the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Margaret Hirsch
In retail, we all know that challenges are part of the journey—whether it’s an economic downturn, shifting consumer habits, or global disruptions. But what sets successful retailers apart isn’t avoiding tough times—it’s how we respond to them. I’ve always believed that the challenges we face are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth, innovation, and comebacks.
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Adeola Ayeni-Obimakinde, founder & CEO, Koreteegold Food & Grocery Ltd (Nigeria)
Startup Story
Adeola Ayeni-Obimakinde is the Founder and CEO of Koreteegold Food & Grocery Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a serial entrepreneur, a mom, a visionary leader, and a goal-getter with an award-winning business. Adeola is focused on putting a smile on the faces of busy moms and the elderly by providing solutions to their stressful food and grocery purchases and delivery in major cities in Nigeria. She also focuses on the packaging of safe agro products for Nigerians in the Diaspora. Adeola has over 5 years of business experience, as well as over 10 years as a former corporate executive with a multinational company and one of the country's leading banks.
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by Lizl Naude
Having a retail space is a huge responsibility and not one I thought I would get so soon. But in October 2021, I was offered a great deal on a small space, and I decided to take the leap of faith and open up shop! I was both terrified and excited at the same time! After a few weeks of renovation, we officially opened on 19 November 2021.
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Startup Story
Zvikomborero Jane Chigumadzi is a Zimbabwean based entrepreneur who provides an online grocery shopping and door to door delivery service. She started her enterprise in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zvikomborero Jane sees herself as a fearless woman and a goal getter in life and in business. She is mother to a son Julian, and he is the reason the business was formed, so it was named after him. Zvikomborero Jane calls him her entrepreneurial baby.
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Tatum Billson, founder, NoolaBaby
Startup Story
NoolaBaby (formally known as NulaBaby) is a South African online retailer founded by Tatum Billson that specializes in baby strollers. Since launching the brand, the range has expanded to over seven different strollers (including a twin stroller), and now also sells nursery furniture, rocking chairs, as well as 360-degree rotation car seats and accessories.
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Mariana Agness Francisco Eria
Lioness Launch
The House of Agness, founded by creative entrepreneur Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, is a contemporary Floral House based in Mozambique and specializing in bespoke, minimalistic floral arrangements. The company’s inspiration is based on minimalism and sustainability. The House of Agness range of products and services includes, but is not limited to, the delivery of signature floral boxes, bouquets, gift boxes and onsite floral services, as well as corporate event management and design. Signature flowers include roses, orchids, hydrangeas and peonies (seasonal). The company takes pride in the preserved flower collection where a rose can last for as long as 2 years in its lush acrylic boxes.
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Margaret Hirsch
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Hirsch’s is a truly South African family business and was founded 41 years ago by Margaret Hirsch and her husband Allan. Today, it is the largest independently owned Appliance and Electronics retail outlet in South Africa - Margaret now has the role of Executive Director of the company, Allan is the Chairman, son Richard is CEO and daughter Luci is Brand Manager. Lionesses of Africa chatted to Margaret this month to hear her shared insights during this Covid-19 pandemic, and its impact on her personally and on the business. She opens up very honestly about her personal experiences, and also her people centric approach to business.
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Ursula Pais, founder of KA DA TERRA SUPERMERCADOS, LDA (Mozambique)
Mozambique may be experiencing its fair share of economic challenges right now, but that has not detracted the pioneering entrepreneur Ursula Pais of KA DA TERRA SUPERMERCADOS, LDA, from seizing the opportunity to grow.
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Karen Carr & Hanneke Schutte, founders of Benji + Moon (South Africa)
As any pet-lover will tell you, trying to find the perfect products for those furry friends in our lives that are also aesthetically pleasing to the eye in our homes, can be quite a challenge. However two enterprising women from South Africa have the solution. Benji + Moon is a business that creates beautifully designed, compassionately driven pet products that will make both owners and their beloved pets happy.
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Beatha Shitemba, founder of Nels Babies (Namibia)
Any design conscious parent in Africa knows how difficult it can be to find great, high quality children’s decor items for the nursery. But in Namibia, entrepreneur Beatha Shitemba, founder of Nels Babies, has the solution.
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Angela Franklin, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal)
You need a clear vision to help get you ahead....
- Angela Franklin is the founder of Chez Alpha Books in Senegal. Angela has created a dynamic resource centre featuring a bookstore with new multi-cultural fiction and non-fiction books with an emphasis on writers from The Diaspora. In addition, her bookstore focuses on world literature and an array of academic resources, offering a go-to-resource centre for students and professionals of all levels, and is the only English language bookstore in Senegal.
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Linda Makatiani, founder of Lefty Kenya
Have you ever wondered about the challenges experienced by those who are left-handed? Some of the things e take for granted each day, such as the implements we use, can be a real problem for those who use their left hand as their primary task hand. But Kenyan entrepreneur, Linda Makatiani, founder of Lefty Kenya, is on a mission to change all that.
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Tumi Moitse, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa)
Who doesn’t like receiving flowers? They cheer us, they brighten our days, they remind us fondly of the people who are giving them as gifts to us. For entrepreneur Tumi Moitse, her love of flowers started at an early age. Today she is taking that passion and creating a luxury floral design and gifting business, BlakSaffron Boutique, that helps her clients to express their feelings through the floral experiences she creates.
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Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises (Nigeria)
It’s not always easy, making the transition from corporate to entrepreneur, but for Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises in Nigeria, it was a personal dream and a promise to herself. Today, she is doing what she loves, building a highly customer-centric retail business, whilst at the same time playing her part in helping other entrepreneurs to realize their dreams too.
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Jetto Myaba, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi)
For many women entrepreneurs, thinking big can be daunting in business, but for Malawian entrepreneur, Jetto Myaba, Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises, having a big vision is all part of the journey.
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Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi)
There are some women entrepreneurs who don’t just think of building one business, but have the vision and imagination to create several, and Malawian entrepreneur Michelle Mbilizi is one of those.
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This inspirational woman has risen from difficult beginnings in life to build along with her husband a major retail success story.
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