30 Most Notable Africans of 2014: Part 3

04 Mar 2015

4. Catherine Mahugu, Kenya

How do you use technology to empower local artisans who have a great product, but little or no access to the market? Catherine Mahugu partnered with two other women to create the answer in their tech venture, Soko—an online portal that connects talented African craftsmen and women to a global market. Her passion for using technology to solve pressing societal problems began while she was still completing her Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi. During that time, she had the opportunity to be involved in various tech projects which helped hone her ability to develop effective applications.

Why she’s inspiring: In 2012, she participated in a youth innovation competition that gave her a platform to promote what was a new idea: providing easier access to international markets for marginalized artisans in Kenya through the use of a technologically advanced online platform. And Soko was born. Soko was founded on the belief that technology can empower women, connect markets, and foster opportunities that change lives. As with any entrepreneurial venture, there have been challenges along the way which have required the business to make adjustments to its model; however, that hasn’t stopped this tech pioneer. In fact, Soko is now expanding to Latin America and India thanks to a venture grant from USAID.

In this interview, she encourages women to:

“Devote yourself to an idea, make it happen, struggle on it, overcome your fears… No matter how many times you fall down, always stay strong and gather courage to get back up again. Never give up. Learning from success is important but learning from failure is vital to succeeding.”

Follow Soko on Twitter. Photo from shopsoko.com.

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5. Vusi Thembekwayo, South Africa

Vusi Thembakwayo is a man on the move. He’s the kind that was probably racing out of his mother’s womb, he had so much to do. At the tender age of 17, he was ranked number one in his native South Africa as a motivational speaker, and by 22, he was already running his own consulting business. His quick wit, good humor and sharp business skills have no doubt contributed to his incredible success as a business man, thought leader, and now, a Dragon on Dragon’s Den— South Africa’s version of the well-loved and addictive American reality show, Shark Tank. At only 29, Thembakwayo was recruited as one of five Dragons who have an opportunity to invest in up and coming start-ups after listening to a pitch from the entrepreneur.

Why he’s inspiring: Vusi believes in the capacity of Africa’s youth to become changemakers and successful entrepreneurs; however, he also acknowledges that there are challenges that may keep them from reaching that potential. He’s not immune to those same challenges: at one point in his life, he was sleeping on a floor with on a blanket for a curtain. However, he hopes that, through his various ventures, he can motivate young people to achieve their goals. And often, that’s just what makes ordinary people extraordinary—overcoming incredible odds to live out their purpose, while inspiring others to do the same.

Follow Vusi on Twitter. Photo from http://vusi.co.za.

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6. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Nigeria

In Lagos, Nigeria, a city with a population of more than 20 million, residents throw out 10,000 metric tons (equal to more than 22 million pounds) of waste daily. The fact that the government is only able to collect 40% of the waste spelled opportunity for Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola. This MIT-educated grad left the United States, a place she had called home for 13 years, to return to her native Nigeria as a problem solver. In 2011, she launched Wecyclers, a recycling service which uses a fleet of low-cost cargo bikes to collect plastic and aluminum waste from homes in Lagos.

Why she’s inspiring: As with any business venture in its infancy, Abiola has faced many challenges; from finding reliable employees and educating the community on the importance of recycling, to obtaining funding and keeping the company running. But this passionate business owner hasn’t let that stop her. Despite winning a number of awards, including the Cartier Women’s Initiative and MIT IDEAS Global Challenge Competition, she states that those things are not what get her excited about her work. What gets her excited are things like watching the change in communities as waste is collected and no longer littering the streets, seeing the satisfied smiles of her employees, and knowing that every day she wakes up, she is doing something she enjoys while helping the environment.

Follow Bilikiss on Twitter. Photo from YouTube.

 

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