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 industryA 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 realizedHer 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 businessWith 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.

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 productionA 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.

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).

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.

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 AfricaSipho 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.

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.

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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.

Candice Pillay is a partner at Hogan Lovells. She coordinates 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

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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.

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Strategist, Publisher, Film Producer - Rehema Isa is a Women Entrepreneurship development expert, leadership coach, and facilitator and consults on the continent to government and private sector on strategy. Experienced strategy consultant and business coach.Curator of creative concepts with social impact involving women and youth. Doing business in Africa and the world. Founder #FutureFit, Co-Founder Oya and #WomanomicsAfrica. TEDx licensee and curator.Hadithi Media is owned, managed, and powered by African Women professionals. It is a boutique management consultancy that provides strategic advisory services and programme execution support. They provide creative and sustainable solutions for growth-oriented African businesses with existing or intended pan African footprint.

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