Entrepreneur Connect Africa

Nonku Ntshona is the founder of Nonku Ntshona & Associates Quantity Surveyors (Pty) Ltd (NNAQS) as a medium sized quantity surveying company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Founded by Nonku Ntshona, the company brings to bear her in-depth knowledge of the property development and construction industry, and a broad range of skills gained from more than 10 y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e w o r k i n g o n p r o m i n e n t development projects in South Africa and the broader African region. The company comprises of a team of professionals largely women who have gained recognition in the Quantity Surveying profession and who bring expertise in their field of knowledge to add value to the company's range of competencies. The vision of NNAQS is to become the most sought after and distinguished quantity surveying rm in South Africa, while its mission is to be a catalyst for change and enable a greater role for previously disadvantaged societies, concentrating on increased participation of women in the construction industry. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Velile is the CEO of Native Rhythms Productions, a Black-owned company formed in 1998 to offer value-oriented services across the entire entertainment industry’s value chain. The company’s strategic thrust is music publishing, music production, music marketing and promotion, licensing and distribution. Other ancillary services are events planning and production, such as concept concerts. Recently, the company has entered the film industry through the production of niche documentaries focusing on cultural related rituals, as well as popular culture such as hip-hop. The company was founded on the belief that entertainment, through music and other forms of artistic expression, it is possible to communicate with people of all races and cultures and that that competing ideologies could be brought together whilst bridging cultural and racial divides. Native Rhythms manages award winning artists such as The Soil, Cama Gwini, Deepa Trybz, Indwe, Gospel In Me, Isabel Novella, Malambule, N’azania, Nkulee Dube, Pu2ma, Sol Phenduka,Zuluboy, Vuyo Tyolo, Zakwe. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Sibu Mpanza, was born in Mpumalanga, raised in Cape Town and currently lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sibu is a YouTuber and content creator who focuses on personal topics and societal current affairs. Sibu’s YouTube journey began in 2014 when he added a video of his own onto YouTube and after a mere week, he had just over 100 subscribers. In October 2015, Sibu decided to enter the Samsung Social Star Competition, after a few weeks of trying to get people to vote for him using his YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, he made the top 3 and got the opportunity to fly to Mauritius with Joann Strauss, Minnie Dlamini and Gareth Pon. Sibu ended up winning the competition and became the Samsung Social Star 2015/2016 as well as gaining Joann, Minne and Gareth as his mentors. 2016 was an exciting year, from winning Runnerup for the Top YouTube Channel in Africa to reaching over 3000 subscribers on his YouTube Channel. Other milestones include being nominated for a Student Village Youth Influencer Award and making it into the Top 3 of the Cell C #BreakTheNet Competition with #GetSibuToLA trending for 3 weeks. 2017 saw Sibu appearing on 8 achievement lists including; Mail & Guardian Top200 South Africans and Kellman20 list of SA millenials to watch. He packed his bags and moved to Johannesburg where he started his own Online Content Creation company - Sibu Mpanza (Pty) Ltd where he has worked with over 20 brands that included Standard Bank, Burger King and Takealot.com. He continued to create content for YouTube and reached 8000 subscribers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Natalia Molebatsi is a writer, singer, and poet (and often experiments with jazz and hip hop). She is an events coordinator, programme director and host of PoetryLives on Unisa Radio. She was born in 1981 in Tembisa Township in apartheid South Africa and now lives under the lights of Johannesburg. Natalia is the author of Sardo Dance published in 2009 by Ge’ko, and her CD Natalia Molebatsi & The Soul Making was born in 2015. Her poetry can also be found in Letter to South Africa: Poets Calling the State to Order, Happiness the Delight-Tree: An Anthology of Contemporary International Poetry, New Coin, and the Anthology of World Poetry (2010) among others. Her academic writing appears in Scrutiny2, Rhodes Journalism Review and Muziki. Beyond South Africa, Natalia has performed poetry and facilitated creative writing workshops at a number of universities and festivals in among others Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Zimbabwe, England, Italy, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Palestine, United States and Germany. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Siya is an entrepreneur who inspires people to live to their full potential and recognize that they are living in the greatest Era. He has authored and self-published the book "Before You Get Married " which received a great response and generated substantial sales. Siya also works as a Senior Contracts Manager (Burkina Faso and Guinea) at Moolmans. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Sheila Leocádia Pires was born in Mozambique and moved to South Africa with her family at the age of 12. She is a radio and television producer/presenter. Her commitment to critical thinking is rooted in her identity as a woman and a Catholic, and she does not shy away from raising contemporary and controversial issues related to women, youth and African politics in her programs on Radio Veritas South Africa. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Apart from being talk show host, MC, Professional Public Speaker, Ashraf Garda is the Co-Founder of the Champion South Africa movement which was birthed with the desire to multiply the number of champions in the country to help turn South Africa into a champion nation. The movement, launched in November 2015, is currently asking: What are you doing to build your country Several local leaders, such as Vusi Thembekayo, Khanyi Dhlomo, and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, were chosen to be part of Champion South Africa, so they too can spread the message and urge more people to become champions. Ashraf believes that South Africa will become a champion nation when the government, business, and civil society synchronize its efforts towards the goal of becoming individual and collective champions. In April 2011, he became the host of the South African Broadcasting Corporation's investigative program "Special Assignment". During the 2010 World Cup Ashraf provided analysis on the games as well as the social impact of the World Cup on CNN, Al Jazeera, CBC Canada, and SABC 2's Morning Live. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 4 June 1962. Ashraf lived with his parents in Fietas until they had to relocate to Lenasia due to the Group Areas Act of the South African Apartheid regime. He married Jamela Cassim and together they started a business retailing textiles in the Oriental Plaza, called "Fabric Fantasy". Ashraf's entry into radio began when he hosted sports shows on community radio stations "Radio az-Zaheer" and later "the Voice,95.4fm". --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Pops Mohamed (born Ismail Mohamed-Jan) is a South African multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer. Born in Benoni, Gauteng Pops Mohamed's career in music was the logical outcome of an early exposure at Dorkay House to the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim and Kippie Moeketsi. He started his first band The Valiants, at 14. Known by fans as the Minister of Music, he plays a wide variety of instruments: African mouth bow, bird whistle, berimbau, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboard, kora, and the thumb piano. He is also known for his wide range of musical styles which include kwela, pop, and soul. He produced Finding One's Self, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa's award-winning album. Pops has also performed regularly with and sits on the board of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

