The October 2015 edition of the Image of the Day Gallery e-book is out today! They say that a picture says a thousand words, and we couldn't agree more. At Lionesses of Africa, we love the powerful images that conjure up the spirit of women-owned businesses and the products and services they create. These images give us an insight into the unique creativity that exists here in Africa and that is capturing the imagination of the world.
Read moreAlly Angula: My Republik celebrates one year of effortless style
Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia)
As Namibia’s first clothing brand, not only retailed in a branded outlet, but that is also designed, developed, cut, trimmed and stitched locally, the team had plenty to celebrate as they looked back on their first year in business. Building a brand from scratch is no easy feat and although they were challenged, the team behind My Republik persisted in delivering a unique shopping experience, such as free alterations and offering coffee and water to welcome customers as they shopped, which kept them coming back for more.
Read morePODCAST: Bushera Bashir shares the rise of the Trebene brand and the Paris showcase of her 2016 collection
Bushera Bashir, founder of Trebene
LoA chatted to Bushera Bashir the creative founder of luxury accessory brand, Trebene, who are exciting the fashion world with their beautiful cashmere scarves, at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the exciting journey the brand is currently taking as she launches her 2016 collection globally to much acclaim.
Read moreMap Your Assumptions
It is April 1992 and Disney is opening their second theme park outside the United States in Paris, after twenty years of running other theme parks. Despite their experience and the meticulous planning that went into this $5b project, the park will have racked up losses of more than $1 billion by 1994. How could things go so wrong?
Read morePODCAST: Lucy Beard's journey from city lawyer to launching an artisanal gin distillery in Cape Town
Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa)
LoA chatted to Lucy Beard, who is the co-founder of Hope on Hopkins together with her husband Leigh Lisk, during a busy day at their exhibition stand at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the roller-coaster ride that is the startup experience, and how becoming an entrepreneur has its challenges, but is well worth the journey from a personal, life-enhancing perspective.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: You must be clear about your target market
Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)
You must have a clear understanding of the market you want to operate in....
"When you are a small business, you are the visionary, you can easily test creatively and adjust much quicker than larger companies. Take this advantage and do all you can to stand out and serve your customers consistently. People will notice and stay with you as customers, which will lead to faster long-term growth."
- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.
Read moreHow to Boost your LinkedIn profile
Are you using LinkedIn to its fullest potential? I sure hope so! LinkedIn is my all time favorite social media site. It's the place to see and be seen. So, in order to get the best value from LinkedIn I've compiled a couple of pointers I would love to share with you. Who knows, you may too experience the magic of LinkedIn and see excellent returns on your business growth!
Read morePODCAST: Robyn Britz, co-founder of Zana talks about building her homeware, accessories and furniture brand
Robyn Britz (L), co-founder of ZANA (South Africa)
LoA got to chat with Robyn Britz earlier this month at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair - she is one half of the creative mother and daughter team behind the Zana brand. Robyn shared the ups and downs of her entrepreneurial journey so far in the competitive world of homeware, accessory, fabric and furniture design, and how Zana is managing to stand out from the crowd.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Lani Stenvert, founder of Good Dog Designs
“Step out of your comfort zone and do what makes you happy”
- Lani Stenvert is the founder of Johannesburg-based graphic design company, Good Dog Designs. She made the tenacious move from design studio employee to graphic design solopreneur and in the process found freedom of expression and a unique design style all of her own. Lani is one of a growing number of successful African solopreneurs in the design industry who are thriving in their own creative spaces and, at the same time, producing innovative and quality design work to be proud of.
Read moreDanielle Goldman - The startup story of a serial entrepreneur in South Africa using her vast experience of China to create a new product sourcing agency
Danielle Goldman, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd.
Understanding the global marketplace is increasingly more important for African companies and getting access to specialist products is also key. Danielle Goldman, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd, a digital marketing and design agency in China, and now incorporating a China sourcing agency here in South Africa, is looking to provide a solution and, importantly, bringing local market knowledge with her.
Read morePODCAST: LoA speaks to Anna Richerby, a woman happily reinventing the ancient craft of beadwork
Anna Richerby, founder of Beloved Beadwork (South Africa). Image: Michael Griffin
Founded in 2009, Beloved Beadwork is a company of twelve women passionately committed to the preservation and elaboration of the beadwork tradition. LoA caught up with founder and designer Anna Richerby at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg to learn about this inspiring venture. Listen to our fascinating interview.
