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3 key skills you will need in #20won

May 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By Paula Quinsee

Last year was supposed to be the year of #20plenty. This year, let it be the year of #20won.

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In Guest Blog Tags Paula Quinsee, Self-development, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Women – Educate yourself on Mental Health!

May 2, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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by Edna Reis

As a woman who is a psychologist and an entrepreneur working in my field of study, it would perhaps not come as a surprise that I have a major interest for words and definitions. As a result, It is never too much to talk about the meaning of life impact topics such as Mental Health, that is why I shall begin my article with a few definitions.

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In Guest Blog Tags Edna Reis, Health & Wellbeing, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Ways to Develop Accountability in Your Wellness Journey 

April 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By Emily Kandanga

We are a sum of all of our habits. Habits run our lives. Who we are and what we can accomplish are largely dependent on our daily routines and behaviours. You are either getting better and working towards becoming your best self or you’re moving in the opposite direction.

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In Guest Blog Tags Emily Kandanga, Work Life Balance, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Top 5 things that I’ve been doing for myself during the pandemic that will make my business thrive

December 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Suret Alive, founder of Alive Wellness Company

Here are the top 5 things that I’ve been doing for myself during the pandemic that will make my business thrive.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Suret Alive, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Your Wellbeing Checklist for December

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Ronel Jooste

Facing the chaos of a world pandemic during 2020, the thought of the December period where we can scale down, relax and recharge is certainly something to enjoy. It is time to forget about what happened in 2020 – the good, the bad and the ugly – and get ourselves ready for 2021. Pure bliss!

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In Guest Blog, Competition, Business Unusual Tags Ronel Jooste, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Unplugging after a long year of hustling and activity

December 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Tatenda Rungisa

The year 2020 has been filled with a lot of uncertainties, low productivity levels and time loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic which hit the whole world at large. Most businesses dwindled and some only survived by grace. In all this, it meant business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees as well, have worked tirelessly throughout the year to ensure they survive. That said and done, it is a few days to end 2020 and start on a new slate, and it is only proper for every entrepreneur to unplug and take time for self-care.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Tatenda Rungisa, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Choice... is mastery 

November 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Ashika Pillay

Our worlds are in a state of flux and change and we simply cannot control what’s going to happen around us. This is the nature of the uncertainty in the world and in our worlds. We can make plans for the future to some extent, and even that is somewhat filled with a sense of what might “not happen”. Are we going on holiday? What will happen next year? Will we have a second wave?

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Ashika Pillay, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Your mental health matters – why a detox is vital

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Anja van Beek, Talent Strategist, Leadership Expert and Executive Coach

Missing that ‘happy feeling’? This article focuses on why your mental wellbeing matters. How would you rate your current mental wellbeing? We all have been challenged over the past few months and have experienced how our mental health (our emotional, psychological, and social well-being) can impact and affect our thoughts, feelings and actions.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Anja van Beek, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Pandemic burnout 

October 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Elizabeth Otieno

It’s a difficult time for many business owners and employees. The handful of us who have managed to keep our jobs are grateful and ensure to work diligently to keep it that way. We either occasionally visit the office or permanently work from home, until this pandemic is over that is. Now that our safe haven, our home, has become our workplace as well, will our work efficiency rise or fall?

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Elizabeth Otieno, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Mental Health First Aider  

August 30, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant, Shiluvah

I recently came across the term Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) and as someone that works and owns a business in the Human Resource space this term immediately sparked my interest, especially with regards to how this concept could be used and benefit the workplace.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Kulani Shiluvane, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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The importance of self-care during a crisis

August 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Lelemba Phiri, Enygma Ventures Operating Partner and Fund Manager

Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the importance of mental health was being highlighted and the crisis has amplified its importance even further. As business owners and investors, we are not exempt from the compounding effects of poor mental health if we do not take the time to understand these issues and how they can negatively impact us, our businesses and families.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Lelemba Phiri, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Lessons from Burnout into Lockdown

