Entrepreneur Advice from Laura Nyahuye - Let’s do this!

October 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Laura Nyahuye, founder of UK brand, AdornU

Every woman can do this....

"To every woman out there thinking of starting up in business, l says yes you can! It’s inside of you! Desire is the starting point of all achievements. Don’t be scared to take more risks when you have a passion. Let’s do this!"

- Laura Nyahuye is the Zimbabwean founder of UK brand, AdornU, a design company that is challenging convention and creating sculptural adornments for the body that speak volumes for the individuality and confidence of the wearer. After studying Applied Arts at Coventry University in the UK, Laura followed her passion and started her business producing pieces that are all handcrafted and totally unique, celebratory pieces.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ommo Clark: Do it if you're good at it

October 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ommo Clark, founder of iBez, Nigeria — **Ommo Clark**, founder of iBez, Nigeria

Do something you're passionate about....

"Don't do something just because other people are doing it and making money from it - do it because you are passionate about it and are good at it."

- Ommo Clark is a Nigerian techpreneur and founder of iBez, a software company that creates proprietary software products that help to solve local challenges. Ommo is a qualified IT Consultant with many years of experience working for a string of well-known investment banks and software companies both in the UK and Nigeria. Ommo is passionate about software services and using ICT to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

Entrepreneur Advice from Uche Pedro: Look inwards and find your passion

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

You need to find your passion as a woman entrepreneur....

“There is no fixed career path. My advice is to look inwards, find your passion, find your niche and go for it! Don’t over-think it. While you are ‘thinking’ someone might launch your idea.”

- Uche Pedro is founder of BellaNaija.com, a company that develops and delivers exciting online content aimed at Nigerian and Pan-African audiences. Uche’s savvy grasp of media trends has led to BellaNaija.com becoming the go-to lifestyle, entertainment and fashion portal in Africa. Her website has established a loyal following amongst the young, cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile set in Nigeria, with over 1 million unique visitors and 9 million page views each month.

Entrepreneur Advice from Katherine-Mary Pichulik: Trust yourself and your artistic choices

October 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Katherine-Mary Pichulik, founder and designer behind Pichulik — **Katherine-Mary Pichulik**, founder and designer behind Pichulik

Top advice on life, art and business....

"Trust yourself and your artistic choices. Value your vision and unique articulation of beauty. Work hard. Be kind always, but set boundaries and terms of business up front. Arrogance and superiority is not exciting nor interesting – inspired and engaging is visionary. Practice silence and gratitude."

- Katherine-Mary Pichulik is the founder and Cape Town-based designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Katherine's wonderfully creative designs are inspired by her travels, artist friends, and the wonderful women she loves and admires. Pichulik pieces are hand-made from rope and collected materials – anything from shell to semi-precious stones. Founded in mid-2012, Pichulik has grown in leaps and has been featured in local and international publications and adorning catwalk models in collaborative fashion week shows with local labels Laslesso, Stefania Morland and Loin Cloth & Ashes.

Entrepreneur Advice from Amanta Hooman - Keep moving forward

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Amanta Hooman, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa) — **Amanta Hooman**, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa)

Keep on moving forward....

"Never give up. It is always slower than expected in the start-up phase. That's ok. Keep on moving."

- Amanta Hooman is a young South African woman entrepreneur who is producing a wonderful new range of truffle-based gourmet products under her new label Flavour Union. She is working with the most committed and passionate individuals within their fields to deliver a burst of flavour that shouts “Africa” ...combined with the heritage of the European food-diamond, the truffle.

Entrepreneur Advice from Bev Missing: Give 100% and never give up!

September 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bev Missing, founder and ceo of Rain — **Bev Missing**, founder and ceo of Rain

Best advice for women considering a start-up business....

"Start at the bottom. You need 100% passion, 100% guts and a total belief in your vision and your determination to succeed. Be prepared to put in crazy work hours and all kinds of sacrifices, but most important... NEVER GIVE UP."

- Bev Missing is the founder of South African body and bath product brand RAIN. Back in 1999 Bev saw a gap in the market to start making soap as it was labour intensive and all the lovely soaps at that stage were imported. Bev started the project in her garage hoping to help solve unemployment in her hometown of Ladybrand, and to make a difference in the lives of the poor and jobless. Today, RAIN has eight stores across South Africa, two unique wellness spa's, and two stores in New York. Bev has recently signed contracts to open a further 70 Rain stores in the USA and Canada and then 40 in the UK and Ireland.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ego Iwegbu-Daley: If you fail, so what!

September 22, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Go ahead and start - don't fear failure....

"If you are thinking of starting a business, just go ahead and start the business. If you fail, so what! Just do it. As for money and investment, if you have an idea that is worthwhile and viable, then the money and investment will be the least of your problems. Just do the business and the money will come."

- Ego Iwegbu-Daley is founder of Miss Salon London nail boutiques in London and South Africa. Her unique nail boutique concept creates an environment where music, movies, friends, conversation, a glass of wine, and of course incredibly beautiful nails, all combine in the ultimate pampering experience.

