Essential Read: Nothing is Impossible - Valuable lessons learned from an award-winning entrepreneur by Anthea Thyssen-Ambursley

June 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nothing is Impossible - Valuable lessons learned from an award-winning entrepreneur, is the story of one woman’s journey to building successful business ventures in a new era in South Africa. Author and entrepreneur, Anthea Thyssen-Ambursley cares deeply about her country and the people in it, and this comes across powerfully as she shares the ups and downs of embarking on any entrepreneurial venture for the first time in Africa.

Johannesburg’s women entrepreneurs ‘Lean In’ for greater business success as the city ranks 23rd best in the world for high growth women entrepreneurs

June 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Melanie Hawken, Bushera Bashir, Jayshree Naidoo — L-R: Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Melanie Hawken, Bushera Bashir, Jayshree Naidoo

On 23rd June, the day that the Dell City Index ranked Johannesburg as the 23rd best city in the world for high growth women entrepreneurs, the latest in the highly successful series of Lioness Lean In breakfast events took place in the city’s Rosebank district. Around 60 leading women entrepreneurs and startups gathered at the Standard Bank Business Incubator in Rosebank to share their inspirational stories, to network, and to connect for business.

Emma Tandoh - The startup story of a Ghanaian entrepreneur providing tailor-made online solutions to help SMEs and women-led businesses to develop powerful brands

June 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Emma Tandoh, founder of Outspoken Edge (Ghana) — **Emma Tandoh**, founder of Outspoken Edge (Ghana)

A passion to see women-led business in Africa succeed as global brands led entrepreneur Emma Tandoh to create her company, Outspoken Edge LLC, a specialist in the field of digital marketing and content development in Ghana. Her approach is to get people talking about the brands she helps to build, which in turn contributes to their success.

Sarinah Matema-Morgans - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur harnessing Africa’s exotic ingredients to create a luxury beauty and body care brand

June 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sarinah Matema-Morgans, founder of Serenity Luxury Body Care (South Africa) — **Sarinah Matema-Morgans**, founder of Serenity Luxury Body Care (South Africa)

Having an appreciation of the need to create high quality skincare products that are tailored to meet the specific needs of African skin, inspired entrepreneur Sarinah Matema-Morgans to create her own brand to meet those needs. Serenity Luxury Body Care is the result of her extensive experience in the beauty and cosmetics industry and her passion to create a proudly African skincare brand.

Quote of the Day by Shima Barakat

June 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Dr Shima Barakat, Research and Teaching Fellow in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the Cambridge Judge Business School

"You need a women-only forum because it allows them to speak about things they will never speak about in a mixed setting."

- Dr Shima Barakat is a Research and Teaching Fellow in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School. Shima started her career as a construction engineer, which led to an interest in how organisations understand and act in relation to the natural environment and global issues, and ultimately to inspiring and supporting entrepreneurialism and business ‘not as usual’. More.

Entrepreneur Advice from Rana Alaa: Don't hesitate in following your passions

June 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Rana Alaa, co-founder and technical director of SolarizEgypt — Rana Alaa, co-founder and technical director of SolarizEgypt

Don't hesitate in following your passions....

“My advice for female entrepreneurs is not to hesitate in following your passions and diving into the field. Being a female in a male dominated discipline is not as hard as it sounds, you gain a lot of respect and knowledge by being on the ground. You must also always have perseverance and flexibility in finding creative solutions to obstacles.”

- Rana Alaa is the co-founder and technical director of SolarizEgypt. This Egyptian entrepreneur and environmental engineer from Cairo had stints at both Intel and Shell before she co-founded her solar energy start-up which has developed solar innovative technologies with financial mechanisms to provide consumers with uninterrupted power at an affordable cost. Rana holds a BSc in Electronic Engineering and an MSc in Environmental Engineering from the American University in Cairo. She has grown the SolarizEgypt team to six professionals who grew the company at an average rate of 300% in the last two years. Her passion is to create a greener, cleaner Egypt.

Entrepreneur Advice from Khanyi Dhlomo: You can't be everywhere at once

June 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Khanyi Dhlomo, founder and Managing Director of Ndalo Media (South Africa) — Khanyi Dhlomo, founder and Managing Director of Ndalo Media (South Africa)

When balancing career and family you need to get comfortable with the fact that you can't be everywhere at once....

"We have to be comfortable with the idea of not being able to be everywhere we are required. Be comfortable that wherever you are the most important thing is that you are giving that particular situation the best of you and the best of your time,"

- Khanyi Dhlomo is the founder and 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.

