Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa

July 13, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Sunshine Cinema, Africa’s first solar-powered mobile cinema network, bridging storytelling, activism and youth empowerment

Sydelle Willow Smith is a storyteller, impact producer, and co-founder of Sunshine Cinema—Africa’s first solar-powered mobile cinema network. A 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award finalist, Sydelle’s work bridges storytelling and activism, empowering youth in under-resourced communities to become media entrepreneurs and drive dialogue through film. With a background in African Studies and documentary filmmaking, she is passionate about reclaiming narrative spaces and amplifying voices from the margins.

Kelly Jean Valigy, a dynamic marketing and communications professional building a creative powerhouse in Mozambique

June 13, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Kelly Jean Ouchim Valigy, Founder & General Director, Jean Consulting & Services (Mozambique)

Kelly Jean Ouchim Valigy is a dynamic marketing and creative professional with a strong background in strategic planning and communications. As the Founder & General Director of Jean Consulting & Services in Mozambique, she leads a forward-thinking team that delivers creative marketing solutions tailored to help brands stand out in competitive markets. With extensive experience in marketing and copy editing, Kelly has successfully navigated roles in account management, community engagement, and content creation. Her expertise spans various industries, where she has spearheaded branding initiatives, digital marketing strategies, and impactful campaigns.

Schneidine Phidelmond, an entrepreneur building a holistic digital agency supporting WSMEs and SMEs in Mozambique

June 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Schneidine Phidelmond, founder and Creative Explorer, MUSA Moz MEDIA (Mozambique)

Schneidine Phidelmond is the founder and Creative Explorer of MUSA Moz MEDIA, a holistic digital agency founded in 2022 and based in Mozambique. With over a decade of experience in media, including skills in sound engineering, audiovisual production, graphic design, and branding, she launched MUSA to support women entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southern Africa and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Multilingual and self-taught, Schneidine offers a sensitive and multidisciplinary approach to digital visibility and content creation. MUSA embodies her belief that creativity, culture, and sisterhood can fuel sustainable growth and inspiration. MUSA stands for: Mission, Ubuntu, Sorority, and Authenticity.

Ady Namaran Coulibaly, an ardent promoter of African languages, facilitating language inclusion for the continent’s people

February 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

**Ady Namaran Coulibaly, Co-Founder, Bolingo Consult**

Ady Namaran Coulibaly is Co-Founder and Quality and Compliance Manager of Bolingo Consult, a language services company established in 2019, which currently has offices in Ghana and Rwanda and a 10-person strong workforce. Through Bolingo Consult, Ady supports organisations and businesses looking to engage populations in Africa in their mother tongues and expand their reach within the continent. Ady is an ardent promoter of African languages, having co-founded the African Languages Conference.

Pearl Tsheko, a leader in graphic design and creative print ideas for businesses in Botswana

October 13, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Pearl Tsheko, founder and ceo, Black Fabrick (Botswana)

Pearl Tsheko is the founder and ceo of Black Fabrick in Botswana. Through her company, she provides high-quality business imaging, marketing, and branding services, catering to a diverse clientele ranging from startups to multinational corporations.

Sheillah Siima, a Tanzanian entrepreneur publishing resources and tools to help make daily life more organized

September 22, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Sheillah Siima, creative head and founder, Sheillah Publications (Tanzania)

Sheillah Siima is the creative head and founder of Sheillah Publications located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is also a self-publisher, author, and is professionally an editor for print media. Her company publishes a range of resources, tools, and journals to help businesses and individuals manage their lives more effectively.

Vuyolwethu Reoagile, a South African communications agency with a passion for storytelling and digital innovation

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Vuyolwethu Reoagile, founder, RR Comms (South Africa)

Vuyolwethu Reoagile is the founder of RR Comms, an aspirational communications agency in South Africa. With a passion for storytelling and digital innovation, Vuyolwethu has built RR Comms into a dynamic team dedicated to delivering creative and strategic communications solutions. Her expertise spans business writing, digital campaign management, and paid ads management. The business has created jobs for 4 people.

