10 Women Entrepreneurs and the Books they are Reading

Updated on 16 August 2017

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10 Women Entrepreneurs and the Books they are Reading | SME South Africa

This Women’s Month SME South Africa will celebrate South African women entrepreneurs, pioneers and innovators. Join us as we highlight their successes, sacrifices and struggles. Follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #SMEWomenInnovate.

Where do some of the country’s and the world’s most powerful women go to find inspiration?

Nothing beats a good book when searching for a little motivation and knowledge, so it’s no surprise that power women from Khanyi Dhlomo and Oprah Winfrey to Allegro Dinkwanyane and DJ Zinhle turn to books to spark their inner genius.

We take a look at some of our favourite high profile women and the books on their reading lists.

Breakfast for the Mind. #JanuaryReads https://t.co/p0WPXKiggP pic.twitter.com/PoM5lyZCWO

— Lynette Ntuli (@MsNtuli) January 21, 2017

Lynette Ntuli
​Lynette Ntuli is founding director and CEO of Innate Investment Solutions, a property, asset and infrastructure development and solutions firm. She’s graced lists such as the Mail and Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans 2012 Award and has also been named the Glamour magazine Woman of The Year 2014 winner in the business category.

The books on her list include former SA deputy chief justice, Judge Dikgang Moseneke’s My Own LiberatorThe Glass Wall: Success strategies for women at work – and businesses that mean business by Kathryn Jacob and Sue Unerman as well as Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes.

Off to London on business and looking forward to enjoying these reads on my @flysaa flight: pic.twitter.com/rf5Mzimodc

— Khanyi Dhlomo (@KhanyiDhlomo) August 9, 2017

Khanyi Dhlomo
Khanyi Dhlomo is a businesswoman and media mogul who founded one of the country’s leading media houses, Ndalo Media which publishes print and digital magazines, DestinyConnectDestiny MagazineDestinyMan as well as ELLE and ELLE Decoration South Africa.

Dhlomo is reading digital strategy book, The Content Trap, spiritual book, Everyday Grace and Starbook by Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri.

#HomeSweetHome ?? pic.twitter.com/rv41mRT6ba

— Allegro Dinkwanyane (@Allegro_D) April 13, 2017

Allegro Dinkwanyane
Allegro Dinkwanyane is fast becoming one of the biggest names in media and public relations. The 27-year-old Dinkwanyane is the founder of public relations company, Orgella Media, and was one of this year’s Forbes Africa 30 under 30. She is reading Elizabeth George’s bestselling A Woman After God’s Own Heart.

Happy #BookLoversDay! ?My all-time favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time. Meg Murry was one of the first female heroes in child science fiction. She was a believer and triumphed due to perseverance and determination. She was able to build relationships with one unlikely character after another – and brought all of them together with love.

A post shared by Sheryl Sandberg (@sherylsandberg) on 

Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is best known as the COO of Facebook and was named in the Time 100 in 2012. Sandberg is also the founder of the Lean In Foundation, and author of the book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

She writes that her all-time favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time, a classic science fantasy novel by American writer, Madeleine L’Engle.

Can’t wait to read this.. thank you @brendonnaidoo ?

A post shared by ZINHLE JIYANE (@djzinhle) on 

DJ Zinhle​
DJ Zinhle is one of the country’s up-and-coming women in business. She is the co-founder of The Firm Understanding of Sound Entertainment (FUSE) Academy, as well as accessories brand, Era by DJ Zinhle.

She is reading the inspirational, The Four Purposes of Life: Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World by Dan Millman.

Happy publication day to my sister @agapisees! Wake Up To The Joy Of You is just out. Order your copy, you’ll love it.

A post shared by Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) on 

Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington is the founder of The Huffington Post, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and the author of 15 books, including, most recently, Thrive and The Sleep Revolution.

The book on Huffington’s list is Wake Up To The Joy Of You by inspirational motivational speaker and blogger, Agapi Stassinopoulos.

A terrible choice of which to open ??? There is always a million things to do and never enough time to do them. ? And then @shondarhimes madness, insights and storytelling charm is calling me. ? Especially after a day that ended 30 mins ago. #DamnNearFinished

A post shared by Azania (@azania_) on 

Azania Mosaka
Azania Mosaka is the founder of Miss Salon London boutique grooming salon in Parkhurst. She is also a presenter on radio station, 702 and has also presented a number of TV shows.

The New York Times bestseller, Year of Yes, from the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, Shonda Rhimes is also on Mosaka’s list.

@yswara tea and a good book … heavenly! ☺

A post shared by Swaady Martin (@swaady_martin) on 

Swaady Martin
Swaady Martin is the founder and CEO of the Swaady Group, a social enterprise that includes luxury brands Yswara and Akrafo.

She is reading The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Bought these a few weeks ago and I’m ready to indulge! New Reads! ??… what are you currently reading fam?

A post shared by Nomzamo Mbatha ?? (@nomzamo_m) on 

Nomzamo Mbatha
One of the country’s fastest rising influencers, actress Nomzamo Mbatha is also the face of massive brands such as Neutrogena, L’Oreal Paris Hair, Puma and Audi.

The two books on Mbatha’s list are women empowerment book, Equal But Different by Dr. Judy Dlamini as well as classic novel, Nervous Conditions by Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Fascinating addition to my political biographies shelf. Thanks @helenzille pic.twitter.com/EYBgK0D7uN

— Nicky Newton-King (@jsenk) November 17, 2016

Nicky Newton-King
Nicky Newton-King is the CEO of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She was the first woman CEO of the JSE and under her tenure, the JSE not only became one of the top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world, it is led and chaired by women and its executive committee is 72% female.

On Newton-King’s list is Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s autobiography, Not Without a Fight.

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