Over 100 women entrepreneurs attend the first Lioness Lean In event of 2018 in Johannesburg

March 11, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Lean In Event, Johannesburg, 9 March 2018

The much-awaited first Lioness Lean In event of 2018 took place on 9 March in Johannesburg, South Africa in a new, centrally located venue in the city - Open in Sandton, a great new co-working and event space for entrepreneurs. The sun came out and the rain stopped for the occasion, bringing over 100 women entrepreneurs from across the city to the event to network and be inspired.

Ghana’s leading women entrepreneurs showcase their businesses to Germany’s influential business leaders

December 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

*Ethel Cofie, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, Sabine Dall'Omo, Melanie Hawken, Emi-Beth Aku Quantson, Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, Minister Brigitte Zypries*

The 15th of December marked the final stop on the year-long Lionesses of Africa tour around the African continent, showcasing the best and most inspirational women entrepreneurs to the rest of the world. Accra was the final city of the tour, and what an occasion it was. Our hosts were the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Germany, together with a high level business delegation of leading ceos and decision-makers from some of the most influential companies and organisations in that country.

Malawi’s women entrepreneurs lean-in to inspire and connect in Mzuzu

December 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

This month saw the 2017 programme of Lioness Lean In events to be held in cities across the African continent, come to a close in great style as the team headed to Mzuzu in Malawi for the first time. The latest in the series of inspirational monthly Lioness Lean In events took place on Friday 8th December, once again powered by Standard Bank, and hosted at Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel, in Malawi’s northern region city of Mzuzu.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs get inspired at the latest Lioness Lean In event

December 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Patricia Vasco, Tania Tome, Melanie Hawken, Marta Roff, Sasha Vieira — L-R: Patricia Vasco, Tania Tome, Melanie Hawken, Marta Roff, Sasha Vieira

Mozambique’s women entrepreneur business and brand builders are on the move, winning fans not just at home and across the African continent, but around the world. On 28th November, as part of an ongoing series of Lioness Lean In Breakfast events aimed at bringing women entrepreneurs of Maputo together to share their stories, inspire one another, and connect for greater business success, Lionesses of Africa and Standard Bank hosted the 5th such successful event.

Johannesburg leans-in to learn the art of business and personal brand building

November 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Deborah Hartung, Raksha Mahabeer, Melanie Hawken, Kathryn Main, Ngwana Matloa — L-R: Deborah Hartung, Raksha Mahabeer, Melanie Hawken, Kathryn Main, Ngwana Matloa

Another packed audience of women entrepreneurs assembled this month on 23 November at the Standard Bank Business Incubator for the last in the South African series of Lioness Lean In events for 2017. The theme for the morning was the art of building powerful business and personal brands, and understanding how to leverage those brands for success as women entrepreneurs.

Cape Town’s women entrepreneurs lean in for inspiration and great business networking

November 18, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Kgotso Masekwameng, Simone Musgrave, Melanie Hawken, Jesslyn Schlamm, Vicki Bain — L-R: Kgotso Masekwameng, Simone Musgrave, Melanie Hawken, Jesslyn Schlamm, Vicki Bain

On a beautiful sunshine filled day on 10th November, in the shadow of Table Mountain, 80 women entrepreneurs from across the Western Cape gathered together for the last Lioness Lean In Breakfast event of the year in the city. The venue was once again Workshop 17 in Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront area. In prospect was a morning filled with inspirational startup story sharing from successful women business owners, and great business networking.

Zambia’s women entrepreneurs share, inspire and connect at the Lioness Lean In event in Lusaka

November 12, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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On 8 November, the Lioness Lean In roadshow returned to Zambia to showcase and empower women entrepreneurs in the city. The event was once again held in partnership with Stanbic Bank at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, and brought around 80 women business owners from across the city from both the Stanbic Bank client list and also from the Lionesses of Africa network. Lionesses of Africa is one of the fastest growing networks of women entrepreneurs with over 450,000 women business and brand builders in 49 African countries and across the Diaspora.

A bridge across the continent for start-ups – Minister Zypries opens the Start-up Night! Africa

October 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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Berlin, 26 October 2017

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries is today opening the Start-up Night! Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The Start-up Night! Africa is the latest event to take place as part of the successful series of Start-up Nights!, a string of business-matching events hosted by the Federal Economic Affairs Ministry designed to bring young businesses and established companies together – this time with a focus on Africa.

Botswana’s leading women entrepreneurs gathered to inspire and connect at the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast event in the country

October 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

October has been an exciting month for Lionesses of Africa as it officially saw itslaunch in Gaborone, Botswana with the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event in the country held on the morning of 20 October 2017. Co-hosted by Stanbic Bank, this unique event aimed to showcase the game-changing women entrepreneurs who have built some of the country’s most successful businesses, and to inspire a new generation of young women entrepreneurs who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

Lesotho’s leading women entrepreneurs come together for the launch of Lionesses of Africa in the country

October 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

On a glorious, sunshine filled morning, over 100 leading women entrepreneurs representing a wide variety of business and industry sectors gathered together for a morning of inspiration and celebration at the launch of Lionesses of Africa in Maseru, Lesotho. Cohosted by Standard Lesotho Bank, this unique event aimed to acknowledge the game-changing women entrepreneurs who have built some of the country’s most successful businesses, and to inspire a new generation of young women entrepreneurs who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