Kutloano Skosana, a South African creative entrepreneur harnessing the power of storytelling

April 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Kutloano Skosana, Creator and Host, Shades and Layers (South Africa/USA)

Kutloano Skosana is a creative entrepreneur from South Africa, now based in the US. She is the Creator and Host of Shades and Layers, a podcast dedicated to the stories of Black and Other Women of Color entrepreneurs across the globe. Kutloano’s media career began in radio journalism after she graduated from Rhodes University shortly after the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. She worked at 702, Kaya FM, Metro FM and SAFM between 1996 and 2008. Alongside her radio career, she was sharpening her entrepreneurial skills with her business partners, Maria McCloy and Dzino at their groundbreaking multimedia company, Black Rage Productions.

Palesa Mkhulisi, a South African PR and marketing entrepreneur focused on creating value for clients

February 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Palesa Mkhulisi, founder, The Link PR and Marketing Solutions (South Africa)

Palesa Mkhulisi is the founder of The Link PR and Marketing Solutions in South Africa, a business focused on helping start-ups to create value, build long-term sustainability, and bring positive changes to their communities through tailored marketing and PR solutions. She is a 24-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for social development and a commitment to solving real-world problems. Raised in Soweto a township in Johannesburg she developed an early appreciation for the power of community and the impact that businesses can have on society. Beyond her role as an entrepreneur, Palesa actively participates in various community outreach programs and advising young business leaders. She is dedicated to fostering the next generation of socially aware entrepreneurs.

Omoyemi Akerele, a Nigerian creative economy change agent

October 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Style House Files/Lagos Fashion Week, two powerful business platforms advancing Nigerian and African Fashion industries

Omoyemi Akerele is an experienced, renowned creative economy change agent and social entrepreneur with over 20 years of notable achievements in the areas of youth development, job creation, circular fashion development, showcasing and discovering talent and creating access to the market globally for Africa's evolving textile and apparel industry. Omoyemi drives change across the ecosystem through her current position as Founder and CEO at Style House Files, Lagos Fashion Week where she applies core economic development principles to connect the missing gaps that exist within the African textile and apparel ecosystem such as capacity-building, skills development, access to capital, infrastructural development, artisanal skills preservation and closing the loop.

Masanda Peter, a South African magazine publisher shining a spotlight on the stories of mineworkers

October 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Masanda Peter, founder, Mineworker Magazine

Masanda Peter is a qualified, seasoned Marketing, Media and Communications Professional and a serial entrepreneur in South Africa who has launched a magazine publishing venture, Mineworker Magazine, focusing on sharing the untold stories of mineworkers. For a long time, mineworkers have not had their side of the story covered and through this magazine their stories will be shared. Masanda has a journalism background having embarked on her Journalism studies and completed her International Diploma in Journalism.

Betty David, a Kenyan media entrepreneur telling remarkable stories through video production

October 8, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Betty David, founder, Spot Africa Media (Kenya)

Spot Africa Media, a production house founded by media entrepreneur, Betty David, based in Nairobi-Kenya and a business which has been in operation since 2016. This highly reputable video production company has a track record and a great desire to tell remarkable stories. Betty and her team pride themselves in every shot, edit, and decision that is executed with a lot of care. Founder Betty David’s own journey is exemplified by her unyielding passion to serve humanity and to impact lives positively.

Gemiene Mueni, a Kenyan PR specialist helping brands tell their stories

September 24, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Gemiene Mueni, founder, Click'd Age Consultancy (Kenya)

Gemiene Mueni, a Kenyan PR communication consultant and the founder of Click'd Age Consultancy (CAC_PR), is passionate about helping remarkable brands tell their stories. As a consultant, she helps brands create great content that people choose to talk about. Her dedication to her work is evident in the outstanding results she has consistently achieved for her clients. CAC_PR is very dear to her heart for it's not only helping remarkable brands tell their stories, but it's the connection she has with her clients. They Click!

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s one-stop language shop, EditA Services, launches its new venture, Jomi Books

July 16, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Mignionette Fair, founder, EditA Services (South Africa)

South Africa’s EditA Services, a one-stop language shop for business, has announced the launch of its new product arm, Jomi Books! Founder Mignionette Fair says there is so much more to discover about her business under this new venture, with the first "discovery" being a children's ebook called ‘It's Time’. This colourful story is the perfect addition to bedtime and especially for families who are expanding. There are hopefully many more books to come from Jomi Books, so watch this space!