August 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

A few years ago, I experienced a burnout. I developed a stress-induced autoimmune disease and suffered from chronic fatigue for three years. It had a significant effect on my life. Lately, with South Africa being in lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I have noticed a few similarities and differences between that period of my life and now.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Kathy Mann, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Emotional Contagion 

August 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Dr Ashika Pillay

It’s not just the virus that’s contagious…

With the advent of COVID-19, most people have become familiar with concepts related to infectious disease, how viruses are spread and transmitted. However, beneath the real threat of the virus and its impact on our health and wellbeing, lurks another infectious disease. Anxiety and fear are real threats that pose a massive risk to us.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Ashika Pillay, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Coronavirus Anxiety 

August 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Julia Ranzani

Every now and then when I check the CORONAVIRUS WORLDOMETER or hear NEWS ABOUT COVID-19. I get this ice cold fear running down my spine. I can’t help it, my mind jumps to horrific images inspired by silly doomsday action movies. So for a moment I’m overwhelmed with CORONAVIRUS ANXIETY.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Julia Ranzani, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
Comment

Confinement and the mind

July 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Zilia Ximenes

Knowing the difficulties that everyone is going through because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this article is not to speak specifically of the pandemic, but of the effects on the mind of each individual impacted by it.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Zilia Ximenes, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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The Loneliness…and the Bravery

July 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“You're always one decision away from a totally different life”…

There is a book by Alan Sillitoe called: “The loneliness of a long distance runner” that was then made into a film. It’s about a boy who had made wrong decisions (who hasn’t somewhere in their lives!) and was then sent to a youth detention centre / school in the UK, one of many so called ‘Borstals’. While there he found a passion in long distance running and single-mindedly pursued this becoming very good indeed. The problem was that the people in charge wanted him to bend to their will and run just so that they could brag and boast about beating the local private school in a big race that was due. They wanted to control his power to further their agenda. They were determined to use this boy’s skills and bend his will for their own glory. This became not about him, but all about them.

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In Business Unusual, Team Lioness Tags BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Anxiety = Uncertainty x Powerlessness

July 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Lori Milner

This equation comes from Chip Conley’s insightful book ‘Emotional Equations’. Chip believes that the product of what you don’t know (uncertainty) and what you can’t control (powerlessness) creates the emotional condition of anxiety, which is greater than the sum of its parts.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Lori Milner, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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The power of mindfulness meditation in stressful times

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, Founder and CEO of Empowervate

Mindfulness meditation is a great way to still the mind and stop the thoughts from causing stress and anxiety. Our brains have a default network which creates all kinds of thoughts all the time except when we are focusing on something and being “in flow”. All the other times, our thoughts continue. The problem comes when we get stuck on a thought, and obsess about it, which causes negative emotions like fear, worry, anger etc.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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STOP doing these 3 things if you want more peace and success

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Sharon Castle - Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

Today I’m feeling particularly troubled about the amount of people who are feeling stressed and anxious in this current lockdown situation. In spite of all the info and positive advice out there I find most people are still allowing themselves to be exposed to the kinds of things they just don’t need to.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Sharon Castle, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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Experience: that most brutal of teachers

May 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Sharon Castle, Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

Just over two weeks ago, my sister of 72 died suddenly and in moments my life changed. Receiving a call from my niece (my sister’s only child) who lives in Australia, early on Friday morning the 10th of April, which was also Good Friday in the Christian calendar, was the alarm bell ringing that something was wrong. She called to let me know that my sister, who lived in a Care Community about an hour from where I live, was unconscious. It was 6.30am and I was still relaxing in bed with my husband enjoying our morning coffee.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Sharon Castle, BU Wellbeing & Mental Health
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCAST

LIONESSES OF AFRICA · AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace

Lioness Radio Show: AI Series Ep. 2 : AI-Human Collaboration in the Workplace - Tune in for an engaging conversation designed to equip you with the knowledge to embrace AI and unlock its possibilities for your business.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Sydelle Willow Smith, a pioneer of solar-powered mobile cinema in Africa
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder
Babette Kourelos, a passionate artisanal bread-baking business builder

