Echika Obijiaku, a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria

November 24, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Echika Obijiaku, founder, Mwanga (Nigeria)

Echika Obijiaku is the founder of Mwanga - a digital-first ethical debt recovery and business process outsourcing (BPO) firm dedicated to promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria. Trusted by some of the continent’s leading lenders, Mwanga is on a mission to get at least 10 million Africans out of debt by 2030. Echika’s Obijiaku background is multidisciplinary with experience in leading high-performing teams across industries. Echika is also a chartered accountant with the ACCA, UK . She has 16+ years of combined consulting experience with leading firms like Deloitte & Touché, Alexander Forbes Nigeria & South Africa and others.

Irina Samade, a floral design entrepreneur creating beautiful flower arrangements and gifts for every occasion

November 24, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Irina Samade, founder and floral designer, Frangipani Flores (Mozambique)

Irina Samade is the founder and floral designer at Frangipani Flores in Mozambique. She has been working with Floral Art for 15 years having taken a number of specialist floral arrangement courses in Portugal, Brazil, USA and Mozambique. Her passion for flowers started very early with her mother growing violets in their garden. Then, unconsciously, she started toying with making floral arrangements for family and friends' birthdays, but at that time was very far from thinking about being a florist or opening a floristry business. However, all that changed with the launch of her floral design business, Frangipani Flores in 2014. Today, she remains curious in this specialist area of floral design and is constantly inspired by the work of renowned florists around the world.

Masada Terverite Deconnick, a full-service vehicle repair business builder in Botswana

October 27, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Masada Terverite Deconnick, Director and CEO, MTD’s Auto Electrical Pty Ltd (Botswana)

Masada Terverite Deconnick is the Director and CEO at MTD’s Auto Electrical Pty Ltd located in Mochudi in Botswana. Her vehicle repair workshop was officially opened March 2023 after operating as a mobile business for close to a decade. MTD’s Auto Electrical currently has 6 employees - 2 mechanics, 2 auto electricians,1 apprentice, one security guard, and a Chief Operations Officer.

Jusaina Violanda, a Mozambican entrepreneur helping people green their homes and gardens

September 15, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Jusaina Violanda, founder, Nandzika Garden Center (Mozambique)

Jusaina Violanda is the founder of Nandzika Garden Center in Mozambique, a business dedicated to bringing nature closer to people’s lives through beautiful plants, green decor, and professional landscaping. She uses the power of plants at her garden center to help her customers create beautiful personal spaces and environments that enhance lives and fulfill the emotional need to be closer to nature.

Olga Ncube, a South African facilities management business pioneer

August 25, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Kusile Facilities Management (Pty) Ltd, a specialist South African business providing hygienic workplaces to enhance productivity

Olga Ncube is the co-founder and ceo of Kusile Facilities Management, a facilities management company specializing in soft services and started in 2003. Today the business has 500 employees. Olga has been part of various entrepreneurial programmes, including the 10 000 Women hosted by Goldman Sachs together with GIBS. In the year, 2018 she was awarded the top award for the Best Performing Business and the Job Creation award. In the same year, her business was also awarded by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) for the Outstanding Accelerator client. Her passion for providing clean and hygienic environments is seen through her participation in attending the ISSA cleaning show that is hosted in the Netherlands every 2nd year.

Lusanda Omelo, a South African digital marketing and AI automation business helping SMMEs establish their online presence

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lusanda Omelo, Managing Director, Luome Brands (South Africa)

Lusanda Omelo is the Managing Director of Luome Brands, a digital marketing and AI automation business in South Africa. After many years in the corporate world, Lusanda embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. With a rich background in marketing, she has worked with both multinationals and startups. Her true passion lies in helping SMMEs thrive in their environments. In her exploration of AI, Lusanda developed findaiforthat.co.za, an online AI directory featuring over 1,000 tools designed to make business tasks easier. This platform is a testament to her commitment to leveraging AI to support businesses in achieving their goals. She has partnered with various international clients to ensure that these tools are used and easily available to Africans.The business started in 2021 and has created jobs for 3 people.

