Adèle Dejak is one of an emerging group of entrepreneurs who are adding value to Kenya's arts and fashion industry. Speaking to Nikiwe Bikitsha for the Africa Connected series, the jewellery designer said that she aims to create a platform that shares information with women that will empower them in business. Adele is part of a group called "Lionesses of Africa" which aims to recognise all those women entrepreneurs in Africa who are an inspiration to us all, those who have made it to the top of their fields and who are shaking up their industries and business sectors.
Read moreRozanne Collings, a South African entrepreneur turning her love for cooking and the humble chilli to new culinary heights
Rozanne Collings, founder of Chillalas (South Africa)
Anyone who loves cooking understands how crucial it is to get great ingredients for the pantry, particularly when it comes to spicing up favourite dishes. Passionate and talented home cook Rozanne Collings took her love of spice and turned it into a business that is inspiring other cooks who appreciate the culinary power of the chilli. Her new chilli paste brand Chillalas is livening up kitchens and meals across South Africa.
Read moreDeborah DB Nicholls, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for wellness and a unique approach to exercise for anti-ageing
Deborah Nicholls, founder of Ageless Grace (South Africa)
Helping clients to achieve ‘ageless grace’ is the vision that entrepreneur Deborah Nicholls has for her company and she has developed an innovative exercise and wellness programme called Ageless Grace - Anti-Ageing Exercises for Body & Brain, which provides the solution.
Read moreEldari Visser, a South African entrepreneur aiming to be the expert on your side of the fence
Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a professional expert in a particular field walking your life journey with you and providing support and advice along the way? Well, entrepreneur Eldari Visser knows the value of having such experts at hand, and her unique company, Picketfence Life, is providing access to information, advice and a powerful network of such experts.
Read moreChaymaa Rhou, a Moroccan entrepreneur on a mission to encourage more digital nomads to explore the world of film
Chaymaa Rhou, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco)
For all those who love the idea of global travel and filming combined into one unique offering, then the Nomadic Filmland Academy has a great proposition. Entrepreneur Chaymaa Rhou and her film expert colleagues are providing the opportunity for travellers to experience not only fascinating trips to new places, but also the chance to record a film of their travels at the same time.
Read moreSarah Munyiva, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to help busy people and companies with their cleaning needs
Sarah Munyiva, founder of Royal Maids Cleaning Services (Kenya)
For both homeowners and business owners alike, the challenge of keeping important living and work spaces clean and tidy is one that Kenya-based Royal Maids Cleaning Services is happy to deal with. Founder and CEO Sarah Munyiva is providing a useful and much-needed service to those requiring hassle-free cleaning solutions in their lives.
Read moreRafiat Kasumu, a social entrepreneur passionate about celebrating the fine weaving craftsmanship of Ghana
Rafiat Kasumu, founder of Kente Master (Ghana/USA)
For all those Ghanaian students who have proudly graduated from university or college and worn their official graduation stoles, the chances are they may be wearing the entrepreneurial success story that is Kente Master.
Read moreMapeka Polane, creates one of a kind cakes and children's party experiences in Lesotho
Mapeka Polane, founder of Spegelicious Cakery And Party Rentals (Lesotho)
Children’s birthday parties are synonymous with special cakes and in Lesotho, one company, Spegelicious Cakery And Party Rentals, created by entrepreneur Mapeka Polane, is making a name for itself by creating fun celebratory cakes to remember.
Read moreBryony Parr, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help you declutter your business and personal lives
Bryony Parr, founder of Oh So Organised (South Africa)
It’s true what they say, in order to declutter your mind you also need to declutter your space. And, for all those people who find it difficult to achieve the latter, South African entrepreneur Bryony Parr has the solution, Her company, Oh So Organised, is on a mission to bring a little order in to your work and home living spaces, creating the space for you to think more clearly and live more freely.
Read moreMemuna Williams, the story of an entrepreneur turning a passion for language and the art of translation into a global business
Memuna Williams, founder of Avantgarde Translations
Anyone who has ever been in the position of needing to translate information into different languages will appreciate just how critical it is to have the right specialist support. One company providing truly world-class translation and interpreting services, both globally and here in Africa is Avantgarde Translations.
