James Mwangi, the Executive Director of The Dalberg Group, says that small enterprise - if it is given the support it needs - has the power to create growth and prosperity for Africa. The 2009 Tutu Fellow said that elements like providing early access to small amounts of capital and mentorship could unlock the potential of entrepreneurship. Innovative solutions to problems facing developing countries were likely to emerge with this kind of support.
Shared working spaces are one of the ways in which startups can keep costs down while simultaneously working in an environment providing networking opportunities and a sense of community. Tutu Fellow Zied Mhirsi co-founded a space called Cogite in Tunisia, which has been listed as one of the top ten co-worker spaces in the world.
Forbes wrote an article on shared spaces, partnering with Coworker, a ratings and reviews platform, and Nomad List to power the "Where to Work" feature for location independent workers who have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. More than 3,000 participants submitted their opinions on what made a particular space the best place to work. Founders were also questioned about their spaces. Cogite emerged as #3 on the list.
The full article is on Forbes.
Tutu Fellow Ntombenhle Khathwane has been included on the Forbes 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa 2016 list. The Swazi-born entrepreneur is the founder of AfroBotanics, a Johannesburg-based company that makes ethnic hair and body-care products. The Forbes African entrepreneurs list began in 2011 and has featured several other Tutu Fellows since its inception.
Three Tutu Fellows were selected for a list of leading Africans contributors to an article for up and coming entrepreneurs. The three Fellows are Monica Musonda, Susan Mashibe, and Swaady Martin. The article, which is for the website Lionesses of Africa, is entitled The 50 best pieces of advice we featured in 2015 from some of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs. The three Fellows are all active entrepreneurs in different fields. Musonda is the founder of Zambian-based Java foods; Mashibe is the founder of VIA Aviation a Tanzanian business transport and aviation company; and Martin is the founder of YSWARA, a South African tea company.
Tutu Fellow James Mwangi has been appointed to the United Nations' Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. The announcement, which took place in Dubai on 24 October 2015, was made by Rick Parnell, the COO of the foundation. The council is comprised of leading entrepreneurs from around the world to incorporate innovation and sustainable economic growth to support the newly adopted U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Parnell said that a multi-sector, integrated approach was needed over the 15 years to accomplish the sustainable development goals. He said that the newly appointed council members would bring a wealth of "experience, accomplishments and global reach to help the Foundation support the UN as it tackles that challenge."
2014 Tutu Fellow Samuel Mensah has been featured on CNN Style in a frank interview about his fashion company Kisua. In it, he explains his transformation from being a suit at an investment fund to rolling the dice and starting up a fashion company.
2011 Tutu Fellow Shaka Sisulu shares with the audience at TEDx in Soweto in 2012 how much he was inspired by his uncle about the importance of dreams. In his homage to his uncle Zwelakhe, Shaka uses the power of imagination to travel into the future, where he brought back with him visions of a prosperous and affirmed Africa - the Africa that he says, we must create.
Born into a the renowned family that fought for and won the liberation of South Africa from apartheid. Shaka has a passion for start-ups. He points out how the best entrepreneurs have become successful from following their dream and working towards it. Dreams - and courage - are important if one is to realise those dreams.
The African Leadership Institute (AFLI) is unique among leadership initiatives in that it focuses on building the capacity and capability of visionary and strategic leadership across the continent. Developing exceptional leaders representing all spheres of society, the Institute’s flagship programme is the prestigious Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship. Offering a multifaceted learning experience and run in partnership with Oxford University, it is awarded annually to 20-25 carefully chosen candidates, nominated from across Africa. Alumni of the African Leadership Institute form a dynamic network of Fellows passionately committed to the continent’s transformation, bridging the divide between nations and ensuring that Africa is set centre-stage in global affairs.