5 inspirational Lionesses of Africa selected to showcase their digital solutions at Startup-Night Africa in Berlin

October 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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Lionesses of Africa has selected 5 leading women entrepreneurs from Africa to pitch their innovative digital platforms, apps and solutions to big business, government, investors and influencers in Berlin on 26 October, thanks to a partnership between Lionesses of Africa and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

Mozambique’s leading women entrepreneurs set to gather to share their stories and network at the 4th Lioness Lean In Breakfast event in Maputo

October 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are continuing to make the world sit up and take notice as they take their business and brands to the next level. Some are beginning to capture global market attention, giving them exposure to new and exciting opportunities, and helping to raise awareness of the depth of entrepreneurial talent emerging from the country. A new generation of young women is also being inspired to follow in their footsteps in the country. So to celebrate the achievements of all those women entrepreneurs who are putting Mozambique on the global map, and to further inspire this new generation to build successful businesses of their own, Lionesses of Africa and Standard Bank will be hosting the 4th in a series of highly popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast events in Maputo during the month of October.

All the photos and video from the Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference 2017

September 12, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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A picture says a thousand words, so the saying goes, and we couldn’t agree more. So we have curated the huge number of pictures taken at the Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference into one special conference photo editorial feature. These photographs capture the spirit and atmosphere of the event perfectly: from the lively networking sessions; the inspirational guest speakers on stage and the insightful panel sessions; the fun in the photo booth; the conversations with our visiting book authors and exhibitors; the fabulous food and refreshments; not to mention the fabulous sight of the polo ponies being exercised right in front of us while we relaxed in the beautiful Johannesburg sunshine. This special feature also includes a short highlights video of the event and also a download button where you can select and download your favourite high resolution images as a reminder of this special conference. Happy viewing everyone!

Exhibitors showcase their products and services at the Lionesses of Africa Conference

September 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

The Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase some great products and services to the women entrepreneurs attending the event. On display were beautiful flower boxes from Blak Saffron in South Africa; uniquely flavoured teas from Melvin's Teas in Kenya; fabulous wines from Aslina Wines in South Africa; coffee with a conscience and a mission from Gorilla Conservation Coffee in Uganda; lovingly handcrafted Belgian chocolates with African flavours from Chocoloza in South Africa; funding advice and information from IDF Capital; beauty and skincare products from leading French brand Yves Rocher; and product information from Reroy Cables in Ghana.

5 authors share their business building insights at the Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference

September 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Tumi Frazier, Shirley Anthony, Mulenga Kasoma, Lori Milner, Anna Shilina — L-R: Tumi Frazier, Shirley Anthony, Mulenga Kasoma, Lori Milner, Anna Shilina

Delegates attending the Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference had the unprecedented opportunity to meet in person some of the leading writers on the subject of women's entrepreneurship. Tumi Frazier, Shirley Anthony, Mulenga Kusoma, Lori Milner and Anna Shilina, were all on hand with their latest books and considerable insights to meet with women entrepreneurs and to share their experiences and knowledge.

Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference 2017 Speaker Highlights in Pictures

September 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

This year's Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference welcomed some of the most inspirational women entrepreneurs from across the African continent to share their stories, inspire, and connect with each other and the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs set to gather in Johannesburg to share, inspire and connect at the 2nd Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

On Wednesday 6th September, 300 of Africa’s leading and next generation high growth women entrepreneurs will gather in Johannesburg to take part in the 2nd Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference. On the agenda will be the opportunity for these ground-breaking women to share their experiences of building successful businesses in their own specialist fields, to connect with like-minded women, and to inspire one another to reach greater entrepreneurial heights. This important event is once again held in partnership with Standard Bank and Liberty as Lead Impact Partners, in the inspirational surroundings of the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg. The event is also supported by impact partners IDF Capital, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Yves Rocher.

Accra’s women entrepreneurs gather to be inspired, get connected and network at the first Lioness Lean In event in the city

August 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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If there’s one thing that captures the spirit of enterprise in Africa, it’s when women entrepreneurs get together to network, to share experiences, and to collaborate for greater business success. That spirit was evident this week when Lionesses of Africa hosted the first of its Lioness Lean In events in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, in partnership with Stanbic Bank.

EVENT REPORT: Women’s Month in South Africa kickstarted with a Lioness Lean In Breakfast event in Durban

August 12, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Every year in the month of August, South Africa celebrates National Women’s Month, and to support this commemorative initiative, Lionesses of Africa headed to Durban on 1 August to host one of its popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast Events. As always, the event was powered by Standard Bank and hosted at its Kingsway conference centre in the heart of Durban. At the event, women entrepreneurs representing all sectors of business and industry, gathered for a morning of inspirational startup story sharing and great networking.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs ‘lean in’ to share, inspire and connect in Maputo

July 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Maputo was the place to be for women entrepreneurs in the month of July as not one, but two Lioness Lean In events were hosted in the city. This enhanced level of activity was an acknowledgement of the fact that Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are making really positive waves as they continue to build successful and sustainable businesses.

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