I really hope that this book inspires many more people to use their entrepreneurial energy to change the world through creating opportunities for others.'

African Entrepreneurs: 50 Success Stories is a celebration of notable achievements of select Africans and how they have managed to excel in their chosen fields despite all odds. Each profile showcases the entrepreneur and their area of endeavor, including an exclusive interview in a question-and-answer format. Whether you are young or old, already in business or aspiring to get your feet wet, African Entrepreneurs: 50 Success Stories will encourage you. Although this book focuses on African business leaders, you will find that the core-ingredients of successful entrepreneurs are universal. You will be inspired, enthralled and above all motivated by how these savvy men and women overcame their personal challenges to get to where they are now. While some people are natural entrepreneurs, anyone can pursue entrepreneurship successfully if they put in what it takes. If you have a goal, you have to go for it - don’t wait for success to come to you.

From the founder of the award-winning website (www.howwemadeitinafrica.com) comes the stories of 25 entrepreneurs who''ve built thriving businesses. * Be inspired by the experiences of Africa''s most dynamic entrepreneurs * Gain insight into the continent''s business opportunities * Find the courage to make your own dreams and ambitions become a reality Discover why Ken Njoroge is building a billion-dollar pan-African digital payments company (it is not because he wants to drive a Ferrari); Find out how Jean de Dieu Kagabo grew a Rwanda-based industrial group from a simple product: toilet paper; And be inspired by the extraordinary tale of Hassan Bashir who created a booming insurance company from nothing but grit and persistence. Each entrepreneur''s story is told in an honest manner, not shying away from the mistakes made and the considerable hurdles they had to overcome. And there were many tough times: from being betrayed by long-time senior managers to losing vast sums of money because of poor market research. Pursuing their business ambitions also had a toll on their personal lives: one entrepreneur was too broke to afford diapers for his baby, while another had to sell her house to keep the company alive. MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS 1. Ken Njoroge (Kenya): The long, hard journey to build a billion-dollar company 2. Tseday Asrat (Ethiopia): A modern twist on Ethiopia''s coffee culture 3. Tumi Phake (South Africa): Flexing his entrepreneurial muscles to exploit a gap in the fitness industry 4. Monica Musonda (Zambia): Instant noodle pioneer 5. Hassan Bashir (Kenya): An insurance firm created from nothing but grit and persistence 6. Ebele Enunwa (Nigeria): A $50-million food and retail empire 7. Tayo Oviosu (Nigeria): The entrepreneur who traded in his Silicon Valley life to bring mobile money to Nigerians 8. Navalayo Osembo (Kenya): How to make a Kenyan running shoe 9. Jean de Dieu Kagabo (Rwanda): Rwandan industrialist always hunting for the next big business idea 10. Addis Alemayehou (Ethiopia): Serial entrepreneur bringing the world to Ethiopia 11. Kasope Ladipo-Ajai (Nigeria): Nigerian cooking made convenient 12. Chijioke Dozie (Nigeria): Leveraging past experiences to disrupt the banking industry 13. Sylvester Chauke (South Africa): Marketer with a passion to take African brands global 14. Yoadan Tilahun (Ethiopia): Showing Ethiopia how to throw an event 15. Mossadeck Bally (Mali): West African hotel group built on an appetite for risk 16. Jennifer Bash (Tanzania): Adding value to everyday staples 17. Jesse Moore (Kenya): Thinking out of the box to power over 600 000 homes with solar energy 18. Twapewa Kadhikwa (Namibia): How one hair salon became a group of companies 19. Jacques de Vos (South Africa): Growing a high-impact tech business one problem statement at a time 20. Nana Akua Birmeh (Ghana): Architect breaking glass ceilings 21. Nelly Tuikong (Kenya): Kenyan beauty brand taking on global giants 22. Dr Hend El Sherbini (Egypt): From a small Egyptian family business to a London-listed healthcare giant 23. NJ Ayuk (Cameroon): A lawyer on the road less travelled 24. Polo Leteka (South Africa): The investor who spots opportunity where others see risk 25. Ashley Uys (South Africa): Diagnostic hustler ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jaco Maritz is CEO of Maritz Africa, publisher of the award-winning pan-African online business publication How we made it in Africa. Jaco holds a BA in Information Science from USB. He started his career at South African media company Media24, working on the websites of some of the country''s most well-known newspapers. He went on to become editor of TradeInvestNigeria, after which he founded Maritz Africa. When not building Maritz Africa, Jaco enjoys investing in other businesses. He is a regular speaker on business in Africa.

