Businesses WPEC Titans Tank 2020 Top 5 Winners

WPEC Titans Tank 2020 Top 5 Winners

The Women's Program Engagement Council

(WPEC www.facebook.com/TWPEC) is a global initiative to build a database/network of Black women entrepreneurs/business owners, worldwide, based around the need to facilitate opportunities and deal making, co-investments and strategic partnerships to encourage inclusion and increased investment in women-led businesses to help create equitable access to investments for projects/platforms led by African American and African women.

We are proud of all the Sisters who applied, because the beauty about "Titans Tank" is no one loses – it’s a “Win Win” for all! Our "Titans Tank" goal is to allow Black women entrepreneurs/ business owners the opportunity to gain access to global networks and critical funding for their start-up/existing businesses, however, we are not guaranteeing financial assistance to any of the Titans Tank Contestants (although we are seeking financial support/investors to be successful and share the proceeds), but we are committed to supporting, mentoring, and showing love to our Sisters, while giving them exposure through our network of global women and hopefully access to potential investors. That’s why WPEC is creating an infrastructure and putting processes in place to give our “Sisters a Hand-up, not a Hand-out!”

1. GRACE THOVHAKALE (TIGER BUILD) (SOUTH AFRICA)

On graduating with a Diploma in Education from the University of Venda, she was employed as a teacher at Soutpanberg Primary School. She taught children for 5 years until she struck it out on

her own and ventured into the

cement business in 2009. Between 2009 and 2012 Grace managed to make significant inroads into the male-dominated industry and her name became synonymous with cement in Limpopo. Grace is a natural entrepreneur and leader and it comes as no surprise that her work experience is characterized by directorships in at several companies between 2012 and 2017. Grace has been executive director and manager in various industries including farming, logistics, tourism, and commodities. In 2018 Grace decided to once again venture into the cement business with the better understanding of this industry and its supporting value chain (e.g. logistics, mining, wholesale, and retail businesses). As a pioneer, she established

her own cement brand (Tiger Build Cement)

and registered the Tiger Build Group (Pty) Ltd. Grace is now the only female cement company owner in South Africa and is well-known in the industry for her tenacity, enterprise and resilience. Her brand, Tiger Build Cement, is sought-after throughout South Africa and in neighboring African countries.

2. JEANNE SHEILA (UWIBONA) (RWANDA)

As a technical community base conflict expert, UWIBONA is specialized in promoting gender equity, addressing sexual and gender-based violence, through community-based conflict management techniques.

UWIBONA is a devoted feminist who offers to vulnerable women, abused young girls and young mothers in her community, various skills development training such as becoming selfsufficient by making handcrafts, sowing, and farming their own kitchen garden. She helps women regain self-confidence for their own wellbeing and bright future purpose. Hence, UWIBONA is a bee farmer which is a small business that, she set up in May 2017, to help her assist the most vulnerable women living with HIV/AIDS and those with disability. UWIBONA99@GMAIL.COM

3. AISHA KOMBEH JATTA (NAVISTER TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS) (GAMBIA)

Navister Transportation and Logistics -(THE GAMBIA) our 3rd place Titans Tank 2020 Winner! Navistar Transportation and Logistics services is a standard transportation and logistics Company that involve in, taxis, mini buses, buses, Lorries, Trucks and later a shipping company which commerce on 1st June 2019 but was incorporated on 6 th January 2020. The services is concerned with providing the general public with quality services in any aspect of transportation that they cannot get anywhere else in The Gambia. Navister Transportation and Logistics Company want to make sure building a reputable and profitable business that fully serve the general public with professional and quality service. The business will use connected devices and online software to eradicate business inefficiencies, loss, theft, and delays and tracking our vehicles. Empowering its customers by delivering cost containing services moving towards new ways to transform and reach new heights of success ajatta288@gmail.com

4. LAKESHIA S. GILBERT (HOAP)(US)

Lakeshia S. Gilbert is the Founder & CEO of HOAP, Inc. (Helping Our Adolescents Prosper), a grass root non-profit 501c3 organization located in Grand Rapids, MI, that was birthed out of the overwhelming need to provide a safe, creative and supportive environment for young males and females and their personal development to overcome life’s negative challenges.

Lakeshia has a well-rounded educational background where she has studied in the areas of Criminal Justice, Business Management & Human Services as an undergrad and later earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Psychology. Lakeshia worked for Kent County 17th Circuit Court –Family Division for over a decade as a Youth Specialist and a Surveillance Officer dealing with At-risk youth and their families. Before shifting gears in her career to work with survivors of abuse as a Crisis Intervention Advocate.

Lakeshia is a wife, mother, grandmother, mentor and advocate who‘s well known for her compassion to help others. Lakeshia was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI where she finds joy in giving back to her community using her unique gift as a natural born nurturer to promote change amongst our future through the love of Christ. Lakeshia lives by the words “you only get out what you put in” and is a firm believer that “when we no better we can choose to do better”. ADMIN@HOAPINC.COM

5. KHANYISILE KHANYI (ZULU DRONES) (SOUTH AFRICA)

We are a 100% black female owned company, the purpose of the company is skills and development. We want to educate and impart knowledge for RPAS

(Remote Pilote Aircraft

Systems)/Drones, primarily in rural communities, to offer skills to low-medium income households. Our vision is to see a lot of youth in Aviation industry, making positive changes in their lives and the economy.

Company Inception: • The company is pivoted around offering South

African Civil Aviation (SACAA) standards of a

Aircraft Training Organization (ATO) & Remote

Operating Certificate ROC) • The company was registered in 2019. • ZULU DRONES wishes to branch out internationally and ensure that more South

Africans have access to a gracious exposure of opportunities. KVKHANYI@GMAIL.COM