Destiny Power of 40 2015

RAELENE RORKE (29) Former Miss SA Teen, writer, public speaker and founder of SpringAGE. From: Jo'burg

Raised in Mthata, Rorke looks radiant with her baby bump – yet, while her due date isn't far away, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her company, SpringAGE, which she started with a friend, is an inventive, youth-led consultancy that helps companies and government departments find new insights and generate innovation. For example, a company wanting advice on how to stay relevant in today's market might approach it and have a group of young experts offer solutions.

"SpringAGE is moving SA forward and combines my industrial psychology background with my love for our country and its people. We've just made our first million, but there's plenty of room for growth," says Rorke. She wants to study further and intends applying to the USA's Harvard Business School next year. Meanwhile, she's preparing for the notoriously difficult entrance exam. "I'm applying to three different American business schools, but Harvard is my first choice, as my husband's family live in Boston, so they could help care for the baby while I'm studying."

She also sits on several different boards, is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, an ambassador for Brand South Africa and is involved with Start-up South Africa, among other commitments. Rorke was voted the 2013 Most Inspiring Young Person in SA and one of the JCI's Top 20 Most Outstanding Young People in the World.

MOKGADI MATLHAKO (34) Owner: JustKadi. From: Pretoria/New York

When New York-based fashion designer Matlhako flew to SA in 2008 to request a meeting with Fifa, which she hoped would grant her a licence to create branded bags for the 2010 World Cup, it might have seemed like a long shot. However, she'd already bagged a similar licence from the USA's National Basketball Association (NBA) to make a similar range of handbags, which had proved to be wildly successful.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, she spent many of her student days watching NBA games at Madison Square Garden. This sparked her idea of buying men's NBA jerseys and cutting them up to design basketball-inspired totes for women. These products formed part of her thesis at the FIT and soon snowballed into a fully-fledged business. She eventually acquired a full licence to use the NBA trademark and distribute to NBA-controlled stores. "I also got a licence to retail in the big flagship NBA store on New York's Fifth Ave, as well as all its online stores," she says.

Her journey to the Fifa authorities in 2006 was fruitful and she duly became a licensee for the 2010 event in SA. "I was the youngest licensee and the only female one," she recalls. "Getting those licences in my 20s was a career highlight and taught me a lot about business and establishing myself. In addition, the networking potential the licences have generated is enormous." She's currently working on JustKadi, a range of leather and luxury nylon bags inspired by wanderlust. "I want to intensify the empowerment stream of my business and incorporate social responsibility. I've since founded a company called Pandoscan to source the materials and manufacture JustKadi bags in SA," she says.

MAKHO NDLOVU (33) Celebrity blogger and reporter. From: New York

Zimbabwean-born, New York-based entertainment writer, blogger, producer and on-camera host Ndlovu supplies South African media outlets with footage from the various celebrity events she attends in the USA. "I've worked with major TV stations like BET Africa, SABC3 and Africa Magic, as well as with numerous magazines and radio stations like YFM over the past three years," she says.

Her big break came in 2012, when she was selected by American music mogul Russell Simmons and his team to work for their hip-hop culture website, Global Grind. "Out of 5,000 contestants, they chose me as the next great celebrity video correspondent, giving me instant validation that would otherwise have taken years to achieve," she says. "It's important to walk into this field armed with a solid plan and a tenacious attitude."

Exuding ambition and vivacity, Ndlovu's focused on growing in the industry. "I hope to own a production company one day that helps young people in Africa produce movies, films and TV shows," she says. "For now, highlighting the cool, hip and cosmopolitan side of the African experience is my brand ethos as Makho Ndlovu."

