Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe, a medical doctor, entrepreneur, and queer advocate, has launched her new book, The Fire Within, which shares the personal experiences behind her professional achievements. The book, launched at Henley Business School in Johannesburg on 30 September 2026, aims to inspire readers to pursue their ambitions despite obstacles. Rakumakoe's journey as a healthcare entrepreneur has been shaped by her experiences as a queer woman and her commitment to expanding access to care for overlooked communities.
Rakumakoe's book began as a form of therapy during a difficult period in her business, which was close to liquidation, and her personal life. Her therapist encouraged her to explore vulnerability and begin journalling, which became an opportunity to reflect on her upbringing, relationships, and entrepreneurial journey. Through writing honestly about her experiences, Rakumakoe recognised that vulnerability was not a weakness, but a strength that allowed her to connect with others and build a more meaningful relationship with her team.
The title of the book refers to a sense of purpose that Rakumakoe traces back to her childhood. Her grandmother encouraged her to become a doctor to avoid long queues for healthcare, which grew into a broader ambition to build her Quadcare healthcare business and improve access for poor and vulnerable communities, including LGBTIQ+ people and people with disabilities. Rakumakoe's experience as a queer woman also shaped this vision, particularly after encountering a healthcare practitioner whose response to her lesbian identity made her question how other marginalised patients might be treated.
Rakumakoe's entrepreneurial journey has not been without setbacks, including discovering that an accountant she trusted had defrauded her, leaving her with a substantial tax liability. She also describes the end of her business partnership, which left her feeling abandoned. However, these setbacks have become part of the journey that brought her to where she is today. Rakumakoe believes that financial sustainability is essential to expanding Quadcare's reach and maintaining the quality of its services, with a target of 100 clinics.
As a self-described social entrepreneur, Rakumakoe does not see a contradiction between running a profitable business and creating social impact. Quadcare has grown to 14 clinics and has responded to funding cuts affecting LGBTIQ+ health services by reducing prices to help people access essential services. Rakumakoe's investors supported the decision because they had invested not only in the business but also in its vision. However, she warns that the crisis remains severe, and many people still cannot access medicines.
One of the most difficult parts of the book was writing about her mother's illness and death. Rakumakoe describes the experience of navigating her mother's cancer treatment and the challenges of receiving compassionate care. By including such personal experiences, Rakumakoe hopes to challenge the polished narratives often associated with entrepreneurship and show that ambition and difficulty can coexist.
Rakumakoe believes that her book speaks to queer people, women, young entrepreneurs, and township youth who may not see themselves represented in conventional success stories. She hopes that it will encourage people to reconnect with their own ambitions and ignite fires in people or reignite fires that have died. For Rakumakoe, resilience is not about avoiding difficult experiences or pretending to have everything under control, but about allowing those experiences to shape you without extinguishing the ambition that first set you on your path.
Key points
- Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe's book, The Fire Within, shares her personal experiences as a queer healthcare entrepreneur.
- Rakumakoe's journey has been shaped by her experiences as a queer woman and her commitment to expanding access to care for overlooked communities.
- The book aims to inspire readers to pursue their ambitions despite obstacles.
