Public Interest Registry appoints Dorcas Muthoni to Enset's Board of Directors

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Dorcas Muthoni, founder and ceo of OpenWorld (Kenya) — **Dorcas Muthon**i, founder and ceo of OpenWorld (Kenya)

RESTON, Va. – September 30, 2015 – Public Interest Registry — the not-for-profit manager of .org, .ngo and .ong — today announced the appointment of Dorcas Muthoni to the board of directors of nonprofit domain registrar Enset, a subsidiary organization. Muthoni, a member of the Internet Hall of Fame and CEO and founder of OPENWORLD LTD, will begin a two-year term as director this month.

Quote of the Day

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"Competition is normal and makes for good quality products at good prices to consumers. We have to ensure that we get our positioning right – be an afropolitan brand with a striking label and irresistible story."

- Malmsey Rangaka is co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines, a family wine farm located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M’hudi wine brands are sold not only in South Africa but also the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Nigeria. M’hudi was founded in 1999 by Malmsey and her husband, and is said to be the first black-owned wine tourism farm in South Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Uche Pedro: Look inwards and find your passion

October 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

You need to find your passion as a woman entrepreneur....

“There is no fixed career path. My advice is to look inwards, find your passion, find your niche and go for it! Don’t over-think it. While you are ‘thinking’ someone might launch your idea.”

- Uche Pedro is founder of BellaNaija.com, a company that develops and delivers exciting online content aimed at Nigerian and Pan-African audiences. Uche’s savvy grasp of media trends has led to BellaNaija.com becoming the go-to lifestyle, entertainment and fashion portal in Africa. Her website has established a loyal following amongst the young, cosmopolitan, upwardly mobile set in Nigeria, with over 1 million unique visitors and 9 million page views each month.

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Kicking Ass Elegantly by Michelle Hext

October 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Hext, author, entrepreneur and Taekwondo Expert

"My passion is helping female entrepreneurs create high-end offerings that keep them firmly planted in their zone of genius, that place where they find their ultimate entrepreneurial sweet spot in a way that truly honour’s the vision they first set out to achieve."

She Leads Africa announce winners of their 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase

October 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Kambili Ngozi Ofili-Okonkwoi, Kasope Ladipo-Ajai and Ngozi Opara — L-R: Kambili Ngozi Ofili-Okonkwoi, Kasope Ladipo-Ajai and Ngozi Opara

She Leads Africa has hosted its 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase, with food manufacturing and packaging company OmoAlata, founded by Kasope Ladipo-Ajai, named as the winner of the pitch competition and walking away with the $10,000 first prize. Second place went to Kambili Ngozi Ofili-Okonkwo, founder of swimwear brand, KAMOKINI. The third place was scooped by Ngozi Opara, founder of hair extension startup, Heat Free Hair.

Entrepreneur Advice from Katherine-Mary Pichulik: Trust yourself and your artistic choices

October 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Katherine-Mary Pichulik, founder and designer behind Pichulik — **Katherine-Mary Pichulik**, founder and designer behind Pichulik

Top advice on life, art and business....

"Trust yourself and your artistic choices. Value your vision and unique articulation of beauty. Work hard. Be kind always, but set boundaries and terms of business up front. Arrogance and superiority is not exciting nor interesting – inspired and engaging is visionary. Practice silence and gratitude."

- Katherine-Mary Pichulik is the founder and Cape Town-based designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Katherine's wonderfully creative designs are inspired by her travels, artist friends, and the wonderful women she loves and admires. Pichulik pieces are hand-made from rope and collected materials – anything from shell to semi-precious stones. Founded in mid-2012, Pichulik has grown in leaps and has been featured in local and international publications and adorning catwalk models in collaborative fashion week shows with local labels Laslesso, Stefania Morland and Loin Cloth & Ashes.

Quote of the Day

September 30, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Paula Brown, co-founder and ceo of Okuhle Media — **Paula Brown**, co-founder and ceo of Okuhle Media

"Being an entrepreneur is not always a conscious decision, you find yourself simply following a passion and one day realise that you’re rather unqualified for the journey you’re on. It’s what you do next that matters. It’s been a challenging 13 years but what encourages us is the ability to change lives, sometimes in a big way, and sometimes just a little. It still feels good."

- Paula Brown, is co-founder and CEO of Cape Town-based Okuhle Media. Paula’s career highlights are numerous, including co-founding the company that produced and strategically managed the new children’s block, Craz-e for e.TV in South Africa. A mentor by nature, one of Paula’s strengths is her ability to recognize and develop the often-untapped potential within others.

