Nokubonga Mndawe

South African social entrepreneur creating Africa's largest women-led enterprise network to combat economic inequality.

Nokubonga Mndawe (born 1975) is a South African entrepreneur and founder of the Women's Investment Network (WIN), a platform connecting African women to capital and mentorship. Growing up in a rural KwaZulu-Natal township, she witnessed systemic barriers to female economic participation. After studying business at the University of Cape Town, she co-founded WIN in 2001 with just $5,000. The network now supports 150,000+ women across 16 African countries, providing loans, training, and market access. Mndawe pioneered the WIN Microfinance initiative, offering zero-interest loans to rural entrepreneurs. Her 2015 partnership with the UNDP expanded microfinance to conflict zones like DR Congo. Critics argue WIN's focus on small businesses overlooks industrial-scale economic transformation, but its impact is measurable: 40% of participants lift families out of poverty within 2 years. Mndawe's TED Talk 《The Power of Sisterhood》 has over 2 million views. Her book 《The Power of Sisterhood》 details strategies for inclusive economic growth. The African Union recognizes WIN as a model for gender equity programs.