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The
Image of the Day / Melvin’s Tea

Memorable afternoon cuppa…We are big tea drinkers at Lionesses of Africa, so we love the wonderful Melvin’s Tea brand of flavoured teas for all occasions created by Flora Mutahi, founder of Melvin M
Image of the Day / Naturals Beauty

All Natural Skincare…If you want to get closer to nature with your skincare, then look no further than Naturals Beauty, a South African company born out of a love and curiosity for natural beauty and body pr
Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f
Image of the Day / Khokho Collection

If you want to capture the essence of summer all year long, then the Palm Picnic Basket from Khokho Collection, founded by social entrepreneurs Philippa Thorne, Sapna Shah and master weaver Zinhle Vilakati in eSw
Image of the Day / The Wren Design

Sustainability with Style…Calling all eco and design-conscious consumers who love products that are both sustainable and beautiful, check out this Paper Back Pack from The Wren Design, founded by Wendren Set
Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma
Image of the Day / The Joinery

Mini Box Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fabric con
Image of the Day / Taeillo

Stylish seating…We love these stylish statement stools created by Jumoke Dada, an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of Taeillo, an e-commerce furniture and lifestyle brand based in Lagos Nigeria and Nairobi
Image of the Day / KONA

Afro-Indian Accessories…We love brands that create jobs and impact, and these handcrafted accessories from KONA, a unique fashion and lifestyle company in Uganda, founded by Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath, do ju
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The Image of the Day / Melvin’s Tea

Memorable afternoon cuppa…We are big tea drinkers at Lionesses of Africa, so we love the wonderful Melvin’s Tea brand of flavoured teas for all occasions created by Flora Mutahi, founder of Melvin M Image of the Day / Naturals Beauty

All Natural Skincare…If you want to get closer to nature with your skincare, then look no further than Naturals Beauty, a South African company born out of a love and curiosity for natural beauty and body pr Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Khokho Collection

If you want to capture the essence of summer all year long, then the Palm Picnic Basket from Khokho Collection, founded by social entrepreneurs Philippa Thorne, Sapna Shah and master weaver Zinhle Vilakati in eSw Image of the Day / The Wren Design

Sustainability with Style…Calling all eco and design-conscious consumers who love products that are both sustainable and beautiful, check out this Paper Back Pack from The Wren Design, founded by Wendren Set Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma Image of the Day / The Joinery

Mini Box Tote…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fabric con Image of the Day / Taeillo

Stylish seating…We love these stylish statement stools created by Jumoke Dada, an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of Taeillo, an e-commerce furniture and lifestyle brand based in Lagos Nigeria and Nairobi Image of the Day / KONA

Afro-Indian Accessories…We love brands that create jobs and impact, and these handcrafted accessories from KONA, a unique fashion and lifestyle company in Uganda, founded by Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath, do ju

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Mirza Jamal, a Mozambican marcomms expert empowering businesses and brands
Mirza Jamal, a Mozambican marcomms expert empowering businesses and brands
Lovable Dladla, a South African entrepreneur turning a passion for baking into a growing business
Lovable Dladla, a South African entrepreneur turning a passion for baking into a growing business
Gladys Kgorane, an entrepreneur creating special events and wellness retreats for those looking for rest and relaxation
Gladys Kgorane, an entrepreneur creating special events and wellness retreats for those looking for rest and relaxation
Drienie Botes, an entrepreneur empowering women to achieve economic independence through beekeeping
Drienie Botes, an entrepreneur empowering women to achieve economic independence through beekeeping
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity
Tumelo Tshwagong, a South African agri-entrepreneur contributing to finding sustainable local solutions to addressing food insecurity

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

Featured
The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms  by Mary Grant
The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms by Mary Grant
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out  by Fiona Soutter
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out by Fiona Soutter
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul
Feminine Intelligence: How visionary leaders can reshape business for good by Elina Teboul

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