the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
The other day a friend and I were having a WhatsApp conversation, and we were specifically sending each other voice notes. It was a rainy day here in Cape Town and I was sitting behind my desk working. I assumed she was at her flat where she still lives in Johannesburg. As we were catching up she started venting on how difficult the road of entrepreneurship is.
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by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation
Gone are the days where cellphones were limited to phone-calls and messaging. Gone are the days where communication was slow and restricted by borders. Globalization, a cliché that remains relevant, has changed the way we do things. We talk, brand ourselves and trade differently. Ultimately business has changed.
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by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions
Last year, I was approached by an investment fund with an opportunity. The brief from their client was to find a majority woman-owned stationery company that they could invest in. After hearing my pitch at an event, they were sufficiently impressed to put Ithemba forward for this fantastic opportunity. 'That is the power of a good sales pitch' but that is a discussion for another day.
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by Eldari Visser, founder of PicketFence Life
Have you ever been on a trip with a backpack? Maybe across continents or on a short student holiday, even a great big one through the jungle or Africa? You will understand the day that you start off to ensure that you have packed your backpack just right? Right?
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
I have written many pieces on the issue with operational capital…in simpler language, money. Others call it petty cash, pocket money, or disposable income. This is money every business or person should have to spend on unforeseen circumstances. This is a tricky thing because you are already trying to juggle what you have amongst the expenses you have; now I need extra cash for ‘in case’! Well…ok then.
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by Lori Milner, author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
In our technologically driven world, we become more and more dependent on technology for everything. My go-to app for driving is Waze. Even if I know the route, I refer to it to view the quickest way by traffic flow, anything to scrape even those precious 5 minutes off the commute. Now have you ever scrolled ahead on the screen to look and see where its taking you. You then get a screen that looks something like this…with a big Re-centre message.
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by Karen Wessels, founder of VA Connect and SnappSales
I remember like it was yesterday, starting out in business and taking on clients and suppliers that in your gut just didn’t feel right. We’ve all been guilty of this. We feel that when we are a start-up or new to the entrepreneurial world that we should take on any client to gain the much needed experience and exposure. And who is going to say no to that additional income, right?
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by Laura Camacho, PhD
There’s art and science in business communication, don’t you think? You need to affirm and appreciate people AND you need them to change certain behaviors. One behavior change might be buying your product and another might be answering the office phone a certain way.
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by Lori Milner, author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
In a recent workshop I trained on personal branding, the topic of saying yes to please other people came up. And more so around the debate of wanting to show up as a credible and reliable brand but also knowing your boundaries and limitations. My advice I shared was about managing people’s expectations. If someone asks us to do something, we feel this compulsion to want to solve it for them today or under an unrealistic deadline in order to appear ‘super’ efficient and not want to let them down.
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
When I was younger, I hated going through tough times. Actually, I was mortified by them. I would drive myself into a frenzy of anxiety expecting them, then depress myself during them, and then just be in a bad mood afterwards. I was under the impression that bad things and times should not ever happen. Life is meant to be an easy, happy, fun and enjoyable experience. Here, ladies is one of the reasons I don’t miss being young!
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by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman
It’s always easy to start something new, but not always easy to stay the course. Starting a new project, a new business or even an investment plan, for that matter, is exciting - you have a vision of where you are headed and you are fired up, motivated and focused.
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by Aleshia van der Ploeg LLB, Director VDP LEGAL CONSULTING (PTY) LTD
Ever thought about what will happen to your business when you die? No? Well, maybe you should – you are your business’ most important asset! You don’t want your passion, your lifeblood, all your hard work to die with you! Isn’t the whole point of being an entrepreneur to create a lasting legacy – not only for yourself but for your family too!
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by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant at Shiluvah
In the age where becoming your own boss is becoming the order of the day, the dream of entrepreneurship and the realities of entrepreneurship often present a harsh reality that not everyone is ready for. However, does mean that one should walk away when the going gets tough?
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
One of the worst things that can happen to me, or any business person, is getting sick and needing to give myself a sick note, and as a result, not working. My business, Roka Roko, is a wheel that needs to keep turning, and every day is so vital to the entire month being a success and ultimately the entire business dream. You see, I haven’t managed to get myself to a point where I can afford a week off! So, we need to ensure that we do not take more than a day off in any week; plus all the other reasons like clients needing a dress in a week’s time. So, as we are in the annual winter virus season, flu is not an option. No, no, no!
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by Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech
Working as a solopreneur has never been easier, or more tough and demanding. There’s a lot of freedom that comes from being a one-woman show, but there is also a ton of stress and if you are not careful, you may get caught up in the madness of believing the insane idea that you have to work morning, noon and night.
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by Paula Quinsee
Often we hire for skill yet fire for behavior. This is because we tend to measure skills on qualifications, years of experience, achievements and organisations worked at. Just because one person thrived in a role does not mean they will thrive in a new role as the environment and team dynamics will contribute to the way someone behaves. It’s far easier to teach someone skills than it is to try and teach them the behavior you need.
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Photo courtesy of Mercury News
I am a basketball fan. Yes, I am that woman! I watch the NBA religiously. I love the Golden State Warriors and was so happy when they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Championship and even streamed their Victory Parade in their home town. I am a fan, period!
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by Evashnee Naidu, founder of enablED
How important is it to identify your target market? The old adage of create a product and customers will come has definitely gone out the door. In today’s world we are exposed to products, brands and services with a global reach. No more are we limited to what is within our radius, no more do we have to be brand loyal. Yes there are brands that have established themselves, but how often have we seen a fall from grace by big brands, and how easy was the consumer switch.
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by Marjón Meyer
Recently, I’ve talked with many delegates, friends and family about the differences between being an achiever or a competitor. It might seem, at first glance, like the two are very similar. However, there is a huge difference!
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by Phildile Ndlovu, founder of Bhekizenzo Foundation
I was about to complete my degree when I realized that I had no idea what to do with it. I was applying for jobs frantically and I was not getting called back for interviews. So, instead of entering a state of panic, I went back to my core and rekindled my passion for social justice which has been a common thread in everything I have been involved in. Social justice and bringing social change has always been a passion. Being in a leadership academy, I just knew I had to start something and not wait to be employed in order to change lives.
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