“Research continues to show that female entrepreneurs make an important contribution to economic development, but are disadvantaged by various barriers, including a lack of access to finance and reliable business advice networks.”
According to Newable, female entrepreneurs (or fempreneurs) have the moxie to create great change in the world’s economy. With Xena, Female Entrepreneurs have access to funding as well as a supportive network of like-minded fempreneurs. This network is ready to assist and teach wherever their sisters in business need assistance. The impact of fempreneurs on the global economy is growing each year, and this International Women’s Day, we’d like to highlight some of the global fempreneurs that are making history.
Manouk de Vries | Founder @Supercilium
Manouk de Vries is a Dutch brow stylist, intent on her mission of inspiring confidence in women through her craft. She wanted to grow her vision and started her business, Supercilium – a brow-fessional store for all brow stylists. In just 4 years, she has changed the lives of 10 million women in 75 countries through her community of skilled brow professionals.
Her mission is laced with the beautiful notion that beauty standards are unrealistic. She believes that all women should accept their true selves and express how unique they are through their brows. This year, her business will be launching consumer-centric products based on her technique of creating the universal brow shape. She intends to help every woman gain access to the tools to make them feel confident.
Orla Roisin Abrahams | CEO @ Abrahams Industrial Minerals
Orla is an Irish/South African paving her way in America with her company, Abrahams Industrial Minerals, Inc. She is the CEO and Chairman of the Board for the D6 Foundation. She was inspired by her father who was raised in Apartheid in Cape Town – hence D6 (District 6) Foundation.
Orla has experienced the world, having lived in eight different countries, with her current home being in the US. She has grown the concept of Green Mining, innovating traditional mining methods into more sustainable practices.
Nimi Ekere | Founder @ SmileandShine Children’s Foundation
Nimi, a Physician with extensive experience in medical practice is passionate about Child Advocacy. She is a humanitarian dedicated to bettering the lives of children in Africa. As well as being a doctor, she is a passionate leader, author and life-coach.
She is the founder of the Smileandshine Children’s Foundation, focused on the mental wellbeing of children. Her campaign against child abuse has caused shockwaves in the social security industry, inspiring hope for many children with distraught realities. She has been featured many times in global media for her relief efforts.
Dr. Ekere’s four publications focus on the academics in the schools of Nigeria, how intentional parenting can be effective and how to promote the protection of children’s rights.
Diana Jenner | Founder @ Orchids Retreat Beauty Salon and Wellness Clinic
Diana is the Female Founder of Orchids Retreat Beauty Salon and Wellness Clinic. Focused on the wellbeing of women, Diana used her 20 years of experience to expand her business from solopreneur to a team of 12.
Diana is invested in educating the next generation of beauty professionals. By sharing her passion through apprenticeships, she aims to cultivate professionals that share her values of wellness.
She also created her own line of beauty products called Aurum D which also consults entrepreneurs in the industry on how to grow their business and support the mission of global wellness and confidence.
Sibongile Sambo | Founder of SRS Aviation
Sibongile Sambo is a leader in the Aviation industry. She started the very first black female-owned company in the South African Aviation Industry, failing the minimum height requirements for becoming a flight attendant with SAA.
SRS Aviation’s services include charters in cargo, medical evacuation, game count and more. Sibongile has won numerous awards, including the Black Women in Business award, the Regional Business Woman of The Year Award as well as the Top Emerging Gender Empowered Company Award.
Nneile Nkholise | Founder & Director of iMed Tech & 3DIMO
Named the Top Female Innovators in Africa in 2016 and in 2018, she also made it onto the Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list among other awards, Nneile is the Founder and Director of iMED Tech, a company that focuses on medical prostheses and bio-implants, she was able to create solutions to many issues in the medical field surrounding disease and prosthetics. Her other business, 3DIMO tracks livestock and animal husbandry. In her CEO Magazine interview, Nneile said “Every single one of us is called to make an impact in society and this is my act of service to the development of my country. By launching iMed Tech, I wanted to confirm a theory that women have the power and potential to run companies in the medical technology sector. And not just ordinary companies, but companies that will become multinationals.”
We’ve highlighted just a few of 2022’s most inspiring women. If you’d like to read more and get inspired by 30 fempreneurs, check out this article by the NYC Journal. Trust us, it’s a great read! Feeling inspired by these lovely ladies? Get that feeling every day on the Xena Network, a fast-growing community of female entrepreneurs ready to inspire and assist other fempreneurs to usher in a new age of female economic empowerment. Join us here.