NONKU NTSHONA (39) Managing Director: Nonku Ntshona & Associates Quantity Surveyors. From: Jo'burg

Ntshona's a formidable force in the built environment sphere and has the accolades to prove it, including representing SA at the African Women's Entrepreneurship Programme in the USA. Started in a Wendy house in her backyard, the company now has more than 17 staff members and major projects under its belt. These include the Levi Business Park, a mixed-use development in Zambia on which she's worked alongside Liberty Properties. This development, and working on projects as lead quantity surveyors with design and construction firm AECOM, have had a profound effect on her confidence. "That project was over R1 billion, so it was amazing to manage it after only a year of being in the market," she recalls.

Counting Sizwe Ntsaluba as a consistent mentor and having recently been appointed a Non-executive Director of JSE-listed company Putprop Ltd, Ntshona's proud of her evolution. She believes self-belief, humility and a determination to prove herself have given her an edge. "I've changed from the naïve, shy girl I once was into an all-rounder with a full business perspective. Things that used to upset me a lot no longer do," she says.

Currently working in a joint venture with MLC Quantity Surveyors on the Nelson Mandela Square refurbishment in Sandton, Johannesburg, as well as with Airports Company SA on the revamp of the international terminal at OR Tambo International Airport, Ntshona relishes learning from each project. She aims to run more quantity surveying projects on her own, but concedes that transformation's sluggish, with black consultants often relegated to public-sector work. "I can often feel people's doubt when they see that I'm not only black, but young and female," she says. "Sometimes I find myself over-compensating and becoming too assertive. Change has to come from within organisations."

KENEILWE NDALA (37) CEO: Ironveld Mining. From: Jo'burg

As a child, Ndala was fascinated by her dad's job as a miner. However, she hated only seeing him once every three months. As a teenager, when she heard about an accident at Vaal Reefs in which 100 miners had been killed, she decided to become a mining engineer in order to design better and safer infrastructure. She also aimed to ensure that miners could see their families more often.

Achieving her goals wasn't easy. "When I did my B Tech in 2003 at the Witwatersrand Technikon [now the University of Johannesburg], there were only two women among about 25 men in our class. While there are more females in the industry now, it's still very male-dominated," she says. After graduating, she experienced further gender prejudice in her first job, where she had difficulty issuing instructions to men. "I had to prove to everyone that I could be taken seriously. Whenever I gave an instruction, I was asked: 'Do you know what you're talking about?' However, once I'd proved myself, people began respecting my expertise and authority."

Having reached the rank of her present position at Ironveld Mining, she's certainly achieved her goals. "I love the fact that every day is different. I'm now working on getting a new mine started. This is a rare opportunity for a mining engineer, as most mines have been around for years, but I'm really enjoying the challenge," she says.

SIYOLI WATERS (32) Professional squash player. From: Cape Town

Currently ranked 31st in the world and the No 1 squash player in the country, Waters is a bright light in this sporting discipline. "When I started playing, I just wanted to use my ability the best way I could so that I wouldn't have any regrets later in life," she says. "My aim back then was to make it into the Top 100. Once I realised I had the potential to compete on the world stage, I redefined my goals."

After reaching a world ranking of 28th in 2013 and being named SA's Squash Player of the Decade last year, Waters is now striving to be among the Top 20 in the world, while driving programmes aimed at promoting the sport in SA and Africa. "I don't think my success thus far has been the result of anything special, other than staying committed to my goals," she says. "It's important for any sportsperson to be aware of their particular strengths and weaknesses, as well as the unique quality they bring to the game. It's important to learn how to stand out confidently, but in a way that reflects integrity, honesty and determination."

SALAMINA MOSESE (32) Managing Director and co-founder: Sorele Media, co-founder: AzaTV and actress. From: Jo'burg

Best known for her work on TV shows (including SABC2's 7de Laan), Mosese's fast making a name for herself as a media entrepreneur. Although she and fellow actress and business partner, Stephina Zwane, first registered their media content company Sorele Media at university, they only began work on the Johannesburg-based business in the past two years. "We were both itching for change in our lives and wanted to start owning the fruits of our labour," recalls Mosese.

