the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Marilize Jacobs
If you’d told me fresh after varsity that my greatest professional qualifications in my mid-30s would be earned not in an office, but on the floor of a paediatric therapist’s room and in divorce court, I’d have cried. In 2017, I was deep in the “triathlon of overwhelm”: navigating my son’s autism diagnosis, a marriage ending, and a body screaming with adrenal fatigue. I was a shell, crying over spilt milk because the spilt milk felt like the final, cruel joke.
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by Seanice Lojede
Disappointment is an inevitable part of life, especially in business. Whether it's losing a major client, missing out on a tender, or watching a deal fall through, these setbacks can hit hard. But what truly separates those who thrive in the face of adversity from those who falter is their ability to bounce back - and bounce back quickly.
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by Lori Milner
Have you ever had an experience where you shot lights out? The presentation was flawless; you were at your most confident, and the answers flowed so naturally. Then…have you ever had an experience in which you are still remorseful about what you did, what you said, and how you reacted? We all have.
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by Lori Milner
Resilience is hard-wired into us; it comes standard. It's not an extra you have to pay more for. Even though it's part of you, it can only be activated by choice. Not all situations are created equally, so I categorise resilience into Big R and Small r resilience. Big R resilience are those events that truly challenge us and can result from tragedy, unexpected change or loss.Then there is small r resilience, the daily speed bumps like having a difficult conversation, being let down, or not getting a great performance review. No matter how small it feels, it is real for you and does result in disappointment. Not all situations require the same level of resilience, but the small ones are as important to navigate as the big ones.
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by Catia Mondlane
The key to keeping your business resilient through change and uncertainty is to have a flexible business plan. This means creating a plan that can adapt to changing circumstances, whether it's a sudden shift in the market, unexpected challenges, or new opportunities. Start by identifying the core values and goals of your business. These should remain consistent even as your strategies change.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
“People want to know that the person leading their [company] is tough enough to bring them through, but they also want to see that the leader gets it, understands how anxious, confused and worried about the future they are.”
…from the great book ‘Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons’ by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Head of the WTO, and exactly captures what we as leaders need to show in the coming months (possibly year) as events across the globe, inflation, possible Stagflation as we discussed (here) and especially the war in Ukraine and supply chain disruptions, continue to impact our countries and communities.
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by Nontobeko Mbuyane
Most of us will experience hard choices, stressful events and difficult situations that will impact us in one way or another for the rest of our lives. Hard times happen and they teach us lessons, make us stronger, and give us a deeper sense of self. After all, would sitting in the sun mean as much if you hadn’t experienced the storm first? Elizabeth Taylor once said: “You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other, and darn it, you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. You curse. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way.”
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by Elsa Figueiredo Tchikanha
Due to the financial crisis the country is facing as a result of the fall in oil prices and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic, part of the strategy of companies to avoid bankruptcy and remain competitive is to reduce costs, among which are lay-offs. The layoffs have been throwing a significant number of people into unemployment, and thus many women have no choice but to become entrepreneurs and start small businesses, from catering to personal shoppers and influencers.
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by Nontobeko Mbuyane
I read in some book sometime ago that waiting is not mere empty hoping, but It has the inner certainty of reaching the goal. And with time I surely agree with that as well. Coming from me that is really something big because I have been an impatient person for much of my life. I wanted things to happen to me. I sort of had a flow chart of how my life should go and I really didn’t know much about waiting. I thought it was something you did if you didn’t have courage or conviction. It was just an excuse not to take action. But at least I know better now.
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by Manini Mbongwa
I find myself surprised that we are almost ending the first quarter of the year 2022 so suddenly. For many entrepreneurs there has been a confusion of whether they should try to revive their businesses or just give up. After going through the tough period of closing their doors due to the pandemic, and furthermore being affected by looting, it has not been an easy ride. According to Stats SA almost 1000 businesses were liquidated in 2021. It is unfortunate that the current financial situation, not only in our country but globally, is giving us no options. We have to hustle on as employment opportunities are almost non existent. We are in a swim or sink situation.
