Messaynesh Geberesilassie, an entrepreneur bringing Ethiopia’s beautiful hand-woven cotton and leather goods to South Africa

October 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Messaynesh Geberesilassie, founder of Mela — **Messaynesh Geberesilassie**, founder of Mela

Often in business, finding an idea that is unique and that will resonate with customers can be hard. But in the case of Messaynesh Geberesilassie and her business Mela, she is tapping into the traditional handcrafted tradition of her home country to create a unique business opportunity in another marketplace - and she is winning new fans along the way.

The Eaglepreneur: How to differentiate yourself

October 2, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ever wondered why an eagle is such a unique bird when it comes to the flock of the air? An eagle was created in a very unique way which makes it one of the most used examples when it comes to entrepreneurship and leadership. An eagle has some fascinating characteristics, which when applied in our everyday lives as business women, we find ourselves soaring in high places which we never thought we would venture into.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Learn from your mistakes and move on

September 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“And when you think you have made a mistake… take the learnings from it, dust yourself off and move on. Don’t stay in that place, just move on. But, if you hold onto your vision and what it is you want to create, the universe will align. It always does.”

- 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.

3 Surefire Ways To Increase Your Business

September 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sales should always be the hot topic of discussion in your business. Whether you’re having strategy meetings with shareholders or internal staff meetings, the word sales should always certainly come up. Sales is the single most important activity within any business.

Quote of the Day by Tabitha Karanja

September 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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

"I believe in myself. I also work very hard and I've got the inner determination to achieve what I set out to do."

- 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 factory produces 10,000 bottles of gin and ready-to-drink vodka, as well as 15,000 bottles of beer per hour.

Entrepreneur Advice from Devotha Ntuke Minzi: It takes hard work

September 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania) — **Devotha Ntuke Minzi**, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)

It takes hard work....

"Hard Work - It is a sacrifice that you have to make. You have to be completely committed to your work, and enjoy it."

- Devotha Ntuke Minzi is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of K-finance Limited, a microfinance company providing financial services and business mentoring to small and medium scale entrepreneurs in Tanzania. Devotha holds a Masters in Economics from Youngstown State University, Ohio, USA, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Poverty Analysis from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Hague, Netherlands. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Devotha worked in the policy and research department at the Central Bank of Tanzania for more than 20 years.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lucilla Blankenberg: Failure's a chance to learn

September 28, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lucilla Blankenberg, founder of Off the Ground Media (South Africa) — **Lucilla Blankenberg**, founder of Off the Ground Media (South Africa)

Failure's a chance to learn....

"There is no such thing as failure, only learning for next time."

- Lucilla Blankenberg is the founder of Off the Ground Media, a South African media company focused on television, radio, print, outdoor and media campaign management and development for brands and companies. Lucilla is experienced in directing and producing all forms of media. Her television projects have included the coming of age youth drama series, Amaza, featured on SABC 1; and a documentary project, A Country for my Daughter, which won her a Gender and Media Award for best documentary.

Quote of the Day by Wendy Appelbaum

September 26, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"The more you have the more responsibility you have to share it with those who don’t."

- Wendy Appelbaum is a leading South African business woman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Having previously enjoyed a high flying career in the business world, Wendy now devotes much of her time to her award-winning DeMorgenzon wine estate in Stellenbosch. Wendy was a director of Liberty Investors Limited, the previously listed holding company of the Liberty Group. In an earlier life she was the Deputy Chairman of Women's Investment Portfolio Limited (Wiphold), the first women controlled company to list on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange with then assets in excess of R1 billion. She also was deputy chairman of the Connection Group Limited, a major listed information technology and retailing company.

100 LIONESSES: Women in Tech Founder, Ethel Cofie, Announces Largest Global Gathering of Women in Technology Week Celebration to be Held Across Africa and the Diaspora

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Women in Tech Founder and CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting, Ethel Cofie, has announced the first and largest ever global women in technology week to be held both physically and virtually in over 40 countries.

Entrepreneur Smarts: Build a Bicycle First!

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

I encourage beginning entrepreneurs to rather tackle small, achievable projects first. This allows them to rapidly gain a full set of skills across a complete project, as well as building up contacts, credibility and confidence - rather than getting bogged down, and run down, working on an huge endless project.

Paula Quinsee, a South African entrepreneur helping people and companies with their relationship issues

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Healthy relationships are at the heart of successful personal and workplace environments, but often those relationships need a little specialist help to thrive. Paula Quinsee: Relationship Expert has the insights, personal experience and specialist expertise to provide that help for those that need it.

