Cecilia Birkenstock, an eventing and hospitality leader in South Africa

November 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Bright Idea Projects 2100 T/A Function Foods - Thembela Venue, a leading hospitality company and unique event venue in South Africa

At Thembela Venue in South Africa, the philosophy that true growth comes from stepping out of the comfort zone and into challenges which inspires greatness, and it is this philosophy that drove founder, Cecilia Birkenstock, to pursue her lifelong dream - of creating a unique venue on the North coast in KZN in South Africa. Recognizing a need for exceptional event spaces in the area, she set out to fill this gap with elegance and innovation. Cecilia is the founder and CEO of Functionfoods, and brings three decades of experience in hospitality to her business. With this wealth of experience, Cecilia embarked on her most exciting venture yet - establishing Thembela Venue. Thembela Venue is the culmination of Cecilia's dream. Through her dedication, innovation and clear vision, she has transformed her dream into a reality. Patrons place their trust in Cecilia and her team, confident in their ability to turn dream weddings into stunning realities. Cecilia's commitment to excellence ensures that every celebration reflects her client's vision, making Thembela Venue the ideal choice for unforgettable experiences where dreams truly come to life. The business, which was launched in 2008 has created jobs for 30 people.

Milena Barroca, a Mozambican entrepreneur specializing in business consulting and event organization

May 12, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Milena Barroca, founder, WH Impact (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Milena Barroca is an entrepreneur and business consultant with a background in Economics, and the founder of WH Impact, a company based in Mozambique. The business specializes in Business Consulting & Event Organization. With over 8 years of experience in Business Administration and Marketing, Milena, and her team drive business growth for success, connecting companies and individuals through impactful events. WH Impact adopts a philosophy of sustainable management, promoting significant and lasting growth for its clients.

Luisa Hussene, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a specialist floristry and floral gifting business

May 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Luisa Hussene, founder, Doce sal Serviços (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Luisa Hussene is the founder of Doce sal Serviços, a business dedicated to floristry, catering, and gift services in Mozambique. The company specializes in commemorative events offering clients a wide range of decoration, catering, and florist services. Luisa is based in Maputo, and also works as a marketing and advertising manager in a software company.

Mabusang Malotane, a South African entrepreneur building an event and entertainment project management business

May 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Mabusang Malotane, founder and ceo, Shai Boi Project Management Pty Ltd (South Africa)

Startup story

Mabusang Malotane is the founder and ceo of Shai Boi Project Management Pty Ltd, a company founded in 2017 and registered in South Africa, Rwanda, and Mauritius. She is also the founder of Shai Chai Organic Tea, an organic luxury tea brand design and the ultimate in artisan-crafted teas, exemplifying the level of elegant ambiance. She has over 14 years’ of experience in the event and entertainment industry and the financial industry.

Nadine Farrag, an Egyptian entrepreneur transforming the country’s wedding industry

November 6, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Nadine Farrag, CEO & Founder, Farahy (Egypt)

Startup Story

Nadine Farrag is the CEO & Founder of Farahy, the first and largest one-stop-hub for everything wedding related in Egypt. Since 2020, Nadine and the team have been utilizing technology to transform the Egyptian wedding industry from a very fragmented market to a one-stop service and product marketplace. During the process, they haven't only been helping out couples achieve their stress-free dream day, they've also been empowering women all over the industry by bridging the gap between them and their clients. Internally, they're very proud to have a 100% female team.

Lioness Launch / New event venue launched in Ghana focused on customer relaxation needs

October 2, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Patience Maame Mensah, founder, Self Indulgence Company Limited (Ghana)

Lioness Launch

For customers looking for an event venue in Accra, Ghana for that special occasion, then Patience Maame Mensah, founder of Self Indulgence Company Limited, the multi-faceted home maintenance and property management agency with specialist nanny services and events offerings, has launched an exciting new venue.

Yoadan Tilahun, an entrepreneur turning eventing passion into profit

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Flawless Events, an award-winning market-leader transforming Ethiopia’s events industry

Yoadan Tilahun is the founder and CEO of Flawless Events in Ethiopia, a company specializing in conceptualizing, organizing, and executing corporate and government events. Yoadan is a seasoned entrepreneur and award-winning business leader who has transformed Ethiopia's events industry. She founded the business in Ethiopia in 2008, turning her passion that was ignited in 2004 in Washington, DC into a successful business on the continent. Flawless Events employs 14 staff with the majority of young women. Yoadan has an MBA in International Business, is fluent in three languages, is married to a supportive husband, and is raising three sons.

Jessica Lairs, a Mozambican event planner creating memorable customer occasions

March 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Jessica Lairs, founder, D'Lairs Encantos E.I (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Jessica Lairs is the founder of D'Lairs Encantos E.I, an event planning and decoration company in Mozambique. She started her entrepreneurship journey in 2019 with a combination of passion and good leadership skills. Today she has six permanent employees and six employees for occasional events. Her team is composed of men and women aged from 21 to 57 years of age. She brings to her entrepreneurial journey 9 years of experience in the job market as a trader and manager and has always worked with women in different areas.

