Dr Mejury Chipato, a Zimbabwean medical doctor and entrepreneur building multiple businesses

September 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Dr Mejury Chipato is a Medical Doctor, a Microbiologist, a Philanthropist, and a growing force in the world of entrepreneurship through her multi-faceted business, ProMJ Incorporated Company. She is also a Pastor, a Life & Business Coach, a Mentor, a Leader, a Published Author of the Book “I’m in charge of my Narrative“, and a multi-Award Winner both in Business and as an Author. Recent recognition includes the Zimbabwean Achievers Award Winner for Fashion Designer of the Year 2021 (China Edition). She was also honoured as one of The Most Inspiring Women Awardees of 2022, won The Young Achievers Award presented by the Pride of Africa Awards and received The Leadership & Inspiration Award from Gumiguru Achievers Awards 2022. She is also the Founder of Patience of Hope Foundation which is a non-profit organization whose aim is to pay school fees for orphans and underprivileged children in Zimbabwe and across Africa.

Jazeera Suwani, a serial entrepreneur creating vacation bush experiences in Kenya

August 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Jazeera Suwani, co-founder, Drunken Elephant Mara (Kenya)

Jazeera Suwani, a serial entrepreneur and previously the founder of Say it with Chocolate, is now the co-founder of Drunken Elephant Mara in Kenya. She has been featured in Africa's Top 40 under 40 in 2018. The concept behind Drunken Elephant Mara, is to provide a complete vacation for the individual looking to disconnect from the world of technology and immerse themselves in Nature. The business was launched in 2021 and today employs 7 people.

Mendy Lerato Lusaba, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur creating opportunities for domestic workers

August 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Mendy Lerato Lusaba is a social entrepreneur and a decent work advocate with special interest in the domestic work sector. She is the founder of Chris and Geo Placements a domestic placement agency based in Zimbabwe. Chris and Geo recruits and places marginalised and economically disadvantaged persons as domestic workers. To date, she has placed over 2000 workers whilst impacting over 4000 families. Mendy also runs a team of 19 contract domestic workers. She is also the founder of the Domestic Workers Association of Zimbabwe a network of Zimbabwean domestic workers working in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and United Arab Emirates. DWAZ runs the first domestic worker training centre in Zimbabwe offering trainings in housekeeping, cooking and baking, gardening and care work. They also have a domestic worker netball team for the mental health of domestic workers.

Narcia Walle, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a growing beauty business

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Narcia Taalumba Walle, co-founder & ceo, Margarida & Rose Beauty Bar (Mozambique)

Narcia Taalumba Walle is the co-founder and ceo of Margarida & Rose Beauty Bar in Mozambique. Margarida & Rose is a nail spa, make-up studio and cosmetics store that provides offers high quality products and services in a relaxed environment. The business was founded through a joint venture in 2021 and employs 4 women from the local Mozambican community. Narcia has 7 years’ experience in the beauty industry as a cosmetics retailer through her company Rose & Rose Store that has been catering to the Mozambican market since 2015. She is also a corporate lawyer, certified SAP consultant, and a humanitarian working for the UN WFP.

Ellen Tshidi Cooper, a South African entrepreneur creating an eco-friendly marketplace for startups

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Ellen Tshidi Cooper, Founder & CEO, Conscious Lifestyle Collective (South Africa)

Ellen Tshidi Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Conscious Lifestyle Collective, a South African, eco-friendly marketplace connecting conscious sellers and conscious shoppers. She is a social entrepreneur at heart, her business is more than just about making a profit but takes care of people and the planet. She holds an Honours Degree in business and also works as a Branding and Website Designer for startups and small businesses through her design studio ellecooper.co.

Irene Mavie, a Mozambican entrepreneur producing a natural cosmetic line

August 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Irene Isac Mavie, founder & CEO, Mavie Cosméticos (Mozambique)

Irene Isac Mavie is the founder and CEO of Mavie Cosméticos in Mozambique. As a lover of creativity, her business is focused on the supply of natural and handmade cosmetics which are of good quality. Her business model takes into account ensuring accessibility of the product range for her customers.

Zvikomborero Jane Chigumadzi, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur making grocery shopping easier

August 14, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Marina Prinsloo, a South African entrepreneur training clients to build their authentic brand essence

August 7, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Marina Prinsloo, founder, TICIA Group (South Africa)

For anyone wanting to get ahead in life and in business, having a confident, authentic personal brand is essential, as it encourages better relationship building and creates more opportunities. Marina Prinsloo, founder of the TICIA Group in South Africa, is helping clients to become better versions of themselves through confident and authentic communication, engagement and personal positioning skills.

Tatyana Moeda, an Angolan entrepreneur turning a passion for baking into a successful cake business

August 7, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Tatyana Moeda, founder, Miss Cake (Angola)

If you appreciate how special a good cake can be, and how a great cake can make any occasion truly memorable, then Miss Cake, founded by Tatyana Moeda in Angola is a business you need to check out. It creates delicious cakes for every type of event, from an afternoon tea to a celebratory party, and is building a great reputation for her products with clients.

Marita Walther, a Namibia-based social entrepreneur changing the future of sustainable mobility in Africa

July 31, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Marita Walther, co-founder & managing director EBIKES4AFRICA (Namibia)

As co-founder and managing director of award-winning social enterprise, EBIKES4AFRICA, Marita Walther represents a women-led entity that works to empower African communities through sustainable mobility and energy. With a background in media, journalism and social sciences, Marita is passionate about gender and youth empowerment, uplifting local communities and preserving the natural environment for future generations. The business, which was launched in 2015, now employees 20 people.

