Now is the time to focus!

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The world famous free solo (alone and with no rope!) climber Alex Honnold as pictured above (whilst climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock, the 3,200ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park) yes, we’ll just say that again - with no rope, says that often his most dangerous moment on any climb is just before the end when the climb starts to level off towards the top of the mountain and he starts to relax. That is when he is far more likely to slip and fall than when he is vertical, clinging to a crack a thousand metres above the ground. See the terrifying trailer from National Geographic here of the film by Jimmy Chin of this amazing assent. The film, "Free Solo" even won an Oscar for best documentary.

Evolution or Revolution? Part 2

September 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

from the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

So last week we looked at easy wins on the Sales side to reduce your Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and who would have thought that one of the easy wins, in automating the process of sending out invoices, would have such a huge impact!

Evolution or Revolution?

September 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The Head of Finance (HoF) waltzed into the office this morning and called us all together. “Time to come down from the incredible high of the VW Lionesses Den and crack on with our Business Unusual take on business in difficult times! So let’s look at one of my favourite topics! - Crisis Transformation.”

Caught in the headlamps

August 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Our Head of Finance (HoF) arrived this morning and made straight for our desk, sat down, picked up the spare coffee (which wasn’t spare as it happens), looked to the heavens as if for some divine inspiration, took a deep breath and started…

Managing distressed business during Covid-19

July 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa / by Hwalani Mabaso, Provincial General Manager: Distribution, Relationship Banking, Absa

The Covid-19 pandemic has left many businesses distressed, with some businesses scrambling for survival. It’s important for any business to think of business resilience during Covid-19 and post. If your business is currently in distress it’s crucial to first assess the situation and develop a practical insolvency plan and avoid any false movements which can ultimately impact the business performance.

Trusting in you is key

July 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nadia Marillier, founder of Tranquil & Tenacious Minds

How am I going to cope? Will I be able to sustain my business and see to my family? How will I remain relevant? These are questions many entrepreneurs, including myself, asked when COVID-19 became our reality.

Can you really prepare for a Grizzly Bear attack?

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

About to start our usual writing session for the Lioness Weekender and discussing all the fascinating topics we have been lucky enough to experience in business, and our Head of Finance pops into the room, sits down, hands over a nicely typed warning for our readers, plus a lovely picture of a Grizzly Bear tapping his fingers and patiently waiting!

My ABC of business: Navigating through the different stages of lockdown

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

If there is one thing this pandemic and subsequently this lockdown has confirmed, is that I am a TOTAL homebody! I am in my absolute element being at home.

Survive or Die!

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane, CEO & Founder of Bee’s Beauty Haven & Glutaspa Group

Indeed, our businesses are going through tough times, but the question is, are you only going to fold your arms, panic and watch your business crumble? The answer should be no, a great mindset now would be to try and turn every challenge into an opportunity to innovate and stay ahead of your business game.

Strategize instead of Complaining

May 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

As far as the actual situation has been prolonged, predicting when will it stop and what would be the long term impacts hasn’t been easy, which undoubtedly forces most manufacturers to seriously rethink their operations. We are aware that for one to sell products requires money and space up front. Storing one’s inventory can be challenging around this time, especially if you have a lot of product to sell and not so many customers to buy them.

Coronavirus. Thinking of the early next steps.

April 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

We have covered the initial shock and awe of this terrible virus. We did not have enough time to prepare (but there was never going to be enough time), yet whatever we managed to do in the short time we had, will have significant results.

Regenerative Economics. Rethinking your business and life options.

April 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally

Together we are conceiving of the complexity and fragility of the living ecosystem we have always been a part of, but perhaps never before so harshly experienced.

From the heart and mind of a Social Entrepreneur

April 10, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally, Founder: Business Ecology

Together we are conceiving of the complexity and fragility of the living ecosystem we have always been a part of, but perhaps never before so harshly experienced.

Adapting Our Businesses

April 9, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The new Coronavirus pandemic has forced most of us to stay indoors, and having to work from our homes seems to be the only way out to survive the current situation. As bad as things seem to get, I truly believe that there is a bright side out of the bad news we have been seeing and hearing about what is going on around the world.

Post Pandemic: Restructuring in a Restructured Economy.

April 9, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo, founder and managing director, Unlimited Experiences SA (Pty) Ltd

Pandemics may take months, sometimes years, to reach their full destructive potential. Let us look at how small businesses can re-structure themselves in a restructured marketplace. It would be rather risky and naïve to neglect the fact that COVID-19 has resulted in a restructuring across the globe from an economic, social and political perspective.

Making the best of a crisis situation

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

Up-skilling yourself has never been more critical than now, whether that be to cope with what is happening in our world at the moment, or to cope with what the world is going to look like in a few months (or years) from now.

Coronavirus - Leadership is the number one superpower during times of crisis

March 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept.

Last week we looked at the most important aspect of any business when times turn tough - that of Cash Flow. Please note those practical steps have worked for our team in other businesses around the globe, and although not guaranteed to work in every case, will at least encourage thinking in our Lionesses to preparing for the threat coming.

Coronavirus - Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

March 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Special Feature — by the Lionesses of Africa Finance Team

Coronavirus is hitting the Northern Hemisphere hard and will come to Africa and a city near you soon. Sadly, this is a fact. Indeed according to www.worldometers.info (careful this page is quite addictive and time consuming), a number of cases have already been reported in Africa and this number is increasing, albeit slowly for now. Still, for the time being, African countries thankfully are a long way down the list of countries hit. As a business owner, you have time to put your own emergency measures in place now, and that starts with ensuring your company survives the economic fall-out from this global pandemic.

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