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the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs

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Essential Read: Elegant Entrepreneur: The Female Founders Guide to Starting & Growing Your First Company by Danielle Tate

February 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken
Danielle Tate, author and entrepreneur

Danielle Tate, author and entrepreneur

“As a young female founder I noticed that there were very few business guides offered step-by-step advice to smart but inexperienced women. I wrote this book to fill a void—this is a fully-encompassing resource on how to build a business and become an entrepreneur from a woman's point of view.” - Danielle Tate, author and entrepreneur, founder of MissNowMrs.

 

After a decade of her career as an entrepreneur, Danielle Tate learned how to transform good ideas into successful businesses. At age 25 she bootstrapped MissNowMrs and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. As a young female founder, she noticed that few business guides offered step-by-step advice to smart but inexperienced women. In her book, Elegant Entrepreneur, Danielle draws on her personal experience and on conversations with prominent entrepreneurs and top executives. She not only shows -- in straightforward and easily accessible terms -- how one can transform a rough concept into a lucrative business; she also gives readers a privileged peek into the entrepreneur lifestyle that allows business owners to take charge of their lives. 

Relevant both to women with no business background and to those in the process of developing a business, Elegant Entrepreneur offers key information and concepts from idea to exit. It discusses the early stages of evaluating an idea, understanding market demands, pitching ideas, building a team of partners and employees, launching, fundraising, marketing and growing a company, handling competition, and knowing when to sell. Danielle navigates complex business terrain with clarity, insight, and yes, elegance. Readers are given the chance to see if entrepreneurship is right for them, and stand to gain the freedom, flexibility, and job satisfaction that comes with founding and running one’s own business.

 

Author Quotes

This is a female founder’s guide to grow a company from idea to exit, regardless of whether you have a business background or entrepreneurial ties. It is not a textbook containing exhaustive abstract business tenants; it is the book I wish was available when I started my first company.
My goal is to not only help aspiring women find their place in the entrepreneurial world, but to enable them to flourish!
It's an amazing time to be a female founder.

 

About Danielle

Danielle is Founder and CEO of MissNowMrs.com. Prior to founding her company she was the number one sales representative for a cancer diagnostic equipment company. Her first job after college was selling Canon copiers while hiding from office building security guards. She received a BA in Biology from Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College. Danielle lives outside Washington, D.C. with her husband, son, and two mischievous cats. When not writing books, running her company, and raising her family she enjoys early morning Megaformer workouts, trips to the Turks and Caicos Islands, cooking, and drinking champagne in the bathtub.

www.missnowmrs.com  |  elegantentrepreneur.co


Why LoA loves it….

What we love about the approach taken by Danielle in her book Elegant Entrepreneur, is that she provides transparent and often very candid glimpses into the entrepreneur lifestyle that aspirant entrepreneurs may be considering - both the good and the bad. At a practical level, it will help anyone thinking of taking the leap of faith and becoming an entrepreneur to make a clear decision about whether the lifestyle is right for them. It identifies 12 major steps to creating a successful business and 12 elegant entrepreneurship insights that provide pleasingly ingenious and simple concepts to gracefully span the gaps in between the business steps. Each chapter builds greater understanding of consecutive business concepts and provides a solid foundation for applying these concepts to any business idea. Each chapter concludes with a summary of insights, an exploration of how it feels to be living that step, and suggestions for further reading on the topic. It is a great read for any aspirant entrepreneur who feels they are ready to take a life-changing decision and build a business. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa
In Essential Tags Books
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Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

Five female founders win over $100,000 in TechFoundHER Africa Challenge. Read more


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCASTS

Lioness Radio Show Interview: Listen to Mr Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer of the African Guarantee Fund, discussing the journey from Bias to Bankable - AGF’s Case for Financing Women Entrepreneurs.

Lioness Radio Show: Five Mozambican women entrepreneurs share their experiences of building successful green businesses and creating green jobs for local people. From an environmentally-friendly, high-impact skincare brand, to an innovative green transportation business transforming marine waste into bicycles, these Lionesses are making waves in Mozambique. Listen to their stories, learn from their experiences, and be inspired by their tenacity.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, two social impact entrepreneurs building a high-growth, premium sustainable homeware business
Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, two social impact entrepreneurs building a high-growth, premium sustainable homeware business
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

Image of the Day / Atelier Taila Carrilho

Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat
Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f
Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
Image of the Day / KOVA

Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o
Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma
Image of the Day / Amorambique

Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i
Image of the Day / Suzie Beauty

Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business
Image of the Day / Aya K Design

Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene
Image of the Day / House of Cinnamon

Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro
Image of the Day / Ruff ’n’ Tumble

Trendy kids fashion…Finding stylish, relaxed clothing that is a hit with both parents and kids alike is no longer a challenge thanks to Ruff 'n' Tumble, an indigenous premium brand for quality ch
Image of the Day / Atelier Taila Carrilho

Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / KOVA

Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma Image of the Day / Amorambique

Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i Image of the Day / Suzie Beauty

Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business Image of the Day / Aya K Design

Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene Image of the Day / House of Cinnamon

Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro Image of the Day / Ruff ’n’ Tumble

Trendy kids fashion…Finding stylish, relaxed clothing that is a hit with both parents and kids alike is no longer a challenge thanks to Ruff 'n' Tumble, an indigenous premium brand for quality ch

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of a first-to-South African-market serum-only skincare range
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of a first-to-South African-market serum-only skincare range
Gillian Holl, a South African architectural entrepreneur building a sustainability-focused business that responds to the needs of both clients and the environment
Gillian Holl, a South African architectural entrepreneur building a sustainability-focused business that responds to the needs of both clients and the environment
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management
Claudia Machaieie, a Mozambican green business innovator transforming marine waste into reading glasses
Claudia Machaieie, a Mozambican green business innovator transforming marine waste into reading glasses
Matilde Mawelele Rungo, a Mozambican tech-preneur helping to drive digital transformation in the country
Matilde Mawelele Rungo, a Mozambican tech-preneur helping to drive digital transformation in the country

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

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Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore
Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore
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The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms by Mary Grant
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out  by Fiona Soutter
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Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin

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