Helen Asimegbe, a Nigerian entrepreneur building a great children’s clothing and accessories retail brand

March 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises (Nigeria) — **Helen Asimegbe**, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises (Nigeria)

It’s not always easy, making the transition from corporate to entrepreneur, but for Helen Asimegbe, founder of Stylemark Mall Enterprises in Nigeria, it was a personal dream and a promise to herself. Today, she is doing what she loves, building a highly customer-centric retail business, whilst at the same time playing her part in helping other entrepreneurs to realize their dreams too.

Quote of the Day by Winnifred Selby

March 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Winnifred Selby, co-founder of Afrocentric Bamboo & Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative — **Winnifred Selby**, co-founder of Afrocentric Bamboo & Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative

“With the new wind of air blowing throughout the continent and organisations connecting female entrepreneurs across the continent with networks, sources of capital, operational know-how, female entrepreneurs have no excuse than to take advantage of the new windows of opportunities...."

– Winnifred Selby was just 17 when she co-founded Afrocentric Bamboo, a company that manufactures and markets bicycles made from bamboo. Today, she is heading what has become a growing brand that is struggling to keep up with demand. Designed in-house, Afrocentric Bamboo bikes are sturdy, affordable – US$100 for the local market – and made for the high terrain and rough roads of rural Ghana. The frames are built in one piece, making them stronger and more economically viable.

Vicki Bain, a South African chocolatier taking the country by storm with her unique brand of Belgian chocolates with a truly African twist

March 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Vicki Bain, founder of Chocoloza (South Africa) — **Vicki Bain**, founder of Chocoloza (South Africa)

For all true chocolate lovers out there who are constantly on the search for the purest of taste sensations and the highest quality ingredients, there is a new, proudly African brand that is getting people talking. Chocoloza, the brainchild of entrepreneur and passionate chocolatier, Vicki Bain, combines the best Belgian chocolate with the finest local, fresh African ingredients. The result is a taste sensation unlike anything else you will taste in the chocolate world.

Quote of the Day by Jennifer Riria

March 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding — **Dr. Jennifer Riria**, Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding

“... the woman is the core. She holds us up. In Africa, you just have to deal with the issues that affect the productivity of women. They bring food to the table. They bring education to the household. They bring medical care in the household... It is essential to support women, if we want to make a difference, if we want to transform the way the world works, for them and their families.”

- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.

Entrepreneur Advice from Jetto Myaba: You need a hardworking spirit

March 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jetto Myaba, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi) — **Jetto Myaba**, Founder & Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises (Malawi)

You need a hardworking spirit....

"Women should not undermine themselves and their capacities. They should have a hardworking spirit as hard work pays. They should not give up if their businesses fail or are not doing well. They should rise and stand up for their businesses. And, of course, they should have passion for their businesses and clear goals."

- Jetto Myaba is the Founder and Managing Director of Mwaya Enterprises in Malawi. She is a highly successful serial entrepreneur with multiple business ventures, including being a distributor for Southern Bottlers Limited and Chibuku products; an importer of electronics and groceries; and a trade company in agricultural products. She currently employs around 30 people and is seeking to expand her operations with a vision for empowering other women in business through her distribution network.

Keeping your business on target means having a great marketing approach

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Many entrepreneurs miss the importance of having a marketing strategy and a plan. Some don’t understand the difference between the two, and some feel that it is only important once you have a bigger brand and you can afford to hire a marketing manager with the skill-set to create and manage all marketing activities. But it is actually crucial to have one in place.

4 African Women Entrepreneurs Make the 2017 World Economic Forum 100 Young Global Leaders List

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Clockwise from Top Left: Chido Govera, Jamila Abass, Rapelang Rabana, Marie Lora-Mungai — Clockwise from Top Left: Chido Govera, Jamila Abass, Rapelang Rabana, Marie Lora-Mungai

Each year the World Economic Forum undertakes an ambitious mission – to scour the world to select 100 young leaders, under the age of 40, who are tackling the world’s most complex challenges with innovative approaches. Not only are women in the majority in this year’s class, but half the intake come from emerging economies, reflecting a trend towards greater diversity in global leadership. Four game-changing women entrepreneurs and socialpreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa make this year’s list.

Malawian women entrepreneurs lean in for greater business success

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves by Christy Wright

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

When life happens, make a plan

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

Jetto Myaba, an inspirational Malawian entrepreneur with ambitions to keep growing her business to become a market leader

March 19, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

Quote of the Day by Wangechi Mwangi

March 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder & CEO of Valuraha — 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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Michelle Mbilizi: My top advice

March 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Mbilizi, serial entrepreneur (Malawi) — **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.

Let’s #LionessLeanIn Lilongwe! The Lioness Lean In Series for Women Entrepreneurs Heads to Lilongwe, Malawi this month

March 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Liz van Zyl: Let's stand on the shoulders of giants

March 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Liz van Zyl, founder of The Content Agency (South Africa) — **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.

Michelle Pires Mbilizi, a Malawian serial entrepreneur creating customer retail and service experiences to remember

March 14, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

One Red Lipstick: We All Need Role Models: When Ordinary Is No Longer An Option by Spenser Chapple

March 11, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

A legal guide to contracts in South Africa

March 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.

Liz van Zyl, an entrepreneur making magic with words to help clients get their messages across

March 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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.