James Urdang is the Founder and CEO of Education Africa, is a Social Entrepreneur, humanitarian and Public Speaker. He has dedicated more than 29 years helping to bring about real, positive and meaningful change to the lives of disadvantaged Africans. James has been recognized globally and is a recipient of the Klaus Jacobs Awards in Switzerland for Social Engagement and Innovation. James was mentored by the late Walter Sisulu and was honored to have been asked to speak at the funeral of the late Chris Hani. James was the first person in the non-profit sector to lead President Nelson Mandela and had the honor of presenting him the Golden Doves of Peace Award and accompany him at a number of Education Africa events. The biggest challenge for James has always been the sustainability of Education Africa and his dream is to create an endowment fund so that Education Africa can be self-sustainable --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Nolonwabo ‘Nolly’ Qunta is a 21-year-old, Mthatha-born entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Konnect House (Pty) Ltd, the holdings company of the subsidiary, WeTalk, a leading Pan-African twitter platform where entrepreneurs, leading industry experts share knowledge about business and succeeding as an entrepreneur. WeTalk collaborates with some of South Africa’s successful entrepreneurs such as Derrick Ndzavi, Idris Sultan, Carol Ndosi, Siya Beyile, Zimasa Lupuwana, Tebello Motsoana, Brian Wesley, Jodene Shaer, Adriaan Groenewald, Jason Gordon, Adel Meyer and many more. Bringing Innovation to entrepreneurs WeTalk is over a year old and grown enormously. They have been named as the best business twitter platform in their year of empowering entrepreneurs on Twitter through hosting business chats. A connection to entrepreneurs should not be restricted. They built, through #WeTalkBiz a platform that connects like-minded game changers to discuss and empower each other on how to tackle issues in the 21st century. WeTalk has developed to be an agency that is helping create the social media marketing industry. Social media has changed a lot in the past years and has proved to be a trusted medium of communication and connection for brands. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

David Alexander is the Managing Director of Sheer Publishing (Pty) Ltd, the fastest growing independent music publishing company in South Africa. Sheer Publishing represents South African songs and songwriters for the world amongst their clients are; Mandoza, Kabelo, Chris Chameleon and Jeff Maluleke. Sheer Publishing also represents international Publishers for Southern Africa and Africa – some of their clients are Kobalt Music, Reverb Music, World Circuit, Budde Music Inc Chimurenga Music, Rh Pozitif Publishing and Roba Music Publishing. David serves as the Vice Chairman of NORM (National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music, which is the body that represents the music publishers in South Africa. Norm is also a mechanical collection society and has agreements with the recording industry, broadcasters as well as internet and mobile operators. MAN WITH A MISSION! David is on a mission to provide a comprehensive range of copyright services to all clients, domestic, continental and international. Steeped in the richness and creativity of the arts, Sheer Publishing specializes in the representation of songs and songwriters and a quick glimpse at the last 12 months will tell you that business is soaring. From mainstream commercials to movie soundtracks, the caliber of brands knocking on Sheer’s door at the moment is a testament to their sound standing and reputation in the industry. Major clients include top advertising agencies such as Ogilvy, JWT and Clearwater as well as FILM and TV production companies. With a ten-person strong team in South Africa, and staff in Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya respectively, Sheer Publishing might be small but they excel at what they do. Born in 1996, Sheer Publishing has a vast catalog rich with South African, African and International Chart music ideal for syncing purposes. Sheer Publishing offers the ultimate one-stop solution for all your music requirements. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

D'banj is the founder of Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development. He is also Nigeria's first United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace. Dbanj is a ONE campaign ambassador; he released the song "Cocoa Na Chocolate" in support of agriculture investments. 'Cocoa Na Chocolate' featured 18 other African artists and won Best African Collaboration at the All Africa Music Awards in 2014. In 2015, he was applauded by World Bank Chief, Jim Yong Kim for using his music power and high celebrity status to bringing attention to serious and critical issues in Africa with a special focus on agriculture and poverty alleviation. Jim Yong Kim was quoted saying that "I had the pleasure of meeting D’banj last month and seeing him perform. I’m thrilled he is the first artists to take part in our new Music4Dev series encouraging the global artist to raise awareness about poverty and related issues." In 2015 D'banj released the video to "Extraordinary" to raise awareness on gender equality and women's empowerment. World bank endorsed song as a song for women awareness. Projects D'Banj is vastly immersed in information technology, particularly in the areas of value-added services and Content digital distribution. He owns MCOMM Ltd (Median Mobile Communications Limited, A Value Added Service Content Provider) and D' Kings Men Media Limited (a 360 Media Company), which are responsible for his major digital moves in recent times. C.R.E.A.M In August 2016, D'banj's D'Kings Men Media partnered with MTN Nigeria and the Bank of Industry to launch THE CREAM PLATFORM, a creative talent platform that was set up to help discover young creative minds across Nigeria by just dialing a USSD code on a mobile phone. It is reported that the platform, as at December 2016, had over 2 million paying subscribers and has discovered hundreds of talents from the music category alone, with tens of music videos and millions of Naira given out to winners. