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Lionesses of Africa

276 5th Avenue
New York, NY, 10001
(212) 634-4540
The Pride of Africa's Women Entrepreneurs

the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs

Lionesses of Africa

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RAISE: The Female Founder's Guide To Securing Investment by Julia Elliott Brown

April 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you are a female founder, in need of investment to start or scale your business – and struggling to get it, author and entrepreneur, Julia Elliott Brown, says ‘You’re not alone.’ In her book, RAISE: The Female Founder's Guide To Securing Investment, she says that when it comes to funding, female founders are seriously up against it. In the pale, stale and male world of venture capital, less than 2 per cent goes to businesses led by women. But Julia says, it can be done.

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Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups by Donna Griffit

April 23, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Donna Griffit

Book Review

Donna Griffit’s new book ‘Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups’ answers one of the big challenges for startup founders. You dream of standing in front of a group of investors pitching your startup while they shower you with money and praise. The reality, unfortunately, is vastly different as most founders fail to raise capital from venture capital firms or angel investors. A lot of this is down to an underwhelming pitch in a crowded sea of startups. Donna has a solution by learning the alchemy of storytelling.

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Embracing the Calm in the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration by Stacy Igel

April 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Stacy Igel

Book Review

If you want to know how to protect your assets, from your brand, to your customers, to your cash flow, then Embracing the Calm in the Chaos: How to Find Success in Business and Life Through Perseverance, Connection, and Collaboration by Stacy Igel is a great read. This book will walk you through the highs and lows of creating a business: how to rise up from the midst of discouragement, what it’s like to hire and fire employees, collaborations with celebrities and philanthropic organizations, and the rollercoaster ride of making deals and partnerships.

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The Spirit of Warriors: Conceived in South Sudan, Born in Uganda, Discovered in America by Lilian Okech

April 2, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Okech

Book Review

Lilian Okech is the author of The Spirit of Warriors, a book about how a young woman draws from her experience as a refugee and designs a successful life. She shares how she spent the first 15 years of her life in a refugee camp in Uganda, and her journey to the United States. She also shares how she survived sickness as a child, sexual abuse, constant hunger, and forced marriage to become a successful entrepreneur. This book will excite, inspire and most importantly help you to truly cultivate the spirit of a warrior.

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Twelve-Minute Risk Management: Strategies and Tools Small Business Owners Need Right Now to Navigate Today's Business World by Ivy Walker

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ivy Walker

Book Review

In Twelve-Minute Risk Management: Strategies and Tools Small Business Owners Need Right Now to Navigate Today's Business World, author Ivy Walker reminds us that 70% of small businesses will fail within the first ten years. She says that with threats to small businesses multiplying daily, you can't afford to put your head in the sand and hope for the best. But with limited time and resources available, how and where do you begin to mitigate and manage your business risk?

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Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation by Ayelet Fishbach

March 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ayelet Fishbach

Book Review

If you are struggling to maintain your motivation levels and reach your entrepreneurial goals, then the new book from psychologist Ayelet Fishbach, Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation, is a great read. Discover a compelling framework for setting and achieving your goals from a psychologist on the cutting edge of motivational science.

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Name Your Price: Set Your Terms, Raise Your Rates, and Charge What You’re Worth as a Consultant, Coach, or Freelancer by Kate Dixon

March 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Kate Dixon

Book Review

If you currently wonder if you are running your business, or your business is running you, then you need to read Kate Dixon’s book, Name Your Price:  Set Your Terms, Raise Your Rates, and Charge What You’re Worth as a Consultant, Coach, or Freelancer. Too many consultants, freelancers, coaches, and service providers rely on gut feelings and the rumor mill to make pricing and terms decisions for their businesses. If that’s you, then you already know those strategies don’t work – they can prevent you from earning what you’re worth, keep you up at night, and may even get you into situations that can threaten the health of your business. But you can do better. 

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Resilient Women in Life and Business by Kim Hayden

March 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Kim Hayden

Book Review

Resilience is a key requirement in the life of any woman entrepreneur, and Kim Hayden, author and editor of the new book, Resilient Women in Life and Business, has some great insights to share on the subject. The book features insights and stories from 18 highly successful business women from around the world who share their current best thinking about life and business; and the importance of cultivating resilience.

