Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

April 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, founder of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana) — **Ethel Cofie**, founder of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana)

"Dream big, keep on trying, this is our time. This is Africa’s time."

- Ethel Cofie is a Ghanaian-born entrepreneur and founder of Edel Technologies. This techpreneur is passionate about technology, female leadership and empowering women entrepreneurs. Ethel is a Mandela Fellow for President Obama’s Young African Leaders initiative(YALI), and has beenfeatured in BBC and CNN for work in technology and women leadership. She is the founder of Women in Tech Ghana, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meetup and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for her work supporting women in ICT.

Entrepreneur Advice from Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao: Get your business idea started

April 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao, founder of Malée Natural Science — Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao, founder of Malée Natural Science

Sometimes it's best to simply get started....

"Everyone starts from somewhere, so just start, get your business idea out there - it is better to have a product or business with feedback than a perfect one without."

- Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao is thefounder and owner of Malée Natural Science, a healthy luxury fragrance and body care range created in South Africa in 2010 inspired by the beauty and wealth of breath taking landscapes, wildlife, culture and history of Africa. Zeze combined her passion for pamper treats with her love for the African continent to create her business. She studied for a Masters in International Business at Grenoble graduate business school before launching her startup.

Entrepreneur Advice from Nkemdilim Begho: Here's how I got started with very little capital

April 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

- Nkemdilim Begho, founder of Future Software Resources Limited (Nigeria) — - Nkemdilim Begho, founder of Future Software Resources Limited (Nigeria)

How to start up with limited capital....

"I started at the very basic and that is the module I have kept and practised over the years. We really never needed to raise capital. It’s been basically about re-investing in my business and not taking much money out…. we started very small and very basic and we only spent on things that were really necessary and not things we would like to have."

- Nkemdilim Begho is founder and Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. As one of a few Nigerian women in the industry, her success is founded on a passion for driving innovative thinking, building a globally recognized technology brand and setting trends in the Nigerian Technology space.

Bilikiss Abiola and WeCyclers team up with Uber to promote environmental activism for a cleaner Lagos and pollution-free earth

April 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Bilikiss Abiola, founder of WeCyclers (Nigeria) — **Bilikiss Abiola**, founder of WeCyclers (Nigeria)

To commemorate Earth Day on 21 April, Nigeria’s inspirational social entrepreneur, Bilikiss Abiola, founder of WeCyclers, teamed up with Uber to create an innovative new campaign called ‘operation recycling unwanted waste’. The campaign was launched to be in effect throughout Lagos, in line with the initiative of Uber and WeCyclers to promote a clean and healthy environment.

Essential Read: Breaking Through: Stories and Best Practices From Companies That Help Women Succeed by Martine Liautaud

April 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

When women succeed, we all win. That’s the premise of Breaking Through, a great new book by Martine Liautaud, one of France's pioneering female investment banking executives and entrepreneurs. Women are: the majority of the world's consumers, the engines of entrepreneurial growth, roughly half of the world's workforce, known to be risk takers and innovators, and the developers of new approaches to business. Still, they do not occupy enough of the top jobs in business, and they are underrepresented among the most successful entrepreneurs. Breaking Through is the complete guidebook to mentoring women for ceiling-smashing success.

Entrepreneur Advice from Victoria Verbaan: Don’t be afraid of a 'NO' just keep going

April 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Victoria Verbaan, founder of Victoria Verbaan & the Smoking Daxi — **Victoria Verbaan**, founder of Victoria Verbaan & the Smoking Daxi

Follow your heart....

"Follow your heart, go with your gut, don’t be afraid of a NO, just keep going. Remember at all times to remain upbeat, that is my own personal mantra. Because it is difficult, and there are major struggles as an entrepreneur, but if you are passionate about what you do, and you are doing something that you love, then the money eventually comes."

- Victoria Verbaan the founder of Victoria Verbaan & the Smoking Daxi is an established designer, artist and illustrator. She works in a wide variety of artistic disciplines ranging from illustration and painting to the design of bespoke rugs, wallpaper, limited edition fine art prints, fabric and more recently, ceramics. Her commissioned artwork and fabric can be seen in local and international homes as well as restaurants and boutique hotels. Wallpaper Magazine recently named her as 1 of 20 reasons to visit South Africa.

Meet 12 sole sisters wowing the world with their African shoe brands

April 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

For decades, the world’s discerning shoe lovers have turned to European and US design labels to satisfy their desires for beautiful, handcrafted shoes - but now, Africa is staking a claim on the global footwear map, thanks to a new generation of trendy and creative designers from the continent. Their bold and innovative designs are grabbing attention and winning new fans.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

April 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"Africa needs far fewer charity brands and much more of its own powerful brands whose global equity it can leverage for its own good. Most importantly in the creation of the prosperity that comes from well-paid, sustainable jobs. Good jobs mean people can afford to finance their own solutions and not wait for a handout to do so."

- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world's fastest-growing African footwear brand and the only Fair Trade-certified footwear company in the world. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and today exports to no fewer than 45 countries and is targeting 50 stand alone soleRebels retail stores across the United States by 2018 and 500 worldwide by 2022.

