Stephanie Cowper, the inspirational co-founder of Bespecular has been recognized for her groundbreaking work to help the blind see. She has been awarded with the Forbes Woman Africa - Tech Entrepreneur Award for 2016! Stephanie’s business, Bespecular, is a startup that uses technology to solve the problems which visually impaired people around the world face on a daily basis, all the while bridging the gap between the sighted and visually impaired communities.
Read moreSofia Cassimo, a serial entrepreneur bringing a new concept in private catering to Mozambique
Sofia Cassimo, founder of Sublime Special Events and Catering (Mozambique)
Finding a niche in business is always the challenge, but in the case of Mozambican entrepreneur, Sofia Cassimo, she has found a wonderful niche in the private catering sector in the country. Her company, Sublime Special Events and Catering is both winning fans and influencing discerning palettes in the country.
Read moreEssential Read: Reaching Millions with Impact by Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, founder of Leap Africa and co-founder of AACE
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
A new book, Reaching Millions with Impact, authored by social entrepreneur Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, has recently been launched in Lagos Nigeria, to serve as a guide to achieving impact on a larger scale in order to better address the major challenges posed by rapid population growth. These challenges include food provision, healthcare, housing, energy, sanitation, and education.
Read moreWhy All Women Recycling considers replication as a new pathway to scale impact
“Be creative, be unafraid, and take that step off the mountain. I assure you it’s worth it.” This advice from Lynn Worsley, the founder of the successful eco-inclusive enterprise and 2014 SEED South Africa Award Winner All Women Recycling, encourages women who are considering founding their own social enterprise to go for it.
Read moreSetting out your guide for your entrepreneurial journey
One of the advantages of leaving the corporate environment to start a business is you often know so much more of what you don’t want. However, having a clear vision of what you do want to achieve can be both a blessing and a curse.
Read moreLizl Naude, a South African designer with a passion for turning rubbish into beautiful and unique furniture pieces
Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)
It takes vision and creative skill to see possibilities where others see rubbish, and entrepreneur Lilly Loompa has both attributes in large quantities. She is designing individual pieces of furniture and interior accessories that have a unique story to tell and celebrate the authenticity of the recycled material used.
Read moreLionesses and the Law - A guide to legal entities in South Africa
When you decide to start your own business, FIRST AND FOREMOST, you need to decide which legal entity you are going to use to house your business. Your business entity will depend very much on the nature and size of your business, and should suit your specific needs. Each legal entity in South Africa has different pro’s and con’s, and each entity is regulated by different laws.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Pippa Hetherington: Be brave
Pippa Hetherington, founder of Behind the Faces (South Africa)
Women entrepreneurs need to be brave....
"Keep focused, realistic and be brave. Identify mentors early on for advice and work on the skill of networking."
- Pippa Hetherington is the founder of Behind the Faces in South Africa, a storytelling concept designed to highlight the many roles fulfilled by the daughters of Africa – the custodians of this continent’s past, present and future. Pippa is a social and information entrepreneur who through her unique platform encourages women to let their voices be heard. Through writing, photography, exhibitions and storytelling, Behind the Faces aims to build connections, using contemporary platforms to share personal stories of strength and inspiration.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Sofia Dias Cassimo: You don't need a business background to be a great enterpreneur
Sofia Dias Cassimo, founder of Samsara Development and Investment & Sublime Special Events & Catering (Mozambique)
You don't need a business background to be a great entrepreneur....
"Create a vision, hold that thought, breathe, and walk your business. That's the differential you will be bringing to the market. And, also believe in you, use your resources wisely, and don't stress about what you don't know. You dont need a business background to be a great entrepreneur. A great past doesn't make a great future!"
- Sofia Dias Cassimo is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Samsara Development and Investment and Sublime Special Events & Catering in Mozambique. Sofia, who has a medical degree, turned entrepreneur following a stint working for an NGO, when she followed her passion for food, catering and hosting, starting up Sublime Special Events & Catering. She also followed her passion for developing programs that help neglected people and communities, starting Samsara Development and Investment, a social enterprise that creates programs for empowering women to become changemakers in rural communities.