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The Unconventional Entrepreneur: Launch a Successful Business & Live the Work-Life Dream by Alexandra N Nolan

February 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Alexandra N Nolan

Book Review

Alexandra N Nolan, entrepreneur and author of The Unconventional Entrepreneur: Launch a Successful Business & Live the Work-Life Dream, welcomes you to the spontaneous world of the Unconventional Entrepreneur! Alexandra was in her mid-20s - making a great salary - traveling all over the US. She really couldn't have had a better job, from what it looked like on the outside, but deep down she just knew that there was something more she was meant to do. Her book is the story of the journey to becoming an Unconventional Entrepreneur.

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Welcome To The Room, Mama: The Mompreneur's Guide To Getting Out Of Your Head, Ditching The Mom Guilt, And Building A Successful Business by Alyssa Morton

February 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Alyssa Morton

Book Review

Serial entrepreneur, Alyssa Morton, author of Welcome To The Room, Mama: The Mompreneur's Guide To Getting Out Of Your Head, Ditching The Mom Guilt, And Building A Successful Business, knows from first hand experience about the balancing act of entrepreneurship and raising a family. She knows these conflicting thoughts and limiting beliefs all too well. On her journey from desk job slave to successful businesswoman, she had to overcome barriers of imposter syndrome, scarcity mindsets, time mismanagement, fear of failure, and so much more. Now on the other side, she looks back on mothers everywhere who have so much to offer and achieve, but never take the leap.

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Dare to Launch - Mini MBA for First-Time Entrepreneurs by Anne Cocquyt

February 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In a world of outdated entrepreneurship books and expensive MBA programs, startup founder Anne Cocquyt, author of Dare to Launch - Mini MBA for First-Time Entrepreneurs, combines inspirational examples of today’s entrepreneurs with practical steps you can immediately take to get results.

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Cash injection planner for entrepreneurs: A Fast-Action Guide for Bringing Cash Into Your Business in the Next 7 Days by Michelle Kulp

February 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Michelle Kulp, entrepreneur and author of the book Cash injection planner for entrepreneurs: A Fast-Action Guide for Bringing Cash Into Your Business in the Next 7 Days, believes that The #1 responsibility of entrepreneurs is to make money. Yet the #1 reason businesses fail is due to a lack of cash flow. She says many of those failures are preventable…

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The Vacation Effect for Entrepreneurs: Grow Your Business Even Faster by Working Less and Having More Fun by Denise M Gosnell

January 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Denise Gosnell

Book Review

All too often, business owners end up stuck, feeling like the only way to grow is to work harder and harder, but in her book The Vacation Effect for Entrepreneurs, business strategist and lifestyle designer Denise Gosnell has a solution. She shows busy entrepreneurs how to create the free time they crave while growing the business they love.

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Legalpreneur: The Business Owner's Guide To Legally Protecting Your Business by Andrea Sager

January 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Andrea Sager

Book Review

Andrea Sager is the CEO and founder of The Legalpreneur and the author of fascinating new book, Legalpreneur: The Business Owner's Guide To Legally Protecting Your Business. Throughout this book, you'll be introduced to Andrea's million-dollar Legalpreneur framework - a step-by-step guide to help you legally secure your business. This is not just another business self-help book, filled with dense lessons and non-relatable stories. This book is a story about how to build the company of your dreams, through tried and trusted methods. Whether you're an up-and-coming entrepreneur, a seasoned Etsy seller, or a mom and pop shop looking to expand, Legalpreneur: The Business Owner's Guide to Legally Protecting Your Business is the only book you will need.

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Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity by Miriam Schulman

January 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Miriam Schulman

Book Review

If you are a creative who wants to transform your passion into a profitable business, then you need to read the great new book, Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity by Miriam Schulman. Whether you’re a musician, photographer, painter, writer, dancer, singer, or any other creative with aspirations of making a living from your art, this is the perfect time to turn your creative ideas into a sustainable business. With gatekeepers no longer controlling the market, anyone with a laptop and a dream can make a thriving living from their creativity. Miriam Schulman shows you how.

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The Creative Business Handbook: Follow Your Passions and Be Your Own Boss by Alicia Puig and Ekaterina Popova

January 8, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Alicia Puig and Ekaterina Popova

Book Review

If you are a creative looking to build a business from your endeavours, then The Creative Business Handbook: Follow Your Passions and Be Your Own Boss by Alicia Puig and Ekaterina Popova is the book for you. Offering veteran insight and friendly, actionable advice from two self-made women who manage three six-figure businesses, this practical handbook acts as a roadmap to guide anyone wanting to build a profitable venture out of their creative passion.

