Event Report
Many businesses are trying to relaunch following the recent lockdown in South Africa, and importantly ensure their brands are visible in an increasingly competitive marketplace. However, without having the luxury of big ad spend budgets to achieve that visibility and customer connection, some innovative thinking and reinvention is required. The 2nd Lioness Business Agility Webinar, in partnership with Absa, took place on 19 June 2020 - the aim was to bring together leading women entrepreneurs with years of experience in brand building, to share their very personal insights and experiences on how to build a brand to last, post the COVID pandemic.
The morning’s programme got underway once again with an enthusiastic welcome from Nomalanga Sitole, Lionesses of Africa’s very own Lioness Enterprise Ambassador. She introduced the speaker line-up for the morning, starting with Melanie Hawken, Lionesses of Africa Founder and CEO. Melanie shared insights from her recent conversations with women entrepreneurs from across the country who are experiencing their own challenges right now, and how they are successfully pivoting their businesses in response to them.
Melanie said: “The recent lockdowns in South Africa have put huge stresses and strains on women entrepreneurs and their businesses. There is now a huge effort underway on their part to relaunch their businesses and get their products and services out into the marketplace as quickly as possible. But the pandemic has squeezed the economy and customers are being careful as to how, where and on what they spend their hard earned money. As a result, it means women entrepreneurs are having to work harder and smarter to get their business and brands noticed by potential customers. These Lioness Business Agility Webinars aim to help stimulate new ideas, new ways of doing things, new innovative thinking, and to bring possible solutions to challenges such as funding. That’s where our partnership with Absa is so vital, connecting women entrepreneurs to possible funding or business advisory solutions.”
Next on the programme to provide the official welcome on behalf of Absa was Oscar Siziba, Managing Executive, Relationship Banking Coverage Segment, Gauteng and Limpopo, Absa Retail & Business Bank. He spoke about what the bank is doing to support women entrepreneurs during the current challenging COVID-19 environment and personally spoke of the vital role that women-owned business play in the economy. Also representing Absa on the programme was Hwalani Mabaso, General Manager, Absa Insurance and Financial Advisors (AIFA), who shared her considerable insights as a specialist in turnaround strategy, business rescue and entrepreneurship, on what business agility means on for entrepreneurs looking to relaunch and bounce back after the Covid-19 crisis.
There is nothing quite like hearing from women entrepreneurs themselves as to how they are getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, and importantly, how they are building brands to last through this crisis. So it was a pleasure to welcome two highly experienced women entrepreneurs to come and share their insights and advice. First was Renchia Droganis, founder of Africology who spoke passionately and very personally about the impact of the COVID-19 on her own business. She shared how Africology has had to pivot in terms of its business model, and just how successful that pivot has proved to be, but with some big learnings. She also shared her personal experience of what it takes to build a brand that lasts, and how it has to adapt to the challenges resulting from the current pandemic and the changing business environment.
The second of the guest women entrepreneur speakers on the programme was Snoekie Mabena Saleh, founder of S.MAB Nursing Agency, who shared her personal experience of staying in business through the COVID-19 crisis. Her insights as both a successful serial entrepreneur and also a philanthropist were fascinating, and her thriving business with its fully retained workforce is testament to her business acumen in this tough times.
The formal programme was concluded at a practical level by Jolene Grobler, Regional Head for Relationship Banking Coverage in Gauteng North at Absa. She shared invaluable information on the range of support available from Absa for women entrepreneurs as the emerge from the current crisis. As was to be expected, there were a number of questions from the audience on how to access such support. Attendees will be receiving the special business toolkit to help guide them through the various programmes and initiatives available.
The morning wrapped up with closing remarks from Lionesses of Africa founder Melanie Hawken who urged everyone to visit the Business Unusual portal http://www.lionessesofafrica.com/business-unusual , and from the event host Nomalanga Sitole, who thanked everyone for being part of another successful event.
