Thanthi Sepeng - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur on a mission to change lives for the better in her country through her work

May 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Thanthi Sepeng, founder of Reve Productions (South Africa) — **Thanthi Sepeng**, founder of Reve Productions (South Africa)

Reve Productions is the brainchild of Thanthi Sepeng, one of an exciting new breed of entrepreneurs in South Africa who are finding solutions to key challenges. Her company is geared up to provide clients with a comprehensive, professional and unforgettable service, be it in Event Management, Marketing, Event Logistics Management or CSI Projects.

Entrepreneur Advice from Janet Nkubana: My top advice to any woman starting up a business

May 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Top advice for women starting up?....

"They should know what they are best at rather than seeing what others are doing. They need to know who their competitors and clients are, and give their customers good value for their money."

- Janet Nkubana, co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives with her sister Joy Ndungutse shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. These inspiring sisters had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Today, Gahaya Links manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country, organised into around 52 cooperatives that help provide much needed income and stability. The sisters have successfully opened the business to international markets, partnering with the likes of Macy’s, Walmart, Oprah Magazine, and Kate Spade. Today, Gahaya Links "Peace Baskets” are sold and admired the world over.

Joselyne Umutoniwase - The startup story of a Rwandan fashionpreneur with a passion for custom-made fashion clothing and the art of tailoring

May 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Joselyne Umutoniwase, founder of Rwanda Clothing Home Ltd (Rwanda) — **Joselyne Umutoniwase**, founder of Rwanda Clothing Home Ltd (Rwanda)

For many fashion conscious buyers in Africa, there is nothing quite like the experience of having a piece of clothing tailor-made by a professional with an eye for both design and detail. Joselyne Umutoniwase, founder of Rwanda Clothing Home Ltd, is an entrepreneur who understands this need only too well, and has created a successful business providing custom-made clothes to discerning buyers who want the personal creative touch.

Quote of the Day by Elsie Kanza

May 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Elsie Kanza, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum — **Elsie Kanza**, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum

"I strongly believe that the 21st century will be Africa’s century, that its young population has the potential to build a world where they are not only materially better off but also where things are fairer, more sustainable and more tolerant than at any other time in history."

- Elsie Kanza has been the Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum since 2014 and is a Member of the Executive Committee of World Economic Forum. She is also an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow; a Global Leader nominee of the World Economic Forum; and a Rising Talents nominee of the Program of the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society.

Entrepreneur Advice from Basadi Ohimile: Implement your dreams

May 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Basadi Ohimile, founder of The Concept King (Botswana) — **Basadi Ohimile**, founder of The Concept King (Botswana)

Implement your dreams....

"As much as the lion is the King of the jungle, a lioness raises and builds the cohesiveness of the family. Rise the innate lioness in you and start building - the hustles will come - allow them to be the curve-balls that will help you to build your entrepreneurial journey. Extend your hands and hold on to other like minded people as you and go forward to implement your dreams."

- Basadi Ohimile is the founder of The Concept King in Botswana, a creative company specialising in communication and advertising services in its broad spectrum. After completing her studies and graduating in South Africa, Basadi was confronted by the all too common reality of not being able to find a job. She decided to take the entrepreneurial approach and opened her first venture in South Africa in 2014, subsequently also launching in Botswana.

Quote of the Day by Ethel Cofie

May 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"I think the belief that Africa is rising must move from the mere rhetoric to actual practical achievements. Africa cannot be rising if we cannot produce enough electricity for businesses to grow, amongst other things. So it is nice to say Africa is Rising or Ghana is Rising. But the rhetoric must be backed solidly."

- 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.

Quote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch

May 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"I believe stress is fear and I honestly am not afraid of anything. There has never been a challenge that I had to face that I haven’t been able to get sorted.”

- Margaret Hirsch is one half of a dynamic husband and wife duo that founded Hirsch's Homestores. Back in 1979, as a secretary, together with her husband Allan, then an appliance repair man, they unwittingly became entrepreneurs who went on to build an appliance, electronics and furnishing retail empire. Today, Hirsch's Homestores is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics business in Southern Africa, with seventeen branches and concept stores spread throughout South Africa.

Basadi Ohimile - The startup story of an entrepreneur from Botswana with a passion for communication and creativity

May 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Understanding the power of an integrated communication approach to help businesses to grow and connect with their audiences is something that entrepreneur Basadi Ohimile knows only too well. Her business, The Concept King, is leveraging her own experience and that of her team, to provide an end-to-end communications solution to her clients, both at home and across the continent.

100 LIONESSES: Ethel Cofie's Edel Technology Consulting is nominated for IT Consulting Firm of The Year

May 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, founder Edel Technology Consulting, Ghana

EDEL Technology Consulting, founded by Ethel Cofie has been nominated in this year’s Ghana Telecom Award now re-branded Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards (GITTA), in the category “IT consulting firm of the year”. This follows hot on the heels of being judged one of the '100 Most Globally Competitive Startups in Ghana', compiled by one of the country’s reputed media rating establishments, Avance Media, together with The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE) and Joy Business.

Lionesses set to ‘lean in’ for greater business success in Johannesburg

May 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

The latest in the series of inspirational monthly Lioness Lean In Breakfast events is set to take place this week on Thursday 19th May, once again powered by Standard Bank and hosted at their inspirational SB Business Incubator in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The Lioness Lean In Breakfast events are proving to be a huge hit with women entrepreneurs who come from across the country to listen to successful women business brand builders share their stories, to inspire one another, and to network and connect for business success.

