The Bold Kampala team have returned to the continent following a highly successful tour to London, UK. Whilst there, they launched their Bold Kampala Pop-Up store on Saturday 14 March at the highly trendy Milk Room at the Grace Bar in Great Windmill Street, right in the heart of the bustling West End.
Read moreLionesses of Africa celebrates Africa’s Women Fashionpreneurs during the month of April
Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products, services and craftsmanship, and their passion for what they do. This month (April), we are turning our attention to the truly inspirational African Women Fashionpreneurs.
Read morePress Release: Fashion Revolution Day in Cape Town on the 24th April 2015
Fashion Revolution Day on the 24th April 2015, is an international day and opportunity to celebrate fashion as a positive influence, raise awareness of the fashion industry's most pressing issues, show that change is possible and celebrate those who are on a journey to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Miki Agrawal: Stay focused on your desired outcome
Miki Agrawal, serial social entrepreneur and author (USA)
Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs....
“A great piece of advice I was told was to always focus on your desired outcome, and not the pain you’re going through right now to get there, as this desired outcome will keep you inspired and strong, even during your most vulnerable moments.”
- Miki Agrawal was named one of Forbes 2013 “Millennials on a Mission”, and was the recipient of a 2013 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award. She is a graduate of Cornell University in the US, and is the founder of acclaimed farm-to-table pizza restaurant, WILD; the founder of THINX, a sustainable underwear company for women; and a partner in Super Sprowtz, a children’s multi-media company that fosters healthy eating. She is the author of “Do Cool Sh*t”, a great book guiding aspirant entrepreneurs on how to quit their day jobs, start their own businesses and live happily ever after.
Read moreEssential Read: Dream It, Launch It, Live It by Victoria Colligan
Victoria Colligan, author, mother, founder and CEO of Ladies Who Launch
Founder/CEO of Women Who Launch, Victoria Colligan, uses as its starting point the notion that every woman is the entrepreneur of her own life. It recognises that no matter what the project, hobby, passion, start-up, business expansion, or career/life change of direction, women are always in the process of launching something.
Read moreInterview with leading Kenyan techpreneur Dorcas Muthoni
Dorcas Muthoni, founder & CEO of Open World, Kenya
As part of LoA’s continuing focus on 'Women in Tech', we took time out of the busy schedule of successful Kenyan techpreneur, Dorcas Muthoni, to chat about her own entrepreneurial journey and the building of her impressive company, Open World.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Dr. Jennifer Riria - Mentorship, like any good business plan, needs to be structured and done in levels
Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
Women need to see that it can be done....
"My definition of mentors is people who will get women to move to the next level. It is not the ones who say ‘be good and be nice,’ no. Whatever it takes to move you to the next level, take it. Mentorship is a slow process, perhaps even slower for women being mentored into leadership roles because they will also be breaking the barriers of culture and the ladders of tradition at the same time."
- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa 2013, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.
Read more10 Top tips to help you to find the perfect Virtual Assistant
The reality is that behind every successful entrepreneur is one person who takes care of these must-do’s for them. And, a Virtual Assistant is the perfect solution for this. Now you may be wondering how do I go about finding this perfect Virtual Assistant?
Read more5 simple tips to stop you wasting time and instead make the most of every minute
Guest Blog: by Lireko Dorothy Ncube
Tick tock, tick tock – let’s be honest, we have all sat listening to the sound of a clock ticking away the hours and minutes whilst we procrastinate about doing the things we really need to be doing. But the reality is that time really doesn’t wait for anyone, so we all need to stop the habit of saying: “I will do it tomorrow”. Here are 5 simple tips to stop your procrastinating.
Read moreUgochi Ugbomeh - The startup story of a Nigerian techpreneur changing the face of public mobility in her country
Ugochi Ugbomeh, co-founder of Tranzit, Nigeria
Ugochi Ugbomeh is a woman who thinks big and harnesses of the power of technology to make a difference. Her entrepreneurial vision is for her company to become a curator of truly world-class transportation, location based and mobility services in Africa, effectively moving people and things from one destination to another.
Read moreEunice Cofie - The startup story of a Ghanaian beauty brand-builder for people of colour
In the highly specialist and competitive world of the health and beauty industry, there is one woman who is successfully combining traditional African medicine with modern science to create world-class products for people of colour. Eunice Cofie is a woman entrepreneur harnessing her passion for science to make a difference to people’s lives and, at the same, build a new global health and beauty powerhouse.