Read moreEssential Read: From Gomba to the White House: The journey of an African Woman Entrepreneur by Rehmah Kasule
Rehmah Kasule, author and entrepreneur
This book is not just a story; it is a personal and business development tool that will practically teach you how to believe in yourself, learn how to dare to be different, to share, learn, and collaborate with others. It will teach you the power of networking, mentorship, and paying it forward. It will teach you that each one of us can make a difference and that you can achieve anything in life as long as you know who you are, believe in yourself, and have confidence.
Read moreFinancial Smarts for Women Entrepreneurs: The Dark Side to Compound Interest and why you need to keep your friendly Banker in the loop
In the latest of a series of guest blogs that look at issues around financial management for women entrepreneurs, this week our focus is on understanding how Compound Interest works, and why it is so important to keep your friendly Banker on side.
Read moreMacy’s Commemorates 10 Years of Rwanda Path to Peace Initiative with Gahaya Links
Willa Shalit, co-founder of Rwanda Path to Peace, Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links, and Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's chairman and CEO, attend Macy's 10th anniversary celebration of Rwanda Path to Peace at Macy's Herald Square in New York City. (Photo: Business Wire)
If there is one women-led, African social entreprise that springs to mind when we speak about the power of collaboration, it has to be Gahaya Links in Rwanda. The brainchild of sisters Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, this for-profit Rwandan handicraft company founded on the simple principle of women economic empowerment through fair-trade, is this month celebrating a decade-long partnership with the prestigious Macy’s retail group in the US, called the Rwanda Path to Peace initiative.
Read moreLilian Muhammed - The startup story of a South African Afroluxe fashion accessory brand builder with a passion for making local and buying local
Lilian Muhammed, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa)
Afroluxe brands are making quite a name for themselves on the global fashion scene right now, and South African entrepreneur, Lilian Muhammed, is looking to put her LONDRÉ TAN brand in the spotlight with her luxury fashion accessories, all proudly produced in her home country.
Read morePODCAST: Chinwe Ohajuruka shares what winning the Cartier Women's Award means to her
Chinwe Ohajuruka founder of Comprehensive Design Services at the 2015 Cartier Women's Initiative Awards Ceremony
Chinwe Ohajuruka, 52, lives in the United States and is of Nigerian heritage. Her 3 degrees in architecture and 3 accreditations in green building led to the creation of Comprehensive Design Services, a company that provides “comprehensive solutions to complex problems”, as Chinwe explains. She received her Cartier Women's Award in Paris on 15 October 2015 and in this interview she describes what it means to her personally and for her business moving forward.
Read moreCelebrating success! South African Opera Singer and Entrepreneur, Nozuko Teto, wows audiences at the 64th Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland
Nozuko Teto (Palmyra) and Jeff Gwaltney (SimonPerez)
As always, the annual Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland is a much anticipated event for opera lovers around the world, and this year was no exception. The event opened with the Frederick Delius opera, Koanga, featuring the talented South African opera singer and entrepreneur, Nozuko Teto in the role of Palmyra. She is receiving rave reviews for her wonderful performance.
Read morePODCAST: Linda Gieskes Mwamba talks about building her indie, natural, and African haircare brand, Suki Suki Naturals
Linda Gieskes Mwamba, founder of Suki Suki Naturals. Image by Michael Griffin
Meet Linda Gieskes Mwamba the founder of Suki Suki Naturals, an Indie, Natural, and African Hair Care Brand. Linda is the first natural African hair care brand to be invited to exhibit at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. LoA caught up with her at this event in October 2015 and chatted with her about her exciting new haircare brand. Listen to our interview.
Read moreCreate an Emeritus Board
Successful ventures will need an exceptional management team. But your startup has a young team without a lot of experience or a track record that will impress people. What can you do? Create an "Emeritus Board" of advisors. Ask some of the best and brightest people in your field to join an advisory board for your company.
Read moreLorraine Steyn - The startup story of a South African techpreneur realising a vision for the building of an innovation focused software development company
Lorraine Steyn, founder of Khanyisa Real Systems (South Africa)
The tech sector has a wealth of exciting opportunies for entrepreneurs to make a difference and Lorraine Steyn, founder of Khanyisa Real Systems, is one such entrepreneur who has built a highly regarded and successful business, underpinned with a strong sense of wanting to do good in the world.
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