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Walking with Gorillas by Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

January 1, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

Book Review

In her enchanting memoir, Walking with Gorillas, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, tells the remarkable story from her animal-loving childhood to her career protecting endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals. She is also the defender of people as a groundbreaking promoter of human public health and an advocate for revolutionary integrated approaches to saving our planet. In an increasingly interconnected world, animal and human health alike depend on sustainable solutions and Dr. Gladys has developed an innovative approach to conservation among the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and their human neighbors.

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SOS - A Survival Guide for Women at Work by Chantal Korteweg, Marijn Wiersma, Tessel van Willigen, and Lidewij Wiersma

December 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

The SOS - A Survival Guide for Women at Work is a new book currently being co-authored by four inspirational women, Chantal Korteweg, Marijn Wiersma, Tessel van Willigen, and Lidewij Wiersma. This important book discusses topics such as impostor syndrome, female leadership, role models, networking, negotiating, conflict, guilt and parenting. Each of the four authors writes from their own personal experiences, combined with research on each of the topics, and interviews with global leaders. The book provides an SOS framework with solutions and suggestions for Self, Others and the System. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the book and can currently be found on Publishizer - the authors are asking women around the globe to show their support by pre-ordering the book to get it published on https://publishizer.com/sos-a-survival-guide-for-women-at-work/

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The Juggle is Real: Finding success and balance as a Mompreneur by Bethany Meadows

December 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Bethany Meadows

Book Review

If you are a Mompreneur, constantly juggling all aspects of your business and personal life, then Bethany Meadows’ new book, The Juggle is Real, will both resonate and inspire. She helps mompreneurs find success at home and in business, so they can achieve fulfillment and balance in both.

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Bigger Than You: The Entrepreneur's Guide To Building An Unstoppable Team by Kelly Roach

November 27, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kelly Roach

Book Review

Bigger Than You by Kelly Roach is the entrepreneur's playbook to building an Unstoppable Team. Her book breaks down each of the simple steps and proven strategies to take your own team from 0 to hero and is relevant for business owners at any age or stage that want to improve the profitability and performance of their team.If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur that is burnt out, exhausted, stretched too thin trying to do it all....this is for you.

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Download your FREE copy of the latest Playbook: Financing Business Growth

25 leading African women entrepreneurs share practical strategies, real experiences and advice. Playbook link


Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

Five female founders win over $100,000 in TechFoundHER Africa Challenge. Read more


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCASTS

Episode 1: Business Funding Journeys Podcast features Melanie Hawken, founder & CEO, Lionesses of Africa and Melissa Basque-Roux, Coordinator, AFAWA, who share insights on creating greater access to finance and economic growth opportunities for women business builders in Africa. Also in conversation are three women entrepreneurs building sustainable, impact-driven businesses - Anne Rweyora, founder of Smart Havens Africa in Uganda, an enterprise creating affordable, climate-smart homes for women; and Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, co-founders of Mo’s Crib in South Africa, a high-growth, sustainable handmade decor manufacturing business.

Lioness Radio Show Interview: Listen to Mr Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer of the African Guarantee Fund, discussing the journey from Bias to Bankable - AGF’s Case for Financing Women Entrepreneurs.

Lioness Radio Show: Five Mozambican women entrepreneurs share their experiences of building successful green businesses and creating green jobs for local people. From an environmentally-friendly, high-impact skincare brand, to an innovative green transportation business transforming marine waste into bicycles, these Lionesses are making waves in Mozambique. Listen to their stories, learn from their experiences, and be inspired by their tenacity.


LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Pleroma Patch, a South African innovative wellness brand creating plant-based patches to support sleep, recovery, and menstrual health.

Vanessa Mhlom is the founder and CEO of Pleroma Patch and is a 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award finalist. Pleroma Patch is a modern wellness brand pioneering a simpler, smarter way to care for your body, through transdermal vitamin patches. Pleroma’s discreet, plant-based patches support sleep, recovery, and menstrual health. Driven by her belief that dignified self-care should be a right, not a luxury, she is developing the ‘Patch It Forward’ initiative, a give-back model that channels a portion of each purchase toward expanding access to wellness essentials like menstrual and sleep support for underserved women and girls.