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Lebo Lion is the host of Lessons with Lion, a Marketing & Entrepreneurship Podcast for entrepreneurs who want to tweak their mindsets and take their businesses to the next level. Lessons with Lion is a podcast that challenges entrepreneurs to think differently and understand that the power to succeed lies in their own hands. They are in control of their success. Lessons with Lion is about learning, it’s about community, ideas, and creativity, just like its host Lebo Lion. Lebo Lion is a marketer, strategist, and content creator who has worked on campaigns with a myriad of popular African brands assisted more than 100 entrepreneurs & small business owners to transform their businesses, & a digital doula who simplifies digital marketing for her listeners & clients. At the age of 24, Lebo Lion co-founded a tech startup called Mzansipad that aimed to give children in rural and township environments, access to uniquely created learning applications (designed by Mzansipad) that specifically focused on the fields of mathematics, science, and languages. Now Lebo is the Co-Founder of a marketing and public relations agency that’s centered around the synergy between brands and people, aptly named PEOPLE. Lebo describes herself as an ideas person which makes her addicted to finding new opportunities and starting exciting businesses. This young woman, with tweets that are quoted to “Shake tables”, has only just started to touch the world with her fearless and unique perspective of the world. And although this is just a piece of Lebo Lions story, she attributes her experience & comfort with failure as her motivation to succeed on her own terms, on her own timeline. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Apart from being a publicist, Magazine contributor, and Blogger, Mbali is the architect of one of the most active groups on Facebook with an ecosystem of over 100k individuals engaging to source assistance and make recommendations for products and services. Her platform, I know A guy positioned Mbali as an influencer in and is now a Regional Community leader for Facebook. She is an Experienced Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. She is Skilled in Digital Strategy, Budgeting, Communications Management, Hospitality Industry, and Sales Management. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a passion for creative arts and project management. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

A specialist attorney, with over 14 years experience, founder of Yugandrie Maharaj Inc. Law firm, a well-established client-centered Law Firm offering a personal approach to legal services. Backed up by a highly capable team, The Law firm was founded by Yugandrie Maharaj, situated primarily in Pietermaritzburg. Driven by her sheer determination to succeed, Pietermaritzburg mother and successful attorney Yugandrie Maharaj have become one of the most respected names in the legal profession. Outspoken, courageous, ambitious and spiritual, Maharaj is proud of her Indian roots and is grounded by her belief in the teachings of the Art of Living Foundation and humanitarian work. Despite being part of an industry that bears a reputation for being cutthroat and status-driven, Maharaj draws on her spiritual side to give the legal profession a human face that will inspire others to emulate. Not content with just running a successful and prosperous law firm she has embarked on a journey to spread the paradigm – for a business to grow and be truly sustainable it needs to have heart, be grounded in people and be profoundly generous. She began by rebranding her firm: Yugandrie Maharaj Incorporated, into the highly successful YMI as a brand it is now poised to leverage opportunities in: 1. Conveyancing and other traditional legal services 2. Expert debt counseling 3. Developing a franchise model to take debt counseling nationally 4. Entrepreneurship programmes for unemployed graduate youth 5. Holding knowledge sessions in communities plagued by violence and poverty She holds a BA (LAW) LLB degree from the then University of Durban-Westville and while Maharaj enjoys much success now her story is one of the rags to riches. Her journey was not always this rosy. She is not shy to admit her childhood, especially her formative years were very “traumatic”. Maharaj says, “I was the eldest in a family of three children with an alcoholic father and a simple, humble mother.” After much hardship, Maharaj completed her legal studies and 14 years ago become an attorney. Her determination and desire to excel and deepen her knowledge saw Maharaj go on to seek out experience in family & divorce law, commercial law, insolvency law, criminal and civil litigation as well as conveyancing. Her success is most evident in the formidable R10 million property portfolio she has subsequently built. But as far as success goes the sky is not the limit for Maharaj. She has not forgotten the bumpy road she had traveled, nor does she ignore the fact that there are still so many people, particularly women, trapped in poverty, limited by circumstance and the lack of opportunity, and who needed help in shifting their mindsets. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Rabbi Yehuda Stern serves at Johannesburg's largest Jewish synagogue, Sydenham Shul. Rabbi Stern was born in Melbourne Australia and has studied in Israel, USA, England, and Russia. He is married to Estee and they have five children. When joining the community in 2007, Rabbi Stern, together with his wife Estee, took on the challenge of developing activities for the Johannesburg's Jewish Youth and Young Adults. Today his 'Young Jewish Joburg' activities are of the most popular in the city. Rabbi Stern is a young dynamic rabbi who is in touch with the world of social media and sees it as a platform that enables him to communicate with his community. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Rayana Edwards fuses culture and clothing to empower women through her business Harem Clothing and her project Sari for Change. Harem Clothing focuses on creating the modern modest dressing for women of all ages. Sari for Change trains unemployed women to reproduce new garments from donated saris. Upon completion of the Sari for Change training, the women are encouraged to launch their own businesses. They also continue to receive mentorship and have the opportunity to partner with Harem Clothing. Through both endeavors, Rayana not only dresses women but creates employment opportunities for them. Championing job creation in developing markets for the unemployed and marginalized is a mission, sales, and marketing guru Rayana Edwards is determined to offer in an economy that seldom allows for equal participation by the creators and owners of the production chain in the fashion industry A passionate and active member of various women groups and organizations Rayana believes that the world is being run by women on a sub-conscious level and her mantra is “a fusion of women creating new influences through a collective creative expression. With earlier businesses in Cape Town, Nairobi and Johannesburg where she has worked largely in property development Rayana embraced her love for fashion and clothing by opening her first ladies boutique Cape Connections when