Quote of the Day

October 24, 2014 Melanie Hawken

"The mobile market will continue to grow in Africa. We are already the second largest market after Asia. The use of mobiles games could help people to move from a place of apathy to a place of hope. My belief is that there is a huge potential that these games can and are already helping young people to learn critical skills and knowledge."

- Anne Githuku-Shongwe is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Afroes Transformational Games - a company that builds mobile game-based learning platforms out of South Africa and Kenya. Anne's vision is to revolutionise learning in Africa with a focus on delivering positive Africa-focused mobile phone entertainment to the youth market across the continent.

Quote of the Day

October 23, 2014 Melanie Hawken

“Money makes you more of who you already are. If you are a jerk, it will make you a bigger jerk; if you are insecure, you become even more insecure; if you are generous, you become even more generous; if you are nice, you become even nicer. Making money is like holding up a magnifying glass to who you are, personally and professionally. It creates a lot of power, and it’s up to you to use that in a really good way."

- Sara Blakely, is an American businesswoman and founder of Spanx, a multi-million-dollar undergarment company. She is the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. It all started back in 2000 - whilst she was getting ready for a party, Sara realized she didn’t have the right undergarment to provide a blemish-free look under white pants. Armed with scissors and sheer genius, she cut the feet off her control top pantyhose and the Spanx revolution began! The Spanx brand now houses over 200 products ranging from slimming apparel and swimsuits, to bras, activewear and men’s undershirts.

Entrepreneur Advice from Aissa Dione: Big things can be achieved from humble beginnings

October 23, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Remember, you can achieve big things from the most humble of beginnings....

"I began with this company in 1992. I was working from home with a single weaver. Before too long, there were 15 working with me and I moved to an area specifically designed for small and medium enterprises. I wanted to re-launch textile production – but in a different way."

- Aïssa Dione, a renowned Senegalese painter and textile designer, founded the company that bears her name, Aissa Dione Tissus back in 1992. Her mission: to revive Senegal's traditional and unique fabric weaving craftsmanship and build a production chain that is truly '100% Made in Senegal'. Her approach is to combine unique design, know-how and artisan craftsmanship to transform African grown cotton into a valuable product. She has succeeded in this, building a high-end fabric brand underpinned by centuries old cotton processing and weaving skills. Today, Aissa has more than 100 employees whose traditional handwoven fabrics are delivered to the absolute top-end interior design brands across Africa, Europe and the United States. Aissa's designs and fabrics grace major design salons and brands such as Hermés, Fendi, Christian Liaigre and Peter Marino.

Entrepreneur Advice from Julian Omalla: Is it possible to start and manage multiple businesses?

October 22, 2014 Melanie Hawken

How do you manage all your businesses?....

"I love challenges, work and starting new businesses. I like employing people. So I work until late in the night. When I am writing business proposals and starting a new business, I sleep at midnight. When I'm launching a new product, I sleep at 10:00pm and get up at 2:00am to work and sleep again at 5:00am."

- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.

Podcast: DW Deutsche Welle - Interviews Julian Omalla inspiring Ugandan entrepreneur

October 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

PODCAST: Listen to this fascinating interview

Julian Adyeri Omalla changed her biography from a story of poverty to prosperity. How did she manage to move from having nothing to creating a business employing 450 people nowadays? Listen and find out this amazing woman’s philosophy.

Entrepreneur Advice from Julian Omalla: Find that gap in the market

October 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

You need to identify a gap in the market....

“My aim was to start a juice processing business, not just small scale like the market vendors, but a real factory. My mother had taught us to process local fruit and I’d done a certificate course in food science, so I had the technical background. I could see there was a gap in the market.”

Entrepreneur Advice from Julian Omalla: Don't put all your eggs in one basket

October 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Never put all your eggs in one basket....

“As a woman I wanted to show I could have my own business, too. I was doing well until I became too trusting… I transferred all my funds to my business partner to purchase stock and he just disappeared from his place of business. I was back to square zero .... I learnt the hard way not to put all my eggs in one basket."

- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.

Julian Omalla: 1,000 jobs up for grabs in Nwoya fresh fruit processing plant

October 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: New Vision | Published October 15, 2012

Over 1,000 locals including homeless young mothers are to get gainful employment following the setting up of a 5,000 acre fruit processing plant in Nwoya district. The ministry of Local Government with support from the United Nations Centre for Development and Nwoya district local government have partnered with Delight Uganda limited to set up a fresh fruit processing factory in Nwoya.