Thabisa Mjo - The startup story of a talented creative entrepreneur with an eye on building an exciting new lifestyle brand in Africa

April 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash.T Design Studio (South Africa) — **Thabisa Mjo**, founder of Mash.T Design Studio (South Africa)

Interior design company, Mash.T Design Studio, is on a mission - to create beautiful spaces. Inspired by its creative founder, Thabisa Mjo, the company prides itself by continuously providing its clients with highly creative solutions to their spatial challenges. The company is constantly working to solidify its status as a design company synonymous with cutting edge, inspired design.

Nana and Afua Dabanka - The startup story of a luxury footwear label, proudly made in Ghana, and inspired by a powerful Ashanti heritage

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nana & Afua Dabanka, founders of MONAA (Ghana) — **Nana & Afua Dabanka**, founders of MONAA (Ghana)

In the world of design, particularly luxury footwear, there is something truly inspirational about working with the finest leathers, fabrics and decorative elements that are reflective of a country’s design aesthetic. Nana and Afua Dabanka, the creative duo behind the incredibly beautiful MONAA brand, are taking the world by storm with their luxury footwear label that takes its inspiration from their proud Ashanti heritage.

Nikki Davies - The start up story of a mom’s quest to serve wholesome real food to babies and toddlers

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nikki Davies, co-founder of Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods (South Africa) — **Nikki Davies**, co-founder of Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods (South Africa)

Every parent knows how crucial it is to give their babies and toddlers the best start in life through a healthy diet, and yet in our increasingly busy lives, the convenience of a ready-made baby food makes all the difference. Finding options that are fresh and healthy, however, is a challenge. However, one South African company is changing all that. Nikki Davies, the inspiration and co-founder of the Orchard Baby and Toddler Foods company and brand is producing real food that both parents and babies will love.

5 Steps to making effective business decisions quicker

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

The success of your business is defined by how you make decisions - and naturally, success also lies in how quickly these decisions are made.

Quote of the Day by Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda) — **Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera**, founder of Glo Creations (Rwanda)

"Never underestimate your gift or talent - develop it and make use of it to the fullest."

- Gloria Kamanzi Uwizera is the founder of Glo Creations, a Rwandan based textile design and printing company, specializing in creating African inspired quality patterns for garments and home interiors. Gloria, a talented artist from a young age, trained under Liberian batik artist Gabriel Saydee whilst she lived in Senegal, and eventually she started up her own art business in that country. Gloria later moved back to her home country Rwanda and in 2008 launched “GLO CREATIONS” specialising in batik and other types of painting on textile.

Entrepreneur Advice from Angela van Herzeele: How to negotiate the cash flow hurdle

April 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Angela van Herzeele, founder of Angel Rose Trading Company — **Angela van Herzeele**, founder of Angel Rose Trading Company

Managing cash flow is key to success….

"....cash flow is always a hurdle. If you are not a money or figures person, then get the right person to help you, because this can lead to the ruin of many small businesses starting up, and it doesn't have to be the case if done correctly! Personally, I have learned many a lesson in this department."

- Angela van Herzeele is a South African entrepreneur and founder of Angel Rose Trading Company a 'little company' she's grown to have many facets, including a retail shop selling vintage furniture, silverware, china, décor items, and soft furnishing products; she also markets a range of really interesting and aesthetically beautiful upcycled products made out of coffee bean hessian sacks, and this includes furniture, handbags, and soft furnishings. Angela also does interior decorating for clients, which goes hand-in-hand with her retail shop. Recently, she introduced a new element to the range of products that she designs and manufactures - this includes body scrubs, hand creams, lotions and soaps.

Essential Read: Find Your Extraordinary: Dream Bigger, Live Happier, and Achieve Success on Your Own Terms by Jessica DiLullo Herrin

April 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

What if you could, with a little effort, live an extraordinary life? A life in which you felt deep passion for everything you did, and always had time for what matters most? A life in which you had the power, the daring, and the will to make your boldest dreams come true, all while you happily left feelings of inadequacy or guilt behind? Serial entrepreneur and author, Jessica Herrin, shares her insights and experience on how to find your own extraordinary and live the live you want to.

Finding the best market for your product: Niche, niche, niche…

April 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

In this blog we’re going to look at finding the best market for your product. “But everyone is the market for my product”, is what many startups tell me. And, “our market is 50 million people, and if we can capture just 1% of the market…”. Wrong approach! Trying to mass-market your offering from the beginning is doomed to failure.

Meet 20 women entrepreneurs who are spearheading a new entrepreneurial spirit in Rwanda

April 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rwanda has recently been ranked the Best Place to be a Woman in Africa, according to the Global Gender Gap Report, and ranked 6th overall in the world in terms of closing gender gaps. It is also one of the most encouraging and supportive places to be a woman entrepreneur in Africa. Rwanda is highly progressive in seeing entrepreneurship as a key driver for transformation, economic development and business growth in the country, particularly for women. Here are 20 of the inspirational women entrepreneurs in the country who have captured our attention.