Read moreVideo: Dr. Victoria Kisyombe founder of SELFINA in Tanzania shares her message of hope at TEDx Berkeley
Source: TEDx | published on Mar 26, 2015
Dr. Victoria Kisyombe has founded micro-financing for women in Tanzania, and is now working to empower women worldwide. Victoria is a leader who has used innovation, initiative, and determination to empower women in Tanzania to become economically self-sufficient. Watch her address at TEDx Berkeley.
Read moreRapelang Rabana: “ReKindling” SA education
Source: BizNews.com | 25 March 2015
It goes without saying that media content is saturated with negativity. Stories and images of the world’s sad state of affairs are in abundance. That’s why balance is crucial – for every bad story, there needs to be a good one. And there is goodness in this world. Take the following interview below. Cape Town-based Rapelang Rabana is using her education, skills and knowledge for the greater good of society.
Read moreYoung Namibian woman entrepreneur selected as a Young Global Leader for Sub Saharan Africa by the World Economic Forum
Ally Angula, co-founder Leap Investments & My Republik
Congratulations to Namibian serial entrepreneur, Ally Angula, who has been chosen as one of the 17 Sub Saharan Members on the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum. Ally co-founded Leap Investments in Namibia and South Africa, an integrated group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail. She also recently launched Namibia's first commercial clothing brand, My Republik.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Alison Stewart: Calculate your risks
Alison Stewart, co-founder of FEAT. sock, South Africa
My top advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs....
"Plan properly, take risks but make sure they are calculated risks."
- Alison Stewart is co-founder of FEAT. sock a startup building a new designer sock brand with a global appeal. Her aim: to brighten up people’s daily footwear with beautiful, lovingly made, and ultimately fun socks. She is passionate about supporting local industry, so all her company's socks are proudly made in Cape Town, South Africa.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Erika van der Merwe, CEO of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
“Increased access to funding and business guiding at this early stage… would serve to break some of the many obstacles faced by women — and would help unleash broader and more balanced economic development and growth.”
- Erika van der Merwe is chief executive officer of the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, an organisation that promotes the venture capital and private equity profession across Southern Africa. Erika’s career has extended from economic analysis within the asset management industry to financial journalism. Her most recent position has been that of anchor at CNBC Africa’s Johannesburg bureau.
Read moreLisa Ackroyd - The startup story of a South African hand-crafted leather accessory brand builder
Lisa Ackroyd, founder of Colony, South Africa
There is something wonderfully evocative about wandering through Lisa Ackroyd’s incredible Johannesburg-based Colony store and studio, and seeing at first-hand the most beautiful and meticulously hand-crafted leather accessories being made. The sights, sounds and smells of leather being hand-worked by Lisa and her dedicated team of craftspeople, all of whom have been trained by her, are truly memorable.
Read more3 Ways to stay positive when you're faced with overwhelming hurdles and challenges
Guest Blog: by Lireko Dorothy Ncube
In business, as in life, I frequently hear the saying: “There is light at the end of the tunnel”. However, we need to remind ourselves that even though sometimes it is quite difficult to walk through the tunnel, particularly in the face of challenges or hurdles (and this particularly applies in the entrepreneurial space), we just need to give ourselves a little push and keep walking.
Read moreSarien Lategan - The startup story of an adventurous South African turning a passion for travel and navigation into a thriving business
Sarien Lategan, founder of Travelling Tortoise
They say the ethos of a business can often be found in its name, and that can certainly be said of South African entrepreneur, Sarien Lategan’s company, Travelling Tortoise. It conjures up images of leisurely and languorous journeys to interesting destinations at a pace which allows for the discovery of new and wonderful things. Sarien’s love of Africa and a passion for encouraging more people from around the world to discover the continent’s unique beauty, is at the heart of her business.
Read moreOmmo Clark - The startup story of a Nigerian techpreneur on a mission to create truly indigenous software and locally developed apps
Ommo Clark, founder of iBez, Nigeria
If there is one thing that women in tech love to do, it is to shake up the industry and to genuinely create things that are both entrepreneurial and innovative. Nigerian techpreneur, Ommo Clark, is one such industry game-changer, building a software house, iBez, that creates not only proprietary software products that help to solve local challenges, but also develops and showcases local tech talent.
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