Building a venture from scratch not for the faint-hearted says gourmet tea entrepreneur

October 19, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: How We Made It In Africa | May 16, 2013

Cote d’Ivoire-born Swaady Martin-Leke is the founder and CEO of YSWARA, a newly launched African tea company that is targeted at the higher-end consumer market. The company is based in South Africa, but sources its teas from across the continent. According to Martin-Leke, the luxury market in Africa offers increasing opportunities with the steady growth in the African middle class and discretionary income.

Quote of the Day

October 18, 2014 Melanie Hawken

"When you teach a woman how to apply her make-up, you also help repair her self-esteem or re-assure her of her beauty and relevance."

- Tara Fela-Durotoye is a Nigerian-born lawyer turned Africa's leading beauty and makeup entrepreneur. She started House of Tara at the age of 20, from her living room, whilst an undergraduate at university back in 1998. She's since gone on to launch Nigeria's first ever bridal directory in 1999, and in 2004 she opened the country's leading beauty academy. Today, Tara has over 3,000 reps spread across Nigeria and 14 stores to her name and she is steadfastly dedicated to realising her vision of building a globally respected beauty company of African origin. Tara remains an inspirational role-model and mentor to make-up artists and aspiring beauty business owners across Africa.

Lorna Rutto - The startup story of an ecopreneur who is making a difference in the urban slums of Kenya through plastic waste recycling

October 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This leading woman eco-preneur is recycling the vast amount of waste plastic in Kenya and turning it into an environmentally friendly alternative to wooden fencing products.

Letter to Business Day: Making SA the Titanic

October 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: Business Day Newspaper | November, 29 2013

Jenna Clifford has written an opinion piece: "This bad behaviour and no service delivery (by a relative few) has reduced all of our aspirations for a nation with so much promise, a nation so many sacrificed their lives for. When are we going to say 'enough is enough'?".....

Quote of the Day

October 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

“Most of us will fear to start an income-generating activity because we think that for one to start a business they need a lot of money. That’s why many young people are looking for non-existent white collar jobs.”

- Lydie Hakizimana is co-founder and Managing Director of Drakkar Limited, a specialist reseller and distributor of educational textbooks. It all started back in 2006 when this avid bookworm decided to follow her passion and opened a small bookshop. Before long, her entrepreneurial instincts had her developing relationships with numerous publishing companies. Eventually, she struck a deal that was to be the making of her company with UK publisher, Pearson Education. Drakkar rapidly evolved into a leading educational textbooks reseller in Rwanda, becoming an important enabler of her country's vision for building a knowledge-based economy. Today, Lydie manages 45 employees and thirty part-time distributors covering the five provinces of Rwanda. Lydie has also added exclusive distributor deals with Longman, Heinemann and Penguin to her Pearson contract.

Entrepreneur Advice from Jenna Clifford: What does it take to succeed as a woman entrepreneur?

October 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

What personal characteristics does one need to succeed as a woman entrepreneur? ....

"I'm a pacifist by nature, but I recognise the need for perseverance, dedication and a killer instinct. I always say: don't miss the target or the dream. Trials, tribulations and a challenging economic environment will always be with us, but you can overcome these hurdles by being single-minded and totally focused on what you want to achieve. Sometimes 'balance' has to go out the door. If you're serious about chasing a dream, sometimes something has to give. During recessionary times one has to focus more on necessities and less on personal needs - what I refer to as "I-me-my" needs."

- Jenna Clifford is a world-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique designs and superlative craftsmanship. Established in 1992, her company has steadily grown its clientele and improved its profile to institute itself as a powerful force in the jewellery industry. Her bold and dramatic designs are sought after by some of the most recognised business icons and celebrities from around the world. Today, Jenna Clifford Designs employs around 70 people, including some of the finest jewellery artisans and craftsmen in South Africa.

Essential Infographic: Advantages of being an Entrepreneur

October 16, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Entrepreneurship offers you a lot of freedom and liberty. You can hire your own employees and work with the type of people you want to work with. There are some great advantages....

Video: Lydia Hakizimana talks about the effects of corruption on the human spirit

October 14, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: Poverty Cure | Published on September 19, 2013

Lydie Hakizimana of Rwanda describes the effects of corruption on the human spirit. The problem of corruption extends beyond dollars and cents. It crushes the entrepreneurial spirit of a people.

Video: Lydia Hakizimana talks about her reading project to inspire the children of Rwanda

October 14, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: US AID | Published on February 8, 2013

Lydia Hakizimana talks about a children's reading programme and competition she launched in Rwanda to inspire children to get more excited about reading.