The Secret to Building Sustainable Businesses

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ever wondered how all these big businesses started and how they came to be what they are today? The likes of Econet Wireless, Delta Corporation and British American Tobacco in Zimbabwe; Sasol, Standard Bank and MTN. I believe each of these companies has a story to tell, and from those stories we learn a lot about running a sustainable business. To some people business is all about making money, to some it’s all about fulfilling a calling, to some it is all about providing solutions to the current problems, be it social or economic ones.

Lucilla Blankenberg, a South African entrepreneur with a vision for harnessing the power of the media to make a difference

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Many small companies recognise that they need media and marketing support, but do not always have the time or money to develop these plans or produce the media to support their businesses. For entrepreneur Lucilla Blankenberg and her company Off the Ground Media, she is not only providing a great solution, but creating a company that makes a difference to the lives of others at the same time through those efforts.

Susan Granger, a proudly South African accessory manufacturer creating exclusive leather handbags from the heart of Johannesburg

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Susan Granger, founder of Nubian Queen on 101 (South Africa) — **Susan Granger**, founder of Nubian Queen on 101 (South Africa)

Nubian Queen on 101 is a disruptive new name on the leather accessory scene, creating exclusive, world-class, contemporary products that are both investments yet will not break the bank.

Essential Read: The Next Wave - Financing Women's Growth-Oriented Firms by Susan Coleman and Alicia Robb

September 25, 2016 Melanie Hawken

You may be familiar with the success stories of Spanx, GoldieBlox, and other women-owned businesses that have taken their markets by storm. But, today, only two percent of women-owned firms generate more than one million dollars annually. The Next Wave, a new book by Susan Coleman and Alicia Robb is here to help women drive up that number.

Quote of the Day by Njeri Rionge

September 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Njeri Rionge, serial entrepreneur — **Njeri Rionge**, serial entrepreneur

“I create companies serially because I believe that Africa is the next economic frontier and we must build indigenous organisations that will support this growth.”

- Njeri Rionge is one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and one of the very few women pioneers in the ICT sector on the African continent. She has co-founded internet service provider Wananchi Online, Ignite Consulting, Insite Limited, Business Lounge, and Njeri Rionge Business Consulting Inc. These days Njeri describes herself as a global citizen cross-pollinating her business interests in Africa, North America and Europe. She 'telecommutes' and regularly travels between her offices in Nairobi and Toronto.

Entrepreneur Advice from Natasha Sideris: Don't let a lack of money put you off

September 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Natasha Sideris, founder of Tashas (South Africa) — **Natasha Sideris**, founder of Tashas (South Africa)

Don't let a lack of money put you off....

"Money helps, but you can get very far with hard work, tenacity and ingenuity. Don't let money put you off. Too many entrepreneurs feel that they can't pursue their dreams because they don't have money. That's just not true. If you're willing to work extremely hard, you can make it happen,"

- Natasha Sideris is founder of the great entrepreneurial success story, Tashas, a chain of upmarket boutique cafes that can be found across South Africa and in Dubai. Natasha originally borrowed money from loan sharks to get her first restaurant started, and ended up working 14 hours a day for "four or five months" without a day off to repay them. But she knew after the first month the concept was a winner. Today, there are twelve highly popular restaurants in this passionate foodie's growing portfolio and she is well on her way to becoming a global restaurant group.

Quote of the Day by Carrol Boyes

September 22, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“Nineteen people may love your work, but the twentieth one will hate it and will tell you so; you cannot allow that to affect you. That may sound trite, but there is huge risk in letting criticism get you down.”

- Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.

Quote of the Day by Mo Abudu

September 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Mo Abudu, founder and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV — **Mo Abudu**, founder and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV

"We can change the narrative about Africa with content."

- Mo Abudu is founder and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV, Africa's first and fastest growing black entertainment and lifestyle network. This Nigerian media entrepreneur and talk show host is the first African woman to launch a Pan-African TV channel. The channel currently on DSTV Channel 165, as well as in the UK on the TalkTalk platform, providing premium, original and home-grown programming to its ever increasing viewership. She has received many awards in recognition of her outstanding work in media and her services to humanity, and was most recently honoured with an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Babcock University.

Yswara, the luxury tea and lifestyle brand, celebrates the opening of its first store and tearoom in Johannesburg

September 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Luxury tea and lifestyle brand, Yswara, founded by the inspirational entrepreneur Swaady Martin, has just opened its first store and tearoom in Maboneng "Place of light", Johannesburg. Since its launch 3.5 years ago, it is the first time YSWARA has had the opportunity to share its vision and experience with customers directly. It is a proud milestone for the brand and the beginning of its direct retail journey.