African Business Stories

Resilience takes on new meaning in my conversation with Chioma Okotcha-Faloughi, Co-founder of Rivi (formerly PayHippo), whose entrepreneurial journey embodies the grit required to build transformative businesses in Africa. Chioma never planned to become an entrepreneur. With her computer science background and experience spanning finance, policy, and education, she initially saw herself driving c...

Kudzayi Hove's entrepreneurial journey from Zimbabwe to Nigeria represents a masterclass in adapting, pivoting, and building with purpose in Africa's challenging business landscape. As co-founder and CEO of Amayi Foods, meaning "mother" in her native Shona language, Kudzayi and her co-founders have transformed what began as a passion for Ghanaian Shito sauce into a mission to r...

Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya's entrepreneurial journey proves that sometimes the most successful businesses begin by solving your own problems. What started as a simple solution to cross-border shopping frustrations has evolved into Cargo Plug, a tech-enabled logistics company transforming how African businesses connect to global markets. When Kike and her co-founder Ama couldn't find reliable...

Sarah Dusek's entrepreneurial journey reads like an adventure novel – from studying law in the UK to selling her glamping company for over $100 million and then dedicating herself to funding female entrepreneurs across Africa. Her story proves that business can be the most powerful vehicle for driving meaningful change in the world. After a heartfelt connection with Zimbabwe during her nonpro...

Banke Kuku's extraordinary transformation from textile designer to luxury fashion entrepreneur offers a masterclass in creative evolution and business resilience. After honing her craft at prestigious institutions like Central Saint Martins and Chelsea College of Arts, Banke's journey took an unexpected turn when customers began requesting to wear her vibrant prints rather than just disp...

The path to financial freedom shouldn't be a privilege reserved for the few, but a right accessible to all. Chilufya Mutale-Mwila, co-founder and chief visionary officer of eShandi, is on a mission to make this vision a reality across Africa. Growing up in Zambia, Chilu witnessed firsthand how access to financial services could transform families and communities. After joining a microfinance...

Imagine raising $60 million to back female entrepreneurs in Africa when less than 2% of venture capital flows to women across the continent. That's exactly what Adesuwa Okunbo Rohdes accomplished with Aruwa Capital Management , one of Africa's few female-led growth equity funds specializing in gender lens investing. From boarding school in the UK at age 11 to investment banking at JP Mor...

Welcome back to African Business Stories, where powerful narratives meet practical insights about the women reshaping Africa's entrepreneurial landscape. Season 4 arrives at a pivotal moment: Africa stands as a dynamic frontier for growth and innovation with maturing startup ecosystems and increasing investment flows, yet female entrepreneurs continue facing a staggering $42 billion funding g...

Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe's extraordinary journey from a Pan-African childhood to becoming an influential entrepreneur and diplomat is nothing short of inspiring. Raised amidst diverse cultures across East Africa, her unique upbringing instilled a passion for international relations and business, setting the stage for her later achievements. In this episode, we unpack her remarkable transitio...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jade Oyateru, co-founder and COO of Uncover, as she shares her remarkable journey of creating a skincare brand that beautifully blends African botanicals with Korean beauty technology. Discover how Jade, influenced by her beginnings in Lagos and her educational experiences in the UK, is reshaping the skincare industry for women of color. From her corporat...

Anna Ekeledo's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Born in Russia to Nigerian and Senegalese parents, Anna's path has been shaped by vibrant multicultural experiences in her formative years. From a childhood spent in Nigeria and Senegal, she carries a legacy of passion for business and development. Anna's role as the Executive Director of AfriLabs has her working tirelessly to su...

What if you could transform a small healthcare startup into a thriving clinic serving thousands, even amid a global pandemic? Hear from Lucy Msukwa, the inspiring Founder and Executive Director of Uchembere Wabwino Maternity in Malawi, who did just that. Motivated by her parents' health struggles, Lucy saved diligently for four years before launching her clinic in 2019. In our conversation, s...

