For Ms Alice Ali, entrepreneurship has never been simply about building a business. It has been about building people, creating opportunities and leaving every space – and every person – better than she found them.
Beyond the title of entrepreneur, she is many things: a woman of faith, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend.
She is a natural giver and problem-solver, someone who finds satisfaction in creating order out of chaos and making people feel cared for.
“Business is one of the platforms God has given me to serve, create opportunities, inspire others and leave things better than I found them,” she says.
That philosophy has become the thread connecting her personal journey with the business she has built through La Divine – a brand centred on hospitality, curated experiences and the art of making people feel genuinely looked after.
Her journey has not been defined by success alone.
Family, motherhood, loss, relationships, financial challenges, entrepreneurship, failures and triumphs have all played their part in shaping the woman she has become.
Among those experiences, losing her mother stands out as particularly transformative.
That experience also influenced the work she has undertaken to support women and explore themes of healing and legacy through initiatives such as Her Legacy Lives.
“Strength isn’t about never falling,” she reflects.
“It is about having the courage to get back up, learn from what happened and continue moving forward.”
That perspective has become central to both her personal philosophy and her approach to entrepreneurship.
From numbers to experiences
Her professional journey began in accounting, a discipline that gave her a strong foundation in financial management, organisation, discipline and numbers.
But somewhere along the way, she realised that her strengths extended beyond spreadsheets and financial statements.
She was drawn to creativity. To people. To hospitality. To the energy of bringing different elements together and watching them become something meaningful.
Events offered the perfect intersection. Starting La Divine was, by her own admission, a leap of faith.
She did not have every answer or every detail mapped out. What she did have was a vision, a willingness to learn and the courage to begin. What started as a leap has evolved into a business and brand that has played a role in hundreds of celebrations and significant moments. At La Divine, concierge is not simply about providing a service.
It is about removing the burden of the details. For her, luxury is deeply connected to how an experience makes someone feel.
“Be a worry-free guest at your own event” is one of the philosophies behind La Divine — and it captures the essence of what she wants the brand to deliver.
Whether the client needs support with an event, accommodation, catering, gifting or lifestyle services, the goal is the same: to create an experience that feels seamless, personal and elevated.
The Zimbabwean
entrepreneurial spirit
Being a Zimbabwean entrepreneur has brought its own lessons.
It has meant learning to be resourceful, adaptable and creative in an environment where perfect circumstances cannot always be expected.
“You cannot always wait for perfect circumstances,” she says.
“Sometimes you have to work with what you have, think differently and find another way.”
For her, this resourcefulness is one of the defining characteristics of Zimbabwean entrepreneurship.
Creating space for other women
Her commitment to women is deeply personal. She knows what it means to have someone believe in you during a season when you may not yet have the confidence to believe fully in yourself. And she believes that belief can be transformative.
Women carry many responsibilities. They are mothers, daughters, wives, professionals, entrepreneurs, caregivers and community builders.
For her, empowering women is therefore not simply about individual success. It is about the ripple effect that happens when one woman gains confidence, knowledge, resources and opportunity.
“If I have learned something, opened a door, made a connection or overcome a challenge, I want to be able to share that knowledge with another woman,” she says.
However, behind the entrepreneur is also a woman navigating the realities of motherhood, family and personal wellbeing.
There are moments when business demands more. There are seasons when family needs to take priority.
And there are times when the greatest act of strength is recognising that you cannot do everything yourself.
Her faith provides an important anchor. Prayer, reflection and learning to pause have helped her recognise the importance of replenishment and intentionality.
“I cannot pour from an empty cup” is more than a familiar expression; it is a lesson she continues to live.
Lessons that only entrepreneurship can teach
Entrepreneurship has given her lessons that no classroom could fully replicate.
There is theory, of course. There are qualifications, plans, budgets and strategies.
But there is another education that only comes from being responsible for making decisions when the outcome is uncertain.
“I am capable of far more than I sometimes thought,” she says.
But entrepreneurship has also taught her humility – and that success is not permanent, and neither is failure.
Zimbabwe: a destination for meaningful luxury
She believes Zimbabwe has an extraordinary story to tell.
From Victoria Falls and its wildlife to its landscapes, culture, food, music, craftsmanship and hospitality, the country possesses many of the ingredients that today’s discerning traveller is seeking.
But she believes one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful luxury offerings is something less tangible: authenticity.
Through La Divine, she hopes to contribute to positioning the country as a destination where people come not only to see beautiful places, but to experience exceptional hospitality and beautifully curated moments.
A legacy beyond a company
For all the milestones, celebrations and business achievements, she knows that the ultimate measure of her life will be bigger than the company she builds.
“I want my legacy to be bigger than a company,” she says.
Personally, she hopes her children and the women whose lives she touches will see what is possible.
That it is possible to dream.
To fall.
To rebuild.
To keep going.
“If, at the end of my journey, I can look back and know that I helped someone believe in themselves, created opportunities for others, served people with excellence and honoured God with what I was given, then I will consider that a meaningful legacy,” she said.
