Entrepreneur Advice from Meg Faure / Expect to work hard

October 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Meg Faure, founder, Play Sense (South Africa)

Expect to work hard!…

“Expect to work much harder than you think you will, for less reward and for a long period of time. People often glamourize the entrepreneurial and start up journey when in actual fact it’s really gritty, dirty and difficult.”

Meg Faure, founder, Play Sense (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Tiguidanke Camara / Never give up

September 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tiguidanke Camara, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tigui Mining Group (TMG)

Never give up!…...

“Surround yourself with experts, work hard and always remain professional. Most of all, never give up.”

Tiguidanke Camara, founder & CEO of Tigui Mining Group (TMG)

Entrepreneur Advice from Afia Bobia Amanfo / Be prepared to work hard for your success

August 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Afia Bobia Amanfo, founder, Studentshubgh (Ghana) — **Afia Bobia Amanfo**, founder, Studentshubgh (Ghana)

Be prepared to work hard for your success!…

“Don't expect overnight success but rather, be prepared to put in the long hours of work to make your idea a success.”

Afia Bobia Amanfo, founder, Studentshubgh (Ghana)

Quote of the Day by Bupe Chipili Mulapesi

August 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Determination and hard work will never disappoint a successful mindset.”

Bupe Chipili Mulapesi, founder of Farm23 Strawberry (Zambia)

Quote of the Day by Kilamba Welwitschia Manuel

June 16, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“With hard work and the will to win, we can do everything.”

Kilamba Welwitschia Manuel, founder, Welila Cantelier, (Angola)

Entrepreneur Advice from Tatiana Da Encarnação Casaca / Create a consistent business plan

May 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tatiana Da Encarnação Casaca, co-founder of IMO NExT (Angola)

Create a consistent business plan…

“Identify a real need, create a consistent business plan, and work hard.”

Tatiana Da Encarnação Casaca, co-founder of IMO NExT (Angola)

Entrepreneur Advice from Rachel Phiri - Always do your best work

September 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Rachel Phiri, founder of Silverbox Jewellery (Zimbabwe) — **Rachel Phiri**, founder of Silverbox Jewellery (Zimbabwe)

Always do your best work, especially when no one is watching....

"Consistency in your work will speak for you louder and further than you ever can in words. And, remember to smile and believe in yourself - if you can dream it, you can do it."

Rachel Phiri, founder of Silverbox Jewellery (Zimbabwe)

Entrepreneur Advice from Sonia Paiva: Your diligence will be rewarded

February 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sonia Paiva, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland) — **Sonia Paiva**, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland)

Your diligence will be rewarded…

“Start, start and start. You may find your self starting many times but continue starting. This is called diligence. ‘The soul of the diligent is richly supplied’ - Proverbs 13 v 4.”

Sonia Paiva is the founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen, a Swaziland serial entrepreneur making an impact in the agribusiness and food processing sectors in her country. Eswatini Kitchen produces a range of gourmet foods using only natural products without any colorants, or preservatives, such as Jams, Sauces, Pickles, Honey, and Marmalades. Most of these products oversees. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Sonia spent time in the corporate world, in the motor industry in particular, running the well known Carson Motors in the city of Manzini, before moving to the NGO world and the food industry sector.Read Sonia’s startup story.

Entrepreneur Advice from Dené Carlile: Build a solid foundation

January 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dené Carlile, founder of BluMallow Social & Design (South Africa) — **Dené Carlile**, founder of BluMallow Social & Design (South Africa)

Set up your foundation!…

“Do your research and do it well. Planning is so important. Take the time to give your business the best possible chance of success. Don't be afraid to ask questions, learn how to network, read articles, listen to podcasts, work late hours building up those first customers and give them a great experience! Without a solid foundation, you will simply be blown over.”

- Dené Carlile is the founder of BluMallow Social & Design in South Africa, a company providing social media management, marketing, advertising and design to companies of all sizes at affordable rates. Dené has over 7 years experience in Graphic design and Social Media Management and has worked for clients ranging from SMEs right up to Multi-national Corporates, and has been awarded several Service Excellence awards.

Quote of the Day by Tinky Ogle

March 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tinky Ogle, founder of SMME News (South Africa) — **Tinky Ogle**, founder of SMME News (South Africa)

"Be prepared to work hard, and then some."

