Special Report – Class of 2018

Let us embrace and be inspired by these women whose ventures empower and nurture other sisters to succeed

1

LETLHOGONOLO LETSHOLONYANE, 28, Founder of Own It Start Up Academy, which helps budding fashion entrepreneurs get started and teaches them the workings of the manufacturing sector in South Africa. “For me, upskilling female entrepreneurs is all about creating a community of entrepreneurs to consume each other’s products and contribute to the economy. I want to change the wealth narrative for young black women. Financial well-being’s about having multiple streams of income. They don’t have to leave their nine-to-five jobs to run a successful start-up. I want to show an easier way to make it in fashion manufacturing and to revive the industry.”

2

Ndoni Mcunu, 28, Founder of Black Women in Science (BWIS), a registered NPO that aims to develop writing and training skills for black women in science, in their final year of study right up to PhD level. An Applied Environmental Science Master’s graduate, she’s currently pursuing a PhD at Wits University’s Global Change Institute. “The decision to establish BWIS was inspired by my own journey in the scientific field. Throughout varsity, I had never been lectured or supervised by black females. This pointed to the dire shortage of black females in science. Leading and advancing others comes naturally to women and that there is such a huge shortage of them in leading industries is something that still boggles my mind. Had I been exposed to many black women quite early on in my studies, a PhD wouldn’t have been something I stumbled upon but something I aspired to. The more of us in previously male-dominated fields, the better the chances of new generations realising anything’s attainable. The recent appointments of black females to Vice-Chancellor positions has made me believe that I can break any barrier.”

3

NONHLE MATSEBULA, 23, Founder of Girl Boss SA, a multimedia platform partnering with young women aged 16-25 with ambitions of someday being ‘Girl Bosses’. A Girl Boss is a young woman who understands that she’s in charge and can determine the course of her life, regardless of her starting point. “It took me forever to figure out what I wanted to do. I initially wanted my career choices to be guided by the potential to make a comfortable living, instead of making a difference and following my passion. I needed a space that didn’t judge or dictate, so I created that platform for myself and others with the same struggles. Instead of subscribing to ‘The Future Is Female’, we instead believe ‘The Present Is Female’. The future never comes. We want women to live their best lives now.”

4

Lebohang Masango, 27, author of Mpumi’s Magic Beads, a children’s book about the magic of black girl’s hair. The book uses natural hair as an entry point to a bigger conversation about self-love and identity. “I felt it was necessary to write

Mpumi’s Magic Beads because it’s important for children’s imaginations to be stimulated. I aim to do that with a relatable story that represents the realities of urban children in South Africa. It’s incredibly important to have representative art and books in the world because it gives young and old a springboard for their own imaginations. By existing, we show what’s possible and we make it easier for those coming after us to dream bigger and build upon our foundations.”

5

TEBELLO KUTOANE, 28,

Founder of Collective Intelligence, a legal consulting company specialising in commercial law and intellectual property law. She established the company with a view of providing start-up to mediumsized businesses with comprehensive and reasonable legal services. But, she later changed direction when she noticed that the everyday woman needs to liberate herself by being adequately informed about basic legal principles such as domestic violence, maintenance, custody, divorce and many other legal matters. “There is a Rupi Kaur quote that constantly reminds me why I am honoured to be a woman who is invested in empowering other women. It reads: ‘I stand on the sacrifices of a million women before me thinking, what can I do to make this mountain taller so the women after me can see farther.’ I am particularly passionate about advancing women because the law fraternity is mostly dominated by white males. The notion that women who are successful in the legal profession primarily made it based on Employment Equity requirements, as opposed to merit, is one that I look forward to someday squandering. I always relish the opportunity to read or hear about black women who are shattering glass ceilings and scribe their names in our history books as ‘the first black woman to achieve something. It is our duty as women to continue uplifting one another until such a time that it becomes a norm for women to hold high positions in corporate and government.”

6

Dr Theo MothoaFrendo, 40, Founder and CEO of Uso by African Dermal Science, a skin-care range specifically created for women with darker skin tones in mind. “I treat Women’s Month as an opportunity to immerse myself in connecting, sharing and learning from other women’s journeys. There’s never been a time like this before. Opportunities are abound and it’s up to all of us to find just that one thing that will make us more confident, provide more courage and opportunities for us and other women. My job is to give women a radiant, healthy skin and sprinkling some melanin magic amidst a sea of foreign brand dominated skincare stores, while creating quality employment.”

