What these iconic women taught us in 2016

It is that time again, when we say goodbye to the year, but before we must first reflect, review and evaluate the year 2016 in order to properly embrace something new.

2016 has been a very interesting year especially with news concerning women, there truly has not been a dull moment, with everything from Ethiopian Airlines making history with its first all-women operated flight; to Kenya's very own Harambee Starlets qualifying for Africa Cup of Nations for the first time affirming that anything is possible; to shocking tales of women embroiled in corruption both locally and internationally, with South Korean female president Park Geun-hye being impeached for her involvement with corruption.

So, in honour of 2016 coming to an end we will be looking at the lives of women whose lives have had the greatest impact- both good and bad, women who have put themselves out there, whose lives have been bold, exciting, a beacon of hope for others. Women whose lives cannot be defined as perfect – far from it – but rather women who have left their mark in 2016. Here we go:

Achieng Abura

Lesson: Live life fully, hold nothing back and leave you mark; secondly, know who your true friends are. On October 20, 2016, Achieng Abura passed away at Kenyatta National Hospital.

As an afro-jazz musician Achieng is second to none, she was a pioneer in her own right, she left her mark and will be remembered for her captivating performances and soul moving music. Abura's albums include: 'I believe', 'Way Over Yonder', 'Sulwe' and 'Maisha". In 2004 Abura won the Kora Award for best East African Artiste alongside Tsedenia Gebremarkos from Ethiopia, and later became a UNDP Goodwill ambassador.

Her friend Iddi Achieng believes that Abura should be remembered for the mark she left in the Kenyan music scene. That she had a rich academic and professional background, and excellent musical intellect. Further, she reiterates that another lesson we can learn from Achieng Abura's life is to know who you call your friends.

"Know your friends. We are all human at the end of the day. Judge not and ye shall not be judged. Achieng lived her life on the stage of life and when her time to exit the stage came, she bowed out and soared on. Even in death she was lying there still n so beautiful as usual. Rest in peace min Prince."

The songstress left behind a 23-year who suffers from sickle cell anaemia and a heart condition.

Suzie Wokabi Lesson: Do not despise small beginnings, go after your dreams, start where you can and believe that everything and anything is possible When Suzie Wokabi returned to Kenya in 2007 – after studying and working in the US- she worked as a professional make-up artist, and it was here that she noticed there was a gap in the industry- there was no local makeup brands made specifically for the African woman.

So about seven years ago, armed with a dream that seemed impossible, she decided to put it all on the line by starting her own brand of cosmetics, called Suzie Beauty, making her the first Kenyan and makeup artist to start and own a local cosmetic line.

According to Suzie, fundraising was the hardest stage of following her dream "A lot of the investors she approached wanted to provide funding but wanted too much control. No one was ready to risk putting in their money in something new. It was not easy when we first started but after knocking on many doors we eventually got a loan of about 200,000 from two investors and a bank," she continues.

By 2015 Suzie Beauty's product line comprised a full range of make-up and application brushes, and was available in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast. Then early this year her company Suzie Beauty, was bought by Flame Tree Group for a reported Ksh 45,000,000.

"We had reached a place where my husband and I had pushed the brand as far as we could, we need something extra to push it to the next level and so this opportunity with Flame Tree Group was heaven sent.

I have always looked up to Bobbi Brown, the American professional make-up artist who founded Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and she too sold it to beauty products giant Estée Lauder in 1995 while retaining creative control, like her I stayed on at Suzie Beauty as chief creative officer and brand ambassador," she says

Wokabi who turned 40 earlier this month, says that there is no instant success, and thus women should not be afraid to chase their dreams and put in the hard work because eventually it will pay off even if it takes some time.

Grace Makosewe Lesson: Life is short, live everyday passionately, confidently and let your star shine Those who were lucky enough to Know celebrity stylist and media personality Grace Makosewe personally, or even fortunate enough to meet her can attest to the fact that not only was her sense of style impeccable, but she lived life with passion and confidence.

She was lively, and lived life with vigour and an excitement that was contagious. Her life was cut short too soon. Makosewe worked in True Love magazine, then later presenter of Capital FM's Jam 98.4 show before moving to the Kisumu-based Urban Radio where she was the DJ.

Hillary Clinton Lesson: Sometimes winning is not everything, just living your mark is enough Hillary Clinton made history in 2016 by being the first American woman to head a major party ticket- Democratic party. When she lost the nomination in 2008 to Barack Obama, she could have thrown up her arms in despair and lived out the rest of her life in comfort.

Al Gore did just that in 2000 when he narrowly lost the election to George W. Bush. Instead, Clinton picked herself up, dusted herself off, and returned to public service, working directly for the man who had defeated her. And then, when the time was right she ran for the nomination again and won. Yes, she did not become the first American Female president but she has paved the way for other women who will come after her.