Through Sorele Media, the two also launched online TV platform AzaTV – now reaching 95,000 viewers – in May this year. "We produce original content aimed at the discerning Afropolitan consumer with an interest in African stories," says Mosese. "Growing AzaTV is currently my biggest passion, although I'd also like to start a foundation to help young women realise their potential."

Mosese also appears in the SABC2 comedy series Abomzala and produces and presents AzaTV's parenting lifestyle show, Yummy Mammi. "I'm currently studying for a post-graduate diploma in business management, in preparation for my MBA – I'm a big believer in self-enrichment. Yet at just four years old, my daughter's my greatest teacher," she says.

LERATO D MATABOGE (36) Chief Director, Africa: Department of Trade & Industry. From: Pretoria

"I'm at the helm of driving the department's efforts towards Africa's development and economic growth," says Mataboge, explaining the position she's held since 2011. While she originally planned to study law at the University of the Witwatersrand, she found her calling through the additional courses required by her degree. "I fell in love with the cutting-edge nature of current affairs, diplomacy and interstate relations, and graduated in law and international relations," she says. She later attained her Honours in international relations at Wits, as well as a Master's degree in international political economy at the UK's University of Warwick.

Assigned a diplomatic posting to the USA by the Department of Trade & Industry from 2007-2011, Mataboge was tasked with strengthening trade and investment relations between that country and SA. "I also mobilised my colleagues in other African embassies to advocate for an African value proposition, not only an individual country-based competitive approach," she says. "My greatest career achievement was being awarded the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship for African Leadership, which was both humbling and empowering."

DETECTIVE CONSTABLE BEAUTY MODIEHI RANTSOAI (34) Policewoman. From: Jo'burg

Rantsoai's pretty face and charming demeanour belie her inner toughness. Inspired by her two soldier brothers to make SA a safer place, she joined the SA Police Service. "My brothers were very protective of me and I wanted to show them what I could do," she smiles. "It helps that the uniform's better than the army's!"

While her family didn't believe that Rantsoai – who was interested in modelling, dancing and beauty pageants – would go through with it, once she'd passed the fitness test and had been accepted as a cadet, they were very supportive of the idea. After just six months in uniform, she jumped at the chance to join the Detective Division. "Detective work is much more challenging: you see a case through from start to finish and you take your work home with you." She's experienced no gender prejudice, she says – in fact, her femininity has sometimes been a useful tool. "I enjoy it when criminals think I'm weak, or try to [sweet-talk] me, because I'm a woman. I'm polite, friendly, a good listener and I charm them into giving me the information I need."

A mother of two and a keen rugby-player for the Gauteng Provincial team, she's worked on some tough cases, like helping to capture Germiston serial rapist Nkosinathi Dlamini, who targeted boys aged 12-16. She also led the investigation to capture Lindray Khakhu, whose involvement in a gang gunfight resulted in Westbury, Johannesburg toddler Luke Tibbetts being fatally struck by a stray bullet while seated on his mother's lap in a car. In such cases, admits Rantsoai, it isn't easy to remain impartial. "I do get emotional, but I think that makes me work harder and get better results. As a mother myself, it's difficult dealing with cases involving children, but I try to help the families find closure by bringing the culprits to book," she says.

BERTHA DLAMINI (38) Managing Director: EON Consulting. From: Jo'burg

A true game-changer, Dlamini spearheaded phenomenal transformation at EON Consulting after taking up the reins as MD in 2014. Just months earlier, some 180 staff members were retrenched due to the loss of a large account. "The company was emotionally traumatised and riddled with uncertainty," she recalls. "I adopted a 100-day plan which focused on diversifying the client base, gaining an understanding of factors that drove profitability and rebuilding the brand."

