the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Lori Rosenkopf
Book Review
In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, shatters these limiting perceptions, revealing an array of entrepreneurial paths that are open to anyone with the drive to create value through innovation. Drawing from her thirty-year career and interactions with more than 20,000 students, Rosenkopf offers a compelling roadmap for entrepreneurial success.
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Lebo Biko, co-founder, Oya Foods (South Africa)
Startup Story
Lebo Biko is the co-founder of Oya Foods, part of Oya Group, which champions women-led innovation in the agri-food value chain. Founded in 2020, Oya Foods produces African-inspired, shelf-stable dried foods using ingredients primarily sourced from women farmers and suppliers. The company’s mission is to reduce food waste and modernize indigenous food systems. With over 25 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and governance, Lebo is passionate about sustainability, inclusive growth, and driving meaningful change. Through Oya Group, she is helping build a future where women thrive, African food culture is celebrated, and innovation transforms food systems.
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Hon. Tiguidanke Traore, founder, ToutesLeaders (Guinea)
Startup Story
Hon. Tiguidanke Traore is the change-making founder of ToutesLeaders in Guinea, a non-partisan citizen movement committed to reinvigorating democracy through the power of female leadership. Its shared values are: social justice and entrepreneurship.She is a graduate of the ISSIC School of Journalism in Dakar, Senegal, specializing in Corporate and Social Communication. After gaining extensive experience in administration as an administrative employee for the municipality of Chaudfontaine in Belgium, she embarked on a business venture in 2010 by creating her own label, "COCOSTYLE," which promotes community living through inclusive fashion inspired by Afro-European cultures. She launched her own e-commerce business and participated in the civic engagement of the African diaspora by leveraging the rich cultural diversity in the Liège region (BELGIUM). She also invested internationally by opening her first showroom in Casablanca, Morocco. She has created jobs for 120 people through her business and organisation.
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by Jenny Reid
In today's competitive job market, having the right tools for employee screening is essential. One tool gaining popularity in South Africa is the integrity test offered by iFacts, the official provider of these assessments from INTEG. These tests focus on reliability, validity, and fairness, ensuring organisations can effectively evaluate potential employees.
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by Ntsoaki Sibiya
Have you ever met someone who changed the trajectory of your life with just a few words? Maybe it was a teacher who believed in you when no one else did. Or a leader who saw potential in you that you hadn't yet recognized. These individuals weren’t just advisors; they were influencers in the truest sense. They understood the science of influence—the art of shaping perspectives, nurturing potential, and igniting transformation.
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by Dr. Memuna Williams, DBA
Navigating the complexities of geopolitical changes presents unique challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is important to reiterate that SMEs are not just scaled-down versions of larger corporations, and that they play a complementary role in society alongside their larger counterparts.
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by Dr Michélle Booysen
“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” – Proverb
Bottlenecks are process weak points that slow down operations, cause delays, and frustrate customers. Identifying and addressing these inefficiencies is essential to improving performance and customer satisfaction. With a process-driven mindset, businesses can pinpoint bottlenecks, eliminate waste, and streamline workflows for smoother service delivery.
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Valecia Sambo, founder, Daily Sambo Services (South Africa)
Startup Story
Valecia Sambo is the visionary founder of Daily Sambo Services, a South African-based company revolutionizing sustainable water solutions. With a proven track record as a seasoned entrepreneur, Valecia's business has been making waves in the industry since its inception in 2023. As a pioneering plumber, Valecia is breaking barriers in the male-dominated construction and plumbing sectors. Her commitment to empowering local communities is evident in her business, which employs seven individuals, including women from the surrounding areas.
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Inez Ferreira, founder, IF Property Solutions (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)
Startup Story
Inez Ferreira is the founder of IF Property Solutions (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, a business with over 75 years of combined experience, and a trusted partner for all property-related services. This expert team excels in everything from building plans and town planning to architecture, engineering, and sectional title management, with clients’ glowing feedback speaking to the company’s commitment to excellence and quality. Inez launched the business in 2024, creating jobs for 8 people.
