Entrepreneur Advice from Zainab Ashadu: Organic growth is what you want

October 31, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Zainab Ashadu, founder of Zashadu Bags, Nigeria — **Zainab Ashadu**, founder of Zashadu Bags, Nigeria

Growing your business organically is the way to go....

“In terms of expansion, I strongly believe in organic growth as there is nothing more motivating or satisfying… The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to dream big, but start small.”

Zainab Ashadu, founder of Zashadu (Nigeria)

Entrepreneur Advice from Hend El Sherbini: Trust your gut

October 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Hend El Sherbini, CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) (Egypt)

Trust your gut….

"Don’t listen to what people are saying, because they’re probably jealous. You have to have a lot of self-confidence…. You’re not a second-rate citizen. Trust your gut.”

Hend El Sherbini, founder & CEO of Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) (Egypt)

Entrepreneur Advice from Johanna Mukoki: Invest in your staff

October 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Johanna Mukoki, speaking at the Annual Lionesses of Africa Conference 2016

Happy staff are key to your success…

“We learnt that the best way for us to build a lasting business has been to invest in our staff, and in training them well so that they want to stay and grow within our business.”

Johanna Mukoki, co-founder of Travel with Flair (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Hazel Aggrey-Orleans: It can be a lonely journey

October 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans

It can be a lonely journey….

“Being an entrepreneur is without doubt one of the hardest roles to take on as you are your own boss and it can be a lonely journey as you do not have the structure of an establishment to support you. I always tell myself though, if being an entrepreneur were easy, every one would do it.”

Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans

Entrepreneur Advice from Charlotte Aubin: Believe in yourself

October 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Charlotte Aubin, co-founder of GreenWish Partners (Mauritius)

Believe in yourself….

“A quote of Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light not our Darkness, that most frightens us.” So my advice to women is believe in yourself and surround yourself with peers and mentors that will support you on your entrepreneurial journey.”

Charlotte Aubin, co-founder of GreenWish Partners

Entrepreneur Advice from Jennifer Riria: Expect to make mistakes

October 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding — **Dr. Jennifer Riria**, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding

“Have the humility to accept your failure so that you can use that as a basis as you move on. I never say I have a problem, I say I have a challenge. A challenge is like a pearl [which] grows in an oyster and it is an irritant to the oyster but when they come out they are precious. So you, as an entrepreneur, must find out what your pearls are. I use challenges as a basis to springboard to a better standard.”

Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Echo Network Africa (ENA) & founding member of Kenya Women Holding and Kenya Women Finance Trust Microfinance Bank

Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Love what you do

October 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Love what you do....

“It is the only thing that will keep you going in your new business venture. If you don’t, you might give up at the very first failure encountered if things don’t go your way.”

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Entrepreneur Advice from Teta Isibo: Get the ball rolling immediately

September 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Teta Isibo (centre) at a fashion event in Kigali. Photo by Gael R. Van de Weghe

Get the ball rolling immediately....

"Set a concrete deadline for when to start and begin working toward that deadline. We tend to keep procrastinating because we think we are not yet ready, but it’s very rare to get to that point where you feel you are 100% ready. So just plan well and start with what you’ve got."

Teta Isibo, founder of Inzuki (Rwanda)

Entrepreneur Advice from Carrol Boyes: Being first to market helps

September 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Being first to market helps....

“Being the first person to do something is a huge advantage. I was lucky in that I got to the market first with the kind of products I produce. If you can’t do something new, then you have to do the old very, very well.”

Carrol Boyes, founder of Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)

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 Thokozile Mangwiro: Focus on your vision

September 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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

Focus on your 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, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Eva Muraya: You have to work hard

September 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Eva Muraya, founder and CEO of Brand Strategy and Design (Kenya)

You have to work hard....

"We need to quit this ‘microwave results’ mentality. Media has not reminded us enough of the value of working hard. There is nothing you will gain from not working hard. If you want to be successful, then you have to work hard and whilst at it, it would also help a lot if you work smart!"

Eva Muraya, founder and CEO of Brand Strategy and Design (Kenya)

Entrepreneur Advice from Yvonne Manyiki: Face your fears

September 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Yvonne Manyiki, founder of Dimzique Enterprise (South Africa) — **Yvonne Manyiki**, founder of Dimzique Enterprise (South Africa)

Face your fears....