Today, EON is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with three practices – engineering, ICT and management science – and has clients both locally and in Namibia, Swaziland, Nigeria and Uganda. A partner and shareholder in the organisation, Dlamini also sits on the advisory board of the Africa Power Generation Conference. As a marketing specialist, she says transitioning into a technical environment was a daunting, but necessary move. "The career shift presented many challenges and blind spots. The learning curve was steep and relentless, but I was committed, resilient and persistent." Looking forward, she says EON's exploring various growth strategies across the continent in different sectors. It's clear that Dlamini's star is ascending.

ASHLEIGH MOOLMAN-PASIO (29) Professional cyclist. From: Banyoles, Spain

As the best-ranked South African cyclist in the world, and with a recently signed contract with the Swiss-based Bigla Pro Cycling Team in the bag, Moolman-Pasio is pedalling to greater heights. Her cycling career started in 2008, with dreams of representing SA at the Olympic Games. Four years later, she finished 16th at the London Games. "When I crossed the finishing line there, my goal changed," she says. "I started dreaming about winning a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. I'm currently working very hard to make that happen."

However, she believes her sporting career is about more than winning medals. "A deep sense of purpose has driven me since the very beginning of my cycling career. I strive to be an agent of positive change in society and that motivates me to perform." Moolman-Pasio's experienced numerous obstacles (including breaking her collar-bone three times), but says these setbacks have helped her grow as both an athlete and an individual. "I've learnt that the mental aspect of sport plays a crucial role in success. If you love what you're doing and have a positive attitude and persistence, you'll always be able to realise your true potential," she says.

CANDICE PILLAY (34) Singer-songwriter. From: Los Angeles

Pillay graduated from Northlands High School in Pietermaritzburg 16 years ago and soon moved to the USA, working as an au pair in Los Angeles. These days, she's still in that city, but working with the likes of Rihanna, Eminem and Dr Dre as a singer and songwriter. She's also just moved her family to LA and says she feels she's near the pinnacle of her career. She adds that her achievements have been far from an overnight success story and that she had to "hustle" for several years to establish herself in the music industry.

Pillay released her debut album, The Mood Kill, earlier this year and soon afterwards met King Mez, who was working with Dre. He invited her to the studio to do some recordings, where she was introduced to Dre. She collaborated on a few tracks of his latest album, Compton: A Story to Tell and believes that was a seminal experience. "I've learnt so much that I'll carry with me. Being a part of that album was truly an honour for me," she says. She's currently back in the studio working on remixes of her work – so watch this space!

EMMA SADLEIR (30) Media law consultant and founder of The Digital Law Co. From: Jo'burg

An avid horse-racing fan who still takes part in show-jumping competitions, Sadleir was the youngest person ever to win a South African national equestrian championship at the age of seven. However, it's now her law career that sees her making headlines. Having worked in the Media Litigation Department of Webber Wentzel for five years, she moved on to establish her business in 2013, through which she gives talks, workshops and seminars on various platforms.

With a BA LLB (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand, she won a scholarship from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and obtained an LLM (with distinction) in information technology, media and communications law from the London School of Economics. Her career highlights include co-authoring Don't Film Yourself Having Sex (and Other Legal Advice to See You Through the Digital Age) (Penguin) with Tamsyn de Beer – which was described by Prof Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, as "the most important textbook a university student can buy" – as well as co-authoring the social media section of the legal textbook, Communications Law (LexisNexis) and being consulted as an international expert on the draft legislation on revenge porn legislation by the UK's House of Commons. In addition, she was one of the anchors for The Oscar Pistorius Trial, a dedicated channel established by M-Net's Carte Blanche offering daily coverage of the court case last year.

However, she says that if she weren't in the legal industry, she'd be a nursery school teacher. "I absolutely love children and the educational work I do with them. It's tough to be young these days – there's cyber-bullying, pornography and sexting. I teach at schools just about every day, helping children understand the legal, disciplinary and reputational risks of social media and it feels like incredibly important work," she says.

