Successful entrepreneurs are usually working on three horizons at once: 1. the now - their current products for the current market; 2. the next - products for emerging markets; and 3. the nascent - thinking and working towards the far future.
Read moreFentse Mokale, a South African creative accessory design entrepreneur with an eye for combining a traditional African aesthetic with a contemporary twist
Fentse Mokale, founder of Marabou Essentials (South africa)
Globally, there is a growing interest in contemporary African design, particularly in the fashion space, and Fentse Mokale, founder and lead creative at Marabou Essentials, is tapping into that interest. Her accessory brand is capturing the hearts and imagination of a whole new customer base as she creates a really unique range of products that capture a continent through its fabrics.
Read moreTashmeen Authar, a South African entrepreneur with a solution to the perennial high heel shoe problems for women on the move
Tashmeen Authar, co-founder of Rollasole Africa
Any fashion conscious woman who has ever had to take off her high heel shoesduring an evening out due to aching feet, will understand what an incredible invention portable, rollable shoes are. Tashmeen Authar, co-founder of Rollasole Africa, is bringing this wonderful concept in footwear comfort to the African continent.
Read moreAncha Salvador, a Mozambique-based entrepreneur bringing a world of specialist food solutions to those with gluten intolerance
Ancha Salvador, founder of Anchaa's Gluten Free (Mozambique)
For all those who struggle with issues around food intolerance, entrepreneur Ancha Salvador, founder of Anchaa's Gluten Free, has not only a great personal understanding, but also a range of exciting food products to match.
Read moreEssential Read: In My Shoes: What it's really like to start your own business by Carol Haffke
Carol Haffke, author and entrepreneur
When Carol Haffke opened her own longer sized, women’s shoe shop in April 2012, she had no idea what she was doing. None. She walked away from more than two decades working in journalism, public relations and fundraising, and within a few months opened the doors of her beloved shop, The Shoe Garden, in Brisbane, Australia.
Read more12 Tips to Reduce Entrepreneurial Stress
Being an entrepreneur can be exciting, gratifying, challenging and of course, stressful too. The freedom of having your own business, being your own boss, making decisions maybe rewarding but the responsibility is stressful. More especially when there is more month than money, staff, suppliers and bills to pay with little left over for your needs. Entrepreneurs are renowned for juggling multiple roles, pushing the envelope, and squeezing the most out of any resource.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Jesslynn Schlamm: Don’t overthink it, just do it!
Jesslynn Schlamm, founder of Lulu & Marula, South Africa
Don’t overthink it, just do it!....
"If you are sitting there, mulling over the idea of starting up a new business, and you are stressing about all the small details, you are probably never going to do it because you are hindered by fear. The best thing you can do is to say to yourself, “If I fail I fail, if I succeed I succeed, recognising that even if you fail, there are so many lessons to be learned for next time. So, just go and do it and don’t over think it."
- Jesslynn Schlamm is the founder of Lulu & Marula, a South African company that produces a handcrafted, 100% all natural skincare range, created to balance both body & mind. Jesslynn's startup journey is testimony to the power of passion and dedication required to get one ahead. Frustrated by not being able to find skincare products that ticked all the boxes in terms of health, wellbeing, sustainability and eco-friendly production, with a minimal impact on the environment she was inspired to create her own from her small kitchen. Today, her product range is still blended and packaged by hand in small batches in Johannesburg. This means that each product is unique and of the highest quality, something very close to Jesslynn's heart.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu
"As I entered college, it became clear to me that poverty alleviation is a myth and that prosperity creation is the sole route to the elimination of poverty. And to create prosperity you have to create something world class."
- 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.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Victoria Kisyombe
Victoria Kisyombe, founder of SELFINA, Tanzania
"This is the era for Africa to move forward, and if Africa is moving forward, the women can move forward with it."
- Victoria Kisyombe founded SELFINA in 2002 and pioneered micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing with a focus on widows and young girls. Victoria helped women overcome many of the traditional stumbling blocks that made it difficult for them to own land and assets. SELFINA has gone on to economically empower more than 25,000 women with a total credit worth 25 billion Tanzanian Shillings (approximately $16 million US dollars). Over 200,000 lives have been impacted through the benefits accrued.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Ally Angula
Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia)
"I believe we have to seriously start creating job opportunities. We have to become active doers and entrepreneurs and not rely so much on social support from government, like social grants."
- 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 Sharon Sinclair - You deserve the dream
Sharon Sinclair, founder of Chandramala (South Africa)
You deserve the dream....
"Follow your passion, your instinct, surround yourself only with people who inspire your dream. Never give up, no matter what, you deserve the dream, otherwise you would not have the dream. Love Life!"