Read moreQuote of the Day from Ally Angula
Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings
"Give us a blank canvas and we will not only splash on it a million dreams; we will have a good go at making them a reality"
- Ally Angula is a qualified charted accountant and co-founder of Leap Holdings, a group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail in Namibia. She is also the founder of My Republik Brand, Namibia’s first locally designed, manufactured and retailed clothing brand with a flagship store situated in the Grove Mall in Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe suburb. She currently serves as non-executive director for Old Mutual Life Assurance (Namibia) and Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium mine in Namibia. Ally was chosen as a Desmond Tutu Fellowship programme Associate in April 2013 and was one of two Namibian entrepreneurs selected to attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Kenya.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Raheel Muhammad: Be true to your vision everyday
Raheel Muhammad, founder of Excolo (South Africa)
Be true to your vision everyday....
"I love this quote by Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos: "Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you." as it is the must-have character trait of all successful entrepreneurs. My advice to my fellow entrepreneurs is: Be true to your vision everyday and let it resonate passionately through your company culture and client commitment... the money will come!"
- Raheel Muhammad is the founder of Excolo in South Africa, a company that provides business improvement services to entrepreneurs in the SMME sector. With more than two decades’ experience in FMCG management and almost a decade’s specialist Business Design and Development insight, Raheel is focused on delivering business process optimisation guidance to SMEs, single and multi-business units and franchises.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Mo Abudu
Mo Abudu, founder and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV
"For women, never ever see your gender as a handicap. Never think yourself inferior. Be ready to do twice the work for half the usual reward."
- 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.
Read more#LionessRoar The Voice of Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs - Join the Campaign!
#LionessRoar 'The Voice of Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs' is Lionesses of Africa's social media campaign to celebrate Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2016. Make sure to joins this year's campaign to raise the voice of Africa's women entrepreneurs and take our message across the African continent and around the globe.
Read moreLionesses of Africa launches in Mozambique with its first Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event on 17 November
November is an exciting month for Lionesses of Africa as it officially launches in Maputo, Mozambique with the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event on the morning of 17 November 2016, powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell. The event is being held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Av. da Marginal, Maputo, Mozambique and starts at 8.30am, finishing at 11.30am.
Read moreRaheel Muhammad, a South African woman entrepreneur passionate about helping fellow entrepreneurs to improve their businesses
Raheel Muhammad, founder of Excolo (South Africa)
Many entrepreneurs are so focused on the day to day pressures and challenges of running their businesses that they don’t realize how much their companies could benefit from external help in ensuring their business processes are optimized for success. Well, help is at hand - Excolo is the brainchild company of South African entrepreneur Raheel Muhammad and it’s on a mission to bring operational excellence to any company.
Read moreEvylin Munyi, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to improve the livelihood of farmers in the country through organic agriculture
Evylin Munyi, co-founder of KOFAR Kenya
Kenya is a country renowned for its agriculture and the quality of its produce, but for many small-holder farmers, the challenge is improving both yields and livelihoods. For Evylin Munyi and her co-founder at KOFAR Kenya Ltd, the solution was to create a business that would help farms to repair the soil using organic materials to boost crops and farm efficiency.
Read moreSo, do I have a brand?
As an entrepreneur, you need to be a Jack of all trades. In addition to being a subject matter specialist in your area of expertise, you’re also running a business which demands that you maintain involvement in everything from administration and accounts through to marketing and client relationship management.
Read moreESSENTIAL READ: Funded: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Raising Your First Round by Katherine Hague
Katherine Hague, author and angel investor
The venture capital world is often intimidating and hard to navigate, even for the most seasoned entrepreneurs. But it doesn’t have to be. Entrepreneurs who run effective fundraising processes don’t do it by accident. With this book, you’ll learn what it takes to successfully raise a round of funding for your company.
Read moreMary-Anne Calvert, a South African entrepreneur passionate about learning, skills training and leadership development
Mary-Anne Calvert, founder of The Human Element (South Africa)
Smart companies and organizations understand the power of developing their employees’ full potential, and The Human Element is one company on a mission to make learning and development both impactful and fun for its clients.
Read moreCelebrating 4 Winning Women Entrepreneurs At The 2016 South African Small Business Award Winners
The accomplishments of the small business community in South Africa was in the spotlight as winners of the 2016 South African Small Business Awards were announced on 10 November at Montecasino in Fourways, Johannesburg. In its eighth year, the South African Small Business Awards acknowledge the country’s most outstanding businesses and the remarkable people behind them. The awards are hosted by the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC).
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