What It Takes: How I Built a $100 Million Business from My Kitchen Table by Raegan Moya-Jones

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

The founder of global baby brand aden + anais, Raegen Moya-Jones tells the story of how she built a $100 million business that started at her kitchen table. She never thought of herself as an entrepreneur. She was a wife, a mother, and a full-time corporate cog in her thirties. But she was sick and tired of her micromanaging boss, so she quietly started a company in the wee hours of the morning while her daughters were asleep. She finally quit her 9-5 when her side hustle, boutique baby swaddle brand aden + anais, hit the $1 million revenue mark. It now generates over $100 million a year in revenue.

Lindalva Mulembwe, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning a passion for flower arrangements into a thriving business

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lindalva Mulembwe, founder of LM Flowers On The Go (Mozambique) — Lindalva Mulembwe, founder of LM Flowers On The Go (Mozambique)

Leveraging her many years of experience in the events business led Mozambican entrepreneur Lindalva Mulembwe, founder of LM Flowers On The Go, to identify a niche in the market - the creation of simple yet elegant flower arrangements. Today, she is building a successful business that brings flower celebrations to any special occasion.

Be your own permission agent

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

Back in 2012, I knew I wanted to write a book that included interviews of amazing women to share their stories and insights. I didn’t know where to begin so I called Mandy Wiener, a well-known journalist. I had worked with her earlier that year on an event and reached out to her for advice. She was extremely helpful and at the end of coffee, I asked her which voice recorder she uses for her interviews.

15 Essential Tips for Women Franchisees

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Kabira Dewan

As a new franchisee, I discovered that women are particularly under-represented in the fast food franchise world. So, if, as a women, you have ever wondered if a fast food franchise is for you, the following are my tips to help you with your entrepreneurial journey. These are not in any order of preference but more aligned to my personal exposure in the Franchise World.

Serving my time - how I divide my most valuable resource

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

Not to be confused with the prison term reference, by ‘serving my time’ I mean that I visualize my time as a sort of pie. There is only a certain amount, which I can divide into slices and serve accordingly. And I try to choose carefully, because it’s easy to get distracted.

Success has a price, pay up!

July 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation

I realized something the other day. I was so miserable, wondering if my job fulfilled me and if entrepreneurship is worth it. I was tired of feeling anxious, tight deadlines and constant cultivating relationships. Have you ever just wanted to stumble across a few million Rands and then switch off your phone? Spend your money and not worry about anything? Well, that was me, unmotivated and frustrated.

Entrepreneur Advice from Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch: Start small

July 24, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa) — **Melanie Finch Keshwar and Ann Finch**, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa)

Start small…

“You don't need a loan - don't take one, if you can manage it. Start small on the side of whatever you currently do, and allow the sideline to grow to a point where it can sustain itself and later, sustain you. It is a good idea to carefully plan this route - any business takes a good few years to get onto its feet and be able to pay you a salary. Don't expect miracles, it’s many man hours and much trial and error.”

Melanie Finch Keshwar & Ann Finch, co-founders of The Chocolatiers (South Africa)

Dirce Abdala, a passionate foodpreneur in Mozambique building an exciting dried fruit business that is exciting tastebuds

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Dirce Abdala, founder of D-Fruit (Mozambique)

Being inspired by Mozambique’s wonderful array of fresh fruit led to the creation of an added-value enterprise, D-Fruit, founded by Dirce Abdala. Today she is extending the value of the fruit by producing healthy snacks that celebrate the raw ingredients but in a convenient, eat at any time, form.

Mirriam Murenga, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a unique accessory business that celebrates the craft of macramé

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Mirriam Murenga, co-founder of Trudy Mara (Zimbabwe)

Everyone loves a great handbag, and particularly one that stands out due to the craftsmanship shown in its creation. So for all those searching for a unique handbag that is the epitome of exquisite handicraft, Trudy Mara is the brand to look out for. Founders Mirriam Murenga and her sister Getrude are on a mission to introduce the beauty of macramé to discerning, stylish women customers.

LIONESS LAUNCH: South African financial advisory business, Simwealth, launches new financial literacy and coaching programmes for entrepreneurs and corporates

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Thandekile Moloko, founder of Simwealth (South Africa)

Managing personal and corporate finances for growth and creating generational wealth can be a challenge for any entrepreneur or business. But specialist advisory help is now at hand from South African finance expert and business coach, Thandekile Moloko, founder of Simwealth. This month sees the launch of a new series of financial literacy and coaching programmes for both individuals and corporates alike.

Lionesses of Africa CEO speaks at UN Senior Ministerial Roundtable event in New York on Mobilizing investment and private enterprise across Africa

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

On a hot summer’s day in New York on 16 July, Lionesses of Africa Founder and CEO, Melanie Hawken, was at the United Nations to participate in a number of high level discussions as part of the Companies to Inspire Africa New York Day. One of the highlights of the day was the Senior Ministerial Roundtable event, co-hosted by UK and Kenya UN missions on supporting investment into Africa, where Melanie had the opportunity to speak about mobilizing investment for women entrepreneurs across the African continent.