Entrepreneur Advice from Nobesuthu Ndlovu: Believe in yourself and your capabilities

September 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

You need to believe in yourself and your capabilities....

"There will always be reasons as to why you shouldn't start a business; focusing on the cons and on the negatives for most ideas is a sure way to ensure failure. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that not only are you in a positive headspace, but also that you believe in yourself and your capabilities, all the way through the journey."

- Nobesuthu Ndlovu is the co-founder of Burgundy Fly fashion retail brand in South Africa. Stemming from Nobesuthu's passion for fashion and the arts, the business was formed to solve two problems: the lack of commercialisation of top South African designer wear and a lack of accessibility of local designer wear for the South African market.

Entrepreneur Advice from Caroline McCann: The hardest thing to do is to make the leap forward

September 15, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Caroline McCann, owner of Braeside Butchery in Parkhurst, Johannesburg — **Caroline McCann**, owner of Braeside Butchery in Parkhurst, Johannesburg

Take the first leap....

"The hardest thing to do is to take a huge leap forward, and that is what being in business is all about. Every single day, you have to keep taking that jump, and if you are not progressing as a person by taking such leaps, then I don’t think you are getting very far. By nature, women are very much about the next day, so just take the entrepreneurial leap and do it. It is very easy to hold back and stay with your own insecurity, so just do it."

- Caroline McCann is the owner of Braeside Butchery in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. This lawyer turned butcher is passionate about the 100% certified free-range, grass-fed and ethically reared meat she sources from farmers she gets to know and trust.

Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: The right time to start a business? The earlier, the better!

September 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia) — **Monica Musonda**, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)

Aspiring women entrepreneurs should take the plunge sooner rather than later....

“I would have loved to have been younger and have less commitments… At this stage to fail is a lot more painful than if I failed at 20 or 25 or 30, for instance. I think it is a lot harder when you’re older, you have more commitments… I think there is never a perfect scenario for you to start a business – but I think if you are going to take the leap, the earlier the better.”

- Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.

Entrepreneur Advice from Nkemdilim Begho: Share your vision with the world

September 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Nkemdilim Begho, a Nigerian serial entrepreneur — **Nkemdilim Begho**, a Nigerian serial entrepreneur

Share your vision with the world....

"Believe in your vision, share it with the world and never give up. Put aside all your fears - if your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough!"

- Nkemdilim Begho is a Nigerian serial entrepreneur. She is the founder and Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. She is also a co-founder of 'Always Me by Anne Li', a company producing baby and maternity products in Nigeria. Nkem has been the recipient of many awards including the Jim Ovia Prize for Software Excellence, and the Etisalat Prize for Innovation. She regularly volunteers for mentoring and empowerment programmes often sharing her experiences with young Nigerians and less privileged children.

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 Wendy Ackerman: Set yourself achievable goals

September 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Take it one step at a time....

"Anything is within anyones reach. You have to stand up to take it. It is within yourself. Set achievable goals and do it one step at a time.”

- Wendy Ackerman is one of the founders and an Executive Director of Pick n Pay Stores. Together with husband Raymond Ackerman she helped build up one of South Africa’s pre-eminent FMCG retailers, consisting of over 450 stores including 121 supermarkets and 14 hypermarkets. Operations are in food, clothing, and general merchandise sectors as well as financial services. The company operates throughout South Africa, southern Africa and Australia and employs around 49,000 people. Today, much of Wendy's boundless energy is devoted to her family's philanthropic endeavours and her personal work for the underprivileged.

Entrepreneur Advice from Swaady Martin: Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs

August 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs trying to make it in Africa....

"Before you start anything, my advice is to find your passion and pursue it passionately. In addition, as an entrepreneur, you need to be able to create a compelling vision, to passionately own the vision, to define the roadmap to execution, and to bring together and relentlessly drive the energies, the talents and the values necessary to ensure success. You need to become an execution machine. Building a venture from scratch is not for the faint-hearted, you need to be courageous, tenacious, have perseverance and resilience. Never take no for an answer and be solution-oriented, constantly."

- Swaady Martin, is founder of YSWARA, a growing African luxury brand that creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. Complimenting their hand-selected tea blends, Yswara also offers a range of luxury tea accessories. Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship.

Entrepreneur Advice from Thokozile Mangwiro - Focusing on a strong vision will pull you through the emotional roller-coaster

August 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa) — **Thokozile Mangwiro**, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)

You need to focus on a strong vision....

"A start-up can be challenging to women who do not have a vision of what they are trying to accomplish. My advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to focus on their vision. Focusing on a strong vision will pull you through the emotional roller-coaster; it will pull you through the fear and doubt that will surely come. A strong vision will lead to the success of your business."

