Advisory Board

LEAH NDUATI

Mrs. Leah Nduati is an SME Growth Catalyst currently spearheading GrowthAfrica’s entry into the West African Market. GrowthAfrica is a leading acceleration and growth partner for African entrepreneurs and companies scaling their business in and across Africa. Providing business growth programmes for high-potential entrepreneurs as well as designing and delivering activities for partners and clients in support of entrepreneurs. She is also a Co-Founder of the Kenya Trade Expo in Ghana, which has yielded fruitful business between Kenya and Ghana. Companies such as Cellulant, Eden Tea, Gems Cambridge School, Brookside, Longhorn Publishers, African Digital Media Institute and more, are among Kenyan Companies that have been part of the Expo.

Previously, Leah worked as a Communications Expert for Media Agencies in Ghana and Kenya. She has consulted widely for SMEs and corporates, enabling them to achieve their branding and communication needs. Some of her consulting clients in Ghana have included Phillips, KFC, Vodafone, SRI EMAS and Drill Masters Africa. Leah has studied for a Bachelors in Economics and Communication, French and is currently pursuing a specialization in Business Analytics.

Hjortur Smarason - Founder and Principal

S.A.L.T. School of Astronaut Leadership Training-Iceland

Hjortur Smarason is an expert on communication strategies, brand positioning and crisis management. He has advised startups, tourism boards and governments on their branding and crisis communication strategies, such as Iceland after the economic collapse of 2008 and the volcanic eruptions of 2010 and 2011, Nepal after the earthquakes of 2015, as well as countries in Africa and Middle East following political turmoil and economic difficulties. Hjortur is the founder and principal of S.A.L.T., the School of Astronaut Leadership Training (www.astronautsintraining.com) where he offers leadership training together with astronauts and specialists from NASA.

Alexandre Pedrotti - Co-Founder, TheBase - Vienna

Alexandre Pedrotti is the co-founder of the co-sharing office space the Base with 4 locations in Vienna and a business incubator. Born in Paris, Pedrotti hold a degree in media communication with a specialization in marketing and advertising. After graduation, he got his first job at the International Atomic Energy Agency, he left the organization after a year, and immigrated to West Africa.

In 2006, Pedrotti founded his first company in procurement and distribution, which is still in operation. His quest for innovation let him into creating a bicycle company in 2012 Chic Cycle, which specializes in customizing bikes for corporate clients. 2 years later, Pedrotti founded “Le Zefire” which is an operating and consulting company for gastronomy and had 2 bars in Vienna. Le Zefire was later sold in 2017 to the Aina hospitality investment fund. Alexandre Pedrotti is also a consultant and expert in entrepreneurship for the UN agency UNIDO, where he is still working there till date. He works for the African division department for Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation & Human Security.

Tafadzwa Antony Munyaradzi - Founder & CEO of Taffiecomms Holdings, Zimbabwe

Tafadzwa Antony Munyaradzi is a Cyber Technology and Telecoms Entrepreneur. Founder & CEO of Taffiecomms Holdings, Pan African multimedia content platform Yakontent & Gabe Remote Asset Management. Tafadzwa is a holder of a Full Technological Award in Telecommunications & Electronic Engineering (UK) and a Telecoms Mini MBA from the Telecoms Academy (UK). He has over 10 years Entrepreneurial Experience. He sits on the board of the African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ASENTI - Kenya) and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) – Harare branch where he is the current 2nd Vice Chairman as well as Chairman of Public Relations, Branding, Communications and Membership subcommittee.

Tafadzwa is an Alumni of the Ernst & Young (EY) Zimbabwe Business Accelerator Programme and Enpact East Africa & Europe Start-up Mentoring Programme. He is a versatile Entrepreneur who set up his business in 2008 arguably the toughest time his country has ever faced. A regular speaker who challenges young people in Africa to aim higher and create their own success. Tafadzwa has spoken at various events in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. In addition, Tafadzwa is passionate about Cyber Technology and the Economic deliverance of Africa through Entrepreneurial Development.

Mona-Lisa Danieli Mungure - Attorney at Law, Principal Council Attorney (North West District Council, Botswana) Director, Molao Matters-Botswana

Mona – Lisa Danieli Mungure is a legal practitioner with 10 years’ experience. Parallel to her work in the legal sector, Mona-Lisa plays an active role in civil society where she has contributed to policy reform, advocacy, community engagement and grassroots level activism on issues around women’s rights, refugee and migrant rights, domestic workers rights, organizational governance and youth development. Mona-Lisa plays a strategic role in Botswana’s human rights discourse where she has served and continues to serve as a national consultant and national legal team coordinator on different occasions. Examples of these are projects titled: “Human Rights Protection And Redress: Covid-19 Pandemic And Beyond” (2020 – 2021, European Union and DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Center for Human Rights) and “Securing Recognition of Minorities and Indigenous People and their Rights in Botswana” (2018 – 2019, Minority Rights Group International).

Qualifications:
LLB, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, S.A
LLM (International Human Rights & Intellectual Property Law), University of Nottingham, U.K

Kate Kibarah - C.E.O / Founder, Kate's Organics Limited

A Clinical Nutritionist, a Colon Hydrotherapist as well as a Health Coach.

RYH is a consultancy that offers Nutrition, Health & wellness advisory and consultancy services as well as Colonic Irrigation / Hydrotherapy Services, which aims to promote human health and well-being through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. MY HEALTHY LIVING CLUB’, a virtual health club offering nutrition, health and wellness tips and advice. Founder ORGANIK Kenya NGO - Organic Action Network in Kenya

Melanie Cheary - Communication Consultant

Melanie Cheary is an ASENTI advisor, international sustainable development specialist, and Thomson Reuters Foundation consultant on media and journalism programs. Melanie’s passion for promoting African entrepreneurship and innovation is recognized across the continent.

Formerly a Reuters financial news editor and now an advisor to multinationals on stakeholder engagement strategies, this South African believes firmly that Africans hold the seeds for economic growth and improved livelihoods in their own hands. An advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, Melanie also believes that it is the micro and small enterprises, launched and driven by young entrepreneurs that are key to this.

Mohamed (Abdeljalil) Salama - Senior Account Executive at HERE Technologies

Business Development and Community Growth Manager at HERE Technologies, leading Partnership and Community strategy, and contributing to the product and content growth of HERE Open Location Platform in the Middle East. Mohamed brings over 14 years of extensive business experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial arena. Prior to HERE, he was responsible for Mobility Solutions Sales at Microsoft, managing the business in the MEA region.

Before Microsoft, Mohamed was among a team of four who established Nokia regional office back in 2006. His last role was a Business Development Manager for Near East and North Africa running Nokia Ecosystem and Partners Engagement, where he led the launch of the first Nokia Mobile Lab in MEA

Avid, active supporter and coach to aspiring entrepreneurs, an Advisory Board member at multiple startups, in addition to other business facilitation and consultancy roles

Ambassador of One Young World appointed to represent Egypt. A devout tech geek, passionate about traveling, and loves to be called by his nickname Galilu.