Tatenda Rungisa, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur with a passion for catering and event management

February 20, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Tatenda Rungisa, co-founder, Twin Connect Solutions (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Twin Connect Solutions, founded by entrepreneur Tatenda Rungisa and her sister Tafadzwa, is a catering and event management business in Zimbabwe, specializing in creating special celebration cakes and event memories for clients. They are also involved in charity work, motivational speaking, blogging and mentorship programs.

Iris Lezi Munguambe, Mozambique’s wedding and event planner extraordinaire

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Mariée Eventos Lda, a specialist business creating happy endings for clients with big event dreams

Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos, is a 31 year old Mozambican woman entrepreneur, dreamer and Event Planner. She built her company, originally named Mariée Boutique, but now known as Mariée Eventos in 2013. Her inspiration came from watching the well-known movie, "The Wedding Planner.” She then designed her business specifically to meet the needs of, and to appeal to, Mozambican culture. Since a young age, she planned small events and designed invitations, so perhaps the entrepreneurial bug was there from the start. As someone who loves happy endings, Iris chose to build her business in the wedding and events industry as a way of helping to make clients’ dreams a reality.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Emeraldstone Events launches a one-stop-shop for wedding fashion and event design

February 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Khomotso Talane, founder of Emeraldstone Events (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

In South Africa, entrepreneur and creative design force, Khomotso Talane, founder of Emeraldstone Events, has launched a one-stop-shop to make the whole wedding outfit design and event planning experience so much easier for happy couples and their families.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s More Than Golf launches inaugural event to showcase talented caddies

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Great golfers need great caddies. Ask anyone who plays professionally and they will tell you that the role of the caddy is critical to their own performances. But they often don’t get the recognition or support they deserve. In Johannesburg, South Africa, a new golf event is being launched on 8 March 2020 to shine a spotlight on talented caddies who have a great game of their own.

LIONESS LAUNCH / New golf competition launches in South Africa to celebrate the end of a busy business year

November 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

South African entrepreneur, Didintle Motsuenyane, founder of More Than Golf (Pty) Ltd, has just announced the launch of an exciting new golfing event in the country’s economic capital, Gauteng, to mark what has been a hard, busy business year. Experienced golfers and corporate weekend golfing enthusiasts alike, are invited to participate as part of their wind down for the year. Founder, Didintle Motsuenyane, is keen to encourage women entrepreneur golfers to take part too.

Dieketseng Mangope, a South African wedding planner making clients’ dreams come true

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Dieketseng Mangope, founder of Grace Wedding Supplies (South Africa) — **Dieketseng Mangope**, founder of Grace Wedding Supplies (South Africa)

As everyone knows, one of the most stressful occasions can be a wedding. There are huge expectations, big dreams to fulfill, and everyone is emotional. That’s where great wedding planners and specialists come in. For one South African entrepreneur, Dieketseng Mangope, founder of By Grace Wedding Supplies, other people’s big days are where she comes to the rescue and takes all the stress away with her specialist wedding supply and event management services.

Aphiwe Madlavu, a South African event planner creating memorable eventing experiences for all occasions

January 18, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Aphiwe Madlavu, founder of AP Royalty Events Management (South Africa)

Harnessing your practical experience and a particular skills-set is always a good foundation for a business. At AP Royalty Events Management in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, entrepreneur Aphiwe Madlavu is using her knowledge and expertise in the field of event management to build a business with great potential.

Elsa Chissano, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for creating special occasion events

January 12, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Elsa Chissano, founder of Katike Serviços (Mozambique)

Those special occasions in life and in business deserve special events with which to celebrate, and in Mozambique, Katike Serviços founded by entrepreneur Elsa Chissano is bringing her clients’ event dreams to reality.

Íris Munguambe, a Mozambican entrepreneur creating events to make her client’s wedding dreams come true

July 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Iris Munguambe, founder of Mariée Boutique Lda (Mozambique) — **Iris Munguambe**, founder of Mariée Boutique Lda (Mozambique)

Mariée Boutique Lda is a specialist event and wedding planning company, founded by passionate entrepreneur Iris Munguambe in Mozambique. It is rapidly building a reputation for creating beautiful events for its clients, all with that personal touch and a great attention to detail. This is a company inspired each day to make clients’ special days truly memorable.

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, a Mozambican entrepreneur making events and celebrations memorable

May 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes (Mozambique) — **Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete**, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes (Mozambique)

Everyone organising a celebration or a special event wants to make it memorable, and that takes a huge amount of creativity. For Mozambican entrepreneur, Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, founder of Dali Banga and Mulandi Brindes, she found a gap in the market to create two successful brands providing the solution.

Masana Sangweni, a South African event planner passionate about making moments memories

March 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Masana Sangweni, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality (South Africa) — **Masana Sangweni**, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality (South Africa)

Events are very personal occasions and for the clients hosting them finding the right event planner who can create the right experience is crucial. That is where South African entrepreneur Masana Sangweni, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality, comes in. She helps her clients create beautiful and unique event memories that last.

Maria Natália João, a Mozambican entrepreneur mastering the art of event planning and related services

February 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Maria Natália João, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços (Mozambique) — **Maria Natália João**, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços (Mozambique)

The world of eventing is a hugely competitive business, so the secret to success is building a reputation and service offering that is differentiated in the industry. For entrepreneur, Maria Natália João, founder of MNJ Eventos & Serviços, that meant harnessing her considerable expertise and experience as an event MC and building upon that to create a multifaceted business.

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