Okay, it is the start of a new year and, as entrepreneurs, we are all busy motivating ourselves and making our resolutions to be firmly stuck to over the year ahead. Our energy levels are up after the holidays, we are full of enthusiasm, and everything seems possible again. So, how do we ensure that once this initial new year upbeat euphoria has begun to wane, we are still able to be happy, healthy, productive and focused people for the rest of the year, and achieve our goals? Here are our 5 top tips for beating stress and achieving a level of happiness, health and motivation in 2015.
Read moreCelebrating Africa’s Inspirational Women Social Entrepreneurs in January
Lionesses of Africa is celebrating Africa’s women social entrepreneurs this January. During this month we will feature the continent's leading social-preneurs and bring you the latest news on the rise of social enterprises that are focused on making Africa a better place.
Read moreHottest Handbags on the Planet – Now Woman-Made in Africa
L-R: Hanneli Rupert, Zainab Ashadu, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, Buki Akib, Abai Schulze
2015 looks set to be an exciting year for African luxury brands, with many confidently announcing themselves on the global scene with a bang. If your weakness is handbags, then there is no better time to add a luxurious, hand-crafted African-made piece to your collection. Meet 5 fresh, women-led brands who are successfully re-interpreting ancient design, centuries-old craftsmanship and unique materials into the perfect Afro-luxe accessory. All crafted sustainably, produced ethically and rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility. What's not to love!
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Pam Golding: Women must trust their special skill .... INTUITION
Ladies, trust your female intuition....
“Never doubt we women have a special skill - one that we call intuition … it’s that inner voice that will be your strongest mentor.”
- Pam Golding is one of Africa's most successful women entrepreneurs and an icon of the real estate industry. She founded Pam Golding Properties in South Africa in 1976 with no start-up capital and just a single sales assistant. The company now has over 300 offices in Africa as well as international offices in the UK, Germany, France and Mauritius. It is one of South Africa’s largest independent property trading companies with 2010 turnover of US$1.7 billion. Pam is now retired from active management, but remains the Life President of the company she founded.
Read more7 Young African women entrepreneurs drive a new eco-spirit on the continent
An adventurous, new eco-spirit is emerging from Africa and it is being spearheaded by a young generation of women entrepreneurs who are committed to making a difference to the sustainable future of the continent. Meet 7 such women who are making a major impact on society.
Read moreTurning Trash into Treasure - with a clever business solution Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola is bringing recycling to Lagos
Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, co-founder of WeCyclers, Nigeria
Source: Fast Company | January 5, 2015
Lagos, Nigeria, is home to 21 million people, but only 40% of their trash is collected. The rest ends up in heaps, spreading disease. To lessen the burden, a local named Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola launched the recycling startup Wecyclers. Its challenge: Teach people to care about trash.
Read moreVictoria Kisyombe - Start up story of the woman who pioneered micro-leasing in Tanzania empowering a generation of women
Victoria Kisyombe, founder of Sero Lease and Finance (SELFINA), Tanzania
Victoria’s incredible journey into entrepreneurship emerged as a result of personal tragedy and the unexpected death of her husband back in 1991. For her and their three young children, life was to change inexorably as she was left to deal with the resulting social and economic challenges facing them. An entrepreneurial approach to life thereafter provided the solution.
Read moreBilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola - The startup story of a young Nigerian eco-preneur turning waste to profit
Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, founder of WeCyclers, Nigeria
An award-winning Nigerian social entrepreneur who has built a sustainable and economically viable business model to help the poor communities of Lagos reclaim their neighbourhoods from the scourge of pollution and waste.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Sara Abera, founder of Muya, Ethiopia
"Recent history has had a negative impact on the world's perception of Ethiopia," adds Sara. "By exporting our cultural heritage and know-how, we hope to show the world that there is much more to our country than drought and food shortages."
- Sara Abera founded Muya Ethiopia in 2005 to introduce the world to the rich heritage of traditional Ethiopian weaving, whilst incorporating modern design trends. Sara also wanted to bring together and retrain Ethiopian weavers and craftsmen, so they could work in improved conditions, supplying high-end markets in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Sara employees over 120 craftsmen and women in Addis Ababa. Her socially-responsible model resulted in Muyo becoming the first Ethiopian company to obtain the coveted International Fair Trade Association membership.
Read moreMeet Achenyo Idachaba the Nigerian eco-preneur weaving beautiful handcrafts from invasive water weeds
Achenyo Idachaba, founder of MitiMeth, Nigeria
Finding an innovative eco-solution to Nigeria's problem of its waterways being invaded by highly destructive water hyacinth plants, also created a unique business opportunity for Nigerian social entrepreneur, Achenyo Idachaba.