What if you could break barriers in a male-dominated industry while balancing the demands of single motherhood? This episode of African Business Stories brings you the compelling journey of Chipo Mabota, the founder and CEO of Cooper & Jones Global Logistics in Zimbabwe. From her initial hesitation about entrepreneurship to handling a groundbreaking $40 million full vessel cargo, Chipo's...

What if the key to financial empowerment for women in Nigeria lies in one woman's journey from a police barracks to the boardroom? Join us as we welcome Ifoma Uddoh, the founder and CEO of SheCluded, a pioneering fintech credit company transforming the financial landscape for Nigerian women. Ifoma shares her poignant personal story of resilience, shaped by the early loss of her father and her...

Ever felt like the existing media just doesn’t get you? That’s exactly how May Abdel-Essam felt, and instead of just complaining, she did something about it. Born in Egypt and raised in Germany, May returned to Egypt at 16 and turned her dissatisfaction with women's magazines into the creation of "What Women Want," a groundbreaking publication that evolved into a highly successful m...

Have you ever wondered how childhood curiosity can shape a career in tech entrepreneurship? Our latest episode features Ahang Ditoho, co-founder of the Clicking Generation, whose journey from a curious young girl in Botswana to a trailblazing tech entrepreneur will leave you inspired. Ahang shares her story of leveraging Botswana's diamond-funded education system to pursue her passion for eng...

Ever wondered how to bridge the gap between sports and business in emerging markets? Join us as we chat with Sandrine Zoku, the inspiring founder and CEO of Playbook, who brings her unique journey from Cameroon to the United States and beyond to life. Sandrine shares her personal story of cultural adaptation, the childhood dreams that shaped her, and the profound influence of her parents in keepin...

Ever wondered how a young girl from a village in Limpopo could co-found a pioneering electric vehicle business in South Africa? Join us as we sit down with Ndia Magadagela, the visionary behind EverElectric, and unravel her inspiring journey from her roots in Africa's Eden to the forefront of electric mobility. India shares captivating stories of her childhood, the entrepreneurial spirit imbu...

Welcome to Season 3 of the African Business Stories Podcast, a show dedicated to curating and sharing the stories of women building businesses in Africa. We took a short break but excited to be back with more stories of business success from across the continent. I started this show 4 years ago because I saw an under representation of women in the African business narrative. This was unfortunate a...

On this weeks episode, I chat with Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the United Africa Group, a privately owned multi-billion-dollar business conglomerate in Namibia that has been in operation since 1992. We talked about the enduring impact her late father has had on her both in life and in business. She shared his 4 guiding principles which she continues to live by and...

On this weeks episode, I chat Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of  Zashadu a leading sustainable luxury brand that specializes in handcrafted leather pieces all designed and manufactured in Lagos Nigeria. We talk about starting her career as an actor, how a chance meeting with an old acquaintance helped her connect with her passion and begin the journey to what is today Zashadu. Zainab...

On this weeks episode, I chat with Ambassador Dr. Kema Chikwe,  a dynamic politician, distinguished public administrator, educationist, gender and social engineer and activist, writer and diplomat.   She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Women Leadership Institute (WLI) - WLI  is an international leadership development organization focused on developing the leadership capacity of women across...

On this weeks episode, I chat with management consultant and author Chigozirim Otefe-Edebi, Co-Founder Gracehill Behavioral Health Services providers of comprehensive mental health and wellness solutions in Lagos Nigeria. We talked about her 12 year career in telecoms, experiencing burnout and quitting suddenly. Her drive as a side hustler and what led her to write her first book - The Side Hustle...

On this weeks episode, I chat with lawyer, dancer, actress and choreographer, Bunmi Olunloyo the Founder & Creative director Bailamos Dance Company a professional dance training fitness and wellness centre in Lagos Nigeria. She is also the creative and managing director for FIT BY BUNMI an active and Athleisure clothing line. We talk about how her passion for dance led her away from a career i...

On this weeks episode, I chat with award winning Mountaineer, philanthropist and Executive Coach Saray Khumalo. Saray is the Founder of Summits With a Purpose an initiative that has raised funds and built physical and digital libraries in disadvantaged African schools. She believes that literacy and education have the power to change the narrative for the next generation. She is also the Founder a...