Entrepreneur Advice from Lana de Klerk: Persevere!

September 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lana de Klerk, founder of Prestige Marketing (South Africa) — **Lana de Klerk**, founder of Prestige Marketing (South Africa)

Perseverance is essential....

"See every challenge and hurdle along the way as an opportunity. Surround yourself with like-minded people who will cheer you on. Always remember the 4 P's: Persevere! Persevere! Persevere! Persevere!"

- Lana de Klerk is the founder of Prestige Marketing in South Africa, a company specialising in corporate gifts and clothing. Lana's passion has always been in marketing, and she's always loved stationery, gifts and clothing, so it seemed the perfect industry for her to launch her business in.Today, she is building a successful business and brand and with great ambitions for the future.

Entrepreneur Advice from Julie Cassidy: The rewards far outweigh the efforts

September 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Julie Cassidy, co-founder of ProFlex People (South Africa) — **Julie Cassidy**, co-founder of ProFlex People (South Africa)

The rewards will far outweigh your efforts....

"Don't give up! As hard as the struggle seems to get your business off the ground and become your own boss, the rewards far outweigh the efforts."

- Julie Cassidy is the co-founder of ProFlex People in South Africa, a company that provides a flexible solution to small businesses by allowing them to choose and buy-in the skills they need, for as long as they need, with no additional overheads, employment challenges or excessive rates - all via an online platform. Julie worked in the corporate world for over 20 years building a strong foundation of business knowledge and skills in the transformation and change management fields before launching her own entrepreneurial journey.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mimi Shodeinde: Be a master of your craft

September 8, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mimi Shodeinde, founder of Miminat Designs (UK) — **Mimi Shodeinde**, founder of Miminat Designs (UK)

Be a master of your craft....

"The art world is fast moving and competitive, so I’ve learnt that the only way to succeed is always be at the top of my game. I want to always create fresh and innovative content that strikes a chord with my buyers. Design is an expression of many contradictions; it is simple, yet complex, it considers form and function whilst possessing timeless quality that continually pushes design boundaries. So my only advice will be stay on TOP of your game, be a master of your craft."

- Mimi Shodeinde is the founder of Miminat Designs in the UK, a company that specialises in furniture and product design for commercial and residential projects both in the UK and internationally. Mimi's philosophy is simple: to constantly innovate and explore and push the boundaries of the furniture and design world. Mimi's work exploits a combination of quality materials and textures to develop avant-garde pieces using methods of construction enriched with history.

Entrepreneur Advice from Alison Barnard: Take baby steps to grow

September 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Alison Barnard, founder of African Kaleidoscope Events (South Africa) — **Alison Barnard**, founder of African Kaleidoscope Events (South Africa)

Take baby steps to grow....

"If your gut is telling you to startup in business, you should listen to it and go for it - take baby steps and grow slowly so that you can feel the success, and build up the finances and confidence in yourself and in your customers."

- Alison Barnard is the founder of African Kaleidoscope Events in South Africa, a specialist event management company. Alison has been providing event management services for the past 13 years to Government, Corporate and Private Individuals. She was a finalist in the SMME Category of the Top Women Awards in 2010.

Entrepreneur Advice from Heather Cresswel: Have a vision that you can hold onto

September 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Heather Cresswell (L) & Savannah Sefor (R), founders of Firebrand (South Africa) — **Heather Cresswell (L) & Savannah Sefor (R),** founders of Firebrand (South Africa)

Have a vision that you can hold onto....

"Find a friend who loves and supports you on your worst days and who believes in you when you doubt. Surround yourself with good people. Most importantly, I think it’s essential to have a vision that you can hold onto and focus on during those challenging days."

- Heather Cresswell is the co-founder of Firebrand in South Africa, a consulting company that creates strategic, bespoke organisational transformation programmes for its corporate clients. Heather is a qualified Facilitator and Coach in the Thinking Environment, and has spent the past 20 years working in the field of personal, team and leadership development. As a successful entrepreneur she knows the challenges faced by leaders and teams in business during these uncertain times. She’s passionate about what it takes to create workable relationships and believes your relationship to yourself, others and life largely determines your level of joy, fulfillment and happiness.

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 Janet Nkubana: Get your PR going and keep talking to people

September 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Maximising your Public Relations is important....

"Public Relations is key to any initiative, not only business initiatives... (to) implement any idea you have – talk about it. Be free and say what you think, share what you want to achieve. Use the partnerships and nurture them."

- Janet Nkubana, co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives with her sister Joy Ndungutse shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. These inspiring sisters had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Today, Gahaya Links manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country, organised into around 52 cooperatives that help provide much needed income and stability. The sisters have successfully opened the business to international markets, partnering with the likes of Macy’s, Walmart, Oprah Magazine, and Kate Spade. Today, Gahaya Links "Peace Baskets” are sold and admired the world over.

