Event Report, LionessLeanInENTERPRISE, Johannesburg, South Africa
There is nothing quite like experiencing exciting products and services up close and in person, not to mention meeting the inspirational women entrepreneurs who are their creators. On the morning of 7 November, Lionesses of Africa, in partnership with Absa, hosted a truly memorable Demo Day showcase of 23 of the most exciting, high growth businesses and their world-class products and services. A packed audience of 100 buyers, corporate decision-makers and bankers gathered together at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg to meet these women entrepreneurs who are being tipped to take their businesses to the next level in 2020.
The Lionesses of Africa/Absa Demo Day event got underway with breakfast and networking, lots of it, in the luxurious surroundings of the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg. A special showcase exhibition of 23 of the most exciting women owned businesses was in store for all those attending, together with a morning of pitch presentations from each woman entrepreneur. MC for the morning, Nomalanga Sitole, Lioness Lean In Enterprise Ambassador for Southern Africa, got the proceedings underway with some impromptu musical entertainment and some rousing words of encouragement for the women entrepreneurs in the audience. She went on to explain the purpose of the Demo Day being to showcase some of the most exciting and high growth potential women entrepreneurs in South Africa right now, taking the opportunity to encourage all attendees to meet and do business with them - to buy their products and services - and be part of their growth story.
L-R: Bongiwe Gangeni, Melanie Hawken, Nomalanga Sitole
Next to the podium and representing Lionesses of Africa’s impact partner for South Africa, Absa, was Bongiwe Gangeni, Deputy Chief Executive, Retail and Business Banking. She embraced the spirit of the event and applauded each of the women entrepreneurs who were about to be showcased, emphasizing the important role played by business builders in the country’s economy.
Next to address the audience and the entrepreneurs was Melanie Hawken, the ceo and founder of Lionesses of Africa. She reminded the audience that empowering women entrepreneurs is “smart economics”. Melanie said:
“Firstly, as corporate buyers you are all perfectly positioned to promote gender equality and empower women entrepreneurs through your purchasing policies and practices. Secondly, as corporate buyers you are able to uplift local communities by supporting women entrepreneurs. Women are key community actors. Thirdly, as corporate buyers supporting women entrepreneurs you are making the most significant contribution to job creation. Women entrepreneurs are job creators. We recognize that finding women-owned businesses, particularly in new markets, or for specialist services can be challenging. And, this morning’s event and the program of events that will follow next year is part of the solution.”
She added: “Behind these 23 women entrepreneurs we are showcasing today stand hundreds of thousands of other, talented, passionate women entrepreneurs who are part of our Lionesses of Africa community. We believe in these women entrepreneurs and their companies. We hope you will too. Now, let’s do business! “
The highlight of the Demo Day morning was the showcasing of 23 of South Africa’s most diverse, exciting and high growth potential, women owned businesses. Each of them was welcomed to take the stage and pitch their businesses in groups according to their sectors. First up was the beauty and wellness sector, a fast growing revenue generator for the African continent, and also a significant exporter, featuring pitches from Dr Theo Mothoa-Frendo, founder of African Dermal Science; Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nilotiqa; Ntombenhle Khathwane, founder of Afrobotanics; Kerryne Krause, founder of Eye Slices.
The next business focus for our women entrepreneur pitchers was the Specialist Business Services sector, featuring a diverse and unique group of business founders including; Ntsoaki Kortjass, founder of Tsoabelo Security Solutions; Andiswa Silinga, founder of Gemini GIS Services; Cindy Leah, founder of The African Pictionary; Chule Gobodo, founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives.
Breaking the stereotypes, women entrepeneurs are now taking major roles in the food and beverage as well as the hospitality industry in Africa, building exciting businesses and creating world-class products. Showcasing on the morning were Vicki Bain, founder of Chocoloza; Sarah Kennan, founder of Leonista; Mbali Masike, co-founder of Ngiyi Mbali Wines; Brenda Wilkinson, co-founder of Rio Largo Olive Oil; Sinenhlanhla Ndlela, founder of YoCoco; Adri Williams, co-owner of Khayelitsha Cookie Co.
Representing the exciting and diverse fashion, clothing and textiles industry on the morning were Sharika Punwazi, founder of My Cotton Tree; Joy Ezeka, founder of Zuri & Imani; Nicola Luther, owner of Lunar; Annie Muronda, founder of Rufaro Garments; and Kim & Natalie Ellis, cofounders of The Joinery.
The final group of women entrepreneur pitchers for the morning represented the engineering and manufacturing sectors, all helping to move their entire industries in the right direction for women empowerment through their businesses, including: Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of PBM Group; Pumza Ndlotyeni, founder of Gebane Investments; Carmen Williams, founder of Trecento; and Dorothy Mofomme, founder of Valotech228
Following some truly inspirational pitches from each of the women entrepreneurs, the audience were invited to meet each of them in person at the Demo Day Exhibition, where each business had a showcase display of their products and services. The success of the morning was measured not just in terms of women gaining essential exposure for their businesses, but also with products and services being procured by members of the audience. A huge success on the day, there are more of these Demo Days planned in South Africa for 2020 in partnership with Absa, helping a new generation of high growth women entrepreneurs to gain essential access to new markets and finance.