Read moreMessaynesh Geberesilassie, an entrepreneur bringing Ethiopia’s beautiful hand-woven cotton and leather goods to South Africa
Messaynesh Geberesilassie, founder of Mela
Often in business, finding an idea that is unique and that will resonate with customers can be hard. But in the case of Messaynesh Geberesilassie and her business Mela, she is tapping into the traditional handcrafted tradition of her home country to create a unique business opportunity in another marketplace - and she is winning new fans along the way.
Read morePaula Quinsee, a South African entrepreneur helping people and companies with their relationship issues
Paula Quinsee
Healthy relationships are at the heart of successful personal and workplace environments, but often those relationships need a little specialist help to thrive. Paula Quinsee: Relationship Expert has the insights, personal experience and specialist expertise to provide that help for those that need it.
Read moreLucilla Blankenberg, a South African entrepreneur with a vision for harnessing the power of the media to make a difference
Lucilla Blankenberg, founder of Off the Ground Media (South Africa)
Many small companies recognise that they need media and marketing support, but do not always have the time or money to develop these plans or produce the media to support their businesses. For entrepreneur Lucilla Blankenberg and her company Off the Ground Media, she is not only providing a great solution, but creating a company that makes a difference to the lives of others at the same time through those efforts.
Read moreSusan Granger, a proudly South African accessory manufacturer creating exclusive leather handbags from the heart of Johannesburg
Susan Granger, founder of Nubian Queen on 101 (South Africa)
Nubian Queen on 101 is a disruptive new name on the leather accessory scene, creating exclusive, world-class, contemporary products that are both investments yet will not break the bank.
Read moreManyara Chigunduru, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur with a never give up attitude to business, and a great brand builder
Manyara Chigunduru, Founder & Managing Partner Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe)
Integrity is everything in the fields of financial advisory services, auditing and accounting, and for the founder of Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants, Manyara Chigunduru, she was driven by the desire to build a company with integrity at its foundation.
Read moreMthuthukile Msibi, a South African entrepreneur transforming PVC into weather resistant trendy apparel and accessories
Mthuthukile Msibi (L), founder of Rain Dear (South Africa)
How many times looking back in history have great companies and brands been created as a result of necessity. In the case of Mthuthukile Msibi and her company Rain Dear, she saw opportunity in Cape Town’s bad weather, creating a range of rainproof clothing and accessories that is winning fans at home and abroad.
Read moreCharmaine Ngobeni, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for branding and supporting creatives in the industry
Charmaine Ngobeni, co-founder of Conté Creatives (South Africa)
In the world of branding and design, standing out from the crowd is always a good thing, and Conté Creatives the Agency, the brainchild of South African entrepreneur Charmaine Ngobeni and her business partner Amanda Sibiya, is certainly doing that. Their unique differentiator in the marketplace is not only a great service offering, but also a wonderful creative portfolio magazine showcasing some great work by highly talented designers.
Read moreLana de Klerk, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for marketing into a specialist corporate gifting business
Lana de Klerk, founder of Prestige Marketing (South Africa)
Most entrepreneurs know from experience that the journey to building a business can be tough, with many hurdles to overcome along the way - determination and self-belief are key. In the case of Lana de Klerk and her business, Prestige Marketing, she knows only too well how important these two traits are. She has displayed both over the years to get to where she is today, building a successful business and brand and with great ambitions for the future.
Read moreTariro Makina, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur providing virtual assistant solutions to clients across the world
Tariro Makina, founder of Twenty47 Virtual Assistant (Zimbabwe)
For many small to medium sized businesses, getting ahead can be challenging when you don’t have the resources in-house at your disposal. Recognising this challenge, Zimbabwean entrepreneur Tariro Makina, was keen to find a solution, and her business today, Twenty47 Virtual Assistant, is helping clients to streamline their business processes by providing a range of virtual business solutions.
Read moreJulie Cassidy, a South African entrepreneur with a passion for creating high quality HR and accounting solutions for small businesses
Julie Cassidy, co-founder of ProFlex People (South Africa)
They say that a business is only as good as its people, and for South African entrepreneur Julie Cassidy and her company ProFlex People, those words were the inspiration needed to create an innovative and highly flexible resourcing solution tailor-made for small businesses.
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