We are excited to see Ladybrille’s Uduak Oduok as part of this diverse and outstanding list of women. Thank you Innov8tiv.
-The Ladybrille team
***As we countdown to the Year 2015, which is barely 15 hours away. The Innov8tiv team has reviewed the year 2014, looking back at the most prolific women who have stood out in the year 2014. These women have demonstrated leadership, innovation, ingenuity and above all, the potential to impact their communities positively. As we usher in 2015, if precedent is anything to go by, we should expect great things from the women below.
The following list was compiled by Lisa Leid, Felix O. and the Innov8tiv team. In no particular order, below are the 50 most outstanding women we should all be on the look out for in 2015:
Ariel Lopez
CEO and founder of 2020Shift (@2020Shift), an online education platform designed to get minority college students and recent grads into AdTech.
Janel Martinez
Founder and EIC of Ain’t I Latina? (@aintilatina) an online destination created by an Afro-Latina for Afro-Latinas. Inspired by the lack of representation in mainstream media, as well as Spanish-language media.
Jessica Santana
Co-founder 0f Brooklyn On Tech (@BrooklynOnTech) a non- profit organization where its mission is to inspire the next generation of tech thought leaders emerging from the borough of Brooklyn, New York.
Kaya Thomas
Founder of ‘We Read Too’ (@WeReadTooApp ) – An App Showcasing Literature For & By People of ColorBook resource app showcasing 300+ books written by authors of color w/ characters of color.
Evita Robinson
Created the NomadnessTravel Tribe,(@NomadnessTribe) an online social community for travelers all around the world, who have the similarity of an urban background and were looking for likeminded travelers to connect with around the world.
Dawn Dickson
FLAT OUT of heels are rollable flats to ease your soles after hours in heels. Available online and vending machines
Morgan DeBaun
Co-Founder of recently launched tech startup Blavity (@Blavity), is on a mission is to empower minority creators, inspire self-expression and connect people to content that reflects their culture.
Photo Credit: thewomensbook.com
digitalundivided
digitlaundivided Is going in a new direction in 2015 by expanding the FOCUS Fellows program to a residency incubator that will continue to provide stellar mentorship and entrepreneurship development to newbie founders – which will culminate in a demo day each October as you have come to expect from FOCUS100.
Danielle Jones
Co-Founder of Lineapple, (@LineappleApp) Lineapple is a super easy way to hold your place in line on your smartphone so you can GO. We’re turning wait time into vacation time. Skip Waiting in Lines!
Catt Small
Founded Tech Under Thirty (@TechUnderThirty) is a budding group for technology-oriented people under the age of thirty. We bring designers, developers, engineers, and other people from the tech industry together to form friendships and cross-pollinate ideas
Janell Hazelwood
Is an Associate Managing Editor at Black Enterprise, managing content across core areas of Money, Career, Small Business, Technology and Africa. She is also a featured blogger with My Two Cents, providing insights on branding, millennial career development, employment trends and leadership.
Kelechi Anyadiegwu
Owner and Creative Director of Zuvaa (@shopZuvaa), a Global Marketplace for African Inspired Fashion is an online community and marketplace that presents customers with an unique online shopping experience.
Melissa Hanna
Founder of Mahmee (@GetMahmee), is an mobile healthcare app delivering personalized, on-demand care to breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
Brit Fitzpatrick
Founder and CEO MentorMe (@HeyMentorMe) is revolutionizing the way communities invest in their greatest resource…people.
Mary Farrow
Founder of Gramsly (@gramsly) Gramsly creates custom care packages for senior citizens. Send your parents & grandparents a cute box full of love today!
Nicole Amarteifio
Creator of the successful web series @AnAfricanCity.
Zim Ugochukwu
Founder of Travel Noire (@TravelNoire) is a digital publishing platform that creates tools and resources for the unconventional traveler
Heather Hiles
Founder of Pathbrite (@Pathbrite) ePortfolios help students collect, track and showcase a lifetime of learning and achievement, and recommend pathways for continuous success
Simone Castillo
Pipeline Fellowship alumna and angel investor Interested in investing in women/minority majority owned, social impact, STEM, services to underserved communities.
Erin Horne Montgomery
Serves as the President and Executive Director of the National Association of Multicultural Digital Entrepreneurs (@namdedotorg). NAMDE advocates for, unites and promotes the interests of diverse companies, organizations, individuals and entities within the technology and broadband market industries
Laura Weidman Powers
Co-Founder and CEO of @CODE2040 where the mission of this program is to bring diversity to Silicon Valley by bringing in talented minorities, who are in school for engineering, to Silicon Valley for the summer, mentoring them and finding them positions with companies.
Tanya Menendez
COO and Co-Founder Maker’s Row (@MakersRow) is to make the manufacturing process simple to understand and easy to access. From large corporations to first time designers, we are providing unparalleled access to industry-specific factories and suppliers across the United States.