Entrepreneur Advice from Saloni Kantaria: Do your due diligence

August 31, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Do your due diligence....

"Do your due diligence and see if your idea is actually something the market needs or whether its only you who thinks the market needs it. Speak to people you trust about your concept and get their feedback. If you've decided to go ahead and implement your concept then stick to your guns and don't lose confidence."

- Saloni Kantaria, the founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio in Nairobi, is bringing something fresh to the exercise scene. She has launched East Africa's first boutique class focused studio integrating technology with fitness. Born and raised in Nairobi, Saloni played tennis for Kenya in the 1990s and was the top ranked female tennis player in Kenya until 1999 with a junior world ranking. She then went on to play tennis for Cornell University where she pursued her undergraduate degree. Although she moved on to become an international arbitration lawyer, she always had a passion for fitness and decided to her open her fitness studio in January 2016.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi: There is no instant gratification

August 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa) — **Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi**, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa)

There is no instant gratification....

"Being in business requires tenacity and serious patience. There is no instant gratification, you have to work hard in order to achieve lasting success in business."

- Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi is the founder of Yivani Naturals. a South Africa startup producing a range of 100% natural soothing and therapeutic skincare. Ntshantsha's concept is focused on the promotion of South African Indigenous Herbs and Essential Oils offering natural alternatives to health for a more holistic mind, body, and soul solution. She is actively involved in Youth development coordinating and working with the South African Youth Council. Her other current directorship positions are with Office Furniture Africa, IPCOWEB, Zenande Women’s investments and Siyakhweza Women’s Investments.

Entrepreneur Advice from Rosemary Obi: Start from where you are

August 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rosemary Obi, founder of Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria) — Rosemary Obi, founder of Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria)

Start from where you are....

"Start from where you are. All you need is God, Goals and Guts. Do not be scared to start small. Keep going and never look back nor listen to any pessimism. Just do it and the sky will only be but a launch pad for you."

- Rosemary Obi is the founder of Project FX Make-Up Show Africa in Nigeria, Africa's first ever make-up reality show launched in June 2016, with makeup artist contestants from 5 African countries.. Rosemary's love for make-up and Africa as a whole inspired her to start her Makeup Show journey. She is proudly promoting African make-up creatives and brands.

Entrepreneur Advice from Susan Kinuthia: Take small steps in the right direction

August 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Susan Kinuthia, founder of Ruzena Naturals (Kenya) — **Susan Kinuthia**, founder of Ruzena Naturals (Kenya)

Start with a small step....

"The smallest step in the right direction can end up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but just take the step."

- Susan Kinuthia, is the founder of Ruzena Naturals in Kenya, a company that manufactures natural handmade soaps from shea butter, cocoa butter and cold pressed oils like sesame oil, black castor oil and palm kernel oil. A Graphic Designer by profession, Susan quit the corporate world in January 2014 to follow her passion and launch her entrepreneurial journey. Having successfully developed her core product range, Susan plans to introduce at least four more soap variants in the next year, as well as a hair treatment and body lotion.

Entrepreneur Advice from Amanda Ioannoy: Dream big and aim even higher!

August 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Amanda Ioannoy (founder) & Varisha Singh, the dynamic duo behind Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts(South Africa) — **Amanda Ioannoy** (founder) & Varisha Singh, the dynamic duo behind Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts(South Africa)

Dream big and aim even higher!...

"With many young women today, the lack of self belief and the "I Can" attitude is common, yet something as simple as this can change your outlook on any situation. The belief in yourself is the most powerful attribute to have, and with this attribute already half of the battle is won!"

- Amanda Ioannoy is the founder of Ambella Corporate and Promotional Gifts in South Africa, a company that provides gifting and promotional merchandise products to effectively promote company brands. Amanda is passionate about enriching the brands she works with and to positively impact the corporate world by creating a thriving brand culture. With a B.Comm degree in Business Management and as a dedicated wife and mother to two beautiful girls, Amanda embodies the lifestyle and career aspirations of today's generation of women entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Claire Keet: Be clear about your motivation for starting up

August 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Claire Keet, founder of Sentiens (South Africa) — **Claire Keet**, founder of Sentiens (South Africa)

Be clear about your motivation for starting up....

"Interrogate your motivation for starting a business. And be honest with yourself. That motivation is what you'll rely on to get you out of bed when it feels like your business is failing. It will be what helps you remain strong when you're learning the really tough lessons, of which there will be plenty. It will inspire you to find solutions for challenges that seem unconquerable. Write down your motivation and make sure it's real enough not to waver in the face of the fear, hard work, stress and challenges that you will face."

