Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Have a game plan and execute it with passion

December 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

You need to execute your game plan with passion....

"Have a game plan and execute it with passion, determination and focus....Work with your passion, it will keep you going and once you have a footing in your business, make the most of it and create the momentum and that will get rid of all the little challenges that may bog you down. Lastly, choose your team carefully and get rid of non-performers soon enough."

- Divine Ndhlukula founded SECURICO Security Services from humble beginnings in Zimbabwe in 1998. Divine identified a need in the market for a quality oriented security company and she has driven SECURICO to become the market leader in Zimbabwe. She has tackled a previously male-dominated industry head on and her business success story is nothing short of remarkable - marking her as one of Africa's most tenacious and inspiring women entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Three big mistakes you must avoid

November 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

What are the biggest mistakes an entrepreneur needs to avoid making....

"There are three big mistakes in my opinion. One is failing to learn the job adequately. Second one is not having a strategic vision and thirdly, lacking financial discipline to distinguish personal funds from business funds thus stifling the business from growing."

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Start your venture with an end in mind

August 11, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula founder of SECURICO Security Services (Zimbabwe) — Divine Ndhlukula founder of SECURICO Security Services (Zimbabwe)

Start with an end in mind....

"My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is start with an end in mind, know exactly what you want to achieve and start to work systematically towards the goal, exercising some patience."

- Divine Ndhlukula founded SECURICO Security Services from humble beginnings in Zimbabwe in 1998. Divine identified a need in the market for a quality oriented security company and she has driven SECURICO to become the market leader in Zimbabwe. She has tackled a previously male-dominated industry head on and her business success story is nothing short of remarkable - marking her as one of Africa's most tenacious and inspiring women entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Margaret Hirsch: My top 3 tips for women entrepreneurs

September 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

My top 3 tips for women entrepreneurs....

"1. Look after your health. Your wealth is no good if you are not healthy. 2. You can have anything you want in life if you are willing to pay the price. 3. If you can't afford it, don't have it."

- Margaret Hirsch is one half of a dynamic husband and wife duo that founded Hirsch's Homestores. Back in 1979, as a secretary, together with her husband Allan, then an appliance repair man, they unwittingly became entrepreneurs who went on to build an appliance, electronics and furnishing retail empire. Today, Hirsch's Homestores is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics business in Southern Africa, with seventeen branches and concept stores spread throughout South Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sibongile Sambo: Being a good communicator improves your chances of success

January 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Being a good communicator improves your chances of success as an entrepreneur ....

“Being able to communicate with people at different levels has probably benefited me most in my career.”

- Sibongile Sambo is a pioneering woman of South African aviation. She is founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRS Aviation Ltd., the first 100 percent black, female-owned aviation services company in South Africa. Launched in 2004, SRS is an integrated provider of private aviation services offering South African and international clients professional and personalized flight options including VIP Charter, tourist charter and helicopter services, to destinations around the world. Today, the company also provides maintenance, sales and fleet management services to private jet owners.

Entrepreneur Advice from Khanyi Dhlomo: What is the key to success?

August 22, 2014 Melanie Hawken

What is your key to success?....

"Focus, hard work and being good to others and to yourself.”

- Khanyi Dhlomo is the Managing Director of Ndalo Media, which she founded in 2007. She is also the founder of DestinyConnect and the founding editor of Destiny Magazine. Before starting her own media company, Khanyi was editor of True Love magazine for eight years. In 2013, Khanyi ventured in retail and launched Luminance, a high-end fashion and lifestyle department store. Khanyi was named most influential woman in South African Media by The Media Magazine in 2003 and made the 2011 Forbes list of 20 Young Power Women in Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Njeri Rionge: The ingredients of success for an entrepreneur

July 28, 2014 Melanie Hawken

What are the top reasons why you have been successful in business?....

“For me it is discipline, consistency, passion and excitement about growth.”

- Njeri Rionge is one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and one of the very few women pioneers in the ICT sector on the African continent.She co-founded internet service provider Wananchi Online that has since been transformed into Wananchi Group Holdings – one of east Africa’s leading providers of pay-tv, broadband internet and VoIP services. Last year the company raised US$57.5 million in growth capital from a group of international investors.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tabitha Karanja: Don't shy away from competing with men in business

July 2, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Ladies, don't by shy about competing with men in business....

“This is the 21st century and what a man can do a woman can do. It’s time we showed them through action”

- Tabitha Karanja is founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries. She is one of Kenya's leading entrepreneurs, a remarkable trailblazer and an example of a woman made good against all the odds. Tabitha chose to venture where none before her had dared. She took on an 87-year-old business monopoly and entered an industry with a deeply entrenched male gender stereotype. Tabitha broke the mould to become Kenya’s first home-grown beer and alcoholic drink manufacturer. Today, her company's state-of-the-art factory produces 10,000 bottles of gin and ready-to-drink vodka, as well as 15,000 bottles of beer per hour.

Entrepreneur Advice from Njeri Rionge: Starting up in business is like learning to ride a bike

June 11, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Trust your gut instincts....

"Ladies, it’s like learning to ride a bike or driving a car. You need only to believe in yourself, trust your gut feeling and develop a clear plan or strategy, keep it simple and implement that plan step by step with courage, conviction and love above all. Ultimately be open minded and flexible to change course when needed and listen to your customers."

- Njeri Rionge is one of Kenya’s most successful and revered serial entrepreneurs. She co-founded Wananchi Online, a leading Internet service provider which has gone on to become East Africa’s leading cable, broadband and IP (Internet-based) phone company.