LULU MAKAPELA (34) Project & Contract Manager, Aerospace & Composites: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). From: Pretoria

Besides achieving her current rank, Makapela was honoured as one of six space professionals worldwide to receive the International Astronautical Federation's Young Space Leaders Award. "I never dreamed that could happen," she says. "Being acclaimed as someone who's contributed to science is really rewarding, especially since my background is a legal one."

She holds a Master's degree in business law from the University of Pretoria and started her career at the Pretoria Magistrate's Courts. While she admits there are challenges for women in this male-dominated industry, she stresses the importance of asking for help and developing solid relationships with colleagues. "You have to be able to work with people and have interpersonal skills," she says. "There's something to learn every day. Allowing myself to depend on others makes those people feel valued and closer to me in terms of sharing knowledge and skills."

She believes that one should continually strive for self-improvement, adding: "The one thing I know is that I don't know enough." Makapela's completed space law courses with the International Space University in France and has begun studying towards a PhD. "You must always stay on top of your game," she says. "Because of my background, it's important for me to understand the legalities of technical issues. Investing time in doing so has motivated me to get where I am today."

LYDIA SHADRACH-RAZZINO (38) Director: ENSafrica. From: Jo'burg

Growing up in Durban, this daughter of a church minister dreamed of a career in the beauty industry, rather than in law. Today, however, renowned corporate lawyer Shadrach-Razzino represents clients such as Business Connexion, RMB Ventures, Ethos, JMH, PPC, RMB, Sentula, Village Main Reef and Vodacom.

Her journey has been difficult. She and her brother were raised by their widower father. After graduating from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a BProc and an LLB, she battled for months to find a job in Cape Town – her first choice of city – so she eventually sought employment in Johannesburg. "I landed a position at [the former] Sunstone CFP, a corporate finance advisory and financial planning firm, the very day after I'd arrived in the city," she smiles. That was in 2002 – and she's never looked back. An uncompromising work ethic catapulted her career all the way to Senior Partner level. "I never said 'no' to assignments, no matter how small or urgent the task was. I was also never cocky and never took anything for granted. If you put your head down and ignore all the noise, you can get anything done. That's my approach," she says.

She then did stints at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and TWB Attorneys, as well as Langa Attorneys, where she immersed herself in the world of corporate law. She joined ENSafrica in 2012 and scooped the Association of Black Securities & Investment Professionals 2014 Corporate Finance Lawyer of the Year Award. Now, feeling that she's "reached the ceiling" and driven by a need to give back, Shadrach-Razzino has spearheaded a women's empowerment group to nurture female talent at the organisation.

CLARE ELUKA (30) Entrepreneur and founder of Premae Skincare. From: London

The Candida albicans fungus lives in 80% of the human population without causing harmful effects. However, the 20% who it does affect – including Eluka – can be severely impacted by it. "People with Candida albicans have an intolerance to wheat, dairy products, white sugar and yeast. Apart from eczema and the acne, I also suffered from other health issues after consuming foods with these substances."

Her parents, who emigrated to the UK from Nigeria, couldn't afford medical aid. Eluka's only hope was to become a vegan. A make-up artist and beauty journalist at that time (2011), she developed Premae Skincare – the first gluten-, nut- and animal ingredient-free cosmetic range in the world to be certified by Allergy UK. "My start-up costs were £25,000 [about R533,000], with an additional £35,000 [about R750,000] for growth, expansion and marketing," she says. Although she's based in the UK, she sources ingredients from Ethiopia, Uganda and SA.

With a profit model which involves selling full-price to the customer and wholesale to stores, Eluka's sold more than 150,000 units since launching, including £10,000 (about R220,000) worth of products within 30 minutes on a TV shopping channel last year. Since launching, her annual turnover has been about R4,500,000. However, she admits it's not all rosy. "Keeping loyal customers is challenging when cheaper brands offer deals we can't match due to the high-end quality and cost of our products," she says.

