The African woman has in the past been a symbol of oppression and suffering since she bears the brunt of all the misfortune that the continent is associated with. The image of the woman in tattered clothes with a child tied to the back and a load of firewood on the head has for a long time been used as a representation of the woman in Africa.
This scenario is however quickly changing owing to the empowerment programmes that have come in place to lift women in the continent. It is in this line that some of them have emerged to be outstanding entrepreneurs who fight for their rightful place in the often male dominated field. This article offers insights into some of the five most successful female entrepreneurs:
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu – Addis Ababa
When Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu started out in 2004 with the name soleRebels, she was very focused on where her enterprise of making hand-carfted shoes would take not only her but also her local community in Addis Ababa.
According to the entrepreneur, the fine and skilled artisans that are employed from her community are the pillar of the company and the essentials of the company’s ethics. Every shoe that the company crafts acts as a vehicle of cultural heritage and Alemu has stood out tall as a commendable entrepreneur that consolidated her business in less than a decade. Due to Alemu’s passion and dedication to soleRebels, the company is the sole achiever of WFTO Fair Trade Certified Footwear Company title worldwide. The success of Alemu’s business saw her earn an invitation by Bill Clinton as a speaker in The Clinton Global Initiative panel.
Carmel Tal – Morocco
Carmel Tai is populary referred to as the “Leading Lady of Moroccan Oil”. The story of Tal’s success is a clear demonstration that no matter how small our beginnings are, we can make it real big if we try harder.
She started out as a salon owner and moved on to own a huge beauty enterprise. Her match to international glory all started out with a disappointing hair color service where she underwent an argan oil treatment; however, she was amazed by its unmatched benefits and decided to make the same benefits accessible to women across the globe.
Hence with support from her husband, whom she has since divorced, she bought the firm importing argan oil to the U.S and kicked off her business with a single brand. The move marked a turnaround for her life as well as career. Her business has grown immensely in a relatively short span of six years from merely 10 workers in the year 2000 to over 300 employees by 2014. Tal’s business is currently on its high and she has plans to develop newer products in the coming years to improve the salon experience for her customers.
Khanyi Dhlomo – South Africa
Once referred to as “the sweetheart of African Media”, Khanyi Dhlomo started her long career in Media at the tender age of 20 at South Africa Broadcast media. Currently she is the Managing Director of Ndalo Media which she founded in 2007 in collaboration with Media 24.
Through this media house, Dhlomo publishes two magazines, Destiny Magazine and Destiny Man. The online media DestinyConnect.com is also an integral part of Ndalo Media. Dlomo has worked with some of the best in the industry since she was with the True Love magazine and at the South African Tourism Board in Paris, which in essence laid the foundation for the inception of her enterprise. While working for True Love, Dhlomo succeded in capturing maximum audience. Dhlomo has transferred her passionate working style to her business and Destiny is an outstanding monthly issue which has publications on topics like business, lifestyle and fashion.
Adenike Ogunles – Nigeria
From the simple beginnings in 1996 of merely hawking pajamas in the back of her car and in bazzars, today Adenike Ogunlesi is the proud owner and CEO of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, an apparel range for children with its base in Nigeria.
She has a compelling story behind her success since she dropped out of college, plunging into a bleak future which saw her start working with her mother in a tailor shop. This was a blessing in disguise since she gained immense working experience. Owing to this work experience and
With excellent entrepreneurship skills, she has secured her rightful position among the best manufacturers of children’s clothes in Nigeria. Today, Ruff “n” Tumble towers tall with 50 employees. Adenike has expanded over the years owing to the increased demand for her clothing. She has opened new outlets in Port Harcourt and Surulere, Lagos.
Divine Ndhlukula- Zimbabwe
Divine Ndhlukula is the founder and Managing Director of Zimbambwe’s first ISO certified security company SECURICO. She fought against all odds to make her company a success in this male dominated landscape.
SECURICO is presently a leader in the provision of bespoke guarding services as well as cutting edge electronic security solutions. The company has grown over the past 17 years since its establishment to the heights that she dreamt of. The $13 million company (revenues) currently has more than 3,500 employees, out of which 900 are women. The company earned the prestigious Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship in 2011.