- Sharon Sinclair is the founder of Chandramala in South Africa, a Mindful Business Consultancy, bringing a holistic approach to business through people understanding and development. Sharon has 22 years experience within the Financial, Human Resources & Recruitment industries, all on a senior management level. Sharon follows a harmoniuous flow within Chandramala, looking always at business from a global and holistic approach.
Read moreQuote of the Day from Shona McDonald
Shona McDonald, founder of Shonaquip (South Africa)
"Take risks, be brave, follow your dreams, just do it and make the world a better place. We all need to work together!"
- Shona McDonald is the founder of Shonaquip, a social enterprise that develops mobility devices to improve physical access and quality of life for people living with disabilities in under-resourced and rural regions in Africa. The company designs, manufactures and supplies posture support wheelchairs, mobility equipment and other positioning devices. Founded in 1992, Shonaquip is the first woman run wheelchair business of its kind in Africa and is considered a model for many social enterprises all over the world.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Nozi Kubeka: Keep pushing
Nozi Kubeka, founder of Zon Communications (South Africa)
Keep pushing....
"Do not entertain fear. If you feel any fear (which you will) ignore it and keep pushing until you get to where you want to be. Surround yourself with support, like Lionesses of Africa, and find mentors to help guide you through your journey."
- Nozi Kubeka is the founder of Zon Communications in South Africa, a company on a mission to provide advice, support and life skills to young people through talks and workshops in schools, and youth organisations. Nozi is an entrepreneur, author and speaker who is passionate about transforming the lives of young people through empowering them with a powerful message of how to make wise life choices and decisions.
Read moreJenny Reid, a South African human risk expert helping companies to screen and vet their prospective employees
Jenny Reid, founder of iFacts (South Africa)
In the world of HR, companies and organisations are increasingly cognizant of the fact that their employees are their biggest asset and potentially also their biggest risk. Getting the right people is critical for success. South African entrepreneur, Jenny Reid, founder of iFacts, is constantly assessing new and innovative ways to remove the people risk in companies and organisations.
Read more100 LIONESSES: Monica Musonda receives Champion of the South Award for her innovative company Java Foods
Monica Musonda, funder of Java Foods (Zambia)
Zambian businesswoman Monica Musonda has been awarded the MEDays 2016 Forum “Champion of the South” award by the Amadeus Institute, an independent Moroccan think-tank, at a ceremony in Tangiers, Morocco. The recognition was for her creation of her innovative company, Java Foods, which is a model for a new generation of business leaders.
Read moreNozi Kubeka, the startup story of a South African social entrepreneur making a real difference to the lives of the country’s teenagers
Nozi Kubeka, founder of Zon Communications (South Africa)
Being a teenager in Africa can be challenging and often confusing, and sometimes these young people have difficulty making the right life decisions for themselves. One entrepreneur, South African Nozi Kubeka, through her company Zon Communications, is on a mission to make that decision-making process a little easier for these young people.
Read moreAnila Mussá, the startup story of a Mozambican entrepreneur creating an online market connecting small producers with major consumer markets
Anila Mussá, founder of IZYSHOP (Mozambique)
There is often a challenge in Africa for small to medium sized producers, particularly in the agricultural sector, finding access to markets, and in turn consumers finding access to greater choice in the marketplace. One Mozambican entrepreneur, Anila Mussá, and her business IZYSHOP, is trying to do something to solve this problem in her country.
Read moreHow to deal with festive season holiday stress
December holidays and the festive season is supposed to be a joyous occasion and time for celebration, but in reality this has become an overrated commercial racket, complete with extravagance and over-indulgence. Typically prices sky-rocket and stocks are limited. People fret over what gifts to buy. Budgets are limited, yet people overspend and get into debt. Crowds, queues and traffic bottlenecks become the norm. Resorts are overcrowded. As people overindulge, diets fly out the window. Naturally emotions spiral uncontrollably. Frustrations, guilt, regret, remorse and stress levels soar.
Read moreQuote of the Day from Jessica Bonin
"I believe that anything that lasts takes time to create. You have to lay the foundations and wait for the cement to dry before you can build the first level, and on it goes."
- Jessica Bonin is the founder of Lady Bonin’s Tea, a Cape Town-based company that blends and distributes organic loose leaf teas sourced direct from farms that use sustainable farming practices and are community driven. The teas and herbs, by their source, are exceptionally high in quality, improving nutritive content and flavor density. Tea is Jessica’s business, her passion and her practice.
Read moreEssential Read: Wife. Mom. Entrepreneur: 23 Tips and Lessons to Juggling It All by Lanise Herman-Thomas and Janine Smalls-Gueye
Wife. Mom. Entrepreneur: 23 Tips and Lessons to Juggling It All by authors Lanise Herman-Thomas and Janine Smalls-Gueye is your reference guide to the tried-and-true juggling act to financial wealth building while being a wife, mom, and entrepreneur.
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