7

Zizipho Ntobongwana, 24, Founder of Sheba Feminine Hygiene, a menstrual care company. Sheba produces 100% organic cotton and biodegradable menstrual care products. “Feminine hygiene products producers don’t have our best interests at heart. I knew that I needed to do better. Women’s Month is a great time to raise awareness for woman who are poorly represented. The future is far from female – it’s beautifully queer.”

8

Zimasa QolohleMabuse, 28, Editor of The Corporate Canvas, a contemporary online career, finance and lifestyle magazine for young professionals. “For years, I longed to find a woman who’d be willing to take me under her wing and help me with my career and life trajectory. I saw it fit to be that kind of woman to other women and younger girls .”

9

Thembisile Nhlapo, 29, co-owner of Nibble Wax Bar, a waxing boutique providing a wide range of waxing services for women. “If you give one woman an opportunity to earn an income, you feed a whole nation. We thrive on creating opportunities for other women at every point of the supply chain. Women’s Month’s an opportunity to celebrate and recognise women from all walks of life.”

10

DUDU AND SMANGELE MATHEBULA, 31 Directors of BoMMe Support Group, a support network for mothers. These twin academics, healers, creative and moms believe motherhood should be a beautiful experience. “BoMMe (meaning mothers in Sesotho) came as a result of us missing the support our own late mother used to give us with our children. This initiative has enabled us to share spiritual and practical resources; a far-reaching network supporting mothers with care packages, spiritual and practical care solutions.”

11

MLIBO BASHE, 27 AND GUGU NOJINGE, 24 Founders of Le Brunch SA, a facilitated brunch-cum-high tea built on the ethos of ‘bring good vibes and a smile’, where young women from diverse backgrounds network and learn. “We’re passionate about giving back and contributing to the emancipation of the girl child. In a world that’s highly patriarchal and ageist, young women find themselves in a conundrum, facing a double burden brought about by their gender and age, and falling through the cracks of government programmes.”

12

NOMZAMO MJI, 37 AND NOSIZWE MJI, 35 Founders of Heart Leads is the Way (HLTW), a business specialising in the design and production of beaded shoes and accessories with the help of a network of female beaders in KZN. “We’re women of Zulu and Xhosa descent who send love letters to the world through striking products and designs. Sometimes we like thinking of our business as a ‘dial-a-beader service’. Many of the beaders we work with are the sole breadwinners in their homes. Every time we send through an order to them, we’re contributing to their ability to support their families — and that fills our hearts with so much joy. Many beaders have the raw talent but lack the know-how to cost their labour, promote their work or modify it for different audiences. ”

13

Molatelo Mainetjie, 42, Awardwinning documentary producer and director gives an honest account of her experience with infertility in the documentary film When Babies Don’t Come. The doccie places a spotlight on modern and traditional medicines as possible solutions to infertility. “I believe an empowered woman has a voice and automatically commands respect. The power in us can only be unleashed when we empower ourselves and each other. My story is the story of every woman struggling with infertility — this film is for them and the close people in their lives.”

14

LEANNE DLAMINI, 33, Musician, songwriter and founder of End Girl Hate, a movement aiming to break down the barriers women build amongst themselves. “We need to support one another, butwe don’t — it’s as simple as that! As a black woman raising black girls, I needed to make this change not just for myself and those around me, but especially for my daughters. We need to always strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Find your passion and live it with intention every day. One woman can make a difference, but together we can change the world! Don’t forget to always be kind.”

15

THANDO NAVES, 31, Founder of the award-winning Modern Zulu Mom, a parenting blog that explores interesting parenting methods and is packed with practical tips. “I started my blog to share glimpses of my parenting experiences with other moms. I found the challenges of parenting sometimes make moms feel isolated and this is minimised when we share our concerns with others. I’d like women to draw inspiration and encouragement, while bearing in mind there’s no perfect formula to parenting. We need to give ourselves permission to evolve and grow.”

16

Nkuli Mlangeni, 36, Textile designer and founder of The Ninevites, a collaborative platform and design studio that explores under-told narratives of life from Southern Africa using textiles, design and imagery. Her Sankara Rug was named 2017’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at Design Indaba. “I choose to collaborate with women because they carry a lot of untapped knowledge and skills. I’m not just passionate about empowering women, but also committed to uplifting black people, young people and people working in the creative and craft spaces, because I know what it’s like to be treated as the underdog based on your skin colour.”

