Tag Archives: Sole Rebels

Ethiopia: Africa 2012 World Economic Forum to Feature Sole Rebels

April 8, 2012 Tadias Magazine

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Sunday, April 8, 2012

New York (TADIAS) – The upcoming World Economic Forum on Africa that will be held in Addis Ababa from May 9th to 11th highlights the green footwear company Sole Rebels as a business model for inclusive growth and sustainable development in the continent. The private venture has been listed as part of the official forum program with designated site visits to its factory and store by delegates. Sole Rebel’s founder and CEO Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, who was one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders last year, is also featured as one of the speakers at forum’s ‘Innovators’ panel. The two-day meeting, which brings together leaders in business, politics, academia and other areas, includes a variety of discussions revolving around this year’s theme: “Shaping Africa’s Transformation: New Models.”

“Grassroots, authentic growth is the key to powering global growth.” David Aikman, Senior Director of the World Economic Forum, said in a statement, adding “Bethlehem has done this and so much more. Her vision and her achievement of equitable and sustainable growth is spectacular and we are very excited that she will be sharing her ideas on this key panel of African Innovators.”

Bethlehem said she his honored by the opportunity. “I am very excited to be invited,” she said. “I have never thought of myself as an innovator per se, but rather I see myself as part of a larger group of talented people who when they combine these talents have succeeded in creating the first global African consumer brand while creating wealth and prosperity in our home community.”

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder & CEO, Sole Rebels at 2011 World Economic Forum Dalian, China. (Courtesy Photo)

In her role as a Young Global Leader in 2011, Bethlehem had also been tasked to launch a program in Ethiopia called Global Shapers as a key initiative to tap into the ideas and energy of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Shapers Community in order to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis. The Global Shapers is a worldwide network of people aged between 20 and 30 who have demonstrated potential for future leadership. According to the World Economic Forum, more than 1.2 billion young people will enter the labour market in the next 10 years with only 300 million jobs awaiting them. WEF notes: “Creating opportunities for them is critical in reducing poverty, promoting social cohesion and ensuring sustainable economic growth.”

Review of the conference agenda shows that the ‘Africa’s Innovators’ pannel will address the issue what technologies and business models have the largest potential for inclusive growth and sustainable development. How can access to affordable and sustainable energy unlock development across all segments of society? How can a new social contract in the extractive industries be created and enforced? How can the continent reap its population dividend while creating shared opportunities for its youth?

The meeting’s co-chairs include Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and the Africa Progress Panel, as well as Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
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Learn more about the World Economic Forum at www.weforum.org.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month 2012: Tadias Interview with Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

March 19, 2012 Tadias Magazine 15 Comments

Tadias Magazine
By Tseday Alehegn

Published: Monday, March 19, 2012

New York (TADIAS)- Our third highlight for Women’s History Month series is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder & Managing Director of SoleRebels, the internationally recognized green footwear company based in Addis Ababa. Bethlehem was born, raised and educated in Ethiopia. Since she launched her company in 2005, allowing for the creation of hundreds of local jobs, she has garnered international recognition. Last year she was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. And most recently Forbes Magazine declared her one of Africa’s Most Successful Women. She is currently an NYC Venture Fellow, a program established by Mayor Michael Bloomberg two years ago that is designed to connect promising entrepreneurs from around the world with mentors and investors from leading companies in New York City.

Below is our Q&A with Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu.

TADIAS: What do you most enjoy about your work?

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu: I really love sharing Ethiopia’s artisan heritages with the world and combining our cultural products with modern design sensibilities. For example, our sandals and shoes are lined with fabric produced from organic cotton, which we hand-spin and loom. So working in this manner not only preserves local assets, but also provides our customers with stylish and comfortable footwear. And we are constantly taking our idea further and pushing the boundaries.

TADIAS: Who are your female role models?

BTA: My mother is my role model. A simple hardworking woman who taught me the value of hard, honest work, encouraged me to get a good education and supported my desire to dream! I am also surrounded by strong, talented creative women in my company, who put in a full day of honest work in order to both elevate this company and provide for their families. Their work ethic inspires me daily.

TADIAS: What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur and business executive?

BTA: Any entrepreneur building something from scratch is bound to face obstacles and a myriad of challenges. Its been interesting because my experience in running my company has been a very positive one. I don’t feel limitations because of my gender nor allowed myself to be limited by others’ perceptions of my gender. However, I am well aware that there have been many times when people attempted to limit me because of my gender. My belief has been in never allowing those limitations to take hold. It always carried me through and let me transcend those obstacles placed in front of me. Such experiences have made me aware of the challenges faced by women, and has made me passionate about ensuring that women around me are given all the tools they need to not simply cope with these challenges, but to flourish in spite of them. At the end of the day, the best weapon for success is performance.

TADIAS: What are some practical tips you can give for young Ethiopian women who want to follow in your footsteps?

BTA: First and foremost, I would say get a good education. That’s critical. And never be afraid of hard work. Believe me there is no such thing as “overnight success.” So get ready for reality. And never ever be afraid to dream big.

TADIAS: Please tell us briefly about yourself (where you were born, grew up, school and how you developed your passion for your work?)