- Claire Keet is a multi-faceted entrepreneur and the founder of Sentiens in South Africa, a company that works with local designers to create a range of beautiful, functional yoga and fitness gear. Claire's focus is on printed yoga and active mats, which combine gorgeous aesthetics with great performance. She studied a Bachelor of Journalism specialising in English Literature and Communication Design at Rhodes University before the call to explore sent her packing to Asia where she travelled extensively and made a life for herself in South Korea for several years. She returned to South Africa to launch the creative, brand consultancy, BorisHenry in 2012.

Entrepreneur Advice from Angela Livu: Patience is a virtue

August 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Angela Livu, founder of Luxury Hair (Kenya) — **Angela Livu,** founder of Luxury Hair (Kenya)

Patience is a virtue....

"Be Patient. Rome was not built in a day. Also put God first in everything that you do."

- Angela Livu is the founder of Luxury Hair in Kenya, a company that imports Luxury Hair products and helps women manage hair loss. Angela is committed to providing discerning women with the highest quality hair products that are 100% ethically sourced and beautiful to look at and wear. Prior to following her entrepreneurial path, Angela, who holds an MBA, worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mignionette Fair: Find yourself a mentor

August 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mignionette Fair, founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services (South Africa) — **Mignionette Fair**, founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services (South Africa)

Find yourself a mentor....

"Get a mentor who can support your dreams and who has similar values. My mentor has been the biggest blessing in my business. I don't know where I would be without her."

- Mignionette Fair is the founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services in South Africa, a company that edits and translates books, personal and professional documents and also does copy-writing for websites and magazines. Mignionette has a B.Com degree in Financial Journalism from the University of the Free State and an Honours Degree in Journalism and Media from the University of Witwatersrand. She is passionate about providing a world-class service at a fair price.

Entrepreneur Advice from Karené Wedekind: Focus, focus, focus

August 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Karené Wedekind, founder of Karené Wedekind Photography (South Africa) — **Karené Wedekind**, founder of Karené Wedekind Photography (South Africa)

Focus, focus, focus....

"Be more specific. Figure out what you do differently, make that your special thing - focus focus focus and use that to stand out in the crowd. Then always dress your business for success. Make it look more confident than you feel. If your business looks professional, it'll be taken more seriously."

- Karené Wedekind is the founder of Karené Wedekind Photography in South Africa, a company that serves small and medium businesses by creating bespoke photos that give their companies a sense of quality and value. Karené passionately believes good photography and design can elevate the smallest business and make them more competitive in the market place. She has a degree in Fine Art with Photography as her Major.

Entrepreneur Advice from Njeri Rionge: You need to have the right people around you to succeed

August 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Get the right people and experts around you....

“You need to have the right people around you – you can’t do everything yourself. A lot of entrepreneurs think they need to be good at every aspect of the business but this is not the case.”

- 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. This serial entrepreneur founded numerous companies including co-founding the internet service provider Wananchi Online, one of east Africa’s leading providers of pay-tv, broadband internet and VoIP services. Today she splits her time between strategy consulting, speaking engagements, and investment work, either personally or through one of her portfolio businesses. Her focus is on working with SMEs and entrepreneurs to grow indigenous businesses that can be scaled across Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Leave the cash in your business as long as you can

August 4, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Don't be tempted to take cash out of your early-stage startup venture....

"...when a bit of cash starts rolling in, have the discipline to know that it is not your money yet. It is still the business’s money because you want the business to grow. So for you to sustain it and enjoy phenomenal growth, that anyone going into business wants, you need to reinvest all the little bits of cash that you get then you can be assured that your business will grow."

- 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 Abisola Owolawi: Don't wait for a 'right time'

August 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Abisola Owolawi, founder of 30Watt Media (Nigeria) — **Abisola Owolawi**, founder of 30Watt Media (Nigeria)

Don't wait for a 'right time'....

"If you are passionate about driving change and solving problems, there is no better time than now. Start somewhere, seek advice, do some research, seek funding or start small. Move one step closer today."

- Abisola Owolawi, is the founder of 30Watt Media in Nigeria, an integrated consultancy with a focus on communications and how it affects human capital within organisations. Abisola has wide ranging experience in Business Media and Communications, her professional expertise cutting across Radio, Television and Publishing platforms in key Sub-Saharan Africa markets. Prior to founding 30Watt Media, she served as the West Africa Correspondent to Forbes Africa, Forbes Woman Africa & Forbes Life Africa magazines respectively, before which she held Management roles at CNBC Africa and 3S Media.

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.’