The Impact of Female-Owned Businesses and How They Contribute to Food Security in Africa

June 9, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Tsitsi Mutendi

Food security remains one of the most pressing challenges in Africa, affecting millions of people across the continent. Women entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in addressing this issue by driving innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Their contributions not only enhance food production and distribution but also empower communities and foster economic growth. This article explores the critical role of female-owned businesses in promoting food security, provides real-life examples, and offers practical strategies for women entrepreneurs to maximize their impact.

Creating Respectful and Trusted Workplaces

June 9, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards - Dale Carnegie

One item that regularly comes up as a low rating in our employee surveys is: "The company makes enough use of recognition and rewards other than money to encourage good performance." Recognition makes a person feel valued, appreciated, and most importantly visible (i.e. I see you).

How to Coach Your Team When Your Time Feels Stretched

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

The most common challenge among leaders is balancing coaching and mentoring their teams with the demands of everyday work. What if you changed your mindset from needing dedicated time to coaching individuals to integrating it into everyday conversations? Can you adopt a coach-like mindset by helping individuals see a solution they couldn't see on their own? The goal is to guide people to think differently and, more importantly, think further ahead than one hour, one day, and one week.

Integrating Legal Strategy into Your Business: More Than Just Crisis Management

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw

Business crises often strike with the force of a bolt of lightning or the sudden flight of a startled horse. Clients then seek legal counsel, hoping to salvage the situation and mitigate the damage. As a lawyer, I have witnessed this scenario play out countless times, with clients urgently seeking assistance once the "pawpaw hits the fan."

Digitalising for Growth: How Women Entrepreneurs in Africa Can Expand Their Businesses

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Tsitsi Mutendi

The digital revolution is transforming industries and economies worldwide, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth and expansion. For women entrepreneurs in Africa, digitalizing their businesses can lead to increased efficiency, broader market reach, and enhanced competitiveness. This article explores how digital transformation can drive growth for women-led businesses, provides real-life examples, and offers practical strategies for successfully embracing digital technologies.

Google's Impact: Supercharge Your Business

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

I have to say that I have had an ongoing affair with Google since I first discovered it. In business today, we need all the help we can get, and staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity!! Connecting with your audience is the name of the game- it’s like having a dinner party, cooking the food, laying the table, and not inviting any guests! How do you get those guests (customers) into your store?

How to Give Feedback That Inspires Confidence and Enables Growth

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

When delivering feedback, you tend to focus on the conversation itself. While important, have you considered what must happen before the conversation? There is work before the work to ensure you can deliver your feedback with grace and compassion and the outcome of building this person rather than breaking them. Sometimes, you need to deliver hard outcomes, but how you do it will leave the person appreciative and inspired to change rather than defeated and resentful.

The two Ps (Patience & Persistence) - how to use them

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Yolanda Matine

Patience and persistence are two essential qualities that can make all the difference in the journey towards entrepreneurial success. While they may seem like separate concepts, they go hand in hand. But my hand now is full of patience, and I am working on taking persistence along too, as there are days when I do feel like giving up.

Your Inner Guidance System!

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Sharon Castle - Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

When last did you spend time in the company of little children? I’m talking about little people between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. This past week, this is exactly what I did. I was invited by a friend to join her on a trip to her house in Ponta d’Ouro, Mozambique and we were joined by her daughter and her two young sons, while their husbands were away on a business trip.

Understanding New Laws and Regulations FICA Act

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

Often you will hear employers in South Africa complaining bitterly about the complex regulatory landscape that they have to operate in. This now includes the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). While FICA primarily focuses on combating money laundering and financing terrorism, its impact extends beyond financial institutions to encompass various sectors, including many other businesses and employers. Ignoring FICA requirements can have significant consequences and it is now essential for employers to understand and comply with FICA regulations.

What is that Secret Ingredient that is always in your Entrepreneurial Journey?

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Yolanda Matine

I often compare my entrepreneurial journey to all the magic that happens in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of a home, the same way that finding a problem to solve is at the centre of beginning an entrepreneurial journey. The kitchen is where creativity rises, passion flourishes, and hard work comes together to create delicious meals, just as in Ejourneys where innovative ideas, dedication, and perseverance combine to build a thriving venture.

Six Steps to Close the Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Consider what unmet goals are gnawing at the back of your mind that are taking up precious headspace. Rather than beat yourself up for not taking action, ask yourself, 'When would now be a good time?' Now right?

Harnessing the power of colour to elevate your mindset

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

Everything we do is geared towards being happy and feeling good about ourselves - however in life sh*t happens, life hacks you down and your job is to get up, dust yourself off and do whatever you need to do to feel good again. Some people exercise, some drink, some go shopping, some just curl up and stay in bed- what do you do when you don’t feel good about yourself?

Do You Need to Add PEP and Sanctions Tests to Your Employee Screening Policy?

May 19, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

In South Africa, PEP (Politically Exposed Person) and sanctions tests are typically used by financial institutions and certain designated non-financial businesses and professions to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations.

How Journaling Can Help You Sleep and Reduce Your Anxiety

May 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

If you struggle to fall asleep due to an overactive mind, or perhaps you fall asleep easily but wake up in the night with a mind full of racing thoughts, consider introducing the habit of journaling. Journaling is an incredible tool to get those circling thoughts out of your mind and trap them on the page so you can get out of your own way.

Should You Take Employment References at Face Value?

May 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

With unemployment rates continuing to escalate and the cost-of-living soaring people are increasingly desperate to find work and will stop at nothing to get their job application to the top of the pile.

Lessons from nature for humans and organisations – let your team flourish!

May 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Marjon Meyer

Recently our training engagements took us to Malelane, a beautiful town on the border of the Kruger National Park in South Africa – one of our beautiful country’s biggest assets and tourist attractions. Over the weekend we meandered through the park and marveled at the wildlife, beautiful vegetation, and landscapes we admired from hides along our way.

Are you a Beneficial Owner or a Person who holds Beneficial Interest? Is your Company or CC Compliant?

May 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nicola Mullineux

In response to South Africa’s greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) for non-compliance with the international standards aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, the legislature elected to amend Companies Act, 71 of 2008 (“Act”). The purpose of these amendments is to rectify the deficiencies identified by the FATF, with the ultimate aim of eradicating the greylisting imposed.

How to Strive Satisfied

May 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

If you don't have a 'pause' button, you're probably a Striver. We associate being a Striver with a badge of honour. It's linked with traits like being a high achiever, disciplined, organised, and successful. It's the mark of the go-getter and having it all together. These superpowers may have led to our success, but as with anything, there is a shadow side.

How to turn your fear into fuel for entrepreneurial success

May 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

Sometimes when you’ve taken a big leap, you are so conscious of the magnitude of what you’ve done that you don't think you can or should take any more major steps. That was me after leaving home at 22 years old - I was so determined to make my life work and validate the choices I had made, that I found it difficult to think beyond my immediate activities. This kind of paralysis can also hit entrepreneurs in the early stages of building their business, particularly when a huge risk has been taken to get to the start-up stage.

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