Entrepreneur Advice from Baitse Phejane: Start small and network

May 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Baitse Phejane, founder of Akili Communications (South Africa) — **Baitse Phejane**, founder of Akili Communications (South Africa)

Start small and network....

"Do what you are good at and passionate about; understand the value you want to add; start small and network."

- Baitse Phejane is the founder of Akili Communications in South Africa, a full service communications and enterprise development company offering high-end solutions to the SME market. Baitse screens and segments SMEs and assists them to gain access to opportunities and markets. Prior to launching her own business Baitse was a Business Analyst for a large banking group in South Africa.

Meet the 5 winners of the Africa Top Women Innovators Challenge 2016

May 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Africa’s future lies in the hands of its youthful population. But, while the region’s start-up businesses are gaining confidence and scale with a growing number of innovations achieving recognition beyond the region’s borders, much more must be done to create an enabling environment that allows entrepreneurs to flourish. This is especially the case for women entrepreneurs, whose potential is far from being optimized. This was the reason for a World Economic Forum challenge to find Africa’s top women Innovators. The criteria for the challenge required entrants’ companies to be less than three years old, be earning revenue for at least a year, and have proven innovation and positive social impact.

Fulufhelo Ramulifho - The startup story of a South African edupreneur creating high school learner conversations about careers

May 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Fulufhelo Ramulifho, founder of Careers For A Powerful You (South Africa) — **Fulufhelo Ramulifho**, founder of Careers For A Powerful You (South Africa)

The critical period of time for young people to open their minds to possibilities and to prepare for their futures is during their schoolyears - but, they need the right kind of support to help them on their journeys. Careers For A Powerful You is the brainchild of South African edupreneur Fulufhelo Ramulifho, a business focused on providing high quality career guidance, coaching and mentoring to help a new generation of young people to fulfil their potential.

Entrepreneur Smarts: Understanding S-curves

May 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Farmers know when to plow, when to plant, when to harvest, for the best crop. Is there a seasonal code to guide people developing innovations? There is. Every innovation follows a lifecycle called an S-curve. Understanding S-curves will help you to take the right actions at the right time.

Essential Read: Own Your Space by Nadia Bilchik and Lori Milner

May 15, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Own Your Space by authors and entrepreneurs, Nadia Bilchik and Lori Milner, is a great read for any working woman, whether in the corporate environment or for the entrepreneur. It provides practical tools and insights gleaned from workshops held around the world and from interviews with some of South Africa’s most accomplished women to provide you with tried-and-tested techniques, tips and advice to help you boost your career, enhance your confidence and truly own your space on every level. By exploring your head space, your physical space, personal grooming, virtual and networking skills as well as overcoming the negative effects of past conditioning, you will learn how to develop the unshakeable confidence to achieve absolutely anything.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ruth Kwalanda: It's okay to ask for help

May 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Kwalanda, founder of CIAR Management Institute (Kenya) — **Ruth Kwalanda**, founder of CIAR Management Institute (Kenya)

It's okay to ask for help....

“If you are ever in doubt about anything, ask. There is always someone willing to help you. These days I ask a lot more questions as I run my business and know it’s OK to make mistakes as I go along.”

- Ruth Kwalanda is the founder of CIAR Management Institute, a corporate training business and provider of Kenya’s first E-learning platform. Ruth has been a leading provider of human capital development solutions to professionals and business communities in Africa for more than 5 years, facilitating business knowledge and skills transfer through cutting edge conferences, training programmes and e-learning.

Ally Angula: Every year 11 million Africans enter job market, and here’s the dilemma - jobs or technological progress?

May 12, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

KIGALI, WEF Africa: MASS jobs or productivity? Every year some 11 million young Africans enter the job market, only to join tens of millions of others struggling with limited work opportunities on the continent, creating the conditions for social unrest.

Entrepreneur Advice from Gabriella von Ille: Learn to handle the bad days

May 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Gabriella von Ille, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa) — **Gabriella von Ille**, founder of Lifa Communications (South Africa)

Learn how to handle the bad days...

"Being an entrepreneur means dealing with constant ups and downs. There are great days, when everything goes right and you handle everything with such zeal, but then there are other days that aren't so good. It is all about how you handle the bad days."

- Gabriella von Ille is the founder of Lifa Communications in South Africa, a boutique consultancy firm focused on Africa and Natural Resources. Lifa specializes in PR & Strategic Communication, Digital Design and Marketing & Branding. Gabriella has a double degree in Political Science and Communications from Sweden and the US.

Entrepreneur Advice from Keri Muller: How can artists, makers & crafters get their creations to market?

May 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Keri Muller, founder of Simple Intrigue — **Keri Muller**, founder of Simple Intrigue

How can women start to market their products?....

"Just as I did, I would suggest that they start making things and then do the hard legwork of visiting shops, finding out who the buyers are and what they are buying. Knocking on people’s doors in the retail business and showing them samples of what they have produced, and they will learn as they go how to sell and market their own products and creations. It is hard work but it can pay off in the long run."

- Keri Muller is the founder and creative force behind Simple Intrigue, a Cape Town-based company that produces wonderfully creative art, installations and decor items. Keri is a treasure hunter, hoarder, maker of stuff, collector, browser, day dreamer, walker, and traveller. Simply put, Keri is a maker of stuff. She folds, glues and cuts paper and old books into artworks, traditional origami shapes and more abstract pieces. Popup books and cards, delicate paper mobiles and a humorous range of sketch prints are all part of her retail range of products. Keri also works on commissions for writing projects and publications, develops new products for corporates, functions, weddings or as special gifts.