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the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs

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Your First Year: What I Wish I'd Known by Deborah Kevin and Jill Celeste

September 3, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Jill Celeste and Deborah Kevin

Book Review

Entrepreneurs Deborah Kevin and Jill Celeste, co-authors of the book, Your First Year: What I Wish I'd Known, believe that there is no one “right way,” to build a start-up and you will make mistakes. That’s part of growing. In their new book they bring together the insights, experiences and shared wisdom of fellow women entrepreneurs who have all got through their own business growing pains and emerged to find success.


Are you a new woman entrepreneur or one who is waiting in the wings? Do you want to do things the “right way?”Or worry about making mistakes? Here’s the truth: there is no one “right way,” and you will make mistakes. That’s part of growing. In the book, Your First Year: What I Wish I'd Known by Deborah Kevin and Jill Celeste, there is a host of generous and hard-won wisdom shared - it won’t be a cure-all, but it will reassure you that following your internal GPS is just as (or maybe more) important as getting advice. From legally setting up your business to keeping clean bookkeeping records and effective marketing strategies through thriving through major health and life crises, this book will be your “go-to” guide as you step fully into a CEO role. The women authors in this book want you to succeed. They’re cheering you on as you make an impact in Your First Year…and beyond!

Author Quotes

When ‘Your First Year’ was first conceived, the women I spoke with about sharing their business start-up experience with others responded with a wholehearted and collective, ‘Yes!’ It’s this kind of generosity of spirit and wisdom that reminds me how important it is to give women a voice, to allow them to share from their hearts, and provide a platform to make their wisdom available to those who desperately need it.

When I left the corporate world in 2010, I never dreamed that I’d own a business, one that morphed over time to allow me to serve writers and authors in a way that I couldn’t comprehend back then.

The book you hold in your hands contains hard-earned wisdom, shared from a place of love and encouragement. Consider it written for you because we have your back and want you to make a positive impact in our world. We believe in you!

About the authors

Deborah Kevin (pronounced "KEY-vin"), MA, as the founder and chief inspiration officer of Highlander Press, loves helping change-makers tap into and share their stories of healing and truth with impactful books, including her book entitled You've Written Your Book. Now What? Debby, a graduate of Stanford University's Novel Writing program, earned a master's degree in publishing from Western Colorado University. She's trekked over 350 miles of the Camino de Santiago, and she lives in Maryland with the love of her life, Rob, her sons, and their puppy Fergus.

www.deborahkevin.com

Jill Celeste, MA, loves Loud Women and loud bassets. That's why you will likely find her teaching marketing and mindset to female entrepreneurs at Celestial University; or facilitating sisterhood and connection through her online networking organization, Virtual Networkers; or hanging out with basset hounds as the co-founder of Tampa Bay Basset Hounds. She's the bestselling author of two books (so far): Loud Woman and That First Client. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, two sons, two cats, and a basset hound named Trixie.

www.jillceleste.com

Contributing Authors:

Suzanne Tregenza Moore, Nicole Meltzer, Nancy Linnerooth, Maribeth Decker, Jennifer Kate, Lee Murphy Wolf, Cheri D. Andrews, Connie Jo Miller, Laura Templeton, Hanne Broter, Jill Celeste, Clare Whalley, Pam Knox, Kate Varness, Margaret Martin, Maureen "Mo" Cooper, Kelly Lutman, Orianna Nienan, Gabriela Bocanete, Donna Kendrick, Deborah Kevin, Cathy Agasar


Why LoA loves it…

As any woman entrepreneur will tell you, getting through your first year in business is challenging at best, and scary and stressful at worst. Knowing how other women have not just managed to survive their first year in business, but also go on to thrive, is so important. In this great new book, authors and entrepreneurs Deborah Kevin and Jill Celeste have tapped into their fellow women business builder network to glean essential insights and experiences that can be shared with others who need to know it’s possible. This is a great read for every woman entrepreneur starting out on their business building journey. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

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MEET THE 10 FINALISTS — We look forward to announcing the winning women founders on 19 November 2025.


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi Image of the Day / Mash. T Design Studio

Award-winning furniture design…We are big fans of talented South African designer Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash. T Design Studio in Johannesburg, and these fabulous side tables are firm customer favouri Image of the Day / Quazi Design

Sustainable Home Decor…If you want to make a statement with your interior design and home decor, and at the same make a contribution to supporting eco-friendly enterprise, then these unique decor pieces from Qu Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c Image of the Day / ‘57 Chocolate

Bean to bar luxury chocolate… Taste the difference with the finest chocolate lovingly produced by ‘57 Chocolate, the pioneer bean to bar chocolate manufacturer in Ghana, created by sisters Kimberle Image of the Day / Kebe Home

Handcrafted home decor …We are big fans of the work of Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur who transforms homes and spaces in Cameroon through her business, Kebe Home. Her new Echo V Image of the Day / Pichulik

Beautiful bracelets… Introducing The Aruba Bracelets by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, the founder and designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Pichulik is an ethical jewellery, accessories and womenswear atelie Image of the Day / Eva Sonaike

Vibrant textile design…This striking textile design by Eva Sonaike caught our eye this morning. Like the rest of the world, we love the African aesthetic which is increasingly finding its way into global interio Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

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