If there’s one thing that captures the spirit of enterprise in Africa, it’s when women entrepreneurs get together to network, to share experiences, and to collaborate for greater business success. That spirit was evident this week when Lionesses of Africa hosted the first of its Lioness Lean In events in the Malawi capital, Lilongwe, in partnership with Standard Bank.
Read moreBusiness Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves by Christy Wright
Christy Wright
As the well-known saying goes, passion in business drives success, and itcertainly seems to be the case that if you have a passion for what you do then you are much more likely to make it in business. Author and entrepreneur, Christy Wright, agrees and her new book shows you how to make money doing what you love and have a passion for.
Read moreWhen life happens, make a plan
Growing up my parents worked in retail. My Dad at Pick 'n Pay and my Mom at Clicks. For the most part of my childhood we never had a car at home. I remember how my mom would take her lunch break at work to fetch me at school so she could walk with me and drop me at the taxi rank. Even though we didn’t have a car, my parents always made sure that I never missed great opportunities. Whether it was participating in sports, cultural or academic activities, I always saw my parents make a plan. Either they asked close family and friends for lifts or they taught me how to use taxis.
Read moreJetto Myaba, an inspirational Malawian entrepreneur with ambitions to keep growing her business to become a market leader
Jetto Myaba, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi)
For many women entrepreneurs, thinking big can be daunting in business, but for Malawian entrepreneur, Jetto Myaba, Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises, having a big vision is all part of the journey.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Wangechi Mwangi
Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder & CEO of Valuraha
"Live life in a way that your contribution to humanity will be felt, during and beyond your years on earth!"
- Wangechi Mwangi is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Kenyan fintech startup Valuraha, a company that helps young people learn how to save and invest money. Valuraha runs investment clubs in high schools allowing students to learn about personal finance and investing while interacting with a virtual trading platform that simulates the investment ecosystem in Kenya. Wangechi, who is a 21-year-old student at Strathmore University in Nairobi, was in 2015 named as winner of the Global Social Impact Award by the the US-based Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA). She won the prize after competing against a field of 2,000 entrepreneurs from 38 countries in a series of national and regional competitions.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Michelle Mbilizi: My top advice
Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi)
My top advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs....
"To persevere. Account for each penny. Don’t spend more than you make. Hard work."
- Michelle Mbilizi is a successful serial entrepreneur in Malawi who has founded companies across multiple business sectors including retail, farming, business services and property development. Michelle comes from a business background and whilst studying in South Africa she worked part-time for a PR company which dealt with a lot of entrepreneurs who motivated and inspired her to open her own business upon completing her studies. She's never looked back and has gone on to become one of Malawi's most successful women entrepreneurs.
Read moreLet’s #LionessLeanIn Lilongwe! The Lioness Lean In Series for Women Entrepreneurs Heads to Lilongwe, Malawi this month
This month will see the 2017 programme of Lioness Lean In events to be held in cities across the African continent kick off in great style as the team heads to Lilongwe in Malawi for the first time. The latest in the series of inspirational monthly Lioness Lean In events is set to take place this week on Wednesday 15th March, once again powered by Standard Bank, and hosted in the wonderful surroundings of the Latitude13 Hotel in Lilongwe.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Liz van Zyl: Let's stand on the shoulders of giants
Liz van Zyl, founder of The Content Agency (South Africa)
Let's stand on the shoulders of giants....
"Step up. Own it. Rock it. Ask yourself 'what if I succeed?' and 'what if this actually works?' And don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done – especially not that sneaky little voice within. As I said earlier, when you do something with soul it shows! It’s contagious and people can’t help but want to plug in. Lastly, surround yourself with like-minded professionals. Come join me at Lionesses of Africa and let's stand on the shoulders of giants together."
- Liz van Zyl is the founder of The Content Agency in South Africa, a specialized content development and copywriting provider. Liz loves helping clients work out the best ways to get the word out and achieve their business goals. Over the last decade, she has crafted communications and marketing content and copy for prominent organisations and private individuals in Africa and Australia; and has also been published in a number of national publications and media channels.
Read moreMichelle Pires Mbilizi, a Malawian serial entrepreneur creating customer retail and service experiences to remember
Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi)
There are some women entrepreneurs who don’t just think of building one business, but have the vision and imagination to create several, and Malawian entrepreneur Michelle Mbilizi is one of those.