- Thokozile Mangwiro is the founder of Nyla Naturals a South African company that is focused on manufacturing personal hair and skin care products. Their 100% natural cosmetic products use a fusion of natural ingredients with premium oils, such as the Southern African indigenous Marula oil for skin and hair nourishment. Thokozile's mission is to produce products that are natural, nourishing, healing and that pamper hair and skin of all types.

Entrepreneur Advice from Alana Bond - Be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses

August 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Alana Bond and Lana Lovasic, directors of Simanye Group

It is always good to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses....

"Failures are to be learned from and not feared. The most important qualities for entrepreneurs are persistence and having a good network of people in similar situations who can brainstorm ideas and troubleshoot problems with you. Also, it is good to plan fully and understand all areas of your business – if financial management is your weakness for example, make sure you have someone in your business who does this well, or else make sure that you learn enough about this area to be able to at least understand what you need to manage your business. It is always good to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses and to be proactive in managing these."

- Alana Bond is the founder of South African company, Simanye Group, a cluster of entities dedicated to helping businesses, communities and the public sector find effective and sustainable solutions for transformation and economic development in South Africa, Africa and beyond. Alana has implemented her vision of a business to support innovative approaches to create impact and change, fulfilling her dream of becoming a social entrepreneur. Alana is deeply committed to meaningful change in South Africa and is passionate about addressing inequality and the upliftment of everyday people, in a sustainable, commercially-oriented way.

Entrepreneur Advice from Maria Auma - Stick to your code of ethics

August 20, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda) — **Maria Auma**, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)

Here's my entrepreneurial code of ethics....

"It's hard for a fellow entrepreneur to give only one piece of advice. But I will compress my codes of ethics into one succinct paragraph. Never ever give up. If ever you find yourself on your knees, that is the perfect time to begin again. Never waste time. Once it's gone it's gone. Know your priorities and treat your family and friends well. Respect the people who work for you, they are human beings. And lastly, dream big and then do it - that way you will inspire other women."

- Maria Auma is the founder of Blue Luxury Investments in Uganda, a privately-held, female-owned company that offers a wide range of investment management solutions to economically viable projects throughout Africa. Maria's focus is to empower African entrepreneurs seeking seed or mid-level funding because she believes in entrepreneurship and in Africa. Her services are tailored around raising capital, managing funds, monitoring and evaluating projects, and securing stakeholder partnerships.

Entrepreneur Advice from Yolanda Methvin - Continue to work towards self-actualisation

August 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Yolanda Methvin, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa) — **Yolanda Methvin**, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa)

Continue to work towards self-actualisation....

"Do not be afraid to cross-collaborate, toward getting your goals achieved. One must seek out continued education opportunities. One must seek out opportunities to share existing knowledge achieved via life and other career experience. And one must continue to work toward self-actualisation. We can only achieve that which, we've already become internally. “See. Believe. Achieve”, that's my motto."

- Yolanda Methvin is the founder of LithaFlora African Botanicals, a South African functional health and wellness lifestyle brand and business. Yolanda lives, loves and works in Cape Town, South Africa, home of Table Mountain and the closest urban neighbor to the Fynbos Biome, located within the larger, Cape Floral Kingdom; the only floral kingdom situated entirely within one country. She uses these natural wonders to create unique herbal treatments and products that promise to please your mind, body and soul.

Entrepreneur Advice from Suzie Wokabi - You've got to roll with the punches!

August 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Suzie Wokabi, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya) — **Suzie Wokabi**, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya)

My top advice to any aspiring woman entrepreneur....

".... they MUST be very passionate in whatever they are trying to start. It must be a field they love entirely and that they know something about. Also, patience, perseverence and rolling with the punches are a must."

- Suzie Wokabi is the founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. in Kenya. Suzie studied an International Relations degree in the United States and worked in New York within the fashion and beauty industries from 2001 until 2007. When she returned to her hometown of Nairobi, Suzie decided to pursue her passion and launch her own authentic, affordable, high-quality African make-up brand. This revolutionary line is Kenya’s first make-up and beauty brand and a global trailblazer in creating a bespoke product for the African woman, by an African woman. The hallmark of Suzie Beauty products is affordable, great quality, tailor-made for the unique needs of women living in the African climate.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sibabalwe Sesmani - There's never a perfect set of circumstances in which to launch your business venture

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa) — **Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani**, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa)

Circumstances will never be perfect for you to launch....

"It is not about having the perfect set of circumstances before you launch your business venture, or waiting until you are 100% equipped and financed to go to market - nothing will happen unless you just start. In fact, when we first embarked on our own entrepreneurial journey with Unorthodox, we self-funded and worked within the confines of our finances. But, the fact is that we didn't let our lack of funding constrain us, we just went out and started our business with passion and huge amounts of energy."

- Sibabalwe Sesmani is a co-founder of Unorthodox PR & Media Group in South Africa along with her business partner Zuziwe Mkhwanazi. They strive to create their own genre of public relations, one that specializes in corporates and thought leaders of industries. They develop PR strategies for corporates in South Africa and Africa, helping their clients to establish them as thought leaders and pioneers in their industries.