Tania Habimana

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Tania Habimana is a Rwandan Belgian entrepreneur and television presenter.[1][2]

Habimana is the anchor for CNBC Africa's primetime financial markets and business show Closing Bell, broadcast on weekdays on DSTV Channel 410.

Prior to this, Habimana served as CEO of NONZēRO Africa, an integrated marketing company with focus on creating impact programs and enterprise development campaigns in Africa.[3] The company was founded in 2016 by herself and Desiree Brouwer, and has since grown as an SME marketing agency, assisting small businesses to expand using advanced data-based digital marketing techniques. Habimana is also the co-founder of the Threads Stitched by Standard Bank, an 18-week accelerator built in collaboration with Standard Bank, Mercedes-Benz, EOH, SA Tourism, Kaya FM and Mecer Electronics, designed to teach fashion entrepreneurs about the business side of fashion.[4][5][6][7]

Habimana also co-founded FASHIONTech™ Africa hackathon & conference,[8] a first-of-its-kind 24-hour fashion technology hackathon & conference which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa in April 2018.[9]

Habimana is the television host of Tailored Business.[10] The show follows the journey of suit entrepreneur and tailor, Tania Habimana, as she travels across Africa making suits for prominent business people and personalities.[11] As she is measuring the guests up, she interviews them on their journey towards success, as well as on challenges and opportunities on the African continent.[12]

Habimana was recognised by the European Commission for her efforts to promote the internationalisation of youth.[13] She is now the face of the British Council for the Erasmus+ Youth Mobility program.[14]

Early life[edit]

Habimana was born in Saint-Martin-d'Hères in France.[2] She attended Palmerston Primary School in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

She attended secondary school at the Institut Notre-Dame de Bonne Espérence in Braine-le-Comte in Belgium and later attended, Cardiff University where she studied a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & German Language, with a year spent as an Erasmus student at University of Konstanz.[1] During her time at Cardiff University and as a means to fund her studies, Habimana founded the dance group, Slash Hip Hop Dance.[1][15][16]

After some years in the corporate world, Habimana later studied at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She obtained a Master of Science in International Management, a program part of the Global Alliance in Management Education, with which she also studied Fashion & Luxury Brand Management at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy .[1][17]

Business career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Habimana started her career as an eCommerce analyst and digital marketer working for companies such as Levi Strauss & Co and luxury menswear brand Suitsupply.[17]

Suitsupply's Market-Entry into Sub-Sahara Africa[edit]

eCommerce in Africa[edit]

After a mid-career study break and completing her master's degree in International Management,[1] Habimana returned to Suitsupply as GM for Sub-Sahara Africa and led the expansion of Suitsupply into Sub-Sahara Africa aged only 23.[18] Led by Habimana's eCommerce experience, the company was the first European retailer to integrate local payment systems such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money and YuCash onto their eCommerce platform.[19][20][21][22] The company first launched an eCommerce platform in that delivered across Sub-Sahara Africa within 4 business days.[19]

Store in Johannesburg[edit]

The company had planned a Pan African, multi-channel roll-out,[23] which started with the opening of the brick and mortar store in Johannesburg in June 2014.[24]

The store was in a 2-storey luxury Mansion in Johannesburg's upmarket neighbourhood Hyde Park, Gauteng.[25]

Pop-Up in Nigeria[edit]

Habimana also organised pop-ups in Lagos, Nigeria.[26][27]

Television host career[edit]

Tailored Business TV show[edit]

Synopsis : "A young female entrepreneur travels across Africa making suits for successful business people.She uses the suit fitting appointment as an opportunity to interview her prominent clients and gain tips & insights on how to grow her own pan-African business."

Habimana created the show after realising the number of untold stories of everyday African entrepreneurs,[28] her ambition was to showcase African entrepreneurial excellence as well as provide an avenue whereby real, practical tips and advice could be shared.[18]

The show was sponsored by airline KLM[28] and automobile brand Mercedes-Benz.

VC4A Academy host and expert[edit]

Habimana is the theoretical content host of the VC4A Startup Academy online videos series.[29]

Closing Bell host[edit]

In 2021, Habimana became the permanent host of CNBC Africa's prime time show Closing Bell[30]

Closing Bell takes a close-up look at how the markets are moving on that day, what drove them and how investors, as well as analysts, are reacting. We also take a look at macro-economic breaking news and current affairs that have the potential to affect businesses on the continent and provide our audience with the information they need. On the show, Habimana interviews analysts, investment managers, executives and CEOs who’ll explain their strategies, share opinions, and provide insights on issues affecting the African business environment.[30]

Entrepreneurial career[edit]

Habimana House Ltd[edit]

Habimana is the founder and majority shareholder of company, Habimana House Ltd, headquartered in London. Habimana House is a multi-faceted production company dedicated to promoting African business success as well as the Diaspora to a global audience.[31]

