Female entrepreneurs are changing the online marketplace
Especially during Women’s Month, there is often a lot of talk about the gender gap in business. While this may still be an issue in more traditional sectors, we’re very happy to report that when it comes to online marketplaces, women are having a transformative impact.
From business leaders to entrepreneurs to social media influencers, South African women are taking advantage of digital platforms, tools and services to create and grow online marketplaces that are changing how people buy, sell and connect. This Women’s Month – and every month – we’re celebrating their achievements, and we’re proud to play our part in shattering the digital glass ceiling.
In this special Women’s Month blog, we’re sharing the stories of some of the female entrepreneurs who are changing the online marketplace. Prepare to be inspired!
Image courtesy of Arina Krasnikova. Published on: November 28th, 2020. Source: pexels.com
Mihlali Ndamase – creator and influencer
Mihlali has leveraged a successful career as an online content creator and beauty influencer to become an expert on affiliate marketing and brand marketing. Her ability to impact purchasing decisions here in SA has seen major international beauty brands seek her out for collaborations that have seriously boosted their online sales.
Image courtesy of Ivan S. Published on: May 29th, 2021. Source: pexels.com
Nolut Gama – entrepreneur
Nolut is one of SA’s most successful drop-shippers, and has mastered the art of working with foreign suppliers to ensure availability of quality products (especially appliances and electronics) without having to carry the cost of significant inventory. By acting as the seamless connection between manufacturers and online marketplaces, Nolut has helped South African consumers save money on the products they really want, and enabled ecommerce platforms to reach new audiences.
Nikki Robertson – entrepreneur
A true online marketplace pioneer, Nikki was one of the first female entrepreneurs to successfully scale a start-up into a company with global reach. Along the way, she has inspired countless other women to follow their ecommerce dreams, and develop businesses with enormous growth potential. In almost every sector you can imagine, female entrepreneurs like Nikki are now optimising online marketplaces to deliver exciting growth and sustainable products aligned with modern consumer trends.
Image courtesy of Vitaly Gariev. Published on: March 24th, 2026. Source: pexels.com
Michelle Geere – advertiser
Michelle was one of the first female entrepreneurs to see that AI was a tool to be used, rather than a threat to be feared. She has harnessed it to give small online companies access to advertising that they might not otherwise have the budget for – the perfect example of a successful South African female entrepreneur helping other firms to succeed, too – paying it forward and sharing the love.
Mihlali, Nolut, Nikki and Michelle are just four of the female entrepreneurs who are changing online marketplaces here in South Africa – and beyond. If you’re inspired to follow in their footsteps – and perhaps one day even exceed their achievements – you’ll find that Bob offers all the tools and services you need to transform the ecommerce space all over again.
Image courtesy of RDNE Stock project. Published on: June 10th, 2021. Source: pexels.com