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Morongwe Mokone
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Mo's Crib, a sustainable homeware manufacturing company in South Africa turning handcrafted design into a multinational business
Mo’s Crib is a home décor and design company specializing in practical handmade items using recycled materials, based in South Africa. Mo’s Crib manufactures sustainable homeware for the global market and is currently the largest exporter of African crafts in Africa. Deeply passionate about sustainability, the company has turned Morongwe Mokone’s, Co-Founder of Mo’s Crib and winner of the 2024 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot, love for handcrafted design into a multinational business with award-winning products in department stores around the world. One basket at a time, Morongwe weaves the way forward driving innovation and leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
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What we’re loving this week
In this week’s spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, we are showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable, quality products that discerning and impact-driven customers want to buy. Catching our attention this week are: Harem in South Africa, founded by Rayana Edwards, a business creating a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics; The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano, an online store creating customized gift items and eye-catching potted plants, all locally sourced and made in Kenya; Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde, a luxury fashion brand renowned for its signature soft silks and ethereal chiffons that form delicate drapings and flowing silhouettes; Dokmai Rwanda, founded by Bernadette Umunyana, a business producing a range of high quality leather fashion accessories that are proudly made and designed in Rwanda; and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, a fruit processing, packaging and distribution company focused on being the 'leading fruit agribusiness in Nigeria’.
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Adeolu Adewumi-Zer
Book review
Adeolu Adewumi-Zer’s new book, Afro-Optimism Unleashed, is just what the African continent’s women entrepreneurs need right now during these challenging and uncertain times. For all those women business builders who are passionate about driving their African businesses forward, but feel like they’re stuck in neutral, this is the book for you.
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by Jenny Reid
World Backup Day, observed on the 31st of March, reminded businesses globally, to protect their data from theft, loss or corruption and focuses on how essential it is that data protections are as comprehensive as possible.
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by Dr. Memuna Williams, DBA
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up approximately 90% of businesses worldwide, and play a pivotal role in economic development and employment. Given shifting geopolitical landscapes—from trade tensions to international aid cuts—these businesses must recognize and address the emotional and mental well-being of their stakeholders. This is particularly crucial at a time when geopolitical changes are already having an impact.
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by Ntsoaki Sibiya
Have you ever paused to think about the impact you are making—not just today, but in the years to come? Legacy isn’t just about wealth or status; it’s about the lives you touch, the lessons you pass on, and the path you pave for others. True leaders don’t just build businesses or careers; they build people. And the most profound way to do that is through mentorship.
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by Dr Michélle Booysen
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” – Peter Drucker
Processes are the foundation of operational efficiency, but without measurable data, businesses risk making decisions based on assumptions rather than insights. Metrics provide a clear, objective view of how well processes are performing and where improvements are needed. By tracking the right metrics, one can identify inefficiencies, enhance performance, and drive continuous improvement.
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Michele Carelse, Founder, Feelgood Health and Clinical Psychologist (South Africa)
Lioness Launch
Feelgood Health is a natural remedies company that specialises in herbal and homeopathic remedies and essential oils for babies, children, adults, and even the family pet. The company’s mission is to make natural alternatives widely available to everyone and to promote the use of safe, natural holistic alternatives for better health outcomes. Feelgood Health products are available online as well as in health shops, pharmacies, vet shops and retail stores throughout South Africa.
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What we’re loving this week
In this week’s spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, we are showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable, quality products that discerning and impact-driven customers want to buy. Catching our attention this week are: Brincadeira, a vibrant earrings brand with an exclusive design approach, located in Maputo, Mozambique and founded by Nuria Arbelo; Dounia Home the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper; Mariée Eventos, the specialist wedding planning and eventing business based in Mozambique, founded by Iris Lezi Munguambe; Mulandi Brindes, a niche floral design company based in Mozambique and founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete; and artisan chocolatier Mon Choco based in Cote d’Ivoire, founded by Dana Mroueh.
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Nokuphila Gumede, CEO and founder, Field Tech Environmental Solutions (South Africa)
Startup Story
Nokuphila Gumede is the CEO and founder of Field Tech Environmental Solutions, a pioneering South African company that integrates advanced drone technology with precision agriculture. Since founding the business in 2021, she has led its growth, providing farmers with cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions for crop management. Under her leadership, Field Tech has expanded to employ 10 permanent staff and deliver services such as pesticide spraying, fertilizer application, and farm mapping. A recognized leader, Nokuphila has won numerous awards, including the 2024 Green Youth Innovators Pitch, and was a finalist in both the Standard Bank EmpowerHer Awards and National Presidential Awards.
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Pretty Kubyane, Co-Founder, eFama App (South Africa)
Startup Story
Pretty Kubyane, a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and Tech Lead, is the Co-Founder of eFama App, launched in 2023. Inspired by her late father’s business ventures, she began her entrepreneurial journey at six. Holding 20+ certifications in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain, she leads eFama in transforming Africa’s agricultural supply chain. Under her leadership, eFama has secured backing from major companies in the USA, UK, and South Africa, including banks and tech firms. Named a Rising Star in 2022, Pretty drives innovation and social impact across Africa, together with her team of 7 employees, supported by a strong network of industry experts, investors and advisors.
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