the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Margaret Hirsch
As the clock ticks toward the start of a new year, there’s an air of anticipation, a sense of possibility that anything can happen. This year, let’s go beyond mere resolutions. Let’s focus on thriving—both professionally and personally. Thriving means more than just surviving the day-to-day grind; it’s about flourishing, finding joy, and achieving your highest potential.
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by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho
As ESG factors become crucial to corporate success, boards all over the world are under stakeholder pressure to evolve. Investors, regulators, and the public are demanding greater transparency and accountability. Conversely, boards are yet to build the needed preparedness to address ESG risks, resulting in financial underperformance and reputational damage. This has created a significant gap, as revealed by the African Financial Investor Relations article, which found that fewer than half of global boards, particularly in Africa, fully understand ESG concepts.
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by Thembe Khumalo
For dreamers like me, the holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in the wonder and magic of fantasy. I can let my imagination run wild and dream of the extraordinary. If I were to make an unconventional Christmas wish list, one that contains no material possessions (because if I told you the material things I wish for, you might faint!) here’s what would be on it:
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by Margaret Hirsch
As we approach the new year, I find myself reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of the past and the opportunities that lie ahead. Each year, I choose a guiding word that encapsulates my focus and intention for the months to come. For 2025, my word is collaboration.
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by Dr Michélle Booysen
"Great customer service doesn't happen by accident. It happens by design." – Clare Muscutt
Customer service is important. Consistency, efficiency, and responsiveness in customer service are essential to effectively serve and retain customers. Processes play a pivotal role in achieving these outcomes, ensuring that every customer interaction aligns with your business standards and goals.
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by Margaret Hirsch
As the holidays approach, it’s easy to get swept up in the festive buzz, the shopping lists, and the year-end rush. But I’ve found that this time of year isn’t just about closing the books on another year—it’s about planting seeds for what’s to come. While we’re stringing up holiday lights, we should also be stringing together our plans and dreams for 2025. Let’s talk about how to finish this year with purpose and step into the new one with intention.
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by Louise Mowbray
The power of context, why it always rules and how developing your Contextual Intelligence empowers you to adapt and thrive.
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by Daphney Klopper
“Africa: The Big Deal” serves as a vital resource for understanding the dynamics of start-up funding in Africa, providing stakeholders with the data and insights needed to make informed decisions and foster a more inclusive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Compiled by Max Cuvellier Giacomelli and Maxime Bayen, the report covers various types of funding, including equity, debt, and grants, but excludes exits. Despite the influx of capital into African start-ups, the gender disparity in funding remains stark and troubling. In 2024, less than 5% of the funding has gone to start-ups with a female CEO, a decline from 5.6% between 2019 and 2023. This trend is even more pronounced when examining the gender composition of founding teams. Only 1% of the funding went to all-female founding teams, down from 2.1% in the previous years, and 9% to teams with at least one woman, a significant drop from 17%.
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by Thembe Khumalo
Listen, I fully understand why it’s important to be realistic, especially with business goals. As an entrepreneur, it is how you plan your income and your life after all. But I am also a fan of the occasional delusional season - where you give yourself permission to dream - and I mean really dream, to imagine success and impact beyond what you generally, well, dream about. Why? Because when you stimulate your imagination, you move things that were otherwise impossible into the realm of the attainable.
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by Jenny Reid
The holiday season is coming up and it’s time to start thinking about house sitters and pet sitters. These people will have unsupervised access to your home and your pets for the duration of your holiday. Many things could happen in a couple of days you’re away.
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by Catia Mondlane
Discovering your passion and turning it into a sustainable business is a journey that requires courage, self-awareness, and, above all, action. It's not uncommon to feel the pressure to follow a conventional path, but it's when we connect with our true passions that we find personal and professional fulfilment. On this journey, we not only learn how to generate income but also how to impact lives.
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by Daphney Klopper
In the world of business, the narrative that women are more risk-averse than men has persisted for decades. But is this perception rooted in reality, or is it a convenient stereotype that overlooks deeper, systemic issues?
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by Ronel Jooste
It was the question “What is your plan for your personal growth?” that made world-renowned leadership expert John C. Maxwell ponder about his career aspirations and that has ignited his journey becoming one of the most respected authors about leadership and personal growth.
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by Sarah Dusek
Embracing who we truly are unlocks our true potential. As women entrepreneurs, we often face immense pressure to fit into certain molds—to appear a specific way, to act within socially accepted boundaries, and to pursue goals that align with what’s considered appropriate for us. We’re encouraged to be successful, but only in ways that fit society’s expectations. The truth is, when we bring our whole, authentic selves to our businesses—beyond those imposed limits—we can create opportunities not just for growth but for building something deeply aligned with who we are and the impact we want to make in the world.
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by Vuyelwa Gxakushe
As Black Friday approaches, one thing is certain: your customers are already on the hunt for deals. They’re researching products, comparing prices, and planning their purchases. For you business owners, this is a golden opportunity. But here’s the catch—you won’t just magically appear in front of your customers. To stand out, your business needs to be found online, and your competitors are thinking the exact same thing. So, how do you make sure you’re the first choice when customers start searching for Black Friday deals? It all starts with getting prepared early and adjusting your marketing strategy for the busiest shopping season of the year.
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by Margaret Hirsch
As we approach the final weeks of 2024, now is the perfect time to reflect on the year so far, assess how far we've come, and set our sights on finishing strong. But as we look ahead, we must also think about how to position ourselves for success in 2025. After all, you can’t hit a target you can’t see.
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by Catia Mondlane
Starting a business can seem challenging, but with passion and dedication, it's possible to turn an idea into a successful reality. The key lies in identifying a problem you can solve, developing an effective solution, and from there, building something that makes a difference in people’s lives. I'll share a bit about my personal journey, which began with my own struggle and transformed into a skincare business focused on oily and acne-prone skin.
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by Catia Mondlane
Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and challenging journey. However, running a business comes with an additional responsibility: managing your time effectively. Between tasks, meetings, clients, and personal life, it can be difficult to balance everything without feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, with some practical strategies, it’s possible to optimise your time and increase productivity. Here are some time management tips for busy entrepreneurs.
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by Lori Milner
Have you ever made a judgement about someone and then only later found out they were actually a great person, and you had more in common than you think? What if it's the same with change? What if instead of making judgements and accusations about change, you got to know it better? What if you realised it actually brought you a gift, but you were so busy avoiding it that you didn't stop to notice or even say thank you? Now, you know that you can't literally bump into change at a party. But you know change is coming, and sometimes it's voluntary.
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by Jenny Reid
Holiday rental time is rife with scammers, fraudsters and the possibility of theft or damage. For holiday-makers, late bookings run the risk of their deposits being stolen, booking a rental that has already been booked or simply doesn’t exist. There may also be unforeseen fees that get included at the last minute.
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