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Rising Africa: • 10 Young Women Entrepreneurs of Africa
Africa has one of the finest female entrepreneurs who have emerged super strong in their respective business industries. Let’s read about ten of such inspiring young women!
Monica Musonda Image courtesy: thebestofzambia.com
Monica Musonda She is the founder of Java Foods, a Zambia-based food processing company that manufactures the eeZee brand of Instant Noodles. Musondapreviously worked with Africa’s richest man, AlikoDangote, as the director of legal and corporate affairs at Dangote Group, where she led a project to build a cement plant in Zambia. She currently serves on the Boards of Dangote Industries Zambia Limited and the Central Bank of Zambia. Musondais also the Chairperson of Kwacha Pension Trust Fund, Zambia’s largest single employer pension fund. She is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow and was named a 2013 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
LindiweMazibuko Image courtesy: buzzsouthafrica.com
LindiweMazibuko At age 33, she is a Parliamentary Leader for the Democratic Alliance (MP for North Durban) and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly in South Africa. As the country’s fourth youngest parliamentarian, Mazibuko is already being touted as a future leader of the Democratic Alliance. Mazibukowas named South Africa’s Most Influential Woman in 2012 and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2013. Mara encourages women from all walks of life to come and express themselves, in the hope to instill confidence in so many that are still pieces of carbon who simply haven’t had the right amount of pressure and heat to turn into that magnificent diamond yet.
Isabel Dos Santos Image courtesy: www.bet.com
Isabel Dos Santos She is the daughter of Angola’s President, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos is Africa’s richest woman. She is also one of the continent’s most powerful businesswomen. Through her various holding companies, she controls a 25% stake in Angolan mobile telecom operator Unitel, a 25% stake in Angola’s Banco BIC, 25% of ZON Optimus, a listed Portuguese cable TV company, and just under 20% of Banco BPI, one of Portugal’s largest publicly traded banks. She is also partnering with Sonae, Portugal’s largest retailer, to launch 5 new food hypermarkets in Angola in 2014.
RapelangRabana Image courtesy: livemag.co.za
RapelangRabana One of Africa’s most recognizable young entrepreneurs. Rabana, 29, is the CEO and founder of Cape Town based Yeigo Communications, which develops software for telecoms-related services including Voice over IP, Instant messaging, SMS messaging and push email services. In 2008, Telfree, a Swiss mobile telecommunications firm, acquired a 51% stake in Yeigo. In December 2012 she founded Rekindle Learning, a company that provides adaptive mobile learning solutions.
Claire Akamanzi Image courtesy: www.biznisafrica.co.za
Claire Akamanzi At 34, she is the Chief Operating Officer of the Rwandan Development Board (RDB), a government institution tasked with accelerating economic growth and development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. Akamanzihas had a successful career in public service, serving as Rwanda’s commercial diplomat in London and as a trade negotiator in Geneva for the Rwandan government at the World Trade Organization.
Valentinada Luz Guebuza Image courtesy: delagoabayword.wordpress.com
Valentina da Luz Guebuza The 33 year-old daughter of Mozambique’s President Armando Guebuza heads Focus 21 Management & Development, a large family-owned investment holding company with interests in banking, telecommunications, fisheries, transport, mining and property.
HadeelIbrahim Image courtesy: www.moibrahimfoundation.org
Hadeel Ibrahim She is the founding Executive Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which was established in 2006 to support leadership and good governance in Africa. She also serves on the Boards of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice and the African Governance Institute (AGI).
AlengotOromait Image courtesy: www.pinterest.com
AlengotOromait At 20, she is the youngest parliamentarian in Africa. In 2012 she was elected Member of Parliament for Usuk County, Katakwi District in Uganda. She is a member of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement party. Her father, Michael Oromait, served as the MP for the same Parliamentary seat before his death in July 2012.
Banke Kuku Image courtesy: www.bellanaija.com
Banke Kuku She is a 19 year old Ghanaian national, the founder of Afrocentric Bamboo Limited. At present she employs around 30 girls and has also received numerous awards. Winifred, founded Ghana Bamboo Bikes in 2009 with an aim to fight for carbon free and green planet. The current turnover of the company is about $10,000 per month.
Winifred Selby Image courtesy: www.ameyawdebrah.com
Winifred Selby She is a Nigerian textile designer. She founded her self-named company in 2009 which fuses traditional African and western culture to create a unique lustrous fabric for fashion industry. Her company has created intrepid fabric designs for many renowned fashion houses including DuroOlowu, Jewel by Lisa and has been worn by the Michelle Obama, Kelis and Catt Sadler.
Mara Foundation’s Ambition We enable, inspire and empower ambitious entrepreneurs in Africa. With the support of our Mara Mentors we will:
Slowly but surely you will achieve all your goals. Just believe in the three magic words – FAITH, HARD WORK and DETERMINATION!
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