"We all have dreams and talents, but fear always stands in the way of many people. My advice is to take the first move by starting small, face your fears, believe in God and in yourself and you will succeed."

Yvonne Manyiki, founder of Dimzique Enterprise (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Keep reinvesting in your business

September 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe — **Divine Ndhlukula**, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe

Keep reinvesting in your business…

"...I think that is the folly of many of our people. You make a bit of money and you think you've arrived. You start spending the money and the business does not grow."

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe

Entrepreneur Advice from Leigh-Ann Gowland: Everyone's journey is unique

September 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Leigh-Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change (South Africa) — **Leigh-Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change (South Africa)**

Everyone's journey is unique....

"There is no perfect formula for success. Everyone's journey is unique. Recognize that all your experiences have equipped you uniquely to make your mark in the world."

Leigh-Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Louise Bijleveld: The advice that helped me most

September 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO (Cote d’Ivoire) — **Louise Bijleveld,** co-founder of LONO (Cote d’Ivoire)

My top advice...

“The two pieces of advice that helped me most were to surround yourself with the right people and to not give up. It sounds cheesy but it turned out to be so true for me. Firstly, the right people help you to be in the right mindset, to challenge your ideas and to make you grow stronger. And secondly, there will be highs and lows and your idea will adjust along the way but giving up shouldn't be an option. Successful companies have one thing in common; they didn't give up otherwise they wouldn't exist. I think about that very regularly.”

Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO (Cote d’Ivoire)

Entrepreneur Advice from Shirley Hayes: Determine your own path

August 28, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Shirley Hayes, founder of SHiP Copper Company (South Africa) — **Shirley Hayes,** founder of SHiP Copper Company (South Africa)

Determine your own path…

“Realize your strength. Never play the victim card - the world owes you nothing. You and you alone will determine your path.”

Shirley Hayes, founder of SHiP Copper Company (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Eldari Visser: Learn and grow together

July 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa) — **Eldari Visser**, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa)

Learn and grow together…

“Find a pack that you can belong to as an entrepreneur and as an individual. Understand the power of the collective. Learn and grow together, support and build. Don’t be out in the wild and cold alone. Learn from each other…”

- Eldari Visser and her unique company, Picketfence Life, provide access to information, advice and a powerful network of experts to help consumers find solutions to various serious issues. The company focuses mostly on easy blogs written by financial coaches, lawyers, accountants and tax practitioners, life and business coaches, and even psychologists. Read Eldari's startup story.

Entrepreneur Advice from Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley: We can positively impact our society

June 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley, founder of Génial Wok (Togo) — **Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley,** founder of Génial Wok (Togo)

We can positively impact our society...

“My advice to my young brothers and sisters is that it is good for one to work for themselves. At first, it might not be profitable, but it is important not to focus on money. The most important thing rather is to realize that we are an example for others, it is to know that we can positively impact our society, to know that we create opportunities for others who will follow in our footsteps and that our lives will not be in vain.”

- Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley is founder of Génial Wok in Togo, a business that specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, and produces a range of natural fruit cocktails. Viviane was recently hailed by Ocean News as one of the five leading Togolese women-entrepreneurs. Her fruit cocktail range is not only super healthy, but also features exciting fruit flavor combinations such as pineapple-grapefruit; pineapple-banana-melon; pineapple-melon-passion fruit; pineapple-sugar beet-orange; and tamarind. More about Viviane.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tepsii Tshikororo: Give yourself a chance

April 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tepsii Tshikororo, founder of Tepsii (South Africa) — **Tepsii Tshikororo**, founder of Tepsii (South Africa)

Give yourself a chance....

"Stop analyzing, criticizing, and giving reasons why this won't work. Give yourself a chance and just go for it. Any mistakes you make are opportunities for improvement!"

- Tepsii Tshikororo is the founder of Tepsii in South Africa, a company providing education and training in copywriting and online entrepreneurship as well as offering business coaching. Tepsii was previously a sought after professional writer in the corporate space for 12 years using her bachelor’s of science from a top university in New England to write scientific, engineering, aviation, and other technical documentation. Today, she is passionate about putting her copywriting and coaching skills to use for clients so that you can bring in maximum profit.