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Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, two social impact entrepreneurs building a high-growth, premium sustainable homeware business
Morongwe and Michelle Mokone, two social impact entrepreneurs building a high-growth, premium sustainable homeware business

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Mo’s Crib, a premium sustainable homeware brand founded by sisters Morongwe and Michelle Mokone in Pretoria, South Africa. From humble beginnings making origami at local markets, the company has grown into one of Africa’s leading exporters of handcrafted décor. Using recycled PVC waterpipes and natural materials such as banana bark, cane, and sisal, Mo’s Crib creates globally sought-after baskets, planters, furniture, and ornaments. Today, the brand supplies major international retailers including Crate & Barrel, Target, and Woolworths Home. Committed to social impact, Mo’s Crib empowers over 85 artisans, creating jobs while advancing environmental sustainability and African design innovation. The business was launched in 2019 and today employs 280 people.

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Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Hazile Group, a South African agribusiness focused on sustainable food systems, renewable energy, and water stewardship

Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi is a social entrepreneur and thought leader in climate resilience, and a 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Future Award finalist. She leads Hazile Group, a black woman-led enterprise driving climate-smart solutions in agriculture, energy, and water. The company’s core mission is to address food insecurity, water scarcity, and energy transition while uplifting marginalised communities. Hazile's focus on rural development, empowering farmers, and integrating climate-smart technologies directly supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably zero hunger, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and climate action. She also runs Acumind Consulting, guiding organisations toward inclusive, values-driven leadership and ESG strategies.

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Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Setšong Tea Crafters, an agri-business specialising in the crafting of speciality indigenous teas from the natural flora found in South Africa’s rural Limpopo

A former quantity surveyor turned social entrepreneur, Retang Phaahla is the co-founder and CEO of Setšong Tea Crafters in South Africa, and the winner of the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award. Her business celebrates indigenous tea knowledge while driving rural development. Based in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, the majority women-owned social enterprise collaborates with communities to produce a range of health-promoting teas (known for calming nerves, relieving tension, and supporting balanced blood pressure), and hosts cultural tours to promote eco-tourism and preserve heritage. Setšong’s business model has created sustainable income streams for rural women while reviving ancient botanical traditions. The business was launched in 2017 and has created 30 jobs for local people.

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Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Igaaza Creations, a Uganda-based social enterprise promoting literacy through children’s storybook publishing and capacity building

Dr Margaret Kemigisha is the founder and CEO of Igaaza Creations, a Uganda-based social enterprise that promotes literacy through the publishing of children’s storybooks, offers social research consulting, and builds capacity among fresh graduates. Her work bridges development and applied research, supporting governments, development organizations, and the private sector with evidence-based solutions and creative tools for impact.

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IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

Image of the Day / Spez Catering

Special Occasion Cakes…If you are anything like the sweet treat-loving team at Lionesses of Africa, you will love a slice of the great cakes on offer from Spez Catering in Kenya, founded by Esmeralda De Souza-
Image of the Day / Atelier Taila Carrilho

Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat
Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f
Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need.
Image of the Day / KOVA

Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o
Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma
Image of the Day / Amorambique

Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i
Image of the Day / Suzie Beauty

Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business
Image of the Day / Aya K Design

Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene
Image of the Day / House of Cinnamon

Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro
Image of the Day / Spez Catering

Special Occasion Cakes…If you are anything like the sweet treat-loving team at Lionesses of Africa, you will love a slice of the great cakes on offer from Spez Catering in Kenya, founded by Esmeralda De Souza- Image of the Day / Atelier Taila Carrilho

Statement Accessories…We love the power of accessories to make strong fashion statements, and Taíla Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique creates the most exquisite, eye-cat Image of the Day / Nokware Skincare

Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Eloli

African luxury couture…For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Dibo Ndumbe Eyoh, co-founder and co-creative Director of Eloli, an award-winning luxury African fashion brand in Cameroon, has just what you need. Image of the Day / KOVA

Luxury leather tote…Petrina Auino-Mwandingi is the founder and creative director of her own brand of leather products, KOVA, in Namibia. The business produces high quality leather handbags, primarily totes as well as o Image of the Day / Hope Distillery

Boutique gin…If you are a gin lover, then check out Hope Distillery, a South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Established by Lucy Beard and her husband Leigh Lisk, Hope Distillery is a sma Image of the Day / Amorambique

Capulana with style... If you love Capulana, then explore the new range of modern accessories from Amorambique, Mozambique, created by founder Patricia Vasco. This proudly Mozambican brand of accessories and footwear i Image of the Day / Suzie Beauty

Marvellous Make-up…When you need to take your make-up routine to the next level, professional Kenyan make-up brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by Suzie Wokabi, has you covered. Suzie founded her successful business Image of the Day / Aya K Design

Sophisticated sandal style…If you love design that combines traditional with modern style, then these sandals from Aya K Design, founded by Aya Keita in Cote d’Ivoire, are a must-buy. Aya is an entreprene Image of the Day / House of Cinnamon

Animal print pumps…These eye-catching animal print pumps from House of Cinnamon in South Africa are a great addition to any stylish wardrobe. Founded by Frances Edwards, House of Cinnamon is a proudly Afro

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of a first-to-South African-market serum-only skincare range
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of a first-to-South African-market serum-only skincare range

Startup Story

Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger are co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand. Juanri is a medical doctor with a special interest in regenerative medicine, so you could say she is a holistic regenerative GP, and Bernadette is a somatologist. The brand focuses on hormone optimization, aesthetic medicine, as well as skincare formulations.

