In the thick of it – why women are such exceptional leaders during a crisis

July 25, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Linda Zuze (PhD)

When your company is in free fall, or when painful retrenchment discussions are underway, and when productivity is at an all-time low, who would you put in charge? Well, it turns out that women are considered better leaders during complex times. That’s right. Opportunities for promotion actually improve for women when things are going horribly wrong in a business and when the risk of failure is high. This happens far more often than most of us realize (think Carly Fiorina at Hewlett-Packard or Carol Bartz at Yahoo). Researchers have coined the term glass cliff to describe women breaking through a glass ceiling and into senior positions during an organisational crisis.

5 Ways Content Marketing Can help Your Brand

July 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

A lot of brands are winking in the dark without crafting and sharing the organization’s brand story in a way that connects with customers. Content Marketing is that form of marketing that provides your customers with useful & relevant information, in an engaging, and not “sales-ish” way.

Elevate HER

July 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Shato Babitse

Today, women comprise nearly half of the global workforce. The additional productive power of women entering the workforce from 1970 until today accounts for about 25% of current GDP. This makes women a strong force in the global economy, one that is growing as more women across the world enter the workforce in greater numbers, than ever before.

Is your inability to say no holding you hostage to your calendar?

July 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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by Lori Milner

“Only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter” - Greg McKeown

For many of us, turning down a request or invitation can be extremely difficult. One small word can trigger emotions in us like guilt and shame. Ultimately, we are scared that someone won’t like us or reject us because we said no. The reality is you need to maintain healthy boundaries. You cannot possibly say “yes” to every request and invitation that comes your way, and if you try to do that, you’ll only burn yourself out. If you haven’t already…

How to identify an entrepreneurial idea?

July 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Deyzes Pereira, founder of Startups Consulting, Mozambique

In the scope of the work that I have been developing, many people ask me, “But how can I identify a business idea?” My first answer to that question is, "What are your skills?" and then secondly, “How can you make money from them?”. When I talk about skills, I mean what you like and know how to do. Note that this need not be complicated or scientific - it can range from cooking, decoration, data analysis, painting, photography, dance, sports, sales, among others. Many people make the mistake of focusing only on the scope of their academic training, and end up not exploring different things and as a result, end up completely distant from their desired horizon.

Am I the only one struggling to get business funding?

July 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Linda Zuze (PhD)

Mbali had taken longer than planned to leave her corporate job and pursue a lifelong dream of running a catering business. There was always a reason to put it off. She was too young. She needed the financial security. She would be crazy to walk away from a steady salary when so many people depended on her. Finally, she took the leap. She never looked back. Mbali’s business was growing so quickly that she needed larger premises and additional staff. There was just one problem. She couldn’t pin down the funding that she desperately needed and she had used up all of her personal savings. She had tried everything – from traditional loans, to credit card applications and even equity financing. Nobody seemed as excited about her ideas as she was.

Failure is not death!

July 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nandi Odri Usher

In 2017, I came across an Instagram quote posted by South African actress, MC and presenter, Simphiwe Ngema, that read: “When you’ve failed many times before, you overcome the fear of failure because you realize that failure is not death,” by Pastor Given Ngema. I must have read it 5/6 times, trying to process these words and understand them.

An Entrepreneur’s Lessons from Gardening

July 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

With the latest wave of COVID in full force in South Africa, our family has been spending a lot of time at home. Fortunately, we have a large property with a lovely garden, although it needs a great deal of work. At times when I’m feeling bored or I need a little escape from my family, I work on our garden.

Be a resourceful entrepreneur

July 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

Being resourceful means you study, educate, stimulate your brain and inform yourself (SESI). Studying a business environment is imperative as it entails being able to detect environmental issues which could affect your business both positively and negatively.

What is around the corner?

July 15, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

Many of us long to take long walks in nature, go for hikes or even take a guided tour. Excitement is part of the little voice of fear deep inside of you. Nevertheless, off we go! This year kicked off, planning done, new projects to focus on, and lessons learned during the Covid pandemic embedded in our memories. Never will we forget the empty streets, the locked up feeling, and the great tears that we had for loved ones and many others who lost their lives. If only somebody could just have helped us all sooner!