Boss Up!: This Ain’t Your Mama’s Business Book by Lindsay Teague Moreno

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

If you need to put your business on the map and get the ideas you’ve previously only dreamed about into the marketplace, then Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno is the book for you. It will help you overcome your fears of starting out in business, and the guilt of embarking on this crazy entrepreneurial journey, to find a fulfillment that changes you and your families lives for the better. And it will help you break free of the hard and boring in business and allow you to have fun along the way.

The Power of Goal Statement

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Marta Mulungo

If you are reading this blog post, chances are that you are an adult and as such, there is at least one thing that you desire in life. Human beings are goal orientated and this means that regardless of the level of achievement they are in, there is something else that they desire, it is how we are wired and we cannot get away from it, and it’s a good thing – it took us from the stone age, to the current digital era, it took us from carriages and horses to airplanes and space travel…

The myth of passion

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

The word ‘passion’ has become a huge buzzword lately. Experts sharing their tips on how to discover your calling, your passion, your purpose for being on this planet. What I have found is that this is starting to become a destructive word. It creates this huge sense of fear – ‘what if I am not doing the thing I meant to be doing?’ It makes the present moment insignificant, it’s this thing we need to get through in order to get to the next more important moment because maybe we’ll discover it then. It has the ability to create huge self-doubt because the word passion indicates there is ONE thing we should be doing and that we should instantly know what that thing is.

100 Lionesses: Bernie de Le Cuona, a renowned purveyor of luxury textiles building a truly global brand

July 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona — **Bernie de Le Cuona**, founder of de Le Cuona

It was a love of linen and an attention to detail that first fired Bernie de Le Cuona’s desire to create beautiful fabrics. Today, her company and brand, de Le Cuona, is a renowned purveyor of luxury textiles for interiors with a 25-year history. The company sources the finest fibres from around the world to create exquisitely understated linen, wool paisley, velvet, silk, cashmere and alpaca.

Solar Sister wins 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for Energy Access

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Solar Sister, the company that has spent the last decade helping bring clean energy to rural homes in Africa, and founded by Katherine Lucey its CEO, has now earned global recognition courtesy of an international award for projects and organizations dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Sister is one of two winners of the 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for energy access, an honor that comes with $25,000 that the nonprofit plans to use to continue supporting local, female entrepreneurs with clean energy businesses in Africa.

Bloomingdale’s and The Lion King collaborate with Africa’s women entrepreneurs on new Pop-Up retail shop

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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Iconic US retailer Bloomingdale’s has launched the latest rendition of The Carousel Bloomingdale’s: Style Kingdom. From July 11th – September 2nd. The Carousel, a rotating pop-up shop driven by culturally relevant themes with a dynamic merchandise mix hand-selected by guest curators, guides shoppers to discover something new with each visit. This time around Florence Kasumba, the German-Ugandan actress who plays the role of Shenzi the hyena, in the upcoming film Disney’s The Lion King, serves as guest curator. She has tapped into her love of African fashion to identify select items that capture the spirit of the savanna. Leading African women entrepreneur brands such as Ghana’s luxury accessory brand AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi; Swaziland’s accessory and homeware brand Khokho, founded by Philippa Thorne, Zinhle Vilakati and Sepna Shah; and South African luxury homeware brand, Carrol Boyes, founded by the designer herself.

LIONESS LAUNCH: South African entrepreneur, Sizalobuhle Helen Dube, launches new skills development programmes for aspiring mechanics

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Skills development in the automotive and mechanics sectors in South Africa is greatly needed in order to create sustainable economic opportunities for people. The Knowledge is Your K.E.Y Academy, otherwise known as KiYK, founded by entrepreneur Sizalobuhle Helen Dube in Pretoria, South Africa, is launching some exciting new skills development and training programmes.

Michelle Adelman, an entrepreneur in Botswana building a powerful business to find innovative solutions to food security in Africa

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Adelman, founder of Accite Holdings (Botswana)

One of the biggest challenges facing the African continent is ensuring a strong agricultural sector that can assure future food security, and that challenge requires innovative entrepreneurs to come to the table with ideas. One such entrepreneur is Michelle Adelman, founder of Accite Holdings in Botswana, who is harnessing the power of technology combined with sustainable business and investment models to create fast growing solutions to meet the need for fresh produce and alternative sources of protein.

Eki Okubanjo, a Nigerian fashionpreneur building a successful fashion and kidswear business that is winning fans locally and globally

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Eki Okubanjo, founder of Eki Oris Fashion Company (Nigeria)

Building a successful brand in the fashion industry can be tough. But for Nigerian entrepreneur Eki Okubanjo, founder of Eki Oris Fashion Company, she is proof positive that it is possible by knowing your customers and their needs. Today, Eki is creating beautiful and practical clothing for both her discerning and chic women customers, and also their kids who want to look just as good.

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