Read moreOne Red Lipstick: We All Need Role Models: When Ordinary Is No Longer An Option by Spenser Chapple
Spenser Chapple
One Red Lipstick is a collection of personal stories from women entrepreneurs in North America who found success in business and life, despite the challenges stacked against them, ranging from teen pregnancy and life threatening illness, through to divorce and bankruptcy. These women have been through it all.
Read moreA legal guide to contracts in South Africa
Many entrepreneurs will enter into many contracts in their lifetime. Unfortunately, some are not even aware that they have entered into a contract, and some have no idea of what they are actually signing. The law of contract is important because it gives importance and enforceability to a promise.
Read moreLiz van Zyl, an entrepreneur making magic with words to help clients get their messages across
Liz van Zyl, founder of The Content Agency (South Africa)
In a world where consumers are bombarded by information 24/7, it can be hard to get a brand and its messaging to breakthrough and connect, and that’s where The Content Agency comes in. The brainchild of South African entrepreneur Liz van Zyl, this specialist business venture creates high impact content capable of making that crucial breakthrough and connecting with audiences across all media formats.
Read moreSarah Collins and Wonderbag collaborate with Pfizer Vaccines to positively change lives in Ghana
In the Upper East Region of Ghana, cooking is a dangerous and time-consuming daily activity. Results from a self-reported survey indicate that women spend two hours a day gathering fuel and water, followed by up to four hours standing over open fires1. Exposed to cooking smoke for hours each day, women and small children can be at higher risk for deadly diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, heart disease and lung cancer.
Read moreWhat learning to swim late in life is teaching me about being innovative and conquering fear
I CAN’T SWIM! At the age of 38, that is an embarrassing confession to make. Three weeks ago, I decided to finally change that narrative and started taking swimming lessons!
Read moreShola Ade-Okafor, an entrepreneur with a passion for bringing professional make-up tools and products tailor-made for African women
Shola Ade-Okafor, founder of BlushinGirl Tools (Kenya)
For many women entrepreneurs in Africa, the inspiration for launching a new business, product or brand comes from trying to find a solution to a challenge or addressing the lack of a particular product in the marketplace. For Shola Ade-Okafor, the inspiration for her company, BlushinGirl Tools, came from not being able to find an eyeshadow primer suitable for professional make-up artists.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Diana Opoti: Find your niche and passion
Help yourself by finding your niche and passion....
"Find a niche. Turn what you like into a business. Passion fuels business!”
Diana Opoti is founder of leading Kenyan fashion consultancy Diana Opoti PR. This doyenne of African fashion is an avid blogger, the founder and executive producer of the television series Designing Africa, with her hit campaign, 100 Days of African Fashion. Diana is a true champion of the continent’s fashion design market and one of Africa’s most formidable fashion connectors. In 2014 Diana was nominated 'Outstanding Trend Communicator of the Year' by the prestigious Africa Fashion Awards.
Read moreBBBEE – how will this impact small businesses in South Africa?
If you are a small business owner in South Africa and struggling to understand how the new BBBEE codes of good practice could impact your business then read on….
Read moreBhatupe Mhango, a perfumier in Malawi creating unique fragrances for today’s modern woman
Bhatupe Mhango, founder of Bha’s Fragrance Boutique (Malawi)
A passion for creating contemporary fragrances led entrepreneur and perfumier, Bhatupe Mhango to launch her own unique label, Bha’s Fragrance Boutique, creating perfumes that are inspired by Africa but for women of the world.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Angela Ajala
Angela Ajala, National President of Business and Professional Women (BPW) in Nigeria
"Women should strive to pull up their fellow women when they are on the top."
- Angela Ajala is the National President of Business and Professional Women (BPW) in Nigeria and Vice President of the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP). Angela is passionate about children's issues, is a seasoned educationist and the Executive Director, Ladela Schools in Nigeria.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Miranda Isaakidis: Always play fair
Miranda Isaakidis, co-founder of Indulgence Spa Products
Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs....
"Play fair – I have seen many companies fail because they are driven to make a quick buck – they rarely stay in business for long."
- Miranda Isaakidis is co-founder of Indulgence Spa Products, a South African company that wholesales, distributes and manufactures high-end products for the hotel, spa and hospitality industry. Miranda prides herself on identifying the very latest trends from the top spas, hotels and cruise liners internationally. She has been awarded the Outstanding Achievement in International Trade and Investment award by the D Group/British Foreign Office and was recently appointed Chair for WPO Johannesburg, Chapter 2.
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