The Definitive Guide to Doing Business in Africa For global and Africa-based companies looking to access new growth markets, Africa offers exciting opportunities to build large, profitable businesses. Its population is young, fast-growing, and increasingly urbanized--while rapid technology adoption makes the continent a fertile arena for innovation. But Africa's business environment remains poorly understood; it's known to many executives in the West only by its reputation for complexity, conflict, and corruption. Africa's Business Revolution provides the inside story on business in Africa and its future growth prospects and helps executives understand and seize the opportunities for building profitable, sustainable enterprises. From senior leaders in McKinsey's African offices and a leading executive on the continent, this book draws on in-depth proprietary research by the McKinsey Global Institute as well as McKinsey's extensive experience advising corporate and government leaders across Africa. Brimming with company case studies and exclusive interviews with some of Africa's most prominent executives, this book comes to life with the vibrant stories of those who have navigated the many twists and turns on the road to building successful businesses on the continent. Combining an unrivalled fact base with expert advice on shaping and executing an Africa growth strategy, this book is required reading for global business executives looking to expand their existing operations in Africa--and for those seeking a road map to access this vast, untapped market for the first time.

In Pursuit - Journeys in African Entrepreneurship chronicles the journeys of two friends whose experiences in America shaped their approach to starting their own businesses in Nigeria. Drawing on their experiences of working, building and supporting business, and exposure to multimillion-dollar projects around the world, they uncover what it takes to own, run, and grow a profitable business. Through their personal insights, they relay information relevant not only to entrepreneurs and investors seeking to do business in Nigeria, but anywhere on the globe--after all, the heart of business is human interaction. Their conversational banter-jab style, for which they're known in person and on social media, invites readers into their circle where they can share the wisdom gained through continuous pursuits to fulfill their dreams. Business and life intersect. No matter your goal, you're not crazy, and no, you're not alone! Through In Pursuit, two Bendel boys invite you to laugh, yell, and reflect, as they converse from head and heart.

The African business environment provides many opportunities and challenges. Success depends on the ability to quickly see the opportunities and the courage to face the challenges. Successful African entrepreneurs are best described as "doers" rather than "dreamers". They are action-oriented people who look far ahead into the future, and treat mistakes and failures as temporary setbacks on the way to accomplishing their goals. Above all, they are disciplined when it comes to the use of money. These are some of the insights you can get by reading this book. You will also know how to do the following: -Make profits for a purpose -Grow your business -Design a winning strategy -Manage efficiently and effectively -Find trustworthy business partners -Motivate your workers -Communicate with maturity and appreciation -Engage in fast learning -Improve the management of your finances With these tools at your disposal, you are certain to join the small but growing group of very successful African business owners. __________________________________________ John Kuada is Emeritus Professor of International Management at Aalborg University, Denmark. He holds two doctorate degrees - PhD from Copenhagen Business School in Business Economics, and Dr Merc from Aalborg University in International Business. He has extensive experience as business consultant and training advisor in areas of management, marketing and cross-border inter-firm relations in many European and African countries. He is author and/or editor of 25 books on management. He has also written over 100 articles in scholarly and professional journals on a wide range of international business issues including entrepreneurship, international marketing, intercultural management, leadership and strategy. Madei Mangori has over 36 years of experience as an organizational and management development expert in Southern Africa mainly based in Gaborone Botswana. He turned academic in 2015 after obtaining a PhD in Business Management from Aldersgate College in the Philippines. He has published a book and co-authored another. All are available on Amazon. He is a founding member of Mentoring African Research Network (www.resanet.org). He is also the co-ordinator for business and contextual ministry and is currently leading the team working for the accreditation of Botswana Bible Training Institute into a multi-disciplinary tertiary institution operating in four countries in Southern Africa.