she lived in Nairobi. The high-end boutique catered for movers and shakers, politicians, president’s wives, and largely expat communities. Sourcing and buying for her boutique saw her cross many an ocean and to the most exotic destinations in and around Africa and the rest of the world and offered her insight to a passion and love with art, design, and beauty in the imperfections of African craft. Rayana’s developmental started with her introducing artists to mainstream businesses and she instinctively knew her purpose of honing in on the talents and gifts from women that could work their craft and handwork from all parts of the world allowed her life purpose to be realized Her overwhelming passion for Africa consumed Edwards and it’s what drove her mission to seek to develop the continent that was the catalyst for Rayana that defined her business positioning. After relocating to Johannesburg from Nairobi, where she dabbled in the corporate market Rayana took the plunge by filling in the gap of merging the informal sector of craft and indigenous handcraft from Africa to mainstream business With her first imports sandals from Kenya, Rayana knew she was in the right market when she struck a deal with leading fashion house Sun Goddess who bought the range for their participation in SA Fashion Week. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Taynita Harilal is no stranger to the hustle and opportunities of entrepreneurship. The 22-year-old from Johannesburg first received media attention when she raised in excess of R150k for a tombstone of the late South African singing legend, Dolly Rathebe, garnering her place among the Lead SA Young Heroes in 2015, Yo TV's Achiever of the year among other accolades. She was born and bred in an entrepreneurial household and is making constructive use of the first-hand experience that this ongoing opportunity has provided by launching her own online television cooking show #BunniesintheBurbs #OurFamilyKitchen a JT Comms production A student at Wits University studying for her Honours in Development Studies and International Relations, Taynita Harilal lives in Craighall Park and continues to innovate and build on creating new futures to influence the changed world she would like to live in. Taynita is very much an influencer, a change agent and a passionate and innovative responsible global citizen. She sees the power of her youth in a new South Africa as the opportunity to become part of a solution to positively support social cohesion efforts. She is an international traveler and a well-established persona on the SA creative and business industries with distinctive leadership qualities. , Taynita has a number of accolades under her belt and already has her own TV show on YouTube and on Viva Nation TV called #BunniesIntheBurbs which she hosts and crafts strategy on. The show launched on 9 August 2016 on Women’s Day and it’s a platform where Taynita cooks in her family kitchen showing the power of digital to shape ideas and connect to people. The show is about showing the power of sharing conversation, cuisine and culture to share our heritage and tell our stories on a world stage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Using her acclaimed skills and highly sought after expertise as an international speaker and business coach, Deysel who herself is an entrepreneur, runs an international entity, Deshun Deysel & Associates which lists some Fortune 500 companies and disruptive start-ups as clients; D&A provides business and executive coaching to a new breed of digitally savvy leaders. Deshun Deysel is a leading female mountaineer with a 15-year career as a high altitude mountaineer. She has been on 14 major expeditions in five continents. In 1996 she made history by being part of the first group of South Africans to plant the new democratic flag on the top of Mt. Everest. As a novice climber Deshun was only able to reach Camp 2 at 6,500 meters (21,325 feet) that year but subsequently returned to Everest in 2003. Bad weather, however, thwarted that attempt as Deshun made her way to the summit. Again she had to turn back – this time a mere 500 meters from the top (8,848 meters, 29,028 feet). Deshun has been an active promoter of high altitude climbing among women in Africa, where the sport is not widely known. She has had to fight stereotypes as an African female mountaineer in order to accomplish her high altitude dreams. Although her dream to reach the top of Mt. Everest has not yet been realized, her climbing exploits have inspired hundreds of Africans to see high altitude mountaineering as a reachable goal. Deshun has led groups to Mt. Everest Base Camp, including Olympic decathlon legend and Laureus World Sports Academy member Daley Thompson, as well as three groups to Mt. Kilimanjaro. She has also successfully climbed Mount Meru (Tanzania), Mount Kenya (Kenya), Mount Elbrus (Russia), Mount Kala Pathar (Nepal) and Mt. Blanc (France). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

founded Zanusi Brand Solutions, a 100% black female-owned Integrated Branding, Marketing and Communications Services Firm in 2001 after 20 years' corporate experience in multinational FMCG companies in South Africa, Kenya, and the USA. Zanusi has clientele in Africa, the UK, and the USA where it has delivered brand-building strategies and activated plans for blue-chip companies and state-owned entities. Nomahlubi has also played an active role in the Association of Marketers in South Africa including judging Advertising for the prestigious Loeries Awards. She has served on several Boards including being the vice-chairperson of the Association of Advertising Agencies (AAA), a non-executive director of Primedia Face2Face, Cashbuild, Foschini Group as well as a member of the AAA Executive Operations Committee, ASA’s Advertising Properties Committee and the Advisory Committee for UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) Advertising and Communication Initiative. She was invited to the United Nations deliberations on “Promoting investment and sustainable development in Africa with the objective of eradicating poverty”. She has written numerous articles and has delivered several papers, the latest titled: “Reaching the African consumer – lessons for European brands” presented at the European Association of Communications (EACA) in October 2000. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Sipho Goodenough Mseleku is the convenor of the Global Business Roundtable (GBR). The organization was established on 21st August 2009 and began as a discussion forum and support, networking and prayer group for people in business and various intellectual professions. The Global Business Roundtable was and is still a God-centered organization, and has inspired global business networking initiatives to support entrepreneurs, businesses and working professionals from various fields. BA (Hons), LLB, LLM (Tax Law), H.Dip Co Law (Witwatersrand), F.Inst.D (Fellow of the Institute of Directors) Attorney of the High Court of South Africa Sipho Mseleku is the current Executive Chairman of Sakhumnotho Group Holdings. He is the immediate past President of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He served as President for five years (2008 – 2012). The Chamber represents commerce and Industry from all 46 African Countries. Mr. Mseleku is passionate about African business. In 2009 he established the Global Business Roundtable, of which he is currently President. The Global Business Roundtable has a presence in close to 60 countries. He feels very strongly about intra-African trade and believes it is essential for economic growth and development on the continent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Precious Sbongile Dhlamini is a 28-year-old black female who is the founder of Press. She grew up in a town called Springs in the East Rand. From a tender age, Precious had an extreme love for the arts and interest in the beauty industry. Subsequent to matriculating, she completed 3 years training as a health and beauty therapist from the Tshwane University of Technology where she was introduced to the make-up artistry and went on to specialize in Advanced Make-up Artistry at the Face to Face Beauty College and achieved her international Diploma in Film and Television Make-up. She further enhanced her skills at the Royal Hairstyles Academy, where she acquired her Seta Accredited Certification in Ladies Afro Hairstyling. Immediately after her training, she went on to work in print and media as a Hair & Make-up stylist for a number of production companies and publications such as Viacom, Media 24 and Urban Brew Studios. In 2015, Precious fulfilled her calling to become an entrepreneur. She started out with a salon in her home town, which was a huge investment but this approach failed because her services are specialized and this attracted a different type of client. The experience forced her to understand what it is that her clients want so she could be responsive. In addition, a life-changing car accident left Precious physically unable to move around, do certain jobs and day to day activities. As a result, I lost a lot of clientele which forced her to change her business model. To one that could accommodate her physical restrictions and build a better-suited clientele. The experience taught her resilience and perseverance, which she is most grateful for. Today Pree’s Beauty Boudoir, the organization founded by Precious, is a mobile beauty salon offering Hair and Beauty Services all over Gauteng. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Author, mom, a former teacher, mentor, life coach... to mention a few are titles Liziwe Ntshengulana identifies well with. Liziwe Ntshengulana has an entrepreneurial spirit; always keen to do things that have never been done before. Liziwe has written and published books such as The World Upside Down, published by Verity Publishers in 2013, second one published by Kima Global Publishers as an E-book in 2014. As a Circuit Manager, she started an award ceremony to award schools that perform best in all school activities. She has visited schools individually, to find out where they need assistance so that support could be directed. Her mission with the schools was to create leaders who in turn create leaders which we managed to do, by having school environments which are conflict free. The circuit she managed was awarded as the best amongst the nine circuits in the District, in learner achievement in 2007 results for Cluster A. Her other achievements are the launching of a project of returning the rural population back to grassroots living by integrating Agriculture, Arts and Culture and Technology in the form of sewing with community life so that people can take responsibility for what is happening in their schools. They are also able to empower themselves side by side with their children to have a better life and be self-sufficient. Liziwe recognizes that rural areas can sustain a country when people are assisted to utilize Natural resources to manufacture goods rather than have our resources siphoned by other countries to manufacture goods they sell back to us at higher prices. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Candice Pillay is a partner at Hogan Lovells. She co-ordinates the Hogan Lovells firm’s citizenship and pro bono activities. She ensures that all ongoing initiatives are running smoothly and also acts as a spokesperson in the media on issues affecting the poor and disenfranchised in our community. She also manages the enterprise development and social entrepreneurship practice, which aims to empower people by teaching them to be economically active and then providing legal support to their businesses at a reduced rate. By working through various funding organizations and not-for-profit organizations in Africa, Candice is able to provide legal support to start up social enterprises throughout Africa. Another project is the collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Community safety shelters, where we assist residents with domestic violence protection orders, maintenance claims, and custody and access cases for children. We are also providing enterprise development programmes to assist women in the shelters to start their own businesses and be economically independent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Kerry Olivier is Max Studios head photographer and owner, eighteen years experience in photography, from working at numerous well-known photographic studios. Kerry is also a qualified make-up artist nineteen years experience. She has worked on quite a number of movie sets, as well as a few TV ads. Kerry has also had the privilege of working on a number of well known South African celebrities. Max Studios offers a variety of photographic services, from family portraits to advertorial photo shoots -with the commitment and dedication of providing a professional service to their clients. Creating perfect images is the core of their business, understanding the importance of quality images. They aim to provide a personalized service for all clients, which ranges from a young girl coming in for her first portfolio, to the Studios biggest corporate client. Max Studios is based in Randburg, allowing us to be centralized for our clients. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Themba Mabaso is an author and illustrator who started the self-publishing company, Njabulo Publishers, in 2003, with the aim to get more South African children to read. His stories and characters have a distinct local flavor and over the 14 years of its existence, his company has brought out more than almost 20 children’s novels. Njabulo Publishers introduces illustrated books with adventurous characters in African settings to encourage South African children to read. Improving South Africa’s literacy rate is paramount to the success of the country and its people. It starts with young children falling in love with the written word, learning through illustrated characters about themselves and the world around them. However, there are not that many children’s books that speak to the lived experiences of many young South Africans. The adventurous character Gimba, created by Thembinkosi (Themba) Mabaso, and Njabulo Publishers are boldly pioneering the children and youth literary market with entertaining, enduring and relevant books. The books are developed to educate as well as entertain the readers and they come in a number of languages that is English, Zulu, & SeSotho. There are currently at least 18 titles published by Njabulo Publishers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