Lindiwe Masuku, a fleet management solutions business builder in Botswana

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lindiwe Masuku, founder & ceo, Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Lindiwe Masuku is the founder and ceo of Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd, a fleet management solutions entity whose head office is currently in Gaborone but which services clients from all over the country. She is a business professional with a Degree in Business Administration, currently pursuing her master’s in business administration and management with the University of East London. Lindiwe has 16 years' experience in Business Management having worked in Finance and Administration before forming Frotcom. Her entrepreneurship journey began in 2019, but months later the Covid 19 pandemic started, and despite the challenges Frotcom has had to emerge as a solution post Covid 19, used by reputable entities across the country. The business has created jobs for 9 people.

Refilwe Mongwaketse, an entrepreneur building a personal shopping and styling brand in South Africa

February 25, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Refilwe Mongwaketse, founder, Thuma Mina Personal Shopping (South Africa)

Born in the town of Kanye, Botswana, Refilwe Mongwaketse is the vibrant, energetic, and passionate founder of Thuma Mina Personal Shopping in South Africa. While her career background lies in Architecture and the Construction industry, Refilwe’s heart has always been drawn toward the captivating world of Personal Styling and Interior Design. Based in the bustling city of Johannesburg, South Africa, she has embarked on a journey fuelled by her unrelenting entrepreneurial spirit. For Refilwe, the transformative power of clothes has always been undeniable. She firmly believes that when we look good, we also feel good, allowing us to show up as our highest selves and perform at our peak level. Through Thuma Mina Personal Shopping, Refilwe has been able to ignite that fire within others and that has helped them to fulfil their dreams.

Lisa Munsamy, a South African transportation and logistics industry game-changer

February 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lisa Munsamy, founder, Lisa’s Carriers (South Africa)

Lisa Munsamy is the founder of Lisa’s Carriers in South Africa. She is a seasoned businesswoman with a passion for the transportation and hospitality industries, as well as a passion for Life Coaching. With over 18 years of experience in road freight, Lisa has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of logistics, ensuring seamless and efficient transportation solutions. She has also been the proud owner of a guesthouse for the past 14 years. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and is also a Certified Life Transformation Coach.

Mildred Matara, a Kenyan entrepreneur building an insurance and investment business in East Africa

January 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Mildred Matara, founder and CEO, Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency & Mellow Ventures Investment (Kenya)

Mildred Matara is the founder and CEO of Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency and Mellow Ventures Investment in Kenya. She is a seasoned and passionate entrepreneur and her insurance business provides consultations and insurance underwriting services, working with class A-C insurance companies in Kenya and East Africa, serving customers in the East Africa region. Her Mellow Ventures Investment business is focused on dealing with General suppliers and retail sales and distribution in Kenya. She founded the business 9 years ago and currently employs 4 permanent employees and 6 casuals/ contract employees. She previously worked in the corporate sector for over 11 years with experience spanning different business sectors. She is currently in the process of venturing into the Agriculture sector to produce and add value to food products in the Western part of Kenya, where she hopes to assist in bridging the food security gap whilst creating a source of livelihood to the locals.

Nazlee Mayhew, an entrepreneur coaching business and money mindset in Zimbabwe

January 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Nazlee Mayhew, founder and director, Global Mindset Solutions (Zimbabwe)

Nazlee Mayhew is the founder and director of Global Mindset Solutions in Zimbabwe. She is a seasonal Business and Money Mindset Coach, a Social Entrepreneur, NLP Master Practitioner, and an emerging author. Global Mindset Solutions' vision is to empower, educate and equip women to enhance their leadership and business skills and help strengthen the communities they serve. This will enable them to reach their full potential faster, help boost economic growth and create financial freedom.

Gita Langa, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning floral passion into business

December 23, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Floural, a growing specialist floral design and gifting business in Mozambique

Gita Langa is the owner and founder of Floural, a specialist business in Mozambique offering beautiful flower arrangements and floral gifts to customers in the country. She has an education in Auditing, Compliance and Business Management and a full-time job as Global Compliance Manager in an International non-profit organization. Gita has two big passions, compliance and flowers, and believes that God is her light and strength in all she is and does. She developed a passion for flowers in her childhood, influenced by her mother's love for Chrysanthemums. When young, she used to buy flowers for the home. She never imagined at that age that she would eventually open a florist business, as her dream was to be a fashion designer. At the time, she loved to design clothes and used to do it for herself and her friends - just one of her hidden talents.