Meditation - what it is and what it’s not - some myth busting

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ashika Pillay

In a time when mental health is a buzzword, and when many are talking about how we sustain our mental resilience and health, many are also talking about mindfulness and meditation as ways of helping us through this really challenging times in our lives and that of so many on this planet. At the same time, there could be some misunderstandings around the topic. So here is a short write up and some “myth busting” of the most common things I’ve heard people say.

A short story and a lesson in Marketing, Advertising and Design

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Claudia Folgore-McLellan

My business, Visual 8, was once recommended to a potential client through social media. When I made contact with this potential client and had quoted for the work requested in the initial brief, I received the following email question: "How does what you offer compare with what I can get online for half the price? This question is a very common one I've come across when dealing with entrepreneurs who have a stringent budget to work with for their start-up. My response to this question is pretty standard by now, pointing out a few truths in the matter and the key factor is PROFESSIONALISM.

My Favorite Communication Tool: The Set-up

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho

Working remotely and communicating almost exclusively by video has raised awareness of how important it is to make your point in a way that sticks in people’s brains. In talking to my clients, there are two common problems with what you would think would be a simple thing to do: answer a question in a meeting.

Managing a business during uncertain times

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa

We may all be faced with hard times in our everyday lives or in running our businesses, the key issue is to know how to manage sailing through the hard times rather than focusing on the bad season or time. We need to know how to manage our businesses and selves through the hard times. How do we manage these rough times?

Emotion-Based Decisions: Good or Bad?

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Jess Mostert

Emotions. Two in particular - FEAR and LOVE. It is these that drive and influence every thought and direct every response. It is what makes us run- towards certain things, and away from others. It is these emotions that stop us from living our lives or force us to live our lives!

The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Mbali Ndaba

A groundbreaking exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer in a culture obsessed with instant gratification, early success, and how finding one’s way later in life can be an advantage to long-term achievement and happiness.

Harnessing ADHD, OCD and Anxiety for Career Success

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lisa Malek

Being diagnosed with Adult ADHD in my 30s was both bewildering and enlightening. Suddenly there was an explanation for my constant vacillation between distractibility and hyper-focus. My brain is always flailing about, struggling to hold onto one thought for more than a few seconds – while simultaneously clinging to unresolved problems and manifesting new ones. It’s like listening to 13 blaring soundtracks from 13 genres at once. Further aggravating my overwrought mind is an urge to obsessively over multi-task, a side-effect of working from home since lockdown.

The Cages We Live in!

June 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

I am currently reading a book by Glennon Doyle titled, 'Untamed.' It’s the first time I am reading anything by this author and frankly I didn’t go through any reviews prior to this read. The title of the book just captivated me and surely as an untamed one myself, I thought let me see what it’s all about. And oh gosh, I felt as if it had changed my life, not because it made me think of all the things I was capable of, but because it made me realize how capable I had already been.

Digital Transformation: Why Companies Must Innovate Bottom-to-Top & Drive Stability Top-to-Bottom

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

In a recent study by Forbes, 52% of Fortune 500 companies went bankrupt, were acquired, ceased to exist, or dropped off the list due to digital disruption since the millennium. In the 21st century an organization’s survival is almost wholly dependent on its ability to strategically use digital initiatives to achieve business goals. Digital is no longer an option, but a necessity to succeed in the world of business.

5 Easy Ways to Better Manage Working from Home with Load-shedding

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

If your business is affected by the challenge of load-shedding right now, and you work from home, here are 5 easy ways to better manage the situation as an entrepreneur. With just a relatively low cost compared to other options, and no disruption of your home systems, you can continue working with a smile and being productive instead of using your energy to complain, blame and feel stressed. You will also feel proud of being self-sufficient and managing your deadlines under all conditions. These small victories add up and contribute to an elevated mood, which flows into all areas of your life, enabling you to face life with a more positive mindset.

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