PODCAST: Benji & Moon, your cats and dogs favourite designer!

November 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Hanneke Schutte & Karen Carr, co-founders of Benji and Moon

LoA recently had the pleasure of meeting co-founders Hanneke Schutte and Karen Carr of Benji and Moon, a wonderful South African startup creating beautiful handcrafted products for your beloved cats and dogs. At the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg, LoA chatted to Karen who shared the exciting journey the pair are currently on in launching their great company and products. Listen to our interview….

Essential Read: Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur - 4 Building Blocks to Fulfilling Your Dream by Heather Brooke Quick

November 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

For all those women entrepreneurs who are spending long hours trying to build their businesses but just barely turning a profit, or struggling with feelings of self-doubt and simply feeling overwhelmed, this very practical guide could provide some of the answers. In The Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur - 4 Building Blocks to Fulfilling Your Dream, author Heather Brooke Quick looks at how to entepreneurs often need to remind themselves of who they are and why their businesses exist, in order to convince others to buy their products or use their services.

Monica Musonda shares five key business lessons she has learned

November 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia) — **Monica Musonda**, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Zambian entrepreneur Monica Musonda is the founder of Java Foods who produce the eeZee instant noodles brand. In a recent webcast, ''Secrets for a Successful Start-Up' webinar organised by The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Monica shared some of the lessons she has learnt in business and answered questions posed to her by participants. Below are 5 key lessons she has learnt in business.

Social enterprise Abury announces the release of its first ADEX Winner Accessories Collection, created by talented Zimbabwean designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri

November 1, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, founder Vanhu Vamwe — **Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri**, founder Vanhu Vamwe

On 28 October in Berlin, social enterprise Abury, and creator of the first global contest in search of the best accessories design talent worldwide, the ABURY Design Experience, announced the first collection of handmade handbags made by artisans in Ecuador and designed by the winner of the 2015 contest, Zimbabwean designer, PamSamasuwo-Nyawiri.

October 2015 Image of the Day Gallery: FREE e-Book celebrating Lionesses of Africa through the power of images

October 31, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Ally Angula: My Republik celebrates one year of effortless style

October 30, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia) — **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.

PODCAST: Bushera Bashir shares the rise of the Trebene brand and the Paris showcase of her 2016 collection

October 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Map Your Assumptions

October 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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?

PODCAST: Lucy Beard's journey from city lawyer to launching an artisanal gin distillery in Cape Town

October 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa) — **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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: You must be clear about your target market

October 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria) — 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.

How to Boost your LinkedIn profile

October 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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!

PODCAST: Robyn Britz, co-founder of Zana talks about building her homeware, accessories and furniture brand

October 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Robyn Britz (L), co-founder of ZANA (South Africa) — **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.

Quote of the Day

October 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lani Stenvert, founder of Good Dog Designs — **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.

Danielle Goldman - The startup story of a serial entrepreneur in South Africa using her vast experience of China to create a new product sourcing agency

October 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Danielle Goldman, founder of Guanxi Connections Ltd. — **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.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Anna Richerby, a woman happily reinventing the ancient craft of beadwork

October 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Anna Richerby, founder of Beloved Beadwork (South Africa). Image: Michael Griffin — **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.

Essential Read: From Gomba to the White House: The journey of an African Woman Entrepreneur by Rehmah Kasule

October 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rehmah Kasule, author and entrepreneur — **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.

Financial Smarts for Women Entrepreneurs: The Dark Side to Compound Interest and why you need to keep your friendly Banker in the loop

October 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.

Macy’s Commemorates 10 Years of Rwanda Path to Peace Initiative with Gahaya Links

October 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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.… — 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.

Lilian Muhammed - The startup story of a South African Afroluxe fashion accessory brand builder with a passion for making local and buying local

October 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Muhammed, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa) — **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.

“Step out of your comfort zone and do what makes you happy”

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