BTA: I was born and raised in the Zenabwork/Total area of Addis Abeba, which is one of the most impoverished and marginalized communities in Ethiopia. When I was growing up, Ethiopia had plenty of charity “brands” but not enough grassroots effort for development. I was fresh out of college in 2005 when I embarked to shift the discourse on development from one of dependecy only on foreign aid and NGOs to maximizing local talent and resources. Our vision was to provide solid community-based jobs while creating a world class brand, which we have done.

TADIAS: Is there anything else you would like to share with Tadias readers that we have not asked you about?

BTA: We are aiming to open at least fifteen stores outside of Ethiopia by 2015. we have already implemented franchise agreements in Taiwan and are currently finalizing retail proposals in China, US, UK, Australia, Italy, Canada, Spain and Japan. We have many more exciting initiatives in the pipeline so stay tuned!

TADIAS: Thank you so much, Bethlehem, and Happy Women’s History month from all of us at Tadias!

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Bethlehem Alemu & Isis Nyongo Among The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa

August 20, 2011 Tadias Magazine 1 Comment

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Saturday, August 20, 2011

New York (TADIAS) – Forbes magazine’s contributing writer, Mfonobong Nsehe, who chronicles Africa’s success stories, has come up with a list: ‘The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa.’

Among them are Ethiopian Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu and Kenyan-American Isis Nyongo — two dynamic business leaders whose work has previously been highlighted in Tadias Magazine.

“Of course, this is by no means an official or an exhaustive list,” the writer notes. “But these are 20 women, all under age 45, who wield enormous influence in African business, technology, policy and media. They are change makers, trendsetters, visionaries and thinkers, builders, and young global leaders. They are at the vanguard of Africa’s imminent socio-economic revolution and its contemporary renaissance.”

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, the Ethiopian-born entrepreneur was recently named the ‘African Businesswoman of the Year’ by African Business Magazine, a leading pan African business publication. She is the founder of Sole Rebels, a brand of eco-friendly shoes and sandals made in Ethiopia. She was also named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum earlier this year.

Isis Nyongo is the Vice President and Managing Director of InMobi, the world’s largest independent mobile advertising network. Prior to her appointment earlier this year, Isis served as the Business Development Manager for Google’s operation in Africa. She spearheaded mobile partnerships and played a pivotal role in the development of Google’s content strategy in Africa. Tadias interviewed Isis in 2005, when she was a graduate student at Harvard Business School and co-chair of the Africa Business Club. “After graduation from Harvard Business School I want to focus my work in the marketing role with a view of moving back to Africa within 2-3 years,” she told us. We are not surprised that since then Isis has become one of the continent’s young leaders in her field.

We congratulate both Bethlehem and Isis on their accomplishments.
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(Cover Photo credit: Bethlehem courtesy of SoleRebels, Isis by Leon Muli)

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Made in Ethiopia: Sole Rebels Wins Eco-Bold Green Award

August 15, 2010 Tadias Magazine 8 Comments

Above: Sole Rebels, Ethiopia’s first fair trade fashion company,
has won this year’s Eco-Bold Green Award. (Exclusive photo)

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Sunday, August 15, 2010

New York (Tadias) – EcoBold, the Silicon Valley-based provider of online video reviews of green and eco-friendly products, has named Sole Rebels, Ethiopia’s environmentally-sensible footwear brand, as winner of its first Annual Green Awards under “Best Shoes” category.

According to the company: “The award recipients represent an array of green companies…judged on a series of ‘green qualifications,’ which scrutinized their product and examined company-wide practices such as promoting green initiatives to employees, packaging footprint, and social causes impacting the environment.”

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Co-founder and Managing Director of Sole Rebels, said her team welcomes the news. “We are really honored and excited. When I told the team here, they were sort of in shock,” she told Tadias via email. “Then, big smiles, lots of them!”

According to EcoBold’s Chief Executive, contestants were primarily considered on the basis of the greenness of their products as well as eco-sensible business practices. “The contributions made by these green companies make a tremendous difference in how people produce, consume, and think about the environment,” Steffany Boldrini, EcoBold’s CEO and Founder, said in a statement. “Their level of commitment and dedication to making a difference with sustainable and eco-friendly products are reflections of company-wide green initiatives towards a greener future.”

Bethlehem said her company accepts the accolade as a recognition of the brand’s message that organic living is part of the nation’s way of life. “It affirms our belief that we are green by heritage,” she said. “We utilize Ethiopia’s immense, diverse, sustainable and eco-friendly materials and cultural arts to craft amazing footwear for the global market.”

EcoBold is a California based e-commerce company that “creates awareness of sustainable and green products by providing online video reviews of various green and eco-friendly household products.”

Images: Exclusive photos from Sole Rebel’s spring 2011 collection provided to Tadias by the company.

Photo courtesy of Sole Rebels (Spring 2011 collection)

Photo courtesy of Sole Rebels (Spring 2011 collection)

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Related story:
CNN’s African Voices features Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

Watch: Turning old tires into shoes (7:10)

Video: Young SoleRebel (8:07)

Video: Creating window to world market (7:24)

Ethiopian Business and Lifestyle