Quote of the Day by Anabela Marcos

September 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“I realized that often the most important thing is that people have an opportunity.”

Anabela Marcos, founder & ceo, Gestao Profissional (GP) (Angola)

Quote of the Day by Tania Tomé

August 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“It has always been said that where there are problems there are opportunities, it depends entirely on perception.”

Tania Tomé, Economist, International Speaker & Coach, Author (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Tatenda Rungisa / Demonstrate initiative and speed

June 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tatenda Rungisa, Human Resources Practitioner and co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions, (Zimbabwe)

Demonstrate initiative and speed…

“Demonstrate initiative and speed: procrastination will only result in the next business grabbing the opportunity you have and making lots of money with it.”

Tatenda Rungisa, Human Resources Practitioner and co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions, (Zimbabwe)

Quote of the Day by Tania Reid

May 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“It has always been said that where there are problems there are opportunities. It depends entirely on perception”

Tania Reid, founder, ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Londeka Mlawuza: Go Forth and Conquer

October 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Londeka Mlawuza, founder of LV & Co (South Africa) — **Londeka Mlawuza,** founder of LV & Co (South Africa)

Go Forth and Conquer….

“Start when you are ready, you'll know when you are. Don't Worry, you'll be fine. Don't wait for opportunities, create them for yourself. And Go Forth and Conquer!”

Londeka Mlawuza, founder of LV & Co (South Africa)

Things Smart Women Don’t Do When Opportunity Knocks

July 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Saajidah Esat

Women have instinctively and deeply nurturing characteristics. Unlike men, they take pride in the process vs being solely focused on the result. They strive to develop people along the way and want to know that they are making a real and positive difference in the world. So when the next big company comes along to sign a contract that could potentially change the entire trajectory of her business, she may appear slightly hesitant and need some time to weigh out the pros and cons. Although this may be a good thing, there are some things that smart women just don’t do when opportunity knocks.

Quote of the Day by Laura Camacho

April 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Whenever you’re feeling like you don’t belong, know you are in precisely the right place at the right time and there’s an opportunity just waiting for you.”

Dr Laura Camacho, founder of Mixonian Institute

Quote of the Day by Esmeralda De Souza-Obwaka

July 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Esmeralda De Souza-Obwaka, founder of Spez Limited (Kenya) — **Esmeralda De Souza-Obwaka**, founder of Spez Limited (Kenya)

"When opportunity comes knocking, do not ask it to come back another day! Take it and RUN!"

- Esmeralda De Souza-Obwaka is the founder of Spez Limited in Kenya, a premium outside catering service operating under the brand 'Spez' and they also create decadent cakes and pastries under the brand 'The Missing Slice'. Her culinary journey began at university where Esmeralda began baking small cookies and sold them at a nearby restaurant. Today, her thriving business boats a client list that includes many of the leading corporates and multi-nationals in Nairobi.

Entrepreneur Advice from Stella Langat: Be ready to embrace opportunities

June 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Stella Langat, co-founder of Double Dee's (Kenya) — **Stella Langat**, co-founder of Double Dee's (Kenya)

Embrace opportunities....

"... be ready to embrace opportunities that will propel you a step further to fulfilling your entrepreneurial dream. And those opportunities sometimes come in the form of a disappointment or failure - for instance, an investor who says no might be the best person to approach as a mentor to help you make improvements on your business plan."

- Stella Langat is the co-founder of Double Dee's in Kenya, a company that produces elegant lingerie pieces for the busty Kenyan woman. Stella, who is presently studying economics at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs in the U.S., plans to return to Kenya after completing her degree. Together with her three women business partners she plans to open a lingerie store in the capital city of Nairobi. It will be the first such store in the country.

Quote of the Day by Honey Ogundeyi

February 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“The next growth opportunity in many sectors will come from Africa and that is a fantastic opportunity for us women, especially in non-traditional sectors such as entertainment, retail, agriculture and technology. These are huge opportunities of a lifetime and I foresee more women taking up the mantle and leading these new-generation enterprises.”

- Honey Ogundeyi is the founder of Fashpa.com, a Nigerian online fashion store retailing trendy clothes, footwear, and accessories. Oyindamola started Fashpa.com after she couldn’tfind any great fashion in the country and decided to leverage her e-commerce platform to serve others frustrated like her.

Quote of the Day

September 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sebenzile Matsebula, founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions — **Sebenzile Matsebula**, founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions

“It’s important to remember no-one owes you anything, so don’t expect anyone to do favours for you – take ownership of our life!”

- Sebenzile Matsebula is the founder and Executive Director of Motswako Office Solutions, one of South Africa’s leading office automation and document management solution providers. Sebenzile is also an internationally recognized disability rights activist. She previously worked as the Director of the Office on the Status of Disabled People (OSDP) in the Presidency of Thabo Mbeki for 8 years. In 2009, she was appointed to the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council, which is mandated to advise the government on Black Economic Empowerment in order to remedy the economic legacy of Apartheid.