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How to improve employee boss relationships

February 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken
employee boss relationships.jpg

Having good relationships at work is not just good for workers, it’s good for companies. The well-established American consulting company, Gallup says that people are seven times more likely to be engaged in their jobs if they have a friend at work. And engaged workers are productive workers. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Paula Quinsee
Comment

Look Great on Video

February 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Dr Laura Camacho, founder of Mixonian Institute

Video is where it's at. Whether it's a job interview or early-stage pitch or other key meeting, video is faster, cheaper and more convenient than in-person, yet more personal than talking on the phone. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Laura Camacho
Comment

Negative self-talk damages your soul: 5 Tips to help you silence your inner critic and boost your self esteem

February 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech

You will never speak to anyone as often as you speak to yourself – that silent little voice in your head that is hyper-critical of everything and keeps on telling you that you are somehow ‘not enough’. We call it negative self-talk and it is really bad for you because it breaks you down and keeps you from being the best version of YOU. Here are 5 tips to help you silence your inner critic and boost your self-esteem.

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In Guest Blog Tags Deborah Hartung
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How change management can support common business challenges

February 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change

The old adage “the only constant is change” often flippantly quoted negates the importance of good change management. It is important to remember that not all change is created equal and the value of a good change management strategy lies in understanding and supporting unique change management requirements of the business. To demonstrate the importance of carefully constructed change management strategy we explore factors to be considered in three different business change scenarios and how change management could support these efforts.

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In Guest Blog Tags Leigh-Ann Gowland
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Location Based Marketing, what is it and how to take advantage of this trend

February 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Lynette Hundermark, managing director of Useful & Beautiful

Location-based marketing has been around for a few years now and has been a much hyped-up trend especially with the advent of apps, but what is it exactly? In layman’s terms, location marketing means  using the physical location to inform and optimize messaging and communication from brand to a consumer in order to create a one-on-one relationship to deliver the most relevant message at the right place and right time (context marketing). 

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In Guest Blog Tags Lynette Hundermark
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What’s the story we tell ourselves?

February 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

Welcome to 2018, it is amazing to be here. My overarching theme for 2017 which had a massive impact on my life is, ‘What is the story we tell ourselves?’ So, what is the story we tell ourselves? Often this story gets moulded from childhood by our parents and teachers on what we can, can’t, should or shouldn’t do. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Lori Milner
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The world of corporate spewed me out

February 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

It is approximately 4 years and some months since I resigned from my corporate job to pursue my business dream. I remember the mixed emotions I had leading to that day and on that day. I recall also all the people I spoke to about it prior to; but on D-day, I made the decision alone. Four years later I see things differently and realize a lot of things were aligned for me to leave. It was time.  

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In Guest Blog Tags Brigette Mashile
Comment

Why I don’t attend New Year’s Eve Parties

February 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the second month of 2018! Most of us have made earnest promises to better ourselves during this coming year. Some resort to making New Year’s resolutions, others just continue with their routines as in the past. Some are very disciplined by nature, others like me have to be very intentional about discipline. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Lizl Naude
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Visualize your unique wealth destination

February 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Eldari Visser, managing director of Picketfence Life

We have established that we need to understand journeys and destinations to ensure that we focus to reach our ultimate goal. This is for our personal life, our business careers and our wealth. Yet so many still miss the mark. They seem to be working so hard at it but after a while it is just not working out. We give up on our dreams or goals and many give up on life. That can be avoided if we just take some time in the beginning of any journey and think about our destination.

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In Guest Blog Tags Eldari Visser
Comment

Make Life Beautiful with Confidence Inspiration

February 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Abigail Klopper, founder of Abigail K Photography

Today I’m sharing a little bit of confidence inspiration for you as a result of my own experience of adding more colour, beauty and excitement into my life of late. You see, the moments that make life so interesting are not just those BIG awesome moments – The BIG achievements, the BIG milestones, the BIG events. It’s also the little awesome moments. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Abigail Klopper
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The importance of options

February 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Brigitte Mashile, founder and ceo of Roka Roko

I have been to so many events where people feel the need to ‘pop bottles’, and to be specific, ‘Moet’ bottles.  Moet is not cheap, and it is attached to an affluent life; the life of the better than; the life of those who have arrived. I personally have had Moet like 3 times in my life, and no, I did not purchase it in any of those events. I fell in love with the Nectar Imperial.  I also knew, very well, that I was not about to buy a bottle of this brand - it is not cheap.

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In Guest Blog Tags Brigette Mashile
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How to Start that Critical Conversation

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Dr. Laura Camacho

It’s not fun bringing up the topic of difficult conversations, but just this month I’ve had two clients ask for workshops on the specifics of crafting those critical, or difficult conversations. Critical conversations are the ones where the stakes are relatively high (even if only for you) and opinions vary.

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In Guest Blog Tags Laura Camacho
Comment

Do you have mobile app fatigue - and if so, what can you do about it?

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Lynette Hundermark, managing director of Useful & Beautiful

8 years after the global app-splosion, even in a country like South Africa where smartphone adoption took a little longer than the rest of the world to catch up, “app-overload” aka “app-fatigue” is now a thing that we are all faced with in this digital and mobile age.

