Samantha Skyring - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur bringing the unique desert salt of the Kalahari to the world’s kitchens

March 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Samantha Skyring, founder of Oryx Desert Salt (South Africa)

With the world looking to source more sustainable, ethically produced and renewable sources of foodstuffs, one South African business venture, Oryx Desert Salt, founded by entrepreneur Samantha Skyring, is looking to bring an exceptional source of salt to enrich both the flavour of food and also promote good health.

Quote of the Day by Tabitha Karanja

March 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tabitha Karanja founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries — Tabitha Karanja founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries

"I’m a leader who happens to be a woman. When people look at me, they don’t see me as a woman; they see me as an entrepreneur."

- Tabitha Karanja is founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries. She is one of Kenya's leading entrepreneurs, a remarkable trailblazer and an example of a woman made good against all the odds. Tabitha chose to venture where none before her had dared. She took on an 87-year-old business monopoly and entered an industry with a deeply entrenched male gender stereotype. Tabitha broke the mould to become Kenya’s first home-grown beer and alcoholic drink manufacturer. Today, her company's state-of-the-art production facility is targeting 20% of the Kenyan market.

Entrepreneur Advice from Khanyi Dhlomo: It's never to late to chase your dream

March 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

It's never too late to start pursuing your dreams....

"The saddest thing is to die with your dreams inside you, never having pursued them. I think a lot of regrets come from not having done things we were meant to do. It's important to keep active and to try and achieve your goals. And there's a huge value in having gained experience in other things which you can then apply to what you decide to do. So no matter your age, go for it."

- Khanyi Dhlomo is the Managing Director of Ndalo Media, which she founded in 2007. She is also the founder of DestinyConnect and the founding editor of Destiny Magazine. Before starting her own media company, Khanyi was editor of True Love magazine for eight years. In 2013, Khanyi ventured in retail and launched Luminance, a high-end fashion and lifestyle department store. Khanyi was named most influential woman in South African Media by The Media Magazine in 2003 and made the 2011 Forbes list of 20 Young Power Women in Africa.

What a great gathering at the first Lioness Lean in Breakfast Event in Cape Town!

March 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

With the spectacular scenery of Table Mountain in the background, and a cloudless sunny day in prospect, almost 60 women entrepreneurs from across the Western Cape gathered together for the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast event of the year, held in the inspirational surroundings of Workshop 17 in Cape Town. The aim of the event was to share startup stories, to hear inspirational women entrepreneurs speaking about their personal business journeys to success, to connect with each other for future business and collaboration, and to do some serious networking. And, given the incredible energy and noise levels of women deep in conversation from the minute they arrived, the whole concept of ‘leaning in’ to share ideas, swop stories, and do business, was absolutely understood by everyone.

Quote of the Day by Julian Adyeri Omalla

March 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"I am delighted when I employ people and see them work and educate their children. I encourage my employees to develop themselves, to save money, buy land and build houses for themselves."

- Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.

Essential Read: Pilot to Profit: Navigating Modern Entrepreneurship to Build Your Business Using Online Marketing, Social Media, Content Marketing and Sales by Lisa Larter

February 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lisa Larter, founder of The Lisa Larter Group — **Lisa Larter**, founder of The Lisa Larter Group

Seatbelts fastened. Business dreams in the upright position. Entrepreneurs, prepare for takeoff with this new book on harnessing the power of digital media to build a great business, written by Lisa Larter.

Monica Musonda: Don't happily be a spectator in your own economy

February 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Video: Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)

Do you want to be a spectator or a participant in your country? Monica Musonda narrates her journey into entrepreneurship as a Zambian woman. Working for the richest man in Africa, her former employer Aliko Dangote asked “Where are the Zambian Banks & Factories?” Monica reflected on how Nigerians run their economy and this inspired her to actively participate in her own country’s economy.

Shereen Makhanye - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur harnessing Africa’s organic and exotic indigenous crops to create an exciting natural hair-care brand

February 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Shereen Makhanye, founder of Nubian Nature (South Africa)

Nubian Nature (Pty) Ltd is the entrepreneurial creation of founder Shereen Makhanye, whose journey to find products that are not harmful to use on African hair led her to harness the power of the continent’s natural ingredients to find a solution. Her company and its products are the showcase for her genuine passion for Africa, science, hair and all things natural and it's been her life dream to share the experience and richness of Africa with Africans and the rest of world.

PODCAST: Melanie Hawken talks Millennial Women Entrepreneurs on Lucky Radio

February 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Melanie Hawken, founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa, with host Shona MacDonald

Lionesses of Africa shared some interesting insights on the subject of the rise of Millennial women entrepreneurs in Africa, and their innovative approaches to harnessing the power of digital to launch new businesses.

Event Watch! Women in Energy Effeminacy Women’s Entrepreneurship Breakfast - 27th February

February 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Effeminacy Women’s Entrepreneurship Breakfast is a monthly event hosted in Johannesburg. This breakfast aims to identify issues that retard women’s entrepreneurship journey. By hosting monthly panel discussions and inviting institutions that deal with the specific issues, we are able to alleviate these issues.

