Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is arguably one of the most famous Ethiopian businesswomen.
She is best known as the founder and executive director of soleRebels, Africa’s fastest-growing footwear company.
From a dusty shop in the dinghy back-end streets of Addis Ababa, her branded shoes can now be found in 16 stores across the world, from Singapore to Switzerland, to Silicon Valley.
In 2011, she was named the Outstanding African Business Woman of the Year by the African Business Awards, becoming the first Ethiopian and the youngest woman to ever win the award.
This is her profile as told by WOA:
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu’s Net worth
Alemu’s current net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $1 Billion. Her wealth has been generated by the myriads of companies she owns, including:
- soleRebels: Established in 2005, this is Africa’s fastest-growing footwear company and the world’s first Fair Trade-certified footwear brand. It focuses on creating eco-friendly shoes made from recycled materials, primarily employing local artisans.
- The Republic of Leather: Launched to design and produce sustainable luxury leather goods, this venture showcases Ethiopian craftsmanship in leather products.
- Garden of Coffee: This initiative promotes Ethiopian coffee culture through retail outlets, emphasizing the country’s rich coffee heritage.
- Made by Ethiopia: A sourcing firm that connects global brands with Ethiopian manufacturers, facilitating contracts and promoting Ethiopia as a sourcing hub for various products.
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu Education
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Unity University in Addis Ababa. She also holds a Doctorate of Commerce (PhD) from Jimma University, which she completed in 2015.
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu Success Journey
Bethlehem was born in 1980 in the Zenabwork area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one of the country’s most impoverished communities. Her mother was a cook at a local hospital, where her father also worked as an electrician.
In later interviews, Bethlehem would credit this humble background for her industrious nature.
After attending public primary and secondary schools, she graduated with a degree in accounting from Unity University in 2004. Shortly after, she got married at the age of 25 and got a job as an accountant for a private company.
However, she was not content with being employed. Consequently, she decided to start a shoe company.
“I was looking at what people did widely in Ethiopia, and that was scarves, dresses, and robes. I wanted to be innovative, and start from scratch,” she told Forbes.
In 2005, Bethlehem, who is the oldest of four siblings, used a plot of land she got from her grandmother to start a workshop. She then invested her savings of $5000 into the business, employing 5 workers at first.
The workshop evolved into soleRebels, a company that uses recycled materials such as tires to make shoes.
Currently, the company has stores in places like Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Austria, and Switzerland, with its label being certified by the World Trade Fair Organization.
Bethlehem would later invest her proceeds into founding other companies like The Republic of Leather and Garden of Coffee.
She has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company and one of the world’s most powerful women by Forbes.
She was also the first African woman entrepreneur to address the Clinton Global Initiative.
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu Family
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is married to Tesfaye Alemu, and they have two children together.