Arashnee Ramjuguth, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to make clean drinking water accessible and affordable

October 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Arashnee Ramjuguth, founder, Refresha Trading Enteprises (South Africa)

Arashnee Ramjuguth is the Founder of Refresha Trading Enteprises based in Durban, South Africa. The business is focused on providing clean purified drinking water to the community of South Africa. Refresha Trading Enterprises is a LEVEL 1 BBBEE owned custom bottled water company offering a range of products and services. Arashnee’s mission is to ensure clean, purified drinking water is affordable and accessible to the South African people. Her business aspires to be the go-to place to create an impactful branded bottled water experience by helping its clients to grow their personal brand or businesses through branding water products.

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!

Linda Young, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for managing people talent

September 24, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Linda Young, co-founder, Pocket People Solutions (South Africa)

Linda Young is the co-founder of Pocket People Solutions, a South African specialist HR business built on a foundation of strong values and a holistic approach to managing people talent for its clients. The business focuses on helping other businesses to build highly skilled and motivated workforces that can fulfill their potential and contribute to overall company success.

Thuli Zikalala, a South African professional sign language interpreter removing barriers for deaf audiences

September 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Thuli Zikalala, founder of Yellow Owl (South Africa)

For the deaf and hard of hearing, being able to keep up to date with news, information and powerful digital content is so important to maintain those all important connections in life and in business. Thuli Zikalala, founder of specialist business Yellow Owl, is playing her part as a professional sign language interpreter.

Ruth Butaumocho, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a specialist rock drilling and blasting business

June 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Butaumocho, founder, Zalando Perfectors T/A Zalando Rock Drilling and Blasting (Zimbabwe)

Ruth Butaumocho is a 48 year old physically disabled entrepreneur who runs Zalando Perfectors T/A Zalando Rock Drilling and Blasting, a Zimbabwean based company that offers rock drilling and blasting services. She realized that there was a yawning gap in the market for prospective home owners and small companies that could not afford to engage big companies for blasting and drilling services. So, in 2013, Ruth bought a small diesel compressor and immediately started offering drilling and blasting services to individual property owners. Her hope is to grow the business so that it becomes a regional player in the sector.

Olatowun Candide-Johnson, a Nigerian entrepreneur empowering women business leaders

June 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

GAIA AFRICA, the premier private members Business Club dedicated to serving Africa’s top 5% of female decision-makers

Olatowun Candide-Johnson is the founder of GAIA AFRICA, Africa’s premier private members Business Club dedicated to serving the continent’s top 5% of female-decision makers through specially curated activities, learning, partnerships, collaborations, advisory services, peer-to-peer mentorship, and small group events. Olatowun is a lawyer with 30+ years’ experience in corporate and commercial law and in business development and governance of multinational corporations. During her time at the Total Group, she worked in different divisions including three years in the New Business Division in the Paris HQ. Before taking early retirement, she held the combined roles of General Counsel, Executive General Manager, Management Services Division and Chief Compliance Officer for the Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria. In 2016, she obtained a TRIUM Global Executive MBA. In 2018, she founded Gaia Africa which today has 50 employees.

Connie Matlejoane, a South African entrepreneur building a multi-faceted corporate gifting and branding business

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Connie Matlejoan, founder, CRM Enterprise

Connie Matlejoane is a female entrepreneur from Klipfontein View in Midrand, Johannesburg, in South Africa, and has built a thriving business, CRM Enterprise, despite facing numerous challenges along the way. After being retrenched from her previous job, Connie decided to start her own business, and 5 years later has grown CRM Enterprise into a successful corporate gifting and branding enterprise with six permanent employees. Connie is an inspiration to other female entrepreneurs, and her story is proof that with hard work and determination, it is possible to overcome the odds and build a successful business.

Blessed Agyemang, a Ghanaian industry leader in Brand Management, Personal and Professional Development Training and Consulting

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Blessed Agyemang, founder Herrada (Ghana)

Blessed Agyemang is an award-winning entrepreneur, key note speaker and management consultant, and founder of Herrada in Ghana. Blessed has her areas of expertise in supply chain management, business and operation strategy, operational and business development after she had already made an exemplary professional career climbing up the corporate ladder in what is one of the top multinational oil and gas firms within the Europe, Eurasia and Sub- Saharan (EESSA) and Africa Other (AO) regions.

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