Durban’s inspirational women entrepreneurs ‘lean in’ for greater business success

June 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Speakers L-R: Indrani Govender, Victoria Verbaan, Paula Goosen, Melanie Hawken, Jayshree Naidoo — Speakers L-R: Indrani Govender, Victoria Verbaan, Paula Goosen, Melanie Hawken, Jayshree Naidoo

The latest exciting leg of the Lioness Lean In Breakfast event tour this month headed to the warm shores of Durban, South Africa on 8 June, and what a great event it was. Some of the most inspirational women entrepreneurs from the city took to the stage at host venue Mancosa to share their highly personal entrepreneurial journeys, experiences and startup stories.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

June 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"For people to be innovative... they don't have to really travel a long way or copy somebody's business idea. It's right there."

- 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.

How to deal with setbacks in your startup business

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

For a startup venture, setbacks may be the name of the game, especially in the beginning phases. You’re still learning the ropes, understanding your market, finding the right team and wrapping your mind around building an empire. As a startup, in order to focus and enjoy positive results and to move forward, it’s all about how you, as the Founder of your business, need to manage these setbacks. Do you take them in your stride? Or are you riddled with fear and anguish for days because things didn’t work out?

Quote of the Day by Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine (Nigeria) — Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine (Nigeria)

"Definitely more African women need to tap into technology. I’m often amazed at what I’ve created with just a laptop and internet connection."

- Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola is the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine in Nigeria. She's a public health advocate with a Doctorate in Pharmacy and Master's in Public Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. Radiant Health is Nigeria’s first women’s health magazine offering easy-to-follow tips and advice on health and wellness, fitness, healthy eating, beauty and style and expert advice, all wrapped up in one enticing title.

100 LIONESSES: Ethel Cofie participates in the Citi Business Festival in Ghana focused on “Technology Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century”

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

The first outdoor event of the Citi Business Festival, The Footprint, takes place at the Ghana Telecom University College. A key participant, Ethel Cofie, will be contributing to the event theme: “Technology Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century”.

100 LIONESSES: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu's green shoe brand helps Ethiopia walk tall on global stage

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"It is not footwear we are producing - it's a kind of art," explained Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, who founded soleRebels in 2005 in the neighbourhood where she grew up, after realising skilled residents lacked job opportunities.

Quote of the Day by Essma Ben Hamida

June 7, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder of Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia) — **Essma Ben Hamida**, co-founder of Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia)

“I discovered I can’t change the world, but let’s start with my country.”

- Essma Ben Hamida is a Tunisian born development activist, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe in Tunisia, and President of the Sanabel Microfinance network of Arab countries. Essma launched Enda in 1995 as the first microcredit institution in Tunisia. Today, with a staff of 1300 working out of 79 branches, Enda serves 270,000 micro-entrepreneurs (70% are women) with a US$150 million loan portfolio and a repayment rate above 99%. Essma was selected Social Entrepreneur of the year for the MENA region in 2010 by the prestigious Schwab Foundation.

Abigail Klopper - The startup story of a South African photographer with a passion for confidence building portraiture for women at all stages of their lives

May 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Abigail Klopper, founder of Abigail K Photography (South Africa) — **Abigail Klopper**, founder of Abigail K Photography (South Africa)

Women entrepreneurs who follow their passion and turn it into a business are more likely to find success, as they are driven each day to fulfil their creative ambitions. Abigail K Photography is the passion of Abigail Klopper, a talented photographer who is harnessing the power of her chosen medium to enrich the lives of others.

Tania Reid - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help companies to find solutions to key challenges and business needs

May 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Tania Reid, founder of ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa) — **Tania Reid**, founder of ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa)

To meet Tania Reid, founder of ithemba Office Solutions, is to meet a woman entrepreneur who is passionate about finding solutions for her clients’ day-to-day business operations, taking a personalised, tailor-made approach to the services she offers. Her goal is to be a trusted first port-of-call to source essential products and services on behalf of the companies she lists as her clients.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Self development makes you know yourself

May 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

Self development makes you know yourself....

“Be focused and clear in your mind about what you want to do. If you set out to do something, complete it. Don’t procrastinate. It is also important that you develop yourself. Finish your degree and then you start a whole way of learning. Self development makes you know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses.”

- 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.

Johannesburg’s women entrepreneurs gather for another inspirational #LionessLeanIn

May 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Speakers L-R: Karen Wessels, Melanie Hawken, Lori Milner, Jacqueline Rogers, Jayshree Naidoo, Lilian Muhammed — Speakers L-R: Karen Wessels, Melanie Hawken, Lori Milner, Jacqueline Rogers, Jayshree Naidoo, Lilian Muhammed

One of the highlights on the monthly event calendar at Lionesses of Africa are the Lioness Lean In Breakfast events, which take place in different cities and venues, bringing together some of the most inspirational women entrepreneurs to share their experiences and startup stories. The latest event took place on Thursday 19th May, once again powered by Standard Bank and hosted at their inspirational SB Business Incubator in Rosebank, Johannesburg. And, what a great event it was!

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.