Lailate Talaquichande, a Mozambican fashion retailer bringing luxury clothing to customers

July 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lailate Talaquichande, founder, Super Fashion, Lda (Mozambique)

Wearing beautiful clothes can improve a woman's self-esteem and give that feeling of self-confidence through comfort and elegance, and in Mozambique, Lailate Talaquichande, founder of Super Fashion, Lda, is helping customers to do just that.

Zamabuya Muhanelwa, a South African perfumier creating jobs and empowering young people

July 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Zamabuya Muhanelwa, founder, Indoni Perfumes (South Africa)

Zamabuya Muhanelwa is the founder of Indoni Perfumes in South Africa, a manufacturer and retailer of fragrances. Originally with a PR & Communications background, her entrepreneurial journey has taken her into the market of high end fragrance creation. When she first founded Indoni Perfumes in 2018, Zamabuya had no idea it would grow into one of the best fragrance retailers, creating job opportunities and empowering youngsters in the process. Today, Indoni Perfumes is a perfume manufacturer and retailer based in Johannesburg, South Africa, but trading nationwide. It is predominantly known for offering cutting edge fragrances as well as home and pamper care products for less.

Sónia Lumeka, an Angolan entrepreneur telling stories through photography

July 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Sónia Lumeka, founder, Kaylina Photos (Angola)

Sónia Lumeka is the founder of Kaylina Photos in Angola. She is an artist, architect, writer and photographer. An introvert person who enjoys good reflection and quiet places, she was born and raised in the country and is married and the mother of three children as well as being an entrepreneur.

Mbalenhle Ndaba, a South African entrepreneur creating cleaning solutions for clients

July 10, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Mbalenhle Ndaba, founder, HomeMinder4U (South Africa)

For those who need specialist cleaning services in their homes and offices, help is at hand from entrepreneur Mbalenhle Ndaba, founder of HomeMinder4U in South Africa. Improving lives through cleaning is her passion and prompted her to launch her business offering a wide range of cleaning services in 2019 in Johannesburg.

Charlotte Flavienne Binya, an innovative agri-food processing entrepreneur from Cameroon

July 3, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Charlotte Binya, founder, Country Foods SARL (Cameroon)

Charlotte Binya is the founder of Country Foods SARL which is an agri-food company based in Douala, Cameroon, producing products such as fish, pork, beef sausages, natural jams, natural fruit juices and peanut butter. Holder of an engineering diploma in transformation and quality control of fishery products, Charlotte is also a trainer in the food industry and delivers several training courses in the food industry, as well as with international organizations, individuals or companies wishing to update their teams in the food industry.

Wada Kealotswe, an eco-friendly pencil manufacturer from Botswana creating jobs and positively impacting the planet

July 3, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Wada Kealotswe, founder & director Aiko Creations t/a Eco Zera (Botswana)

Wada Kealotswe is the founder and director of Aiko Creations t/a Eco Zera in Botswana, a company that manufactures eco graphite and colour pencils. The business has been running for 2 years and today has 3 permanent employees and 15 part time employees, mostly youth who have never worked before. Wada is a Development Economist from Botswana with over 10 years’ experience doing developmental work, and a graduate from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. The company was a 2021 runner-up for the Catalyst SEED award in the Waste Management category, and its stories have been featured on global platforms like Forbes and Xinhua.

Umutoni Thuku-Benzinge, a luxury jewellery brand builder changing the lives of Kenya’s artisans

June 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Umutoni Thuku-Benzinge, founder and creative director, Umutoni (Kenya)

Umutoni Thuku-Benzinge is the founder and creative director of Umutoni, a luxury jewelry brand where every piece is handmade with love by the best artisans from the heart of Kenya. She is on a mission to empower the disenfranchised through her ethically driven jewellery. With a degree in Economics and background in the IT industry, Umutoni is utilizing skills developed in her professional background to share the narrative that jewellery can be an agent for social change. Having spoken at Cambridge University, being featured in Forbes and BBC, she's keen to share the brand story and continue to make an impact as she continues to amalgamate her worlds together.

Sasha Knott, a South African techpreneur building an innovative recruitment solution connecting companies to talent

June 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Sasha Knott, CEO, Job Crystal (South Africa)

Sasha Knott, the CEO of Job Crystal in South Africa, started her career in IT and moved quickly in her career finding her passion for entrepreneurship and combining this with technology that works for the customer and often disrupts industries. Sasha’s current plan is to make job seekers lives easier while helping SMEs find talent fast and effortlessly! With Job Crystal’s new system called Crystal which combines RecTech, AI, machine learning and UX functionality that makes it easy to find the needle in the haystack for SMEs looking for talent. The vision is to make a dent in unemployment.

Ruth Obizo, a Nigerian beauty entrepreneur creating professional make-up experiences

June 19, 2022 Melanie Hawken

**Obizo (Ruth) Chiamaka, founder, GlambyRuthie (Nigeria)**

Obizo (Ruth) Chiamaka is the founder of GlambyRuthie in Nigeria, a brand focused on providing the best makeup services for women across the nation and the training of aspiring makeup artists. She is also studying accountancy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and currently pursuing her ICAN qualification. Ruth founded GlambyRuthie in 2020 and is focused on growing her brand, getting involved in fashion shows, and looking for collaborations in the beauty industry.

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