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Palesa Segomotso Motsumi, a trailblazing creative social entrepreneur, shares her journey from the corporate grind to the exciting world of art and social change. Through her groundbreaking work with Sematsatsa Library and projects like "Hashtag That's What She Said," Palesa uses art as a powerful medium to spark dialogue and transform communities across South Africa. Her story is a testament to the power of art in fostering inclusivity and empowering women, as she highlights the diverse and interconnected nature of visual arts, music, fashion, and architecture.

As Palesa tells us in this conversation, passion, resilience and sacrifice are the bare minimum you need to take a leap from corporate to entrepreneurship. But it also takes the support of people who believe in you. Palesa has moved from her hometown of Bloemfontein, through the art scenes of Johannesburg and Cape Town and she gives us a taste of her experiences there.

Find out how she moved from reluctant curator to a powerful player with her own arts agency and consultancy. Find out how she has balanced the need for financial stability with her work as a social entrepreneur, and how she advises young artists to create their own sustainable careers in this space.

Through her work and connecting with artists and curators who inspire new narratives in the art world, Palesa now has a dream of creating an institution that would give back to the community that nurtured her talent and supported her career. Palesa draws inspiration from figures like Ghanaian artist, Ibrahim Mahama, and her passion for gardening and plants, which also influences her life life philosophy. Don't miss this amazing conversation!

LINKS AND MENTIONS

Palesa's Social Media Accounts - Sematsatsa Library and Personal Profile

Lawrence Lemoana
Mary Sibande
Ruth Motau
William Kentridge
Zanele Muholi

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Today I'm in conversation with Zimbabwean-born and Italy-based serial startup founder and entrepreneur, Tadiwa Mwashita. Her latest venture is the Italian Social Impact Startup, Feedel Africa. They provide services to innovation hubs and non-profit organizations on the African continent, with a special focus on women led startups.

Some of the services Feedel Africa offers include fund raising, grant writing and AI education. Join us and hear all about Tadiwa's ability to combine profit with purpose, and how she is elevating African innovation to global heights in the fields of B2B SaaS, fintech, and AI.

Our conversations takes us on a journey from Tadiwa’s home country, Zimbabwe, where she stumbled on entrepreneurship as a high school student. We discover that she hasn't stopped experimenting with ideas ever since, and how being in Italy forced her to fully embrace her entrepreneurial roots.

It has been nothing less than a complex journey of navigating language barriers and prejudice that has led her to the level of nimbleness and adaptability you will hear about. She also discusses her latest and soon-to-be launched venture in the pet space, which she created using a methodology she has mastered: .the magic of turning local insights into innovative business solutions

Don't miss this inspiring conversation with one of the most creative and resilient entrepreneurs you will meet.

LINKS AND MENTIONS

Tadiwa's LinkedIn Profile
Feedel Africa - Social Impact Startup founded by Tadiwa
Feedel Ventures - The Investment company that funds and provides other resources to Tadiwa's venture

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Naeemah LaFond, a celebrated editorial hairstylist, is not just styling hair but shaping the future of the beauty industry. Her journey from a court clerk to working alongside icons like Beyoncé and Amapiano singer Tyla is a testament to her passion and dedication. Naeemah's journey in the hair industry is heart driven and intentional, this extends to all that she does, including her partnerships. Learn how Naeemah’s partnership with the global haircare brand Olaplex emphasizes her belief in the importance of science-backed products, particularly for textured hair. She believes that such initiatives are essential in the movement to creating an inclusive industry.

Naeemah shares compelling stories about overcoming challenges and underestimations, turning them into opportunities to mentor aspiring Black women hairstylists and create a supportive community in beauty and fashion campaigns.She also shares her definition of success or fulfillment, which is an inspiring takeaway for all aspiring stylists and all who listen. Join us and discover the what the future of hair care looks like.

LINKS AND MENTIONS

Olaplex
Naeemah on Insta: @naeemahlafond
Amapiano Star @tyla
Beyoncé's hair brand @cecred
For more info on Naeemah's work, visit her website https://naeemahlafond.com

Support the show

NEWSLETTER, stay in the loop and subscribe to our newsletter

SUPPORT this work so that we can keep it free. Become a MONTHLY SUPPORTER

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