Video: BRCK launches the Kio Kit to boost internet access and education in Africa's primary school classrooms

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

BRCK Education was launched in Nairobi on 22 September with the aim of addressing many of the country’s education problems, which include a lack of access to the Internet and technology, unreliable electricity supply, high mobile data costs, and lack of technological literacy by both teachers and learners.

Success needs a superb team

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Many entrepreneurs think a good idea will ensure success. Then they present their idea to an investor and get the response below.

Video: Tammy Frazer - The art of creating fragrances

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tammy Frazer is the founder of Frazer Parfum, a small perfume house in South Africa. In this fascinating video she provides an insight into the world of a master perfumer who is passionate about creating organic and natural perfume products.

Entrepreneur Advice from Amanta Hooman - Keep moving forward

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Amanta Hooman, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa) — **Amanta Hooman**, founder of Flavour Union (South Africa)

Keep on moving forward....

"Never give up. It is always slower than expected in the start-up phase. That's ok. Keep on moving."

- Amanta Hooman is a young South African woman entrepreneur who is producing a wonderful new range of truffle-based gourmet products under her new label Flavour Union. She is working with the most committed and passionate individuals within their fields to deliver a burst of flavour that shouts “Africa” ...combined with the heritage of the European food-diamond, the truffle.

Quote of the Day

September 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

“Across the world, it has become a global agenda that women must be empowered economically. It makes good economic sense because women have a natural instinct to do certain things. If you empower a woman, she tends to invest her earnings into the household, into the education of her children, and they go out to contribute to their communities, the nation and the African continent. So, why not give women the same opportunities men have?"

- Irene Ochem is the Founder and CEO of ICO Conferences & Events Limited the organisers of amongst other high profile events, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum. Irene had a long career of over 10 years with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Italy, where she held various positions in administration management. Subsequently, she was Research Administration Manager at University of Cape Town, South Africa and worked as an International Consultant for United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union Commission (AUC) in Ethiopia. More recently, she was a Conference Producer and Programme Director with a leading South African-based conference and event management company where she has produced Africa’s largest power and utilities conferences and exhibitions.

E4Impact launches new business ideas competition open to women in Uganda

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Last month, we shared information from E4Impact in Italy about their exciting MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship here in Africa. Today, they are announcing a great new Business Idea Competition (BIC) to be held in Kampala, Uganda.

Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town, South Africa is interviewing entrepreneurs for its next series of programmes

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

The Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town, one of the best incubators in South Africa, is busy interviewing candidates for their next series of programmes. Make sure to apply!

Lezel de Vos - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur who saw an opportunity to supply key ingredients to the food industry

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lezel de Vos, founder of Fox Ingredients (South Africa) — **Lezel de Vos**, founder of Fox Ingredients (South Africa)

People with a passion for what they do often make the most successful entrepreneurs, and in the case of Lezel de Vos and her company Fox Ingredients, her interest in the flavours and essences that go into making wonderful tasting and visually appealing food products is what took her into business.

Video: Yodit Eklund talks about her uniquely African beach wear and surf brand, BANTU WAX

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bantu Wax, founded by Yodit Eklund, is an African surf brand that breaks the clichés of blonde, blue-eyed surf babes with images from Africa's own surf culture.

Quote of the Day

September 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"Our economy needs more women entrepreneurs to take the plunge. To break down these age-old barriers, women entrepreneurs need all the encouragement and support they can get,"

- Robyn Farrell is executive head of 1st for Women, a South African insurance company that caters specifically for the needs of women. Over the years, 1st for Women has become an advocate for women, and its social arm, the 1st for Women Insurance Foundation, has raised over R30 million for South African women in need.

BOOK REVIEW: No Fear Allowed: A Story of Guts, Perseverance, and Making an IMPACT by Laura Herring

September 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Laura Herring author of 'No Fear Allowed' — **Laura Herring** author of 'No Fear Allowed'

For all those women entrepreneurs who, at some point during their journeys to building their businesses and brands, have woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, scared as to what to do next in business or in life, and frozen by the fear of failure, then No Fear Allowed is the book for you.

The art of juggling and multi-tasking for women entrepreneurs

September 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

How do you keep all the balls in the air, whilst building a company and brand? As women we are often referred to as master jugglers. Somewhere in our lifetime we have learnt the art of juggling many tasks at once, whilst at the same time producing excellent results. Being able to multi-task means not missing out on opportunities. Most entrepreneurs share the same traits of being courageous, persistent and having great vision. Pair this with juggling several tasks at once and you know you have a winning combination!

FINANCIAL SMARTS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: Foreign Exchange - having a plan and sticking to it

September 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

In the third of a fascinating series of guest blogs simplifying issues around financial management for all those women entrepreneurs who are looking to import and export in their business, this week the focus is on the importance of having a foreign exchange plan and sticking to it.