Nomsa Mdhluli, a South African communications specialist with a talent for storytelling

July 2, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Nomsa Mdhluli, founder, Tishala Communications (South Africa)

Nomsa Mdhluli is the founder of Tishala Communications in South Africa, a boutique Digital Marketing and Public Relations agency. She is an award-winning broadcaster who has a knack for storytelling, and translated this skill into Public Relations through her business. In 2018, Nomsa established Tishala Communications to serve corporate clients who deserved to have their ground-breaking business ideas, innovations and successes brought to public and business attention.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Yellow Owl launches a first-of-its-kind in South Africa silent podcast for both deaf and hearing audiences

June 25, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Thuli Zikalala, founder, Yellow Owl (South Africa)

Regular attendees at Lionesses of Africa webinars will recognize the inspirational name and face of Yellow Owl founder, Thuli Zikalala, the pioneering entrepreneur creating inspiring digital content for both Deaf and Hearing audiences. Her latest innovation is the launch of a first-of-its-kind in South Africa silent 10 episode podcast series which captures the stories, experiences, culture and shared values within the Deaf community. Deaf presenters Lerato Maake ka Mncube & Daline 'Crazy D' Maasdorp engage with guests, both Deaf and hearing from different backgrounds, to shape a new narrative about the Deaf community. The name is a word play that invites audiences into the silent world seen through the eyes of Deaf people. Taking a spin on the audio nature of podcasts - ours is visual: the hands become a voice. Expect intimate, informative, inspirational and entertaining conversations shared by influential people within the Deaf community.

Florence Achado, an impact communications change-maker in Nigeria

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Vee69, a Nigerian communications agency dedicated to utilizing media and communication for positive social change.

Florence Achado is the founder and managing director of Vee69, a growing media and communications agency in Nigeria, established in 2015 and today employing 15 people. Through her business, she has worked on numerous projects and campaigns that have served to raise awareness and promote positive change in local communities. She is deeply committed to making a difference and improving the lives of others, harnessing her passion and the power of the media to drive positive change. Florence believes that effective communication is the key to bringing about positive change in communities, and she is committed to utilizing her skills and expertise to make a significant and long-lasting impact. Florence is also the Chairman of the Yvonne Achado Foundation (YAF), a non-profit organization committed to combating gender-based violence.

Camille Storm, a dynamic Kenyan music entrepreneur elevating African musical talent to new heights

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Angela "Camille Storm" Kariuki, founder of CNC Distro and Camille and Company Limited (Kenya)

Angela "Camille Storm" Kariuki is a dynamic music executive with a passion for East African talent and the founder of CNC Distro and Camille and Company Limited. Her career started with the founding of "The Camille Way" music blog and grew to include Camille & Co., a boutique talent and PR agency that represents ground-breaking artists such as Blaqbonez and Lojay. Camille's latest venture, C&C Distro, is a digital music distribution and market platform for emerging artists. She has gained recognition from publications such as The Fader and Apple Music, and became an official juror at the AFRIMA Awards in 2022, solidifying her status as a leading force in the music industry, and elevating African music to new heights.

Nelly Paulser, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a client centric graphic design business

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Nelly Paulser, co-founder, Graphic House Zim (Zimbabwe)

Nelly Paulser is an Events Branding Designer and the co-founder of a graphic design, printing, branding and events business in Zimbabwe called Graphic House Zim. She is an Alumni of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs, a Geneza School of Design Scholar, a recipient of a Tony Elumelu Foundation grant, one of the 503 African Women Entrepreneur Finalists selected by Women In Africa for training and mentorship, and now a UPG Biashara Candidate - Class of 2023. She is also a winner of the 100 Voices For Our Planet Award and was nominated for Women Changing the World Awards presented by Dr Tererai Trent. She is also an ImpactHer Ambassador for Zimbabwe. Above all this she is a wife and a mother to three beautiful children.

How to gain external validation to grow your confidence in your business

February 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

In my earlier blog for Lionesses of Africa, What Exactly is Media Relations, I said there are at least eight mega benefits of media relations for any business to consider:

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