Why Apiwe Mawela wants to be the first, but never the last.
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
I recently spent one of my Friday afternoons in a different setting, sipping on a cold, locally brewed sorghum beer while having one of the conversations I had been anticipating the most, with Apiwe Mawela, the woman behind Tolokazi Beer.
Throughout our conversation, Apiwe barely spoke about brewing techniques or beer. Instead, she repeatedly returned to people - training them, mentoring them, connecting them, and creating opportunities for them. That says something profound about the kind of entrepreneur she is. While many founders measure success by sales, market share or awards, Apiwe seems to measure it by a different standard - how many people she can help rise alongside her.