Evashnee Naidu - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help SMMEs to realise increased profitability and improved lead generation

February 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Evashnee Naidu, founder of EnablED (South Africa) — **Evashnee Naidu**, founder of EnablED (South Africa)

In an increasingly competitive market environment, making companies stand out in the marketplace and helping them to maximise the enterprise development opportunities that exist is key. EnablED, the brainchild of South African entrepreneur, Evashnee Naidu, is one such company that is playing a key role in managing enterprise and supplier development solutions for SMMEs.

Natacha Nduwimana - The startup story of an entrepreneur taking world-class event production to new heights in Rwanda and Burundi

February 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Natacha Nduwimana, founder of Jelim Premier Events — **Natacha Nduwimana**, founder of Jelim Premier Events

In the highly competitive world of event production, understanding the experiential brand and marketing needs of customers is key, and if there is one company that understands this fact it is Jelim Premier Events. Founder Natacha Nduwimana is an entrepreneur with a keen eye for detail and a comprehensive understanding of the power of brand positioning through event activation, delivering innovative and high quality event experiences in the countries she works in.

Adhiambo Mula-Lauwers - The startup story of a South African footwear brand turning the traditional concept of shoe design on its head

February 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Adhiambo Mula-Lauwers, founder of GALAGO (South Africa) — **Adhiambo Mula-Lauwers**, founder of GALAGO (South Africa)

GALAGO is a footwear brand with a difference. It not only celebrates an African aesthetic, embracing the traditional techniques and craftsmanship renowned on the continent, but also brings in a uniquely customised aspect for the wearer. Fashion entrepreneur and founder, Adhiambo Mula-Lauwers, is tapping into a new design aesthetic that is highly customer centric and very individual.

The Global Women’s Summit heads to Rwanda to celebrate International Women’s Day

February 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Each year, over 1000 Global Women’s Summits are being presented by The Women Information Network (WIN) in major cities worldwide. The mission is to strengthen women and families through Education, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship in order to eradicate illiteracy, poverty and hunger in every nation. This year’s theme is Towards Vision 2020, Women Leading Innovative Transformation.

Quote of the Day from Dr. Victoria Kisyombe

February 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, founder of SELFINA (Tanzania) — **Dr. Victoria Kisyombe**, founder of SELFINA (Tanzania)

"I have seen the enormous impact a small investment can make in the life of a woman. And it doesn’t stop there — from one modest lease, a woman can create dozens of jobs, touching the lives of dozens more."

- Victoria Kisyombe founded SELFINA in 2002 and pioneered micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing with a focus on widows and young girls. Victoria helped women overcome many of the traditional stumbling blocks that made it difficult for them to own land and assets. SELFINA has gone on to economically empower more than 25,000 women with a total credit worth 25 billion Tanzanian Shillings (approximately $16 million US dollars). Over 200,000 lives have been impacted through the benefits accrued.

Why having the right mind-set is key to running a successful business

February 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Success at times can seem quite elusive. You’re running your own business, running a household, and you’re a wife, partner, parent to boot. So how do others do it? They make it look so easy. Does it have to do with them being better at time management? Or, is it that they have a different mind-set to you?

Essential Read: Impact with Wings: Stories to inspire and mobilize women angel investors and entrepreneurs

February 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Karen Bairley Kruger, Jagruti Bhikha, CE Lim, Wingee Sin, Hana Yang and Suzanne Andrews — Karen Bairley Kruger, Jagruti Bhikha, CE Lim, Wingee Sin, Hana Yang and Suzanne Andrews

Look out for the launch shortly on Amazon of the wonderfully titled “Impact with Wings - Stories to inspire and mobilize women angel investors and entrepreneurs - it’s an anthology of personal stories and research written by six female impact investors. This book's purpose is to enlighten and inspire women to step into angel investing and/or entrepreneurship, as it is through investing in each other that we can begin to tip gender imbalances and bring more women forward.

Namibian entrepreneur Tammy Nott launches crowdfunding campaign to bring greater economic opportunity to the Himba women

February 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tamarind Nott, founder of Mbiri Natural Skincare and Kaveuruamo Mupurua, one of the community project harvesters. (Namibia) — **Tamarind Nott**, founder of Mbiri Natural Skincare and Kaveuruamo Mupurua, one of the community project harvesters. (Namibia)

Tamarind Nott is an inspirational young Namibian entrepreneur on a mission. She launched her company Mbiri Natural Skincare in April 2015, but this is no ordinary skincare company and brand - it has an incredible back-story, inspired by the Himba women of Kaokoland in her country. To write the next chapter of the company’s history, and to help to realise its ambitious goals, Tamarind is launching a global crowdfunding campaign to fund the expansion of the project and to make an even greater impact on the lives of these incredible women.