African Women in Business Ntombenhle Khathwane

Fazielah Allie, 50, grew up in Cape Town in the 1980s and is now majority shareholder and CEO of K9 pet foods, a manufacturer of premium foods for cats and dogs supplying major retail chains. She shares her inspiring story of climbing up a corporate ladder with only her Gr12, high school certificate, to becoming CEO of a company employing 120 people and a turnover of R120million to leaving that comfy job to buy a small business making an annual turnover of R2,8million employing 9 people in 2015.Her story is one that shows that being true to yourself is the best formula for happiness driven success.  K9 Pet Foods is now a medium enterprise employing 52 people, hitting just over R20milllion annual turnover in the year ending June 2019 and on track to hitting over R30million turnover year ending June 2020. 

Shayla was a professional cheerleader for a leading sports team in the USA, cheerleading is a sport in its own right and Shayla relied on high energy, high caffeine drinks to keep her going. The acidic nature of these drinks led to her developing a stomach ulcer…but she loves coffee. Enter Shay Latter Coffee!So she decided to find a solution to her pain and developed a coffee that doesn’t hurt stomach linings and it also has another secret ingredient, volcanic ash. We love our female food entrepreneurs and Shayla’s story and route to market will inspire someone who also a pain to address and can develop healthier food options. 

Vivian Kaye – Most of us saw the ‘Good Hair’ documentary by Chris Rock examining the black hair industry in the USA. Through this we learned that similar to Africa, the hair care industry including extensions and accessories is owned by mostly Asians, and very little black participation especially in the extension market. Vivian’s Kinky Curly Yaki is North America’s leading premium textured human hair extensions. We learn how this Ghana-born now Canadian sister built her 7-figure dollar business, whilst keeping a lean personnel structure. 

Khulile Ofosu, 44yrs, is a high-flying finance professional in one of the world’s biggest multinationals and co-founder of Sibahle Collection. This uber busy mom of one daughter still found the time to build a high-growth and impact-driven business. We speak to her on how she married passion with profitability as she and her co-founder Caroline Hlahla built a business based on their pain as black women and also the pain they experienced as black girls growing up with no dolls that look like them. Sibahle Collection started out selling naturally textured hair extensions for black women but pivoted to selling black dolls which look like black girls in skin colour, dominant features and importantly HAIR.  Her business equally sells to international clientele as it does to a South African clientele and it is an online business in the main.

Rita Bunatal is a 25yr old entrepreneur who is UNAPOLOGETIC and FIERCE about her identity as an American of African descent. Born to a Ghanaian mother and a Kenyan father, Rita grew up in the States and started a fashion label whilst she was still in college. Malaika Apparel is a protest label that encourages young and old black people to be proud and claim their space. She even designs her own prints so that her clothes say exactly what she wants to say. She is a clear example of passion-driven entrepreneurship that works. Rita has gained work experience working for Shea Moisture, America’s leading black-owned natural cosmetic company that is also unapologetic about supporting and uplifting black women.  Listen and be inspired!

Lara Mare is the female majority co-founder and co-owner of Rush Nutrition. Rush Nutrition is the manufacturer of on-the-go natural and raw whole food solutions that are free from toxins and are alternatives from high sugar and artificial energy snacks. Lara is a mom passionate about helping people live their best, healthy lives by eating right. Rush Nutrition has food products distributed through large retail chains like Pick n Pay and Clicks. Listen in on this inspiring story on building a good business and doing good no matter the size of a business.