of linen and an attention to detail that first fired Bernie de Le Cuona’s desire to create beautiful fabrics. Today, her company and brand, de Le Cuona, is a renowned purveyor of luxury textiles for interiors with a 25-year history. The company sources the finest fibres from around the world to create exquisitely understated linen, wool paisley, velvet, silk, cashmere and alpaca.
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Solar Sister, the company that has spent the last decade helping bring clean energy to rural homes in Africa, and founded by Katherine Lucey its CEO, has now earned global recognition courtesy of an international award for projects and organizations dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Sister is one of two winners of the 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for energy access, an honor that comes with $25,000 that the nonprofit plans to use to continue supporting local, female entrepreneurs with clean energy businesses in Africa.
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Iconic US retailer Bloomingdale’s has launched the latest rendition of The Carousel Bloomingdale’s: Style Kingdom. From July 11th – September 2nd. The Carousel, a rotating pop-up shop driven by culturally relevant themes with a dynamic merchandise mix hand-selected by guest curators, guides shoppers to discover something new with each visit. This time around Florence Kasumba, the German-Ugandan actress who plays the role of Shenzi the hyena, in the upcoming film Disney’s The Lion King, serves as guest curator. She has tapped into her love of African fashion to identify select items that capture the spirit of the savanna. Leading African women entrepreneur brands such as Ghana’s luxury accessory brand AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi; Swaziland’s accessory and homeware brand Khokho, founded by Philippa Thorne, Zinhle Vilakati and Sepna Shah; and South African luxury homeware brand, Carrol Boyes, founded by the designer herself.
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Skills development in the automotive and mechanics sectors in South Africa is greatly needed in order to create sustainable economic opportunities for people. The Knowledge is Your K.E.Y Academy, otherwise known as KiYK, founded by entrepreneur Sizalobuhle Helen Dube in Pretoria, South Africa, is launching some exciting new skills development and training programmes.
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Michelle Adelman, founder of Accite Holdings (Botswana)
One of the biggest challenges facing the African continent is ensuring a strong agricultural sector that can assure future food security, and that challenge requires innovative entrepreneurs to come to the table with ideas. One such entrepreneur is Michelle Adelman, founder of Accite Holdings in Botswana, who is harnessing the power of technology combined with sustainable business and investment models to create fast growing solutions to meet the need for fresh produce and alternative sources of protein.
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Eki Okubanjo, founder of Eki Oris Fashion Company (Nigeria)
Building a successful brand in the fashion industry can be tough. But for Nigerian entrepreneur Eki Okubanjo, founder of Eki Oris Fashion Company, she is proof positive that it is possible by knowing your customers and their needs. Today, Eki is creating beautiful and practical clothing for both her discerning and chic women customers, and also their kids who want to look just as good.
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Ntsiki Mkhize
For author and social entrepreneur Ntsiki Mkhize, success is a journey we're all on and it looks different from moment to moment for each of us. In her new book, My Hall of Mentors, she shares her experience of understanding that the best way to learn, grow and succeed as entrepreneurs is to look at those who've gone before us and ask those who currently find themselves where we want to be. Then apply their lessons to our lives.
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by Madelaine Gomes (MsC.D)
Many of us are going through our day without even thinking about our mindset or the thoughts that we are entertaining and how these thoughts affect the results that we are creating. 90% of our thoughts a day are spent on past experiences, and only 10% of our thoughts a day is being spent on the actual now and tomorrow! Our thoughts are the most powerful tool and determine the direction and all outcomes of our lives.
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by Natasha Singh-Ally
Much can be said for being first or early to market. The success of my entire career has been premised on early adoption on my part, and I wobble with anticipation at what will transpire when I shift from conspicuous capitalism. I recognize that it is not enough to be philanthropic but to integrate and be a constructive participant adding social value.
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Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko (South Africa)
Make your business hours work for you and your clients…
Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko (South Africa)
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