Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder

October 4, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Vanessa Mhlom, founder and CEO, Pleroma Patch (South Africa)

Pleroma Patch, a South African innovative wellness brand creating plant-based patches to support sleep, recovery, and menstrual health.

Vanessa Mhlom is the founder and CEO of Pleroma Patch and is a 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award finalist. Pleroma Patch is a modern wellness brand pioneering a simpler, smarter way to care for your body, through transdermal vitamin patches. Pleroma’s discreet, plant-based patches support sleep, recovery, and menstrual health. Driven by her belief that dignified self-care should be a right, not a luxury, she is developing the ‘Patch It Forward’ initiative, a give-back model that channels a portion of each purchase toward expanding access to wellness essentials like menstrual and sleep support for underserved women and girls.

Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, two social impact entrepreneurs building a high-growth, premium sustainable homeware business

September 29, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Mo’s Crib, a premium sustainable homeware brand founded by sisters Morongwe and Michelle Mokone in Pretoria, South Africa. From humble beginnings making origami at local markets, the company has grown into one of Africa’s leading exporters of handcrafted décor. Using recycled PVC waterpipes and natural materials such as banana bark, cane, and sisal, Mo’s Crib creates globally sought-after baskets, planters, furniture, and ornaments. Today, the brand supplies major international retailers including Crate & Barrel, Target, and Woolworths Home. Committed to social impact, Mo’s Crib empowers over 85 artisans, creating jobs while advancing environmental sustainability and African design innovation. The business was launched in 2019 and today employs 280 people.

Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions

August 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Hazile Group, a South African agribusiness focused on sustainable food systems, renewable energy, and water stewardship

Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi is a social entrepreneur and thought leader in climate resilience, and a 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award finalist. She leads Hazile Group, a black woman-led enterprise driving climate-smart solutions in agriculture, energy, and water. The company’s core mission is to address food insecurity, water scarcity, and energy transition while uplifting marginalised communities. Hazile's focus on rural development, empowering farmers, and integrating climate-smart technologies directly supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably zero hunger, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and climate action. She also runs Acumind Consulting, guiding organisations toward inclusive, values-driven leadership and ESG strategies.

Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas

July 26, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Setšong Tea Crafters, an agri-business specialising in the crafting of speciality indigenous teas from the natural flora found in South Africa’s rural Limpopo

A former quantity surveyor turned social entrepreneur, Retang Phaahla is the co-founder and CEO of Setšong Tea Crafters in South Africa, and the winner of the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award. Her business celebrates indigenous tea knowledge while driving rural development. Based in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, the majority women-owned social enterprise collaborates with communities to produce a range of health-promoting teas (known for calming nerves, relieving tension, and supporting balanced blood pressure), and hosts cultural tours to promote eco-tourism and preserve heritage. Setšong’s business model has created sustainable income streams for rural women while reviving ancient botanical traditions. The business was launched in 2017 and has created 30 jobs for local people.

Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

July 19, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Igaaza Creations, a Uganda-based social enterprise promoting literacy through children’s storybook publishing and capacity building

Dr Margaret Kemigisha is the founder and CEO of Igaaza Creations, a Uganda-based social enterprise that promotes literacy through the publishing of children’s storybooks, offers social research consulting, and builds capacity among fresh graduates. Her work bridges development and applied research, supporting governments, development organizations, and the private sector with evidence-based solutions and creative tools for impact.

Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa

July 13, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Sunshine Cinema, Africa’s first solar-powered mobile cinema network, bridging storytelling, activism and youth empowerment

Sydelle Willow Smith is a storyteller, impact producer, and co-founder of Sunshine Cinema—Africa’s first solar-powered mobile cinema network. A 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award finalist, Sydelle’s work bridges storytelling and activism, empowering youth in under-resourced communities to become media entrepreneurs and drive dialogue through film. With a background in African Studies and documentary filmmaking, she is passionate about reclaiming narrative spaces and amplifying voices from the margins.

Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder

June 28, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Babette's Bread Ltd, an artisanal bread baking specialist business founded in South Africa and now based in Canada

Babette Kourelos is the founder of Babette’s Bread Ltd. Today she lives in Saint-Lazare, Quebec with her husband, Vasili, their baby boy, John, and their two Smooth Fox Terriers, Tango and Cash. She was born in South Africa and is of Afrikaans, Greek, and Italian descent. She holds a BA and LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. After graduating, Babette traveled to Vermont (USA), to apprentice under the late French Master Baker Gerard Rubaud. At the end of 2013, Babette founded and ran what became a well-loved artisan bread bakery and baking studio in Johannesburg (South Africa) for several years before relocating to Canada in 2020. Today, she offers online and in-person bread workshops. Babette has introduced hundreds of beginner bakers to the art of bread baking and has been featured in numerous media publications. She has been a guest speaker at several Women in Business events and was a judge at the World Bread Awards USA in Las Vegas in September 2022.

