Entrepreneurship is one of the most harrowing yet rewarding industries to be in.
With women becoming more and more prevalent in the entrepreneurial world, the nature of the market has seen massive changes in a positive and unique way.
South Africa is no exception to this notion as we will discuss today.
We will be taking a look at three of the most influential women to grace the South African entrepreneurship industry.
Starting her career within the financial industry, Arlene worked as an investment banker. After seven years within the financing industry she sought after more.
She then founded the non-profit organisation, WeThinkCode and began her journey into giving back into the South African community.
WeThinkCode is based on Arlene’s personal ambitions which is to raise up a new generation of learners in South Africa within the tech industry. The organisations aims to identify, educate, and nurture the current youth of the nation into becoming more tech savvy and sustainable within the technological landscape.
Through her efforts, Arlene was awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award in 2019.
Her efforts have proven to us that a woman who is focused on upliftment and giving back to the community cannot be stopped.
Initially starting out with a degree in mechanical engineering, Nneile moved toward the biotechnology sphere, specifically within the animal industry.
Initially beginning her career in 2011, within the public works industry, however, it wasn’t until 2015 that she began her aspiring career within entrepreneurship. This was also the year that she founded iMed Tech. The firm specialised in the creation and distribution of prosthesis.
In 2017, she was recognised by the World Economic Forum and in 2018 was recognised by Forbes Africa 30 under 30 as one of the top 100 young Africans.
Neile soon developed her career even further by venturing into the animal husbandry industry, developing a method to analyse and monitor the health of livestock on a continuous basis.
Nneile is the perfect example of the diversification of business, showing us that business development is a continuous process.
Finishing school in 1996, Ntsiki started out as a domestic worker. Utilising her time and capacity, she applied numerously for grants from the government to gain access to tertiary education. She was not able to receive the grant, however, the opportunity to study viticulture and oenology in Stellenbosch.
After never tasting wine before, she began her study in winemaking. She eventually concluded her studies in 2004 and was recruited by a local winery she began her career as the first official black female wine maker in South Africa. She also received a gold medal at the Michelangelo awards for her wine specifically.
Ntsiki sought more and had an idea and a passion which fuelled her growth in the industry.
By 2016, she left the winery she worked at started Aslina wines which focused on the black wine market of South Africa, initially and untapped market until she came along.
Ntsiki utilised her perseverance and drive to create a new norm in an industry where she initially was not welcome.
With these three women personifying the entrepreneurial spirit, it can be seen that the future of our nation is in deft hands.
With examples like these ladies showing us how to move in and throughout the business environment with dignity and passion, we can follow their example into driving the business world of our country into the future.
