BOOK REVIEW: Million Dollar Women - The Essential Guide for Female Entrepreneurs Who Want to Go Big by Julia Pimsleur

August 22, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Julia Pimsleur, author of 'Million Dollar Women' — **Julia Pimsleur**, author of 'Million Dollar Women'

American women are starting businesses at nearly twice the rate that men are, but only three percent of female business owners have revenues of over one million dollars. Most women entrepreneurs are stuck at the “mom and pop” level, just getting by, or in many cases, running out of cash. In her book Million Dollar Women, Julia Pimsleur shares her inspiring story of building her own company and raising millions in capital in a guide for women like her who have a great idea and need to find the resources to take it into the big leagues.

3 South African women selected to participate in the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge in Turkey

August 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Margaret Hirsch, Shona McDonald and Wendy Kemp — L-R: Margaret Hirsch, Shona McDonald and Wendy Kemp

Three South African women entrepreneurs who used adversity to create successful businesses are off to the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge which takes place in Turkey. They are Shona McDonald who manufactures wheelchairs for children with special needs, Margaret Hirsch who co-founded one of South Africa's leading appliance store chains, and Wendy Kemp who founded a leading a credit control company.

Entrepreneur Advice from Alana Bond - Be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses

August 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Alana Bond and Lana Lovasic, directors of Simanye Group

It is always good to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses....

"Failures are to be learned from and not feared. The most important qualities for entrepreneurs are persistence and having a good network of people in similar situations who can brainstorm ideas and troubleshoot problems with you. Also, it is good to plan fully and understand all areas of your business – if financial management is your weakness for example, make sure you have someone in your business who does this well, or else make sure that you learn enough about this area to be able to at least understand what you need to manage your business. It is always good to be honest about your own strengths and weaknesses and to be proactive in managing these."

- Alana Bond is the founder of South African company, Simanye Group, a cluster of entities dedicated to helping businesses, communities and the public sector find effective and sustainable solutions for transformation and economic development in South Africa, Africa and beyond. Alana has implemented her vision of a business to support innovative approaches to create impact and change, fulfilling her dream of becoming a social entrepreneur. Alana is deeply committed to meaningful change in South Africa and is passionate about addressing inequality and the upliftment of everyday people, in a sustainable, commercially-oriented way.

Video: Aissa Dione the revivalist of Senegal's ancient weaving craftsmanship speaks about her company Aissa Dione Fabrics

August 20, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Source: Première Vision | Published on 13 February 2015

Aissa Dione created the eponymous Aissa Dione Fabrics company with the objective of relaunching the textile production chain in Senegal by combining art and industry while encouraging the sustainability and development of traditional skills threatened with extinction.

Entrepreneur Advice from Maria Auma - Stick to your code of ethics

August 20, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda) — **Maria Auma**, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)

Here's my entrepreneurial code of ethics....

"It's hard for a fellow entrepreneur to give only one piece of advice. But I will compress my codes of ethics into one succinct paragraph. Never ever give up. If ever you find yourself on your knees, that is the perfect time to begin again. Never waste time. Once it's gone it's gone. Know your priorities and treat your family and friends well. Respect the people who work for you, they are human beings. And lastly, dream big and then do it - that way you will inspire other women."

- Maria Auma is the founder of Blue Luxury Investments in Uganda, a privately-held, female-owned company that offers a wide range of investment management solutions to economically viable projects throughout Africa. Maria's focus is to empower African entrepreneurs seeking seed or mid-level funding because she believes in entrepreneurship and in Africa. Her services are tailored around raising capital, managing funds, monitoring and evaluating projects, and securing stakeholder partnerships.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria, about green building solutions

August 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Podcast: Listen to LoA's interview with Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder Comprehensive Design Services, Nigeria. Recorded at the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards finalists press conference in Johannesburg on 28 July 2015.

Quote of the Day

August 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

ALARA, a new luxury retail concept store, Victoria Island, Lagos founded by Reni Folawiyo

“Sub-Saharan Africa will be the big story by 2040, .... It’s going to be a bumpy road getting there, but in another 30 years it could be the biggest, fastest, strongest, and most attractive region for retail in the world.”

- A.T. Kearney, global strategy and management consulting firm - The 2015 Global Retail Development Index

Entrepreneur Advice from Yolanda Methvin - Continue to work towards self-actualisation

August 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Yolanda Methvin, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa) — **Yolanda Methvin**, LithaFlora African Botanicals (South Africa)

Continue to work towards self-actualisation....

"Do not be afraid to cross-collaborate, toward getting your goals achieved. One must seek out continued education opportunities. One must seek out opportunities to share existing knowledge achieved via life and other career experience. And one must continue to work toward self-actualisation. We can only achieve that which, we've already become internally. “See. Believe. Achieve”, that's my motto."

- Yolanda Methvin is the founder of LithaFlora African Botanicals, a South African functional health and wellness lifestyle brand and business. Yolanda lives, loves and works in Cape Town, South Africa, home of Table Mountain and the closest urban neighbor to the Fynbos Biome, located within the larger, Cape Floral Kingdom; the only floral kingdom situated entirely within one country. She uses these natural wonders to create unique herbal treatments and products that promise to please your mind, body and soul.

Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards announce Sub-Saharan finalists

August 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Thato Kgatlhanye, Chinwe Ohajuruka and Suzana Moreira — L-R: Thato Kgatlhanye, Chinwe Ohajuruka and Suzana Moreira

On 28 July at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards announced the selection of the 2015 finalists for Sub-Saharan Africa. The three finalists for Sub-Saharan Africa are Chinwe Ohajuruka, the founder of Comprehensive Design Services, Nigeria; Suzana Moreira, the founder of moWoza, Mozambique; and Thato Kgatlhanye, the founder of Rethaka, the creator of Repurpose Schoolbags, South Africa.

VIDEO: Dr. Victoria Kisyombe - Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment in Tanzania

August 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Source: Bank of America | Published on 10 July 2015

Bank of America Retail Products and Underwriting Executive Titi Cole and Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, Managing Director of Selfina share reflections on the importance of mentoring and women’s economic empowerment.

Entrepreneur Advice from Suzie Wokabi - You've got to roll with the punches!

August 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Suzie Wokabi, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya) — **Suzie Wokabi**, founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. (Kenya)

My top advice to any aspiring woman entrepreneur....

".... they MUST be very passionate in whatever they are trying to start. It must be a field they love entirely and that they know something about. Also, patience, perseverence and rolling with the punches are a must."

- Suzie Wokabi is the founder of Suzie Beauty Ltd. in Kenya. Suzie studied an International Relations degree in the United States and worked in New York within the fashion and beauty industries from 2001 until 2007. When she returned to her hometown of Nairobi, Suzie decided to pursue her passion and launch her own authentic, affordable, high-quality African make-up brand. This revolutionary line is Kenya’s first make-up and beauty brand and a global trailblazer in creating a bespoke product for the African woman, by an African woman. The hallmark of Suzie Beauty products is affordable, great quality, tailor-made for the unique needs of women living in the African climate.

The top 5 habits of successful entrepreneurs

August 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Have you ever wondered what distinguishes those successful entrepreneurs from everyone else who perhaps has an entrepreneurial idea or dream and aspires to be one, but never actually makes the transition to embarking on that entrepreneurial journey and making the dream a reality? Well, there is no point in having an idea and not putting it into action. Perhaps what is required is a change in approach and the adoption of some of those habits displayed by other successful entrepreneurs.

Quote of the Day

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda) — **Janet Nkubana**, co-founder of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda)

“If you go to Rwanda today, there are so many young boys and young girls who are not job seekers, but job creators. All of these initiatives – they are creating jobs. When you teach me a skill I will utilize it to make an income and maybe employ another person,”

- Janet Nkubana co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives with her sister Joy Ndungutse shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. These inspiring sisters had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Today, Gahaya Links manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country, organised into around 72 cooperatives that help provide much needed income and stability. The sisters have successfully opened the business to international markets, partnering with the likes of Macy’s, Walmart, Oprah Magazine, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, and Kate Spade. Today, Gahaya Links "Peace Baskets” are sold and admired the world over.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sibabalwe Sesmani - There's never a perfect set of circumstances in which to launch your business venture

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa) — **Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani**, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa)

Circumstances will never be perfect for you to launch....

"It is not about having the perfect set of circumstances before you launch your business venture, or waiting until you are 100% equipped and financed to go to market - nothing will happen unless you just start. In fact, when we first embarked on our own entrepreneurial journey with Unorthodox, we self-funded and worked within the confines of our finances. But, the fact is that we didn't let our lack of funding constrain us, we just went out and started our business with passion and huge amounts of energy."

- Sibabalwe Sesmani is a co-founder of Unorthodox PR & Media Group in South Africa along with her business partner Zuziwe Mkhwanazi. They strive to create their own genre of public relations, one that specializes in corporates and thought leaders of industries. They develop PR strategies for corporates in South Africa and Africa, helping their clients to establish them as thought leaders and pioneers in their industries.

Sheila Afari - The startup story of a PR entrepreneur with a passion for promoting proudly African brands

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sheila Afari, founder of Sheila Afari Public Relations (South Africa)

Africa has a wealth of PR, media and communications talent, and no two companies are the same. In the case of Sheila Afari Public Relations, this proudly African PR entrepreneur is passionate about showcasing the best of African brands to the rest of the world, and is differentiating herself and her company in the marketplace as a result.

PODCAST: Melanie Hawken, LoA's founder and editor-in-chief, is interviewed by Daudi Mugabi, host of Business Mic in Kampala, Uganda

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Listen to Melanie Hawken, LoA's founder and editor-in-chief, being interviewed by Daudi Mugabi, host of Business Mic in Kampala, Uganda. Melanie talks about the power of women entrepreneurs to help drive a new and spirited approach to economic growth and development on the African continent.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Dr. Paula Noble Fellingham, founder of TheWIN - Women's Information Network

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

LoA had the opportunity to interview the truly inspiring Dr. Paula Noble Fellingham on the sidelines of the Global Women’s Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 8th of August as part of Women's Month celebrations.

LoA Making News: Leadership Magazine speaks to Melanie Hawken about connecting women entrepreneurs

August 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Melanie Hawken, LoA founder and editor-in-chief featured in Leadership Magazine (August 2015 Issue) — **Melanie Hawken**, LoA founder and editor-in-chief featured in Leadership Magazine (August 2015 Issue)

Leading South African business publication, Leadership Magazine, interviewed Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa on how her online platform can connect women entrepreneurs around the world.