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by Brigette Mashile
This week I read another meme which reminded me that it has been close to 3 years of Covid reality! I mean, I know but why are we counting? Who felt the need to remind us? This year, I no longer have a fear of Covid because of the amount of things, people and realities I have lost from it. It’s a ‘whatever happens’ kind of relationship now. Covid must Covid, and I will Brigette every day. I am so nonchalant about it because of the amount of times it has tried to trap me, for example:
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by Didintle Moreki
The year is at its peak, my hand shakes as ink spills over this paper. A lot has happened. I have lost to gain, gained to lose. l have cried to laugh only to find myself laughing to cry again. I do not know if the ink is half full or half empty all l know is my hand has grown weary, over the lessons l have jotted down through the past months. I still amaze myself with the question; Is it really worth it?’ I know it’s a subject of mind, l know this is not how hope felt in January. I know it felt so much like possibility. But this thing, this thing called life has found its way to my feet, rained itself to my door step only to show me l am a pawn in a Chess Game and there is a Mastermind behind it. So l decide to Press ON.
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By Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
As we come to the end of yet another year ‘like no other’, it is only right that we look to the future with an understanding of what has passed. After all, none of us can claim not to have been infected by the events of the past two years, not only by the horror that was 2020, but then the realization in 2021 that Covid was here to stay, and either we adapted our businesses or we were finished. Sadly, no one cares why a company goes out of business, there are no excuses in the business afterlife - it is just closed, which in anyone’s books is pretty final.
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by Nontobeko Mbuyane
The past week was surely not an easy week for me, strangely nothing much happened but I completely broke down. I remember I even sobbed on the phone when my partner called. The most painful part is not even being able to be around to at least provide the emotional support I so much needed. It was after a few days when I regained my composure that I realized that indeed nothing new had happened on the day I broke down, but I have been carrying around so much emotional baggage that suddenly there was no room anymore, thus it all burst out.
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by Thuli Zikalala
Why interpreters should embrace change
It’s hard to think of relevance when things are going well in our lives and businesses; we have systems in place and often know what to expect. This is usually the time when people and organisations slow down and take a break because they’ve established predictable processes that satisfy clients and yield financial return – it works. However, this controlled and sometimes relaxed approach has dire consequences for people who don’t see the need to evolve; leaving organisations at risk of becoming professionally obsolete.
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by Catia Mondlane
Business visionaries are inventive, imaginative and risk-taking by definition, so building up a business in or following a pandemic doesn't scare them away. The pandemic showed numerous such visionaries that keep up with their actual wellbeing and develop new business frameworks. In 2020, buyers looked to discover innovative solutions online to forget their challenges, and virtual exercise classes and online courses entered the market with a flourish.
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by the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
Our thoughts currently go out to all our incredible and inspirational Lionesses and indeed all business owners in South Africa as we see the terrifying impact of riots, looting and destruction of property. More than 800 retail shops have been looted, more than 200 shopping malls have been looted, damaged or destroyed, and in KwaZulu Natal, it is estimated that goods worth between $400m and $1bn have been stolen or destroyed. To see Lionesses who have had all their hopes, dreams and aspirations stolen from them is heartbreaking. How can one prepare for such events - indeed if one could even afford it, how many insurance companies even offer insurance against this?
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by Tatenda Rungisa
We may all be faced with hard times in our everyday lives or in running our businesses, the key issue is to know how to manage sailing through the hard times rather than focusing on the bad season or time. We need to know how to manage our businesses and selves through the hard times. How do we manage these rough times?
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Zilia Ximenes (Zila), founder, Zximenes-Soluções Imobiliárias, Lda (Angola)
Be patient and resilient!…
Zilia Ximenes (Zila), founder, Zximenes-Soluções Imobiliárias, Lda (Angola)
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by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker
In the first week of 2020, I drove from my home in Johannesburg to Durban to spend a week interviewing my grandmother about her life for a book. It was fascinating to hear about how life was as a teenager for my grandmother during the Second World War in England.
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