Lioness Business Agility Webinar Report
The 3rd Lioness Business Agility Webinar of the year took place on 26 June, as always hosted in partnership with Absa, and this time focused on the theme of “YOUTH - celebrating a new generation of young women entrepreneurs building new businesses and creating jobs and opportunities for young people.” It’s an important topic because we need to recognise and support the work and commitment of young women entrepreneurs who are building successful, growth potential businesses and helping to drive economic growth in their communities. They are creating much-needed jobs with their businesses, whilst also creating proudly African products that the continent and the rest of the world wants to buy.
The Lioness Business Agility Webinar programme lined up some inspirational young women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community in South Africa who are building growth businesses and importantly creating much-needed jobs - both for themselves and for others. The aim was to hear their experiences, the challenges they have faced, their success stories, and also their thoughts on what young women entrepreneurs in South Africa need in terms of support to create more successful and sustainable businesses in the future.
Getting the event programme underway was Lioness Enterprise Ambassador, Nomalanga Sitole, who started by welcoming over 100 attendees online to the webinar and encouraged them to participate in the conversation throughout the event. She introduced Lionesses of Africa founder and ceo, Melanie Hawken, to say a few words of welcome to everyone. Melanie gave an update on the recent Start-Up Night Africa event which took place in The Hague, The Netherlands on 11 June and which showcased 10 inspirational women entrepreneurs from Africa and the Netherlands. The event is part of Lionesses of Africa's 'Access to Markets and Investment Programme,' which aims to connect high-growth women entrepreneurs from our Lionesses community in Africa and in the Netherlands to each other and to new market and investment opportunities. Melanie spoke about the importance of women entrepreneurs being pitch ready and achieving success by taking opportunities when they arise, and importantly being ready to maximise them. She encouraged women entrepreneurs to work on their business pitches, refine and rehearse them, to be ready for those all important meetings with a potential new investor or customer.
Khanya Matshikwe
Next on the programme was Khanya Matshikwe, Head: Proposition Enablement - SME Relationship Banking – Strategy & Customer Value Management, Absa, who gave an update on the Absa Business She Thrives and Youth propositions. She shared more about the bank’s strategy to support women-owned SMEs, reinforcing the message that Absa is there to be the partners for women entrepreneurs on their growth journeys.
Zanele Njapha
A highlight of the programme is always the opportunity to hear from highly successful women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community who share their experiences and insights of growing their businesses. This time, it was the turn of Zanele Njapha, The UnLearning Lady, to start the conversation. Zanele is an award-winning international speaker who assists businesses to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving world. As an entrepreneur, Zanele facilitates programmes for her clients to help them stay ahead of the game. As she says, “The only way to remain sustainable in an ever-changing climate, is to learn, unlearn and relearn.” Through cultivating key skills, she assists organizations innovate and develop competitive and cutting-edge products, services and systems. Zanele teaches clients the value of a positive culture of self-disruption within the organization and how to best build and maintain this culture in a world where navigating change is of high value. She had some inspirational insights to share with attendees to help them prepare to take their businesses to the next level.
Onwabe Mleve
The next speaker on the programme was an Absa client who shared her inspirational story and how the bank has helped on her growth journey. Onwabe Mleve is the founder of Zazi Holdings, a 100% black owned clothing manufacturing company with its headquarters in East London where it operates both a factory and factory shops. Zazi Holdings is the only clothing manufacturer in the Eastern cape that manufactures uniform for ENGEN forecourts and refineries nationally. The business currently employs more than 50 permanent staff members. Onwabe shared her story and insights, and it is truly inspirational to see a woman-owned clothing manufacturing business growing and thriving, targetting new markets, and creating jobs in South Africa.
The panel discussion followed, featuring young successful business founders in growth mode and with big ambitions for the year ahead. These included: Lovable Shiro Dladla, founder of Luvast emp which is the umbrella company for two companies - 'Luvast Bakery and Luvast Baby Pureer'. Luvast emp started in 2020 and has been pushing ever since. Luvast bakery deals with baked goods and also teaches baking lessons and caters specifically for children’s events. Luvast baby food makes ORGANIC baby food puree with no preservatives or sweeteners, producing baby food in its most natural form.
Masana Sangweni, founder, Sanaandi Events & Hospitality, a company inspired by bringing people together to celebrate and appreciate life's special moments. She started her business in 2016 by curating personalized celebrations. She expanded the business by offering flowers and bespoke gifting services. In 2022, Sanaandi Events & Hospitality acquired Pleasant Places, a 4-star country guesthouse in KZN Midlands Meander.
Palesa Mkhulisi, founder, The Link PR and Marketing Solutions, an entrepreneur with a passion for social development and a commitment to solving real-world problems. After completing her B. Com-General degree in 2021 she was determined to channel her entrepreneurial spirit into a venture that could make a difference and that is when The Link PR and Marketing Solutions came about. The company mission was clear: to empower start-ups and semi-developed businesses to create value foster long-term sustainability and positively impact their communities.
Event host, Nomalanga Sitole steered the panel discussion which covered topics such as how women entrepreneurs approached their marketing and brand building with customers to drive growth; how they adapt and pivot to take advantage of market opportunities; how they balance their business and personal lives successfully; and how they are overcoming some of the most common barriers to growth, such as growing marketshare, retaining customers, and accessing growth finance.
Following the lively panel discussion, Nomalanga took questions from the audience before handing back to Lionesses of Africa founder, Melanie Hawken, to give the closing remarks, encouraging attendees to take their businesses and brands to the next level of growth - and to create those much-needed new jobs.