Event Report | LionessLeanInENTERPRISE
Bringing a close to a packed Lioness Lean In Enterprise schedule for 2019 in South Africa, hosted in partnership with ABSA, the final event of the year took place on 4 December in the innovative environment of the Equinox Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg. Over the past few months, these special Lioness Lean In Enterprise events have aimed to bring high growth potential women entrepreneurs together in one room to talk about how they address their challenges with access to funding, markets, and opportunities. And importantly, because of the impact partnership with Absa, also potential solutions to those challenges.
Around 100 women entrepreneurs gathered together in the vibrant surroundings of the Equinox Leadership and Innovation Centre at Absa in Sandton, located in the heart of Johannesburg’s business district. The programme had a focus on high growth women entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and insights of growing their businesses to the next level, creating much needed jobs, and pivoting and diversifying to open new markets. One key topic was under the spotlight - women entrepreneurs driving the business of fashion in Africa, and how the sector is driving real economic growth and creating much needed jobs in the process.
The morning started out with a great networking session as women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community gathered to introduce their businesses, services and products to one another. The programme got underway with a welcome from Lioness Lean In Enterprise Ambassador, Nomalanga Sitole, who introduced the programme for the morning and gave feedback from various Lionesses of Africa/Absa initiatives such as the recent Demo Day event held in Johannesburg for women entrepreneurs. She then introduced Absa as the official Lioness Lean In Enterprise partner in South Africa and the host for the morning’s event. Speaking on behalf of Absa and talking about how women entrepreneurs can achieve growth through access to finance and market opportunities was Tina Playne, Managing Executive: Sectors & Segments, Relationship Banking.
The programme got underway in earnest with the first of the guest women entrepreneur speakers of the morning sharing their startup stories and business experiences with the audience. Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana, a premium manufacturing and retail contemporary African clothing and accessory brand, spoke about the growth and of her business and her aspirations to take it to a global audience.
Next to the podium was another fashionpreneur, Janine Makoko, founder of Mustard Seed House, a bespoke fashion entrepreneur creating individual collections and pieces for her customers. She shared her unique business journey with the audience and spoke about the importance of finding your niche in business, particularly in the fashion sector.
A panel discussion followed on the Business of Fashion, with three women entrepreneurs from the industry talking about their personal experiences in business in the fashion sector and each of them representing different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys. The discussion looked at the growing importance of the fashion and manufacturing sector and its role in the value chain for women entrepreneurs in South Africa. The panel featured Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana; Janine Makoko, founder of Mustard Seed House; and Nicola Luther, ceo of Lunar.
To bring the formal part of the morning’s programme to a close, the final session focused on the subject of financing support for women entrepreneurs to help them take their businesses to the next level. Guest speaker was Vusi Fele, Head of Sourcing Africa at Absa. Vusi shared with the audience what the bank is doing at a practical level to procure essential goods and services from women entrepreneurs, and also to support the growth and financing of women entrepreneurs in South Africa. Vusi took a range of questions from the audience and outlined specific areas of support for women entrepreneurs to access both markets and financing for growth.
The formal part of the morning’s programme was brought to a close by host Nomalanga Sitole, Lioness Lean In Enterprise Ambassador for Southern Africa. She thanked impact partner Absa for their support for high growth women entrepreneurs in South Africa and encouraged attendees to meet with their specialist banking representatives who were in the audience. She gave a special vote of thanks to all the guest speakers for kindly sharing their experience and expertise. All in all, it was a great event with which to close out the Lioness Lean In Enterprise year of events.