Read more →
Gillian Holl, a South African architectural entrepreneur building a sustainability-focused business that responds to the needs of both clients and the environment
Gillian Holl, a South African architectural entrepreneur building a sustainability-focused business that responds to the needs of both clients and the environment

Startup Story

Gillian Holl, founder of VELD Architects in South Africa, has built a business renowned for creating spaces that serve not as statements but as sanctuaries. It’s an architecture deeply connected to the African landscape, fostering a sense of belonging and calm.

Read more →
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management

Startup Story

Júlia Silota is the founder and CEO of J&G Environment Ltda, a Mozambican company operating in the environmental field, focused on the purchase and sale of solid waste, and providing solid waste collection services, solid waste management training, and environmental project evaluation. It was founded in August 2020 and began operations in 2023. It employs four people, two full-time and two part-time.

Read more →
Claudia Machaieie, a Mozambican green business innovator transforming marine waste into reading glasses
Claudia Machaieie, a Mozambican green business innovator transforming marine waste into reading glasses

Startup Story

Cláudia Machaieie is the founder of Sea Glasses in Mozambique. She is a 28-year-old with a degree in Marine Biology, a postgraduate degree in Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biology and Conservation Ecology. She has completed several technical courses in monitoring and project management. She began her activity as a volunteer and social activist at the age of 14 and is currently a founding volunteer of SOA Mozambique and a volunteer with Solo Adventures. She has worked in public (IIP), private (SEPPA, Centro Terra Viva), and international organizations (Girl Move Academy, UN - World Food Programme) developing activities in administration, monitoring, and management of humanitarian and environmental programs. Currently, she is the social responsibility coordinator at TOPACK Mozambique.

Read more →
Matilde Mawelele Rungo, a Mozambican tech-preneur helping to drive digital transformation in the country
Matilde Mawelele Rungo, a Mozambican tech-preneur helping to drive digital transformation in the country

Startup Story

Matilde Mawelele Rungo is a digital transformation consultant, cybersecurity specialist, and founder of RealityTech Advisory in Mozambique, where she leads technology-driven projects for businesses and startups. She is also an evangelist and the creator of MTI – A Triad of Hope for Children, an initiative that integrates Evangelism, Technology, and Innovation to empower young people and communities. With a global vision, Matilde is committed to advancing individuals, organizations, and ecosystems through technology, faith, and meaningful social impact. The business was launched in 2024 and today has created jobs for 6 people.

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

Featured
Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore
Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore

Book Review

Successful entrepreneur Betsy Fore, in her new book Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams, shows how, by practicing a manifesting mindset, you can discover your deepest purpose. She calls this an “inner why” and believes finding it can unlock your greatest potential as a creator, founder, and builder of great products.

Read more →
The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms  by Mary Grant
The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms by Mary Grant

Book Review

The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur by Mary Grant is a transformative guide for high-achieving women entrepreneurs, business owners, and coaches who are ready to amplify their influence, impact, and income. Written by Mary Grant, a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation expert with over 30 years in the fashion industry, this book unpacks the art of empowered presence, bold confidence, and defining success on your own terms. Through insights, strategies, and a fresh perspective on success, the author empowers women to harness their unique strengths, navigate challenges, and rise to their next level with clarity and unstoppable momentum.

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Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out  by Fiona Soutter
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out by Fiona Soutter

Book Review

Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out by Fiona Soutter is not just another business book. Most focus on strategies and tactics. This one rewires the woman behind the business—so your growth is aligned, sustainable, and actually feels good.

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Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting

Book Review

In the book, Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business, author Liz Elting, one of the most celebrated and successful women in America, has created a guide for how to not only dream big, but also win―both in business and in life.

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After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin

Book Review

In her new book, After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup, entrepreneurship expert Julia Austin shares battle-tested strategies to help founders and startup joiners build their venture from the ground up.

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