KOPANO MATLWA MABASO (30) Author and physician. From: Oxford, UK

Mabaso is not only a medical practitioner and the author of two novels – Coconut and Spilt Milk (both Jacana) – but was also a 2010 Rhodes Scholar, a 2014 Clarendon Scholar, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and the winner of both the 2007 European Union Literary Award and the 2010 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. Last year she was awarded the prestigious Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship and was one of 12 Fellows of the Aspen Institute New Voices Fellowship.

"I was very competitive growing up, so my granny suggested I become a neurosurgeon," says Mabaso. "But I hated being in operating theatres and preferred talking to my patients. So I found my niche in public health," she recalls. Mabaso is currently doing her PhD in population health at Oxford University. "We've been in the UK since 2011 and having my husband, Motlatsi, here has made a huge difference to me. He keeps my feet firmly on the ground and always ensures I stay up to date with all the Pirates vs Chiefs matches!" The couple has a 19-month-old daughter, Laone.

She's also involved with her NGO, Transitions, which assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds with educational needs. As for her literary career, she'll let it develop at its own pace. "I'm always writing, but I try not to have the end in mind. Instead, I just enjoy the journey. The novels come to me when they're ready."

MMABATHO PORTIA MORUDI (31) Founder of Iliju Bee Farm and The Village Market. From: Winterveldt

Morudi defies stereotypes with her courage and tenacity. In 2012, she quit her job at a business school for an unknown life as a bee farmer when she was just 28, driven by her desire to help alleviate poverty. Using her own savings and donations from the Sam Mutsoentane Rural Development Foundation, she set up Iliju Bee Farm "in one of the most impoverished rural communities in SA", as she describes the North West's Winterveldt.

Thanks to its DNA, Iliju's helping the region's previously excluded farmers access markets through The Village Market – a pop-up emporium. "The business also exposes all things beautiful made in rural communities and the fun side of youth agriculture," says Morudi, whose first job was as a student worker at Unisa.

Yet she admits that the bee farm's first year of operation wasn't easy. "We lost everything," she recalls, explaining that an employee tasked with performing critical duties failed to deliver. The whole period was a tough learning curve, says this BA psychology graduate, mentor and social entrepreneur. Another challenge was persuading farmers that bees weren't pests, but sources of income. "It was difficult getting people to agree to have hives on their land," she says.

Today Iliju commands respect beyond the North West. Not only has it been commended for its impact but, in other provinces, it's working on a nature conservation project in which hives are used as natural deterrents to crop-damaging elephants. Richard Branson's Virgin Unite and Spark International have also expressed interest in Iliju's work and showcased the project as a nation-building social entrepreneurship case study. – SMM

TUMI MBAAKANYI (39) President: Women in Business and owner of MmeMme Certified Public Accountants. From: Gaborone, Botswana

As a certified chartered accountant in private practice, Mbaakanyi's a respected and influential corporate leader in Gaborone and one of the very few women in the country with their own auditing firms. One of her challenges at MmeMme was not having adequate consulting experience. Another obstacle was being a Motswana in an industry dominated by non-Batswana.

The self-driven Mbaakanyi aims to become one of the top employers of accounting professionals in the country and to help her staff develop their careers. Growing the MmeMme brand regionally and internationally is her ultimate ambition. "The secrets of my success are integrity, diligence, commitment and authenticity," she says. She's also a partner in a brokerage company involved in "business matchmaking" – matching potential investors (both local and foreign) with selected Botswana companies – and she has a stake in a meat processing firm. – US

BRONWYN ANNE CORBETT (34) CEO: Delta International and COO: Delta Property Fund. From: Jo'burg

As a young female CEO of a listed company, Corbett's breaking barriers. Having summited Mount Kilimanjaro and begun training to run a full marathon, she has the kind of determination that's helped mould this qualified CA into a versatile businesswoman, as her positions at Delta International and Delta Property Fund (a real estate investment trust listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with portfolio assets valued well over R1 billion) demonstrate.