- Tinky Ogle is the founder of SMME News in South Africa, a free bilingual educational newspaper providing information and advice to Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMME) sector. A passionate social change-maker, Tinky graduated from the University of Cape Town with a degree in Social Science and today is making a difference by empowering other small businesses in local communities, giving them much needed access to information and a powerful platform to showcase their services.

Entrepreneur Advice from Michelle Mbilizi: My top advice

March 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi) — **Michelle Mbilizi,** serial entrepreneur (Malawi)

My top advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs....

"To persevere. Account for each penny. Don’t spend more than you make. Hard work."

- Michelle Mbilizi is a successful serial entrepreneur in Malawi who has founded companies across multiple business sectors including retail, farming, business services and property development. Michelle comes from a business background and whilst studying in South Africa she worked part-time for a PR company which dealt with a lot of entrepreneurs who motivated and inspired her to open her own business upon completing her studies. She's never looked back and has gone on to become one of Malawi's most successful women entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko: It takes hard work and perseverance

February 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko, founder of Abidjan4you (Ivory Coast) — **Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko,** founder of Abidjan4you (Ivory Coast)

It takes hard work and perseverance....

"The most important advice I can give to other women who want to start is that hard work and perseverance is crucial to succeed."

Evelyne Ndabaneze-Masumbuko is the founder of Abidjan4you, a unique city guide for expats in English in Ivory Coast. Evelyne has created the no. 1 website in English in Côte d'Ivoire that answers the need for an easily accessed on-line information resource. Her inspiration for launching came after her husband was relocated to Abidjan by his company and she spotted a need for a resource that help newcomers like herself to the city.

Entrepreneur Advice from Devotha Ntuke Minzi: It takes hard work

September 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania) — **Devotha Ntuke Minzi**, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)

It takes hard work....

"Hard Work - It is a sacrifice that you have to make. You have to be completely committed to your work, and enjoy it."

- Devotha Ntuke Minzi is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of K-finance Limited, a microfinance company providing financial services and business mentoring to small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Tanzania. Devotha holds a Masters in Economics from Youngstown State University, Ohio, USA, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague, Netherlands. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Devotha worked in the policy and research department at the Central Bank of Tanzania for more than 20 years.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenah Bayoh: You have to put the work in

September 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Adenah Bayoh, serial entrepreneur (United States)

You have to put the work in....

“There is no substitute for hard work. You have to put the work in if you want to be successful. My grandmother would always say: ‘You have to wake up before everyone else gets up and do more than everyone else.’ I watched my grandmother navigate her way through almost any challenge because of her willingness to put in the work.”

- Adenah Bayoh is a very successful real estate entrepreneur in the United States. She embodies the American dream. At age 13, she escaped the civil war in her native country of Liberia, immigrated to the United States and is now one of the most successful entrepreneurs in her home state of New Jersey. Adenah is the founder and CEO of Adenah Bayoh and Companies, which is the parent corporation that owns IHOP franchises in Paterson and Irvington, New Jersey and a real estate development portfolio with over $225 million in urban redevelopment projects. Because of the success of her flagship IHOP in Irvington, she is the second largest employer in the area. Next year, Adenah will launch Cornbread, her signature line of fast casual, farm-to-table, soul food restaurants.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mariam Mpaata: It takes hard work and lots of patience

August 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mariam Mpaata, founder of Junior Stars Youth Development Programme (Kenya) — **Mariam Mpaata**, founder of Junior Stars Youth Development Programme (Kenya)

It takes hard work and lots of patience....

"I have come to believe that entrepreneurship is harder than most people think. It requires extra, extra hard work and lots of patience. The greatest thing, however, is that entrepreneurship has overwhelming benefits including financial, psychological and social."

- Mariam Mpaata, founder of Junior Stars Youth Development Programme in Kenya, a social enterprise that uses football and mentorship to empower youth and women. She organises a host of local leagues, training programmes, awards, and a mentoring programme - all using soccer to uplift an inspire young people. Mariam's positive contribution has seen her recognised and listed in the Business Daily’s ‘Top 40 Under 40 Remarkable Women in 2014, and recently by Chase Bank’s ‘Top 30 Under 40 Muslim Women in Kenya.’