Thandekile Moloko, an entrepreneur empowering her clients’ financial futures

June 14, 2025 Melanie Hawken

SimWealth, a business on a mission to simplify the financial planning process and empower its clients in South Africa

Thandekile Moloko is a Financial Planner and the founder of Simwealth in South Africa, a business launched in 2019 and committed to helping individuals and businesses transform their financial future through clear, personalized, and practical financial planning. With a mission to make financial planning simple, accessible, and effective, Thandekile delivers tailored strategies that support long-term financial growth, security, and freedom. Whether you’re working towards personal financial milestones or navigating the financial complexities of running a business, her approach is grounded in creating actionable, sustainable plans that truly work. From managing day-to-day finances and preparing for life’s uncertainties to building generational wealth and achieving business scalability, Thandekile empowers her clients to make confident financial decisions. Her comprehensive planning process focuses on increasing net worth, protecting what matters most, and aligning financial strategies with your lifestyle and long-term goals.

Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow

June 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

TL Seretlo Business Consulting t/a Seretlo Consulting, a professional business consulting firm supporting SMEs in South Africa

Teboho Seretlo is a business consultant and founder of TL Seretlo Business Consulting in South Africa, with over 25 years’ experience in enterprise development, business planning, monitoring & evaluation, and mentoring SMEs. She supports entrepreneurs applying for funding and serves as an NSFAS student accommodation accreditor. Her expertise spans B-BBEE, rural development, and gender-responsive enterprise support. Teboho holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and executive education from GIBS and Rotterdam School of Management. Passionate about women’s empowerment, she also mentors female entrepreneurs across Africa.

Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

The UnLearners, a South African personal and professional development company that helps individuals and organizations thrive through change.

Zanele Njapha is the CEO of The UnLearners and a leading voice on transformation, unlearning, and future-fit leadership. Known as The UnLearning Lady, she helps individuals and organizations navigate change with courage and clarity. A former teacher turned global keynote speaker and coach, Zanele equips people to let go of limiting beliefs and step boldly into what’s next. Her work is a rallying call to learn, change and grow, fearlessly.

Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Demii Design, an Ethiopian clothing design and manufacturing business creating beautiful, high quality cotton garments

Mekdes Mesfin's story begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was born and raised. Today, she stands as the founder and ceo of Demii Design, a clothing line that represents a significant chapter on her entrepreneurial journey, which also includes her involvement in two other ventures within the fashion sector. While her academic background is rooted in civil engineering and business management, disciplines she pursued at university, Ms. Mesfin's professional path diverged from the conventional corporate trajectory those degrees might suggest. She launched the business during the Covid pandemic in 2019.

Emilia Chisango, a multi-faceted business empire builder

May 4, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Emilia Chisango, founder and Chairman, Hempac Group (Zimbabwe)

Hempac Holdings, a business group offering solutions and services needed by local communities, and creating jobs in Zimbabwe

Emilia Chisango, a trail blazing chartered accountant and multi-award winner is the visionary founder and Chairman of Hempac Group. With just over 3 decades of experience in both corporate and entrepreneurship worlds, Emilia has made a mark through the journey travelled. At 27, she broke barriers as the first black female partner at KPMG, also becoming the youngest ever partner at the firm. At the age of 36, she went on to make history as the first female president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe (ICAZ) in its 90 year old history then, and also became its youngest ever president. The Hempac Group comprises a fitness equipment retail outfit, a school (comprising ECD up to high school), clothing manufacturing unit, and the Agrobusiness unit. Having founded Hempac in 2009, Emilia only left the corporate world to concentrate on her businesses in 2021. Today, the business has created jobs for 100 people.

Tshego Molefi, a pioneer transforming the waste management industry

April 6, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Moli & Mela Group, a business providing innovative and sustainable waste management solutions in South Africa

Tshego Molefi is the co-founder and Managing Director of Moli & Mela Group, a specialist waste management business in South Africa, founded in 2017 and today employing 60 people. A former journalist turned business leader, she is now an award-winning entrepreneur, fostering change in the male dominated waste management industry. She is bold, resilient, and driven by faith. Her success goes beyond business—it’s about impact. Her humble beginnings have inspired her philanthropic work, particularly in the education sector, where she uses her resources to provide education for those that are less fortunate. She believes education is indeed the key to success.