Having listed two funds with an international footprint, she's undoubtedly a pioneer in the African listed property sphere – but admits it has its obstacles. "Entering jurisdictions of other countries that are completely different from SA isn't easy. Investing in Morocco required understanding its different culture. The extensive travel to set up this fund and the toll it took on my family were challenges," she says. She overcame them by focusing on the end goal and believing in what she was doing.

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Corbett still has other ambitions. "As a fund, we're mere infants. I'd like to achieve growth in both our funds and increase shareholder returns, cementing us as one of the better-rated funds in the industry. I'd also like to bring through some of our young talent as future CEOs of our various business ventures. In addition, I have property aspirations in the UK," she says. – CP

EVITA NYANDORO (31) Sub-Saharan Africa Regulatory Head: Citibank. From: Jo'burg

Business savvy and passion are at the heart of Nyandoro's success. Aside from her role at Citibank, she's also a Director of RBA Holdings, sits on several financial committees and boards, and endeavours to advance female leadership on the African continent.

Her career trajectory began after she completed her articles at Deloitte and moved to the UK. While working for Santander, she was responsible for liquidity and funding reporting for the group with a £300 billion balance sheet. "That turned out to be the best thing for my career, as the experience widened my horizons, improved my skills set and afforded me experiences I might not have been exposed to in Africa," she says.

After returning to SA, she joined Barclays Africa and then Citibank, where she spearheads the formulation and implementation of regional regulatory strategy across the 11 sub-Saharan countries in which Citibank has a presence. She's always viewed herself as a work in progress. "Each day I strive to learn, relearn and unlearn. It's important to do something differently each day." – NO

FANELE CHESTER (27) Founder and Executive Director: The Knowledge Institute (TKI) and Regional Outreach Associate, Southern Africa: African Leadership Universities (ALU). From: Mauritius

While savouring the benefits of an international education – through a United World College scholarship in Norway and at the USA's University of Chicago (UChicago), where she obtained a Bachelor's degree – Swazi-born Chester wished to offer similar opportunities to young Africans. "I became the first female Swazi to attend UChicago," she says. "I found my voice there and experienced an entrepreneurial awakening which prompted me to find a way of channelling educational opportunities to those who needed them."

In 2013 she started TKI, an education-to-employment business providing a platform for other entrepreneurial ventures, such as the Swaziland Student Network, the Young Leaders Fellowship Programme and Strategy by Design, a consulting company providing educational advisory services to prospective students and partner organisations. In her role at ALU (formulated with the aim of creating a network of 25 universities across Africa), Chester recruits top talent from high schools and universities across the subcontinent. She's also a mentor for the Vital Voices Global Partnership in Swaziland. Chester's just registered for an MBA and hopes to eventually "start a multi-national institution". – GK

ZIBU MTHIYANE (34) Group CEO: Zoluhle Polymerics. From: Richards Bay

Fresh from a stint in the USA as a Nelson Mandela Washington Fellow for President Barack Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative, Mthiyane is blazing a trail in the South African manufacturing and energy industry. Having recently bought out 55% of Masiqhame, a competitor business, Zoluhle Polymerics – which designs and manufactures alternative steel products – is very successful. "We were initially a small company relying on contract labour. Now we've inherited 17 additional staff members and widened our client base," says Mthiyane.

She started Zoluhle as an energy consulting firm before specialising in energy efficiency. She eventually developed the idea of using synthetic materials that could alleviate the distressed steel industry. "Natural resources will eventually deplete, so it's necessary to look at different means of producing energy. The mining and steel industries are the highest energy users, so I realised that if we replaced a large percentage of steel applications with fibre-glass, we could even avoid load-shedding," she explains.

