I was privileged enough to attend the very first #LionessMentoring session at the Standard Bank Incubator in Rosebank, Johannesburg this week. One of the things that really struck me, besides the passion and resilience each women entrepreneur displayed, was the complete lack of confidence in themselves and their sales abilities.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Janet Nkubana: Get your PR going and keep talking to people
Maximising your Public Relations is important....
"Public Relations is key to any initiative, not only business initiatives... (to) implement any idea you have – talk about it. Be free and say what you think, share what you want to achieve. Use the partnerships and nurture them."
- 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.
Read moreVIDEO: Aisha Pandor talks about how her startup SweepSouth is using technology to provide home services
Source: Soweto TV | Tonight with Tim Modise | Published on July 15, 2016
The idea for SweepSouth came in December 2013 when husband and wife team Alen Ribic and Aisha R. Pandor struggled to find a part-time domestic cleaner over the holidays. The aim was to make getting your home cleaned, at short notice, a hassle-free experience. SweepSouth currently operates in most areas of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Centurion and Pretoria and will be expanding into other regions soon.
Read moreSaloni Kantaria, a Kenyan entrepreneur bringing the world of high tech fitness to Nairobi’s residents
Saloni Kantaria, founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio (Kenya)
The current global trend for fitness is now being seen in Africa, and in Kenya, one athlete turned entrepreneur, Saloni Kantaria, founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio in Nairobi, is bringing something fresh to the exercise scene.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Monica Musonda
Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)
“Don’t happily be a spectator in your own economy,”
- Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Saloni Kantaria: Do your due diligence
Do your due diligence....
"Do your due diligence and see if your idea is actually something the market needs or whether its only you who thinks the market needs it. Speak to people you trust about your concept and get their feedback. If you've decided to go ahead and implement your concept then stick to your guns and don't lose confidence."
- Saloni Kantaria, the founder of Reform Cycling and Strength Studio in Nairobi, is bringing something fresh to the exercise scene. She has launched East Africa's first boutique class focused studio integrating technology with fitness. Born and raised in Nairobi, Saloni played tennis for Kenya in the 1990s and was the top ranked female tennis player in Kenya until 1999 with a junior world ranking. She then went on to play tennis for Cornell University where she pursued her undergraduate degree. Although she moved on to become an international arbitration lawyer, she always had a passion for fitness and decided to her open her fitness studio in January 2016.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Jenna Clifford
Jenna Clifford, founder of Jenna Clifford Designs
"If you want to stand out from the crowd and become known for your talent, you need to breathe, eat and sleep your chosen career path.”
- Jenna Clifford is a world-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique designs and superlative craftsmanship. Established in 1992, her company has steadily grown its clientele and improved its profile to institute itself as a powerful force in the jewellery industry. Her bold and dramatic designs are sought after by some of the most recognised business icons and celebrities from around the world. Today, Jenna Clifford Designs employs around 70 people, including some of the finest jewellery artisans and craftsmen in South Africa.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi: There is no instant gratification
Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa)
There is no instant gratification....
"Being in business requires tenacity and serious patience. There is no instant gratification, you have to work hard in order to achieve lasting success in business."
- Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi is the founder of Yivani Naturals. a South Africa startup producing a range of 100% natural soothing and therapeutic skincare. Ntshantsha's concept is focused on the promotion of South African Indigenous Herbs and Essential Oils offering natural alternatives to health for a more holistic mind, body, and soul solution. She is actively involved in Youth development coordinating and working with the South African Youth Council. Her other current directorship positions are with Office Furniture Africa, IPCOWEB, Zenande Women’s investments and Siyakhweza Women’s Investments.
Read moreEssential Read: Raising an Entrepreneur: 10 Rules for Nurturing Risk Takers, Problem Solvers, and Change Makers by Margot Machol Bisnow
Margot Machol Bisnow
In her book, Raising an Entrepreneur: 10 Rules for Nurturing Risk Takers, Problem Solvers, and Change Makers, Margot Machol Bisnow a political powerhouse and mother of two thriving entrepreneurs interviews the moms of some of today’s most successful innovators and—based on her findings—provides ten rules for raising confident, fearless, self-made individuals whose ideas and drive will change the world.
