the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions
As I sit and reflect, I look back on both the challenges and the blessings of 2018 and realize that the challenges are a given, but choosing to celebrate the blessings is a choice. I encourage everyone to reflect on and celebrate both your big and small victories.
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by Nereyda Ah Hoy, writer, author and founder of Indika platform and digital magazine
Falhar é um dos maiores medos do Ser Humano. Mas já pensou que há pessoas que têm medo é de VENCER?
Failure is one of the greatest fears of the Human Being. But have you ever thought that there are people who are afraid of WINS? The fear of winning is not only a reality, but it is also one of the biggest obstacles to people's success.
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by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions
A big thank you to all those corporates who had the courage to give SMMEs a chance this year. It has made a difference in profits, in creating more jobs and sustainability. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a mutually beneficial relationship for all concerned when the SMME has all the right credentials and also provides high quality services and products. I’ve been in workshops where we are taught on how to do business with corporates, and I think it is equally important to teach the corporates on how to do business with entrepreneurs.
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by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
The holiday season signifies such a special time of year and hopefully most of you will have time to rest and recoup after the busy year. As an entrepreneur it is so important to take a well-deserved break without feeling guilty!
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Lucille Gomes, founder of AUA HELP NOMA - (Photo Credit: Nathalie Fina)
by Maryanne Njeri Maina
A former advocate for the world of fashion, Lucille Gomes decided to give back to society by providing for children suffering from Noma, or Vincent’s disease as it is often known. A national of Guinea Bissau, and today based in France, she shares the story of her work.
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by Yolanda Ndlovu, founder of South African lifestyle brand Essy Sandisiwe
I run an eco business and have consciously chosen to do so because of my background. I have always loved nature, the preservation of the environment, and I have always been an activist. I make accessories out of discarded fabrics and/or materials that are biodegradable. This has been my life for the past five years and I don’t think I am about to change anytime soon.
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December holidays and the festive season can be stressful for many people, and for a number of different reasons as I outlined in a previous blog here on Lionesses of Africa - How to Deal with Festive Season Holiday stress.
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by Laura Camacho
The reason you don’t feel confident at the precise moments you need it is because stress shuts down your brain’s memory. When facing the unexpected, many people are unable to remember how they handled past challenging events.
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by Tatenda Rungisa, Human Resources Practitioner and co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions
As 2018 comes to a wrap, many individuals and organizations are consumed with end of year reports and financial results. They forget about what will be coming ahead and the need to plan for the next year.
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by Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka
There is something very special about the holidays. Not only is it a time to recuperate after a long, tiresome year, but it is also a time to reflect and plan ahead. Not everyone has the same experiences because we are all very different. However, many can attest to the fact that generally it was a challenging year economically for many.
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by Paula Quinsee
I heard so many people saying this phrase during these past few weeks. I remember when I first noticed the decorations going up in Pick 'n Pay and thought to myself, "No, not yet. I'm not ready for December to come around, there's still so much I have to get done!"
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
In the 4 years of this business, I have had ‘gazillions’ of collaboration offers and maybe 1 of them actually happens, maybe! I don’t know if it worked or not. Collaborations are agreed to and pushed forward because, well in life and in business we need each other. I am yet to be part of a real collaboration and see it through. There are many reasons why I haven’t been in one, some are real and others probably imagined! Have I lost out? Probably! Who knows what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose. I have compiled a list of reasons I still haven’t done a collaboration; maybe some ring true for you as well?
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by Lori Milner, author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
I have interviewed people across many industries, levels, companies, entrepreneurs – and the number one time waster that comes up again and again is meetings. David Grady, has coined the phrase MAS – this is a new epidemic sweeping the working world today. It stands for Mindless Acceptance Syndrome. In other words, as soon as we receive a meeting invite, we accept it without questioning our role in it or the purpose of the meeting. So his solution to MAS is…NO MAS.
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by Phindile Ndlovu
I was massaging my mother’s feet when I was about 9 years old when she asked me, “Phindile, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I answered so enthusiastically, “I want to be a social worker.” She then gave me this disapproving frown and repeated “A social worker?” in a tone to check if I was sure about my answer. I gave it a thought and quickly changed my mind and with the same enthusiasm I said, “Okay, a doctor!”
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by Laura Camacho, PhD
If you notice more during your conversation you will listen more perceptively. When you listen better, you learn more. Learn more, succeed faster. Stop planning what you're going to say next, and focus on what the other person is actually saying right now.
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by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
There is a saying that goes, “Every time you buy a product from a small business, someone literally does a happy dance!” This is certainly very true. Throughout my life I have had an interesting relationship with money. Like some of you, I’ve never had a time when I’ve ever had enough. I grew up in a fairly modest home, and I remember my mother all too often used the term: “Money doesn’t grow on trees!”
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by Marjón Meyer
Reflecting on the past year, when I think about success, it takes on different forms in my mind. My own definition of success has changed significantly over time. People assign different meanings to success. It could be a certain qualification, a position on the organogram, good education for your children, visiting beautiful places in the world, owning a house at a specific address, a luxury vehicle….. Although these could make you feel rather proud, these alone don’t necessary bring a feeling of achievement or accomplishment.
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
In the four and a half years I have been running Roka Roko I have been rejected just about a million times. Each time there was a reason why of course. A reason I couldn’t understand but reviewed deeply to better myself. At each of these times when I tried again and again after each rejection, I would feel like I am insane really. Why am I trying again? There is a saying that goes, doing the same thing expecting different results is stupidity; and some times I have felt stupid.
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by Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech
by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman
Every now and then I come across someone who has a burning desire to write a book. Whether it’s to see their name in print, or to achieve some kind of status that goes along with being a published author, it’s a serious bucket list item for many. This always takes me back to my own situation and how I fell into the world of writing books. I use the word “fell”, because it was never a burning desire of mine to write a book. Although I had written a fair amount of material in my professional career, I had never considered the idea that I might be an author at some point. I had not even studied languages at university.
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