17

NOMNDENI MDAKHI, 34, Founder of Agenda Women, an online and offline events platform for women seeking to connect with like-minded women, with content helping them grow in their personal and professional lives. “Women’s Month feels like a month-long party where we keep honouring the different parts of all that make us beautiful. I believe in the power of women to create exponential change. Personal experiences also inform a lot of what we engage in. I realise a lot of women long for spaces in which they can connect with likeminded women on conversations that help them be better and do more.”

18

ATHAMBILE MASOLA, 31, Co-founder of Molo Mhlaba School for Girls, a pan-African low-cost private school with a special focus on providing quality STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) and life skills. “Without women in these fields, our development as a nation and the world becomes inhibited. Through innovation and empowerment, in the future, young girls will become women who change the world through their work. Without a quality education they won’t be able to compete in this fastchanging world where critical skills coupled with a strong character will be of paramount importance.”

19

Kim Nokwaza, 30, Founder of the blog Ode to Style, which offers uplifting career and financial insights, as well as fashion inspiration. “By day, I’m a Trust Specialist in the wealth cluster of a banking institution. My exposure to this niche industry has transformed how I approach my personal finances. While many women are only clued up with managing family finances, some defer critical financial decisions to their husbands or male partners. I’d like to influence changing this tendency. Ode to Style is no ordinary blog — it is a platform that gives my peers an opportunity to review their careers, finances and to lead meaningful lives.”

20

Thiwe Mbola, 34, Musician and founder of Women in Music SA, an initiative aimed at empowering up-and-coming female artists by educating them about the business of music and proving a platform for them to showcase their musical talent. “Can you imagine a world where women from all fields stood together? Can you imagine where we helped each other break down barriers? Can you imagine what we could achieve? I’ve always been passionate about women supporting each other because there’s so much we can achieve by working together and showing up for each other. I may not be able to give these young female artists successful careers, but I can sure give them the tools they need to build successful music careers. I want to bring to life a culture of genuine sisterhood in the music industry.”

21

VUYISWA MOTHLABANE, 35, Owner of Preloved Bridal, a designer wedding dress boutique that provides affordable bridal wear to savvy fashionista brides by reselling pre-owned wedding gowns. The business has expanded to offering bridal experiences through bridal pop-ups in hotels and various wedding venues. “Whether a cleaner or a CEO, every woman deserves to wear the dress of their dreams on their special day. What sparked the idea of starting a business where brides would sell their wedding dresses to me and I’d then resell them to prospective clients, was when I saw brides who didn’t have the means to splurge on a decent gown. I want Preloved Bridal to be more than a bridal shop but more a sisterhood where we help brides create memorable experiences on a budget. I pride myself on encouraging my clients not to overspend on a dress for a once-off event, but to rather use their wedding budget effectively, and to avoid starting their married life drowning in debt.”

22

Katleho Tsoku, 33, founder of YHER, an accelerator programme that hopes to produce investible female-led and impactful ventures, and to contribute to increasing the number of female role models for future generations. “My own personal journey of being a female entrepreneur, the struggles that came with it, plus the consequent closure of my first business venture, motivated me to establish YHER. I was in pursuit of ways to enrich and celebrate young women who were risking it all to create impactful and viable ventures. I call myself, ‘a female entrepreneurship cheerleader’. I’m also a huge advocate for social entrepreneurship, and believe conscious business is the only way we should be doing business, especially on the African continent. The social ills that this continent faces is a glaring opportunity for entrepreneurs. YHER is a marriage of these two passions of mine.”

23

THOLAKELE KELLY THELA, 32, Founder of Young Wives SA, a platform created to empower, enlighten and motivate women. This online platform exists for those in search of likeminded women who will stand by and assist them as they grow in their new relationship or singlehood chapters. “I got married at a 19 and three years into my marriage, I remember yearning for a safe space where I could be myself without anyone saying I had achieved a lot only because I was young and married. I detest the idea that marriage is an achievement and married friends should be given space! I come from a family where we didn’t have much but my mother genuinely loves people so much, that our house had — and still does to this day — people staying over. I knew early I’d run a women’s organisation. ”