Read moreLiberty encourages its women employees to become more entrepreneurially minded
L-R Melanie Hawken, Amanda Khoza, Eleanor Sansovini
Leading South African financial services group, Liberty, knows the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset in today’s economic climate in order to maintain a competitive edge. As a result, it is taking a proactive approach to encouraging its employees to think more entrepreneurially in their day to day work.
Read moreENTREPRENEUR SMARTS: Do the numbers!
I've been spending lots of time with new startups, from pro bono mentoring to judging pitches at the competitions. Lots of the ideas sound plausible but often suffer from a fatal flaw - the numbers have not been done.
Read moreNtshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, a South African natural skincare entrepreneur focused on promoting the country’s indigenous ingredients
Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, founder of Yivani Naturals (South Africa)
There is a growing interest in skincare products that have a natural provenance with ingredients sourced from the African continent, and South African entrepreneur Ntshantsha Tafeni-Majombozi, is tapping into that interest with her brand Yivani Naturals.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Bilikiss Abiola
Bilikiss Abiola, founder and CEO of WeCyclers
“Waste management is one of the main problems for poor populations in Nigeria. We want to create a system that would mean waste is no longer a problem, but a solution for everyone.”
- Bilikiss Adebiyi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, and founder and CEO of WeCyclers. This Lagos-based company is focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. Bilikiss holds an MBA from MIT and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University. She is a 2013 Echoing Green Fellow and WeCyclers were a Sustainia100 Company Award winner in 2014.
Read moreSinoneliso Xaba, a South African entrepreneur bringing African print textiles and design to the attention of the world
Sinoneliso Xaba, founder of Egoli Textile Designs (South Africa)
Often, indigenous design can remain a best kept secret to the country it is found in, but thanks to passionate South African entrepreneur, Sinoneliso Xaba and her company Egoli Textile Designs, that is about to change. She is on a mission to bring the continent’s most innovative African print textiles to the global marketplace, and to win a legion of new fans along the way.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Jennifer Riria
Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
"We have proven women are bankable. That you can invest in women and they can be trusted to pay back and grow their business."
- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa 2013, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.
Read moreRosemary Obi, a Nigerian entrepreneur creating the first make-up reality show in Africa
Rosemary Obi, founder Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria)
On a mission to take Africa’s most talented make-up artists to the world of film and television, Project FX Make-Up Show Africa, the brainchild of Rosemary Obi, is looking to supercharge the careers of a new generation of home-grown African make-up artists.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Rosemary Obi: Start from where you are
Rosemary Obi, founder of Project FX Make-Up Show Africa (Nigeria)
Start from where you are....
"Start from where you are. All you need is God, Goals and Guts. Do not be scared to start small. Keep going and never look back nor listen to any pessimism. Just do it and the sky will only be but a launch pad for you."
- Rosemary Obi is the founder of Project FX Make-Up Show Africa in Nigeria, Africa's first ever make-up reality show launched in June 2016, with makeup artist contestants from 5 African countries.. Rosemary's love for make-up and Africa as a whole inspired her to start her Makeup Show journey. She is proudly promoting African make-up creatives and brands.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch
Margaret Hirsch, co-founder Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
"Whatever you do - do it the best you can and then go the extra mile."
- 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. Margaret was recently announced as the winner in the Standard Bank sponsored Top Business Woman of South Africa Award, her 17th major business award.
Read moreIn Focus: Meet the women entrepreneurs shaping Africa's Media, PR & Communications landscape
This August, Lionesses of Africa is featuring the talented women entrepreneurs who are changing the PR, media and communications landscape in Africa through their innovation, products, services and their passion for what they do.
Read moreCalling all social innovators in South Africa: Your chance to apply for the 2016/17 Impumelelo Awards
Impumelelo, the Stellenbosch Academy for Social Innovation, in partnership with the Distell Development Trust, is inviting applicants to apply for the 2016/17 Impumelelo Awards. The Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre’s award is an independent awards programme based on rigorous evaluations. It is one of the few mechanisms that uncovers what is good and what works in South Africa. The award’s end goal is to promote initiatives in civil society, the public and private sector, that improve the quality of the life of the poor in exceptional ways.
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