Rachel Brooks
Founder of Citizen Made (@CitizenMade). Where we make it possible for brands to sell custom products online.
Nour Drissi
Founder of Loue 1 Voiture the first website in Morocco that lets users reserve a car from car hire companies operating locally.
Winifred Selby
Founder of Afrocentric Bamboo Ltd. a company that manufactures bicycles made from bamboo. The bicycles retail domestically in Ghana are goes for around $100.
Cherae Robinson
Founder of Rare Customs, a tourism consulting and marketing company that specialized in market development and travel to the Africa, Caribbean and South America.
Jade Mann
Founder of Night Bus, the first bus network operating in South Africa that runs exclusively through major nightlife districts and universities throughout the entire night.
Taffi Woolward
Founder of Thandos, a platform assisting aspiring African artists in designing women’s fashion footwear.
Anike Lawal
Founder of Mamalette, a website and information portal that provides Nigerian parents and parents to be all the information they need about parenthood.
Elizabeth Kperrun
Founder of Lizzie’s Creations, a tech company developing mobile and web applications tailor-made to foster the development and education of the African women and children.
Oyindamola Honey Ogundeyi
Founder of Fashpa.com, an e-commerce website selling international fashion and lifestyle brands to the locals in Nigeria.
Banke Kuku
Founder of Banke Kuku Textiles, a company that combines traditional African culture to Western culture and come up with a luxurious fabrics for use in interior designing and fashion industry.
Rebecca Enonchong
Founder and CEO of AppsTech, the leading global provider for enterprise application solutions with a client base stretching more than 50 countries worldwide.
Akaliza Keza Gara
A multimedia consultant and Founder of Shaking Sun Ltd, a company that offers multimedia services such as website development, graphic designing and computer animation.
Credit: diaplous-ssda.com
Marieme Jamme
Renowned blogger, technologist, social entrepreneur and the CEO of SpotOne Global Solutions, a company helping tech startups companies develop their businesses, enter new foreign markets, find new business partners and win new profitable ventures abroad.
Monica Musonda
A lawyer by training who practiced corporate law before she starting Java Foods, a company manufacturing eeZee brand of instant noodles.
Ethel Delali Cofie
Founder of Edel Consulting, a company that helps entrepreneurs stay ahead of their competition by providing them the right technologies that reduces their cost of operation and increases their efficiency.
Adiat Disu
An international publicist and Founder of Adirée, a communication and brand strategy company based in New York. Adirée started the African Fashion Week in New York which has grown to become of the biggest fashion events focusing on African fashion.
Tebogo Mashego
Co-founder and CEO of Diep K Steel & Aluminum, a company manufacturing balustrades and stainless steel staircases, aluminum roofing and designer steel gates among other aluminum products.
Naadiya Moosajee
Co-Founder of WomEng (Women in Engineering/ SAWomEng), an international non-profit organization geared towards attracting, developing and nurturing the next generation of women engineering leaders.
Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji
Founder of RISE NETWORKS, A youth interest social enterprise funded privately and publicly and focusing on improving the wholesome youth and education development.
Jamila Abass, Linda Kwamboka and Susan Oguya
The trio are Founders of MFarm, a mobile software company transforming the lives of millions of African farmers by eliminating unscrupulous middlemen in the supply chain between farmers and consumers.
Afua Osei and Yasmin Belo-Osagie
The dou are the co-Founders of She Leads Africa, a platform giving Africa’s most talented female entrepreneurs access to the knowledge, professional networks and financial assistance to build up and scale their busineses.
Naisula Lesuuda
A journalist, peace ambassador and an avid girl child champion. She is also the youngest woman in the Kenyan senate.
Rimini Makama
Serving as Corporate Communications Director at Africa Practice, a company based in Nigeria dealing with strategy and communications consultancy.
Enyo Kumahor
a Global Advisory Technology Leader, a West Africa IT Advisory Leader, both in Ernst & Young and more recently the Managing Director for Thoughtworks in Africa.
Awesomely Luvvie
The self-proclaimed wacky wordsmith, pop culture prima donna and a bodacious blogger. If you are looking for updates on music, fashion, movies industries. Then she the one to follow on twitter (@Luvvie).
Uduak Oduok
She is a partner and a Co-Founder of Ebitu Law Group P.C dealing with legal affairs such as business litigation, contract drafting and negotiations, entertainment and fashiol law. She is also a podcaster at @ladybrille
Cat Posey
Founder of Tech By Superwomen, A movement to elevate and celebrate women in tech.
Kega Florence Mukwevho
Founder of MKP Fast Foods, an innovative startup creating employment for the South African youths through operating low cost, scalable mobile kitchen for Galito’s.
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