NONZēRO Africa[edit]

Habimana is the co-founder and a shareholder of NONZēRO Africa, headquartered in Johannesburg. The company was founded in 2016 by Desiree Brouwer and Tania Habimana.[3] In 2019, Habimana was appointed CEO of the organisation. The company is best known for its flagship program, Threads Stitched by Standard Bank, a business of fashion accelerator program deployed in 4 cities in South Africa.[32]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Habimana was awarded with two high-profile roles during the Erasmus+ 30 Year campaign. She was nominated as the UK ambassador for this program and was also awarded the UK's nine millionth award. The award was handed to her from the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.[14]

Habimana was selected as a German French Young Leaders in 2018, under the high patronage of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During which, she presented during the inaugural event a talk titled "Needs-based innovation from Africa - What Europe can learn".[33]

Habimana was nominated in the category 'Global Hero' of the Digital Female Leader 2018 edition.[34]

Habimana was also awarded 'SMME Brand Contributor Of The Year' in 2019, by Brand Summit South Africa.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Alara, Dimeji. "10 QUESTIONS WITH FASHION ENTREPRENEUR, TANIA HABIMANA – Elle". www.elle.co.za. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  2. ^ a b "'We need more female role models' says entrepreneur and show host Tania Habimana". WEgate - European gateway for women's entrepreneurship. 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  3. ^ a b Leader, Guest Thought (2018-10-31). "She Co-Founded the Threads Fashion Accelerator - This is what She Learned in her First Year Turning Designers into CEOs". SME. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  4. ^ Reporter, Trending (8 October 2017). "WANT TO BECOME A FASHION MOGUL?". CITY PRESS JOHANNESBURG - TRENDING.
  5. ^ "Business accelerator for fashion entrepreneurs launched". www.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  6. ^ "Standard Banks' Threads Accelerator finalists selected". www.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  7. ^ "Threads Stitched by Standard bank revealed their 12 fashion entrepreneurs | IOL". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  8. ^ "Threads introduces the first fashion hackathon in South Africa". KAYA FM. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  9. ^ Brainstorm Magazine, August 2018
  10. ^ "Suit Up, Guys! Fashion Entrepreneur, Tania Habimana Launches TV Show | Watch Episode 1 of Tailored Business". BellaNaija. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  11. ^ "Shelf Life: New venue for Joburg at Fox Junction". Marklives.com. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  12. ^ KLM, AIR FRANCE. "How entrepreneurship is done in Africa today | BlueBiz". www.bluebiz.com. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  13. ^ "#MAKEITHAPPEN: TANIA HABIMANA OF TAILORED BUSINESS". Elle South Africa. 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  14. ^ a b "30 years of Erasmus+ in Strasbourg – interview with Ruth Sinclair-Jones | Erasmus+". www.erasmusplus.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  15. ^ "Cardiff University". Cardiff University. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  16. ^ "Slash Hip Hop Dance". www.cardiffstudents.com. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  17. ^ a b Stones, Lesley (2017-11-02). "Teaching designers to sew up business". Business Day. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  18. ^ a b "Meet the entrepreneur dressing Africa's businessmen on TV". www.pulse.ng. 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  19. ^ a b "Europe based store embraces Mpesa". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  20. ^ Arthurs, Caerolynn (2014-04-29). "M-pesa Is Now A Payment Option In Suitsuppy Online Payment". TechMoran. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  21. ^ "Dutch firm adds M-Pesa to online payment options". Business Daily. April 28, 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  22. ^ "Suitsupply becomes the first European retailer to accept M-Pesa online payments". PC Tech Magazine. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  23. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Coming To Africa: European Fashion Brand Suitsupply Expands To The Continent". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  24. ^ "Suitsupply opent eerste winkel in Afrika". NU. 2014-06-22. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  25. ^ "Shop: Suitsupply Mansion". gq.co.za. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  26. ^ "Events This Weekend". BellaNaija. 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  27. ^ "Suitsupply Pop-Up Store Lagos". Lagosmums. 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  28. ^ a b KENYA, Soila (2016-06-22). "TAILORED BUSINESS: HIGHLIGHTING ENTREPRENEURS ON THE CONTINENT". Inspire Afrika. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  29. ^ "About the Academy". VC4A Startup Academy - Free courses for African startup founders. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  30. ^ a b "#Newsmaker: Tania Habimana joins CNBC Africa as host of Closing Bell". Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  31. ^ "Inaugural Movemeback Change-makers Showcase @ LBS Africa Business Summit 2016". Movemeback Community. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  32. ^ McAinsh, Gillian (October 20, 2017). "'Bootcamp' for young designers". The Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  33. ^ "Learning from Africa about Innovation". www.wikistage.org. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  34. ^ "Digital Female Leader Award". Digital Female Leader Award 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  35. ^ "Winners at Brand Summit South Africa celebrate achievements". Sandton Chronicle. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
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