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In Guest Blog Tags Lynette Hundermark
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Navigating change: No two journeys are the same

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change

Managing change within corporates can be compared to changing the direction of an aircraft carrier set on its course with momentum, size and speed contributing to the resistance to any change in bearing. There is usually time to plan, mobilise the crew, and adapt to the weather conditions. By comparison a small business would be a canoe turned by a single paddle but also threatened by winds, currents and the strength of the oars-person.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Leigh-Ann Gowland
Comment

3 Ways to have a Courageous Conversation

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Paula Quinsee, Relationship Expert and Author

There are times when we need have to have a serious conversation with someone whether it is our partner, a friend or a work colleague. It’s one of those conversations where we need to be open and honest, not only with ourselves but also with the person in front of us. It could be about an incident, something they have said or done (or not done), non performance or non delivery.

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Paula Quinsee
Comment

The Good, the Bad, the Bitcoin

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

Did you invest in Bitcoin and have you made some good money? Or is your investment worth less than what you put in? Either way, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general have taken the market by storm, despite warnings from some of the world’s oldest and most reputable financial institutions. 

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In Guest Blog Tags Sylvia Walker
Comment

To reach your destination you have to focus on the journey

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Eldari Visser, managing director of Picketfence Life

I love travelling. Looking for a new destination is a great hobby of mine. I have also learned that meticulous planning is crucial. Many people have a travel bucket list. Maybe you want to conquer the highest mountain or take a sabbatical, visit a bustling metropolitan or journey through the African bush and the great amazon!

Read more
In Guest Blog Tags Eldari Visser
Comment

Own your mind-set

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

I regularly go to gym on a Saturday morning at 8am, I have been doing it for years. My weekly gift to myself is my trainer who is mainly there to be my motivation when I start convincing myself why I should stay in bed. As it happens, my daughter was sick on the Friday night and I was up with her most of the night. She still decides to wake me at 6am despite the disturbed sleep. I contemplated cancelling my work out for a good thirty minutes and then decided I wasn’t about to let a few hours of sleep break my habit and let down someone who is also getting up early for me.

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In Guest Blog Tags Lori Milner
Comment

5 Ways to make your story shine brightly

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Mignionette Fair, founder of Edita Services

Have you ever sat down in front of your computer to write a blog or newsletter and then… your mind goes blank! It’s a terrible feeling to watch that blinking cursor appear and reappear… like it’s taunting you. The good news is, it’s happened to the best of us. The better news is, there are certain principles, tips, and tricks you can apply to make your story shine brightly every time.

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In Guest Blog Tags Mignionette Fair
Comment

When was the last time you flexed your company’s core (value) muscles?

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken
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by Julia Pimsleur, author, speaker and coach, and the founder of Little Pim

No matter what size your company is now, growing it in a smart, lean way and recruiting the best people is – or should be – one of your top priorities. Maybe you’ve already started building your team, or you’re just beginning to think about making your first big hire. Either way, establishing your company’s core values helps you make smarter decisions in moving your business forward and creates a foundation for your company’s culture.

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In Guest Blog Tags Julia Pimsleur
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Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

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


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCASTS

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
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
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy
Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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 / The Joinery

Sustainable Tote Bags…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fa
Image of the Day / Barbara McKenzie

Classic meets contemporary…If you are in the market for classic-inspired yet modern clothing which is both stylish and ultra-feminine and trans-seasonal to wear throughout the year, then Kendi Sapepa, found
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The
Image of the Day / Lunar

Stylish sustainable clothing…We have always been big fans of Lunar in South Africa, the sustainable clothing brand created by owner Nicola Luther and her talented team. Lunar has firmly established itself as one of th
Image of the Day / Dathonga Designs

Traditional craft elevated…We love the impact-driven accessories created by Márcia Nangy O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Dathonga Designs in Mozambique. Since 2010, she has establis
Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
Image of the Day / Mash. T Design Studio

Award-winning furniture design…We are big fans of talented South African designer Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash. T Design Studio in Johannesburg, and these fabulous side tables are firm customer favouri
Image of the Day / Quazi Design

Sustainable Home Decor…If you want to make a statement with your interior design and home decor, and at the same make a contribution to supporting eco-friendly enterprise, then these unique decor pieces from Qu
Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c
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 / The Joinery

Sustainable Tote Bags…We have always been big fans of The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fa Image of the Day / Barbara McKenzie

Classic meets contemporary…If you are in the market for classic-inspired yet modern clothing which is both stylish and ultra-feminine and trans-seasonal to wear throughout the year, then Kendi Sapepa, found Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The Image of the Day / Lunar

Stylish sustainable clothing…We have always been big fans of Lunar in South Africa, the sustainable clothing brand created by owner Nicola Luther and her talented team. Lunar has firmly established itself as one of th Image of the Day / Dathonga Designs

Traditional craft elevated…We love the impact-driven accessories created by Márcia Nangy O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Dathonga Designs in Mozambique. Since 2010, she has establis Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi Image of the Day / Mash. T Design Studio

Award-winning furniture design…We are big fans of talented South African designer Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash. T Design Studio in Johannesburg, and these fabulous side tables are firm customer favouri Image of the Day / Quazi Design

Sustainable Home Decor…If you want to make a statement with your interior design and home decor, and at the same make a contribution to supporting eco-friendly enterprise, then these unique decor pieces from Qu Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management
Júlia Silota, a Mozambican green business builder, focused on environmental waste management
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
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
Yanara Tavares Viana, a Mozambican entrepreneur developing a smart urban housing solution in the country
Yanara Tavares Viana, a Mozambican entrepreneur developing a smart urban housing solution in the country
Isabel Mandofa, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a successful, high-impact agri-food business
Isabel Mandofa, a Mozambican woman entrepreneur building a successful, high-impact agri-food business

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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
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
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
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
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

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