Essential Read: Female Innovators at Work - Women on Top of Tech by Danielle Newnham

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Danielle Newnham, author of Female Innovators at Work: Women on Top of Tech — **Danielle Newnham**, author of Female Innovators at Work: Women on Top of Tech

In her new book Female Innovators at Work: Women on Top of Tech, Danielle Newnham, leading tech writer and serial entrepreneur writes about the experiences of female innovators and entrepreneurs. She highlights the varied life and career stories of a number of leading women role models in the tech industry, all of which constitute an inspirational book for women looking to make their mark in STEM and tech entrepreneurship.

Hirsch’s Homestores co-founders, Margaret and Alan Hirsch, finalists in the EY World Entrepreneur Awards Southern Africa

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Multi-award winning co-founder of South African retail giant, Hirsch’s, Margaret Hirsch, together with her husband co-founder Alan Hirsch, were announced as finalists in this year’s EY World Entrepreneur Awards South Africa this week. They were recognized for their incredible achievements as entrepreneurs and major brand builders in the prestigious Master Category of the Awards.

The first Lioness Lean In Breakfast event in Mozambique brings together Maputo’s leading women entrepreneurs to share, inspire and connect

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

November was an exciting month for Lionesses of Africa, a rapidly growing network of 250,000 women entrepreneurs on the African continent, as it officially launched in Maputo, Mozambique with the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event in the country. The event, which was held on the morning of 17 November 2016, was powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the city.

Faith Phoshoko, a South African online fashion retail entrepreneur looking to showcase the best of women designers from around the world

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Faith Phoshoko, founder of The Flair Collection (South Africa) — **Faith Phoshoko**, founder of The Flair Collection (South Africa)

Having an eye and flair for fashion, combined with an interest in proactively supporting women designers from around the world, led South African entrepreneur Faith Phoshoko to start her own online fashion retail business, The Flair Collection.

How do I create my brand?

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Imagine your business was a person… What would she look like? How would she talk? What would she say? Which words would she use? Would she talk passionately, using casual language? Or would she employ a more classical and formal tone? Why would people engage with her in conversation? Would she behave consistently and therefor build rapport and trust with others?

Blessing Mary Ramodisa, a South African entrepreneur finding an elegant solution to the need for lingerie for larger women

December 3, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Blessing Mary Ramodisa, founder of Hugs&Intimates (South Africa) — **Blessing Mary Ramodisa**, founder of Hugs&Intimates (South Africa)

There is nothing quite like understanding a target market personally. In the case of South African entrepreneur, Blessing Mary Ramodisa, her inspiration came from her personal experiences of finding beautiful lingerie for curvaceous women hard to find. So, she created Hugs&Intimates, a specialist company sourcing beautiful lingerie to suit women with natural curves.

Quote of the Day by Jenna Clifford

December 1, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“My personal mantra for success is try, try and try again. Once you’ve picked something that you’ve isolated as your passion, it must be all-encompassing. You have to stick to it. You will be met with challenges, good and bad, but the thing is to stay the course.”

- 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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Juanita Naidoo Rea: Make it happen

November 29, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Juanita Naidoo Rea, founder of eduSOIL — **Juanita Naidoo Rea**, founder of eduSOIL

Make it happen....

"Ask your heart. Ask yourself every single day, what is it that is most precious to you-what are you alive for? Interrogate yourself. Find all your faults and see them as unpolished diamonds. Love yourself enough to see and speak the truth. Then do everything that is possible and impossible to make it happen. Live each day as you die at any moment. Start today, in this moment-it is all you have."

- Juanita Naidoo Rea is the founder of eduSOIL in South Africa, a social enterprise that nurtures the mental and emotional health of children and adults through holistic stress reduction with mindfulness, yoga and change-making programmes, predominantly in South Africa and India. Juanita is a former school teacher, who loves trees, running, dancing, art, Doctor Who and meditation. She is passionate about children being empowered to be lead community change and global education reform.

Ethel Cofie recognized as Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business and Government for ICT by CEO Global

November 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, founder & CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting in Ghana — **Ethel Cofie**, founder & CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting in Ghana

Ethel Cofie, CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting is Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business and Government for the ICT Category, according to CEO Global. The award was conferred on her in South Africa on Tuesday November 23, 2016. The awards are the leading African recognition programme honoring excellence in the private and public sector. The programme covers 23 economic sectors and has for the past sixteen years independently recognized leaders who are at the pinnacle of their industry.