Wawira Njiru, a visionary leader feeding Africa’s future

March 23, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Food4Education, an award-winning social enterprise building a blueprint for school feeding programmes across Africa

Wawira Njiru is a Kenyan entrepreneur and visionary leader on African food systems, nutrition, philanthropy and social innovation. As Founder and CEO of Food4Education, an award-winning, locally rooted, and African-led solution to end classroom hunger, Wawira is the architect behind the blueprint to scale sustainable, nutritious, and affordable school feeding programs across Africa. Under her leadership, Food4Education has grown from a passion project that fed 25 children at its launch in 2012 to an established food industry engine that serves more than half a million children daily in Kenya, improving their nutrition and education outcomes while also creating jobs (4400 employees) and opportunities for whole communities. Featured in TIME, Bloomberg, CNN, The Guardian, BBC, Reuters and CNBC, Wawira has also received global recognition for her commitment to feed Africa’s future including the Skoll Award for Social Innovation and the Elevate Prize among others.

Samrawit Fikru, a visionary leader in transport transformation

March 16, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Hybrid Designs PLC (RIDE), a revolutionary business redefining urban transportation in Ethiopia

Samrawit Fikru is the visionary co-founder and ceo of RIDE Transport Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s electronic-transport unicorn startup. With more than a decade of transformative leadership in the mobility sector, she pioneered RIDE 11 years ago to redefine urban transportation through safe, reliable, and tech-driven solutions. Under her stewardship, RIDE has grown into a workforce of 400+ professionals and serves as a catalyst for regional connectivity, bridging gaps across Africa’s evolving transport landscape. Recognized among BBC’s 100 Women and WeAreTech.Africa’s 100 Global Tech Changemakers, Samrawit, combines strategic innovation with a steadfast commitment to economic empowerment, creating scalable opportunities for drivers and communities alike. Her forward-thinking approach continues to position RIDE at the forefront of Africa’s digital transportation revolution.

Claire van Enk, a visionary entrepreneur tackling food loss

March 2, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Farm to Feed, a Kenyan enterprise aggregating imperfect/surplus produce, creating market demand, and selling to customers via a digital platform

Farm to Feed is a game-changing Kenyan enterprise revolutionizing the way we approach food waste and surplus produce. Co-founded by Claire van Enk, this innovative business aggregates imperfect and surplus produce, creating a fresh market demand and delivering it directly to customers through a digital platform. By addressing food loss, boosting farmer incomes, and improving food affordability, Farm to Feed is making a tangible impact on both the environment and local communities—cutting greenhouse gas emissions along the way.

Wiem Ben-Mahmoud, a change-making Tunisian EdTech entrepreneur

February 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

KidzRise, a business harnessing the power of AI combined with personalized learning to uncover and nurture each child’s unique talents

Wiem Ben-Mahmoud is the CEO and Founder of AI-powered Child Talent Detection platform, KidzRise, in Tunisia. She holds a Global MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship and a Master's Degree in Digital Management and Information Systems. Wiem began her career at Vermeg where she led international negotiations with Central Banks across Europe and Asia in the digital financial sector. Driven by her vision to impact children's lives, she left her stable career to launch KidzRise in 2023. Recognized as Most Promising Entrepreneur of 2024 by AfricArena, her EdTech startup has gained validation from MIT and MIT Solve in the USA , making a significant impact in Africa and beyond. The company has created jobs for 10 people to date.

Salamba Diene, a cosmetics and food supplement champion in Senegal

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

BIOSENE SARL, a business processing agri-food and cosmetic products that are proudly made in Senegal

Salamba Diene is the founder of BIOSENE SARL in Senegal, offering a range of “caring” products and food supplements in the form of powders, leaves, capsules or various solutions, but also cosmetic products in the form of creams, oils or butters, for a single leitmotif: health - beauty for a “better life” and a “well-being” for consumers. BIOSENE collaborates with groups of women producers of baobab fruit, Shea butter, or cultivating exotic fruits (Hibiscus, mango etc.) and establishes direct links with source producers throughout Africa. The business has 59 employees.

Marwa Soudi, an EdTech pioneer empowering people through technology

January 26, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Ideasgym, a multifaceted business dedicated to fostering innovation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Egypt

Marwa Soudi is the co-founder of IdeasGym, leading initiatives to enhance STEM education across Egypt. She is a dedicated researcher and social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the EdTech industry. Currently a doctoral student at Tallinn University, she specializes in Digital Transformation and Responsible AI, focusing on creating tools to help SMEs comply with international AI standards. Marwa is passionate about empowering women in technology and has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the InspiringFifty Africa, IEEE Entrepreneurship Impact Award, Women in Business Innovation Award, "ICT for Women" award and the Tony Elumelu grant for entrepreneurship in Africa. She actively engages in various professional organizations, promoting ethical AI practices and fostering innovation in education. Her business was launched in 2011.

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