Read moreBBC African Dream: Lorna Rutto recycles plastic for profits
Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost, Kenya
Source: BBC News Africa | November 10, 2014
Lorna Rutto is an entrepreneur who founded Ecopost, a Nairobi-based company that recycles plastic waste. Five years ago she gave up her job deciding, instead, to pursue her dream of ridding Nairobi of plastic waste through recycling. Without much experience and money, many thought her ambition crazy. She told the BBC how she made her dream a reality and shared advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Watch her interview....
Read moreQuote of the Day
Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost, Kenya
"There is also a cultural bias; most people in our society still believe that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. On average, people don’t take women seriously. It can be challenging to get people to listen to me and I need to be either very persuasive or assertive."
- Lorna Rutto is a Kenyan eco-preneur, and the inspiring founder of EcoPost, a social enterprise created in response to the need to find alternative waste management solutions to Kenya's huge plastic waste problem. In 2009 she founded her company, which collects plastic waste and manufactures commercially viable, highly durable, and importantly environmentally friendly fencing posts, used widely across Kenya. In 2011, Lorna was recognised by the prestigious Cartier Women's Initiative Awards as their laureate for sub-Saharan Africa.
Read moreLorna Rutto: Creating posts from plastic waste has earned her numerous awards for conservation
Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost, Kenya
Source: Standard Digital News Kenya | December 27, 2014 | by Faith Ronoh
Lorna Rutto, the founder of EcoPost Limited in Kenya, has despite her tender age already attained a remarkable list of achievements in environmental conservation that has seen her garner several international awards.
Read the article here.
Read moreAfrica’s Top 10 Women Entrepreneur Newsmakers of 2014
There is no doubt about it, Africa’s women entrepreneurs have been making the headlines for all the right reasons in 2014, scooping top entrepreneur awards and accolades, and achieving global recognition for their business and brand building efforts. Lionesses of Africa celebrates the success of 10 of Africa’s women entrepreneur trailblazers who in our opinion have been the continent's leading newsmakers over the past 12 months.
Read more6 African Women Entrepreneurs Recognised at IWEC International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Awards in Stockholm
IWEC International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge 2014 Awardees in Stockholm, Sweden
Six of Africa’s leading women entrepreneurs achieved global recognition on 17th November in Stockholm at the prestigious IWEC International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Awards. The event aims to develop a global business network for successful women business owners, helping them gain and expand access to international markets.
Read moreOur Top 7 Favourite Reads for Women Entrepreneurs in 2014
To round off the year, we bring you our top 7 favourite reads for women entrepreneurs - all authored, or co-authored by women. We hope they inspired you as much as they did us.
Let’s face it, there is nothing quite like getting inspiration and advice from other great women entrepreneurs who have been there and done it, bought the T-Shirt, survived business failure and other challenges, made it through the good times and bad times - and ultimately achieved success.
Read more50 Inspiring Quotes from Africa's leading women entrepreneurs to motivate you in 2015
To kickstart 2015 off on a truly inspirational note, we are sharing our Top 50 Inspiring Quotes from some of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs. We found so much motivation and encouragement in their words and we hope they inspire you too as you continue on your own entrepreneurial journey to success in the year ahead.
Read moreKofo Akinkugbe's SecureID teams up to advance financial inclusion in Nigeria
Kofo Akinkugbe, founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd
SecureID Nigeria Limited, founded by Kofo Akinkugbe, a leading Nigerian digital solution provider certified by Visa, MasterCard, and Verve for Chip Embedding, Chip Encoding, Chip Personalization, Card Personalization, and Card Fulfillment, in partnership with Sterling Bank has provided a Biometric ID Card to enable ‘Financial Inclusion’.
Read the article here.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Anna Savage: Sometimes you need to just roll with it
Anna Savage (top left), co-founder of I Heart Market, Durban
Sometimes you just need to allow your business to evolve....
"Starting a business is like creating a human life. There is a gestation period, infancy and then at some point the business turns into a teenager and takes on a personality of it’s own. At this point, it is necessary to re-evaluate the direction that the business is taking. Sometimes, it is not the direction that you hoped but it’s what the public is demanding. This is the point at which you have to trust and just roll with it. It’s not an easy thing to allow the business to evolve into it’s own beast!"
- Anna Savage is the owner and co-founder of the popular I Heart Market in Durban. Since its humble beginnings in 2009, this now renowned market has mushroomed in popularity, becoming a favourite with Durban locals and visitors alike. Anna has managed to bring together a colourful celebration of local talent, fresh foods and quirky decor and design and she strongly endorses authenticity, originality and clever craftsmanship.
Read moreLorna Rutto: Inspirational woman eco-preneur scoops 2014 Green Award
Lorna Rutto, founder of Ecopost, Kenya
Source: Standard Digital | December 27, 2014
Lorna Rutto has won the 2014 Green Award by the Transform Kenya Awards, a joint initiative of the Standard Group and Deloitte in recognition of her work. Her company, EcoPost, has saved over 250 acres of forests and withdrawn over 1,000,000 kilograms of plastic waste from the environment.
Read the full article here.
Read more