Christine Moraa, the startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur helping startups to promote and brand themselves in the marketplace

November 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Finding a niche in business can often be a challenge in itself for many entrepreneurs, but for Christine Moraa, founder of Kenyan PR company Tendai Communications, her journey was inspired by her personal business experiences.

For an entrepreneur, it's not a matter of how long you've been in business

November 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Ever been asked, “so how long have you been doing this for?” Saying anything in terms of months doesn’t leave the impression that you know what you are doing”. At this point in the conversation, the doubtful voices in your head that seem to follow you everywhere, and get louder. I’ve seen how this question can burst the bubble of confidence at networking sessions.

Essential Read: Hot Women Rock - How to Discover Your Midlife Entrepreneurial Mojo by Pat Duckworth

November 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Many women at midlife consider a new career due to changes in their work or personal life. For others it is about fulfilling a long held dream. Hot Women Rock will help new entrepreneurs to discover how to take the first steps towards achieving their dream business with authenticity. Author Pat Duckworth provides practical exercises to ignite your entrepreneurial mojo. Learn from the stories of inspirational midlife entrepreneurs who have overcome obstacles to live authentically fulfilled lives.

Become obsessed with making your business successful

November 27, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“Don’t forget: What you are obsessed with will become a reality.” - Grant Cardone --- Do you wake up in the morning, thrilled to start the day, excited to tackle new challenges and take the day head on? Or do you start the day wishing you could have slept in a bit longer, or that you didn’t have to go to a certain meeting?

Quote of the Day by Nkemdilim Begho

November 24, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"The best advice I have gotten in life is that you have to fake it until you make it.”

- Nkemdilim Begho is founder and Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. As one of a few Nigerian women in the industry, her success is founded on a passion for driving innovative thinking, building a globally recognized technology brand and setting trends in the Nigerian Technology space.

Quote of the Day by Abai Schulze

November 23, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Abai Schulze, founder of ZAAF, Ethiopia — **Abai Schulze**, founder of ZAAF, Ethiopia

“I don’t think business school was going to teach me how to run a business in Ethiopia. You don’t go by the book when you are running a business here. You just have to jump into it and learn as you go.”

- Abai Schulze is an Ethiopian-American entrepreneur and the founder of the creative, new Afro-luxe brand ZAAF who create handcrafted luxury leather handbags and accessories produced by artisans in Ethiopia. Abai spent her formative years in an orphanage in Addis Ababa before being adopted at age 11 by an American family. During her schooling in the US, she travelled back to Ethiopia for summer holidays to volunteer in hospitals and orphanages. Today, she passionately uses her background in economics and fine arts to create unique and practical expressions of beauty, and to open avenues of opportunity for talented artisans in Ethiopia and the rest of Africa. Her designs draw upon precious cultural relics and allow them renewed expression through fresh, uplifting and modern designs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lizl Naude: Face it head-on!

November 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa) — **Lizl Naude**, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)

Face it head-on!....

"Creativity grows more when faced with adversity. Do not give up when faced with adversity. In my life those times have been my most productive and creative ever. Those unwanted times force you to think out-of-the-box. Those tough times require you to be present. Even though everything in you wants to exit and run…do not. Face it head-on! You can overcome and succeed!"

- Lizl Naude, is the founder of Lilly Loompa in South Africa, a company that creates beautiful and usable furniture pieces made with recycled material. Lilly Loompa's “Rubbish Range” is the result of Lizl's craving to deliver pieces that are completely "green". Lizl is a self taught designer and started designing and making furniture because she couldn’t afford to buy new pieces to furnish her home. She started to scout and source for budget material and quickly realised that most people discard of very usable materials. This led to her building and designing beautiful furniture items that she used in her home.

Stephanie Cowper, co-founder of Bespecular, named Forbes Woman Africa's Techpreneur of the Year

November 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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.

Sofia Cassimo, a serial entrepreneur bringing a new concept in private catering to Mozambique

November 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sofia Cassimo, founder of Sublime Special Events and Catering (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.