With offices in KwaZulu Natal and Johannesburg, Ricinz Constructions is a 100% black female owned company that has been in operation since 2009 Having started off with grass cutting, our focus has changed over the years to include Electrical and Construction Work of which we have done work for the Department of Human Settlements and most notably currently Eskom The entrepreneurship bug bit Indrani while at a Women Empowerment Conference in 2007, where she learned that the government was looking to empower women in business. She then decided to take the plunge and that was when her company, Ricinz Constructions cc was born. Her company’s core business is human settlements design and delivery, and they have augmented their core function with electrical, plumbing and general building maintenance services which complement their main business. The business has recently gone into the ICT sector carrying out optic fiber work for Huawei. Indrani’s constantly involved in community development and in particular, programmes aimed at empowering women in rural communities. She is passionate and a firm believer in empowering underprivileged women and creating jobs. She is also a motivational speaker for the eThekwini Municipality, SEDA for Women Empowerment conferences and Lionesses of Africa. Indrani matriculated in 1981 at Stanger Manor Secondary, in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal. She started her professional career at The Foschini Group back in 1986, where she held a few positions over an 18-year period including a packer, sales lady, cashier, admin controller, and floor manager. After leaving The Foschini Group, she joined Truworths as a manager in 2005, a position she occupied for two years. The single mother of two graduated in the second position out of 100 businesswomen in the NHBRC Women Empowerment Programme offered by the Gordon Institute of Business Science. Amongst her achievements, Indrani has won a few awards in recognition for her work in empowering others. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Mabusela’s ‘Metric Production is a stage and film production company he founded in 2013, which produced the award-winning stage play ‘Connection to Home’ and garnered rave reviews and bagged an award at the 8th Goree International Arts Festival in Senegal, in 2016. The company has gone on to create content for Craft Beer Company; Stimela Brewing. Currently, Metric Productions is producing a science school road show. A show which travels to under-provided schools, giving science kits to schools without science Labs and teaching science through drama. Marcus’s focus is to bring solutions to African problems through storytelling and is collaborating with ‘The Independent State of Nandi’ Co-star Lebo Barole and Vanessa Perumal, Managing Director of JT Communication Solutions in producing a new digital comedy series. As Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter once noted, ‘He who bemoans lack of opportunity forgets that often small doors lead to big rooms’. I'm looking forward to being an active change agent, using film and television towards telling our stories and instilling hope in the African child and am thankful for all opportunities that have and continue to come my way, ends Marcus Mabusela. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

CEO of Redefine Human Capital, Irisha Luhanga knows how crucial it is to connect entrepreneurs’ businesses with talented individuals. She understands that the key to a company’s success lies in the satisfaction and growth of its employees. Luhanga has solidified her reputation in the human resource services field as the woman to get this done with world-class professionalism and integrity. The company is now expanding into the African continent and beyond, bringing her expertise to clients across a variety of business sectors. Luhanga gracefully and single-minded sails ahead of her competitors in the recruitment and organizational development industry, realizing the entrepreneur’s dream of operating a sizable business that brings in revenue, while maintaining its distinctive identity. In a field that is often criticized for lacking genuine personal attention in order to receive quick commissions by both candidates and clients alike, Irisha Luhanga gives her clients a refreshingly different experience. Redefine Human Capital provides flexible and scalable end-end services that are tailored to suit individual client needs. Luhanga’s experience and success in the corporate world, combined with her passion for empowering women and youth who come into contact with her, delivers consistent results. Her successes include blue chip companies in the Engineering and Financial Services industries. Irish doesn’t limit her ambition and excellence to her business’ achievements. Ever aware of the needs of the disadvantaged in this unequal society, she is one of the founding members an NGO, Visions of Joy, which provides basic needs to underprivileged youth. She also uses this as a vehicle to facilitate infrastructure projects that aim to effect systemic change in under-serviced communities. A wife and mother of two’ Luhanga’s working life began at the age of only 11, in a single parent household. She went on to fund her school and university career. As a self-funded entrepreneur who used her own capital to start and build her company, she brings insight into the dynamics that inform successes and failures in business and life. “I handle hardships with the determination that I will not fail, and as a leader who has committed her life to the personal and professional development of others, I am equally committed to continually investing in my own development as I strive for nothing but the best in all that I do.” Redefine Human Capital, captained by the inimitable Irisha Luhanga, is poised to go beyond South Africa’s borders to an even more diverse global marketplace in the international talent search, startup and organisational development industry. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Luella Naidoo has over 15 years of experience within the devices and pharmaceutical sectors (both Ethical and Generics). She is an astute social entrepreneur and passionate about empowerment, skills development and creating value and impacting empowerment and financial inclusion for all entrepreneurs. She has dedicated most of the work she activate to supporting the empowerment of youth graduates and people with special needs through job creation mentoring coaching and training Luella is a trailblazer and creating value in the business sector she influences is what sets this highly driven visionary on a trajectory to build bridges, support social cohesion, influence job creation and offer high impact problem-solving solutions especially in skills development. Her advocacy using entrepreneurship to support interventions in the treatment and management of HIV sectors is what drives her passion. She spent 10 years working in the HIV arena in diverse roles within the pharmaceutical industry ranged from the sales rep, sales manager, product manager, sales, marketing, and Business management. This philanthropist Mom and Social Entrepreneur is very much the captain steering Jezriel Craig Holdings. Through her astute leadership and mentoring she is able to transform, empower and drive sustainable business solutions to enable her network to reach their professional, personal and economic goals. JCH places a strong emphasis on creating sustainable value driven partnership with clients and candidates in assisting them to fulfill their recruitment needs successfully. The key focus of the business is about bridging the gap between having a degree and gaining work experience. Jezriel Craig Holdings (JCH) is a well specializes in the medical and pharmaceutical sector with a core focus on:- Training and Development Recruitment Contract Sales Force Business Strategies Having studied Theology and equipped with a Masters in Business leadership Luella is highly purpose driven and in her career trajectory having mastered the Pharmaceutical industry she is destined to create a significant shift in supporting skills development in her advocacy work in the treatment and prevention. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Nicolette Mashile is a Bushbuckridg-born entrepreneur and media personality who is building a unique brand using her experiences to inspire and educate some of the people that have been captivated by her infectious personality and expertise around various subjects. She is the founder of Financial Fitness Bunny, which is a financial education initiative aimed at helping people with their financial situations, being it business or at home. Born and raised in the Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, where opportunities are far and few, Nicolette’s first challenge as a child was moving from home in order to have access to a good education. After successfully completing her high schooling, she went on to study Social Studies and Law at the Rhodes University in Grahamstown. After not being able to complete her degree, she moved to Johannesburg, where she used that adversity to complete a National Diploma in Sports Management and a BA in Human and Social Studies majoring in Communications an Honors in Organisational communication and a post graduate diploma in business admin enabling her to be a Masters Candidate in 2018. Nicolette is a forward- thinking and reliable team player, and has served in marketing communications environment, advertising and public relation roles. She is results driven, inspired by business growth and alignment in her communications tasks in any industry or sector. Having worked and studied simultaneously, she has accelerated her understanding in the impact of communications in any industry, whilst nurturing a career in marketing communications. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Irene Kiwia is an accomplished business entrepreneur whose career spans over 18 years in Business Management, Media, Public Relations Communications and Gender and Youth Empowerment. She is the Founder and CEO of Frontline Management, a management firm with 3 dynamic divisions; - Frontline Porter Novelli, a PR and communication division that is a global partner of Porter Novelli the US-based PR leader owned by the communication conglomerate OMNICOM, and has a presence in over 85 countries. - Frontline Solutions - A technology division that builds solutions to complex social challenges. - The Women of Achievement - a platform to empower women and girls through social and economic transformation across Africa. Recognition of her role as a woman leader empowering other women and the girl child include, being mentored by a Fortune 500 company woman leader under the 2010 Fortune/US State Department Women Mentoring Program, receiving the Coin of Excellence from the US Ambassador to Tanzania in 2011, becoming a 2014 Global Health and Diplomacy Fellow, participating in the 2014 UN General Assembly Health and Young Girl’s Empowerment Forums and being honored 2015 Woman of The Year Africa by Africa Reconnect, a South African based leadership organization that honors outstanding African leaders who empower women. In 2018 she was selected as part of the 200 Obama Leaders in Africa and on the same year nominated as a finalist in AWIEF (AFRICAN WOMEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM) Empowerment Award. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Precious Mvulane is a chartered accountant and registered auditor with more than 12 years of experience working for the big four auditing companies. After working in finance for 18 years, Precious moved on to become an entrepreneur, starting GAD, an Accounting and Tax consultancy, which has since evolved into a training, publishing and development organization that aims to educate, empower and enable people to achieve economic freedom. She is also the author of THE ESSENTIAL FINANCE HANDBOOK - For Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs tend to build businesses around a specific skill or passion. They don’t realize that, as part of the package, they also have to become a sales, marketing, admin and accounting expert. Entrepreneurship in South Africa has the highest business failure rate in the world, with around 9 of 10 new businesses failing within the first 3 years. One of the key reasons for this excessively high failure rate is that entrepreneurs don’t have the right finance structures, processes, and controls in place from the start. This handbook could be just what is needed to change their potential for success in business and – quite possibly – even their lives! The Essential Finance Handbook for Entrepreneurs is filled with over 200 best-practice strategies for small businesses as well as principals, tips, case studies, templates (more than 30), tools, checklists, and action plans to make sure entrepreneurs can implement all you have learned quickly and effectively. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Lerina Subbiah is the Sales and Marketing Director of SUBB10 Technologies, a Specialist ICT company providing IT and Telecoms solutions to SME, LARGE and Public sectors. The company is based in sunny Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Lerina has been in the Telecommunication industry for 18 years and is very passionate about the ICT industry and Technology in general. She is highly Skilled in Business Negotiation, Sales, Communication, customer relations management and converged products. Lerina has completed numerous skills and management courses including a Marketing and Advertising Diploma, Vodacom Brand Management at the Vega School of Marketing and of recent a distinction pass in Technology & Enterprise Management from Northwest University Business School. She is a strong sales professional that has been awarded numerous awards in her field. Her career started with Autopage in 2001 in Mobile Retail Sales then moving to HUGE Telecoms as an account manager providing sales in the least cost routing division before settling with Telecoms Giant Vodacom in the Enterprise Business Unit. After just 8 months in her role, she was awarded the Managing Executive Award for outstanding performance. In April 2009 and 2016 she was awarded the “Award of Excellence” for conquering new Business Frontiers. Her outstanding achievements and dedication to the Vodacom Team saw her travel extensively to Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and Morocco. Following 10 years at Vodacom, she decided to venture out into entrepreneurship and forge her own path joining SUBB10 Technologies as Sales and Marketing Director, heading up the Telecoms Division. Lerina stands on several Women Business Forums and chambers including KZNWIBB, SCBWN and Durban Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about mentoring young females in the ICT Sector and developing Female Leadership in Technology. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Antos Stella is a pioneer and a digital Disruptor with an extraordinary presence in the music industry for over 30 years. Ms. Stella is one of the most respected businesswomen to emerge from the industry. Her artist relations have been one of her major strengths, enabling her to successfully bridge the gap between the creative and business worlds. Antos has been instrumental in some of the country’s biggest international artist deals, an ambassador for the country internationally as well as a leading content aggregator focused specifically on the relationship between telecommunications and the digital distribution of local and international content. Antos and her team at Content Connect are expanding the distribution of content to include not only music but mobile television and video content too. Under her supervision, Content Connect Africa has come to be one of South Africa’s leading content aggregators representing independent labels and artists throughout the continent; and has evolved into a 360 record label with offices in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda and represents legendary artists such as the Mahotella Queens. She has been instrumental in some of the country’s biggest international artist deals, is an ambassador for the country internationally, and previously was the driving force behind Gallo Music South Africa – one of the country’s biggest record companies for over 20 years. Having an extraordinary presence in the music industry for nearly 30 years, Antos Stella has successfully bridged the gap between the creative and business worlds. Content Connect Africa is a content aggregator that started off as a digital distribution company providing content digitally, specifically focused on South African music, constantly developing entertainment services that reflect and fit with the cultural values that are unique in nature to this emerging market of business. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Vanessa sits down with the incredible Roshnie Moonsammy. Roshnie is the founder and director of Southern Africa Arts Exchange which hosts amongst other programmes, the Urban Voices, an exposure of international poetry, music and theater – focusing on African voices on the continent and in the Diaspora. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

On this episode, Vanessa chats to Nomsa Nteleko. She is the Co-founder and the managing director of OS Holdings, fondly refer to as the boss lady. OS Holdings was set up in 2012 as a consulting firm with the vision of providing sound and affordable solutions to state-owned entities and other government parastatals. These organisations deal with many processes which are not automated which causes great inefficiencies when it comes to reporting and compliance. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

On this episode, Vanessa Perumal chats Yogavelli Nambiar, she is the CEO of Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. As the CEO, Yogavelli joins the Foundation with extensive experience, having previously founded and headed up the Enterprise Development Academy at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), the business school of the University of Pretoria as its Director, where she led the entrepreneurship efforts of the school within the center. Prior to that she was Country Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative and led the design and delivery of this successful international women’s entrepreneurship programme in South Africa. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

Yashmita Bhana, CEO of Nihka Technology Group, joins #ECAfrica100 to unpack her journey during growth phases while also expanding on how she had started the company The Nihka Technology Group. She shares her take on how society works and how the IT sector fits in to make a positive impact. CEO of Nihka Technology Group, a company that started off as a consulting agency 10 years ago and has grown over the past few years and has over the years it has seen very gradual well-thought through growth, not just running after what the next best thing. The Nihka Technology Group eventually started moving away from consulting towards a more tech-focused company, which is what they currently do. ‘We manage the data value chain, which means we analyze your data, we store your data, we transport your data, we secure your data and we enterprise data.’ says Yashmita Bhana. The Nihka Technology Group is also focused on bringing the digital future to both private and public sectors, locally and globally. They do this by delivering innovative, integrated technologies and intelligent solutions. The company offers end-to-end multi-dimensional consulting, with an emphasis on integrating the human potential because they believe that while artificial technology may be able to stimulate the human intelligence processes, a business cannot thrive on technology alone. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

In a bold move inspired by a collective vision to change the African narrative, #ECAfrica100 Premiers With Leruo Dichaba. In this episode, Vanessa Perumal chats Leruo Dichaba, Ms. Dichaba believes in the power and importance of Africans telling’ our own stories in our own voices and on our own platforms’. Leruo Dichaba is a South African born businesswoman in the field of Media, Renewable Energy and Transport. She is the CEO of Africa Business Radio and studied Project Management and Political Studies at the Walter Sisulu Leadership Academy and African & International Trade at TIMALI. Leruo has considerable experience in organization management and the planning of various projects. She’s an Afro-optimist who believes that the development of Africa should come from the hands of Africans and therefore it is the responsibility of Africans to come up with sustainable economic industries for its betterment Being a successful broadcaster, she shares her insights on why collaboration is relevant and why the radio station which aims to promote and share any and all business matters evolving around the African continent is partnering with #ECAfrica100 ‘Let’s tell our own stories in our voices, on own platforms’ – Leruo Dichaba “For us to progress as people, we have to collaborate. For another black person to succeed, it’s all our success” Leruo Dichaba --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support

We are connecting African entrepreneurs and amplifying entrepreneurship across Africa. We are excited to bring a range of voices offering master classes that impacts and makes a conscious contribution to stimulating business ecosystems, provide access to markets and enables immediate conversations through digital disruption,” echoes Vanessa Perumal MD of JT Communications Solutions and architect of the #ECAfrica100. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneur-connect-africa/support