Having met Obama and worked with other Washington Fellows in the USA, she's keen to create similar interactions within the African continent. She's also become involved in the Intra-Africa Trade Expo. "I'm working as a Programme Manager for it. We want to encourage trade between African countries, help beneficiate African products and add value," she says. In addition, she runs the Ibutho Youth Organisation, a growing community development project which helps develop youth potential. – AR

NELLY DEEGBE (29) Designer. From: Accra, Ghana

Deegbe was working as a nurse in Accra, when she woke up one morning and decided to resign. "Not that I wasn't good at nursing – I just thought I could do something better with my time," she says. With a grandfather and father who are both artists, creativity runs in her veins. She was soon sketching designs herself and began manufacturing from her garage. In 2011 Precious Moloi-Motsepe, from Africa Fashion International, got wind of Deegbe's cocktail outfits and invited her to show at Africa Fashion Week.

"It was my first runway show and was picked up by CNN. Virtually overnight, everything changed," she says. Deegbe manufactures all her clothes in Accra using distinctive, imported fabrics from around the world. She showed at Alta Roma last year, at the invitation of the Ethical Fashion Initiative. "I feel as if I'll be getting to the 500 000 cedi mark [about R1,7 million] in terms of the business value sooner than I anticipated," she smiles. – SA

KURISANI MASWANGANYI (35) Managing Director: Kulani Engineering Consultancy. From: Pretoria

Maswanganyi believes civil engineering was a "God-given" career avenue for her. "At school, the smart kids used to talk about how hard engineering is. I didn't know much about it, but I love a challenge. I applied to study it on a whim – but found I really loved it," she says. "It's all about solving problems and having light-bulb moments. It involves creating something from nothing – making a road where there wasn't one before. It's very rewarding."

She worked as a trainee at Africon Consulting, but left to study at the UK's Cambridge University. Then an opportunity arose to work on the Heathrow Airport extension. "That really helped me grow up," she recalls. "Nobody cared that I was a black female. I was thrown in at the deep end, but I did it."

Returning to SA was an anti-climax, as it meant going back to designing foundations for RDP houses and laying pipes. Eventually, wanting more exciting work, Maswanganyi launched her business. "Another big push was that my elder brother passed away. He was a successful businessman and doctor and I wanted to make him proud of me," she says. Without any seed capital, Maswanganyi partnered with an engineering firm in Limpopo that was about to close, agreeing to manage its offices and share any work she brought in. This helped establish both her business and her name in the industry. She's now setting up key partnerships with international firms, as she aims to enter the solar energy market. "My company's motto is 'Engineering for impact' – and I live that in everything I design. I love this country and I know that with the right mind-set, I can change it for the better," she says. – CP

KATHERINE-MARY PICHULIK (28) Jewellery designer and entrepreneur. From: Cape Town

A night hobby making her own jewellery has become a thriving business for Cape Town-based designer Pichulik. Inspired by her travels through India, she started playing with woven materials and rope. "Back home, I tasked myself with making something new every week. When I wore these items, people wanted to buy them from me. I had a friend photograph my designs and got them featured on the Miss Moss blog, where they were very well received. Then the Kenyan brand Lalesso approached me to make jewellery for its 2012 Spring/Summer collection for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Following that request, I grew my business," she recalls.

In under three years, she went from having her mother help pay her rent and give her small business loans to buy materials to employing 11 women. Pichulik now has ample work space, an online store and an outlet at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Her jewellery's sold in 14 countries. Yet she hasn't forgotten the hardships she faced at first. "From early on, I kept a tight rein on my personal expenses," she says. "I still drive an entry-level car and I pumped all the extra capital back into the business, making that thrive and grow, rather than my lifestyle."

She describes her business as "brave women making bold jewellery for other brave women". "I say this because at the core, all women are brave, so I want to tap into the universality of traits that connect us. Jewellery comes from an amazing lineage of bringing women together to share wisdom, mark initiations, protect, heal and grow. When my team and I touch these materials, we transform them, setting a tension in them and passing these on to other women to wear with a sense of pride and beauty." – CP