Mastering the art of perseverance

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Earlier this year, I made the decision to go back to school to pursue my Master’s degree in Communication Management at the University of Pretoria. I admit that the first 6 months of this journey were challenging. I was focusing on my business, running a youth development programme and concentrating on my studies…it was overwhelming!

Lionesses of Africa Lean In Event powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and Netherlands Embassy showcase Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs

April 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

PRESS RELEASE: Maputo, Mozambique, 27 April 2017 --- April is another exciting month for women entrepreneurs in Maputo as Lionesses of Africa and Standard Bank host the 2nd in a series of highly popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast events to showcase and empower women entrepreneurs in the country. Lionesses of Africa is a rapidly growing network of over 300,000 women entrepreneurs in 49 African countries and across the Diaspora. The event will be held on the morning of Thursday 27th April, once again powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The venue will be at the Southern Sun Hotel, Avenida da Marginal, Maputo. The event starts at 8.00am and finishes at 12.00pm.

Entrepreneur Advice for Wacy Zacarias: Dare to dream

April 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Wacy Zacarias, founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles (Mozambique) — **Wacy Zacarias**, founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles (Mozambique)

Dare to dream....

"Dare to dream and start your business, you are absolutely capable. We need your vision, we need your dreams, please bring them to life. Africa needs you, the world needs you. Let us women be the unapologetic leaders of African growth."

- Wacy Zacarias is the founder of Karingana Wa Karingana Textiles in Mozambique, a company that designs custom prints, develops artisanal textiles, produces a customisable online print catalog, creates surface design and print textiles for fashion and homeware industry, and also provides supply chain management services. Wacy is passionate about designing luxury African textiles, challenging the status quo, and giving a voice and a platform to African artists to tell their stories through their textiles.

Entrepreneur Advice from Megan MacDonald: Don't do this alone

April 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Megan MacDonald, founder of SASA Designs by the Deaf — **Megan MacDonald**, founder of SASA Designs by the Deaf

Don't do this alone....

"Your team is critical - don't do this alone. Do your research - see who is already undertaking the problems you want to solve, and join them if you can. Even if you start something later - you'll be that much more prepared in the meantime. Figure out where your passion is in the process, and look for a team that can round out the pieces that don't drive you. Make sure you have some cheer leaders as you will feel like a failure roughly 90% of the time."

- Megan MacDonald is the founder of SASA Designs by the Deaf, a social enterprise established in 2011 to provide employment and fair wages to deaf women in Kenya. Megan is a veteran of the Fair Trade arena, she is committed to empowering women through market access and design. Having lived and worked in Kenya since 2008, Megan has experienced many of the factors affecting both country and personal development throughout Sub Saharan Africa firsthand. She believes that education and jobs are the key factors in promoting country development as a whole. Megan studied Sociology at Chapman University in Orange, CA and holds a M.A. in Development Studies from the University of Nairobi.

Quote of the Day by Olivia Nava

April 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“We need to work in inspiring women – to have powerful speakers and a new generation of female role models and, to be able to tell little girls they can achieve her dreams."

- Olivia Nava is the co-founder of Juabar in Tanzania, a social enterprise that deploys solar-powered media hubs in unelectrified African village centers and leases them to solar entrepreneurs to provide electricity and connectivity access to their communities. Previously she designed HIV programs in Mozambique and helped fund health innovation programs as a program officer at Tides/The California Endowment in San Francisco. Olivia is passionate about uncovering what drives human behaviors.

Quote of the Day by Nkemdilim Begho

April 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"I always say there is a market share for everybody, no matter how big or small you are. There are always people who need your services and will patronize you. All you need do is be at the right place."

Nkemdilim Begho is the 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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Nureshka Viranna: There are going to be curve balls

April 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Nureshka Viranna, founder of ShopLi (South Africa) — **Nureshka Viranna**, founder of ShopLi (South Africa)

There are going to be curve balls....

"It's not easy but it is definitely worth it. Having a support system and mentor is a must. It helps during those stressful days and when you need some inspiration. There are going to be curve balls and you may have to make sacrifices, but there is no better feeling than having your own company, nurturing it and helping other people."

Nureshka Viranna is the founder of ShopLi in South Africa, a company that designs and develops beautiful, mobile-friendly online stores and catalogues to convert online window shoppers and browsers into customers. Nureshka started out as a teacher, studying for 4 years for a B.Ed specializing in Foundation Phase teaching. She eventually resigned from her teaching job to launch her startup and today has plans to grow her business nationally and then internationally.

It’s who you know that counts

April 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Networks are those connections and pathways that define the world around us; in our communities, relationships and business engagements. The first modern talk of networks was technically in reference to a collection of computer components that were interconnected by communication channels, allowing a sharing of resources and information. Nothing new here – nations have always used their networks to get ahead.

Are You Ready for the Yes?: How to Prep Your Personal Brand for Lucrative Opportunities by Audria Richmond

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Imagine that moment when the phone rings with the opportunity of a lifetime. Whether it's your first big client, that incredible book deal with a major publisher, or a speaking engagement at a conference in your city, your ducks need to be in a row long before the dollars show up on your doorstep. You want the visibility and the profits that come with it but are you really playing at a level that sets you up for the spotlight?

Bitania Amare, an Ethiopian entrepreneur building an online platform to help customers in Addis Ababa order their food online

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Bitania Amare, founder of WeDeliver (Ethiopia) — **Bitania Amare**, founder of WeDeliver (Ethiopia)

If you have ever experienced that feeling of being in the work environment and feeling hungry, but not being able to leave the office or workspace because things are just too busy, then WeDeliver, a startup business founded by entrepreneur Bitania Amare has the answer. Her new online ordering platform is making it easy for consumers to get their purchases delivered directly to them.

Tamala Chirwa, a Malawian entrepreneur coaching and mentoring a new generation of leaders in the country

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tamala Chirwa, founder of Women’s Leadership Footprint (Malawi) — **Tamala Chirwa**, founder of Women’s Leadership Footprint (Malawi)

For people in corporate or public life, developing core leadership skills is key to success and career progression, but that often requires specialist coaching and mentoring support. In Malawi, one woman entrepreneur, Tamala Chirwa, founder of Women’s Leadership Footprint, is fulfilling that role and bringing specialist coaching programs to those who need them.

What rebranding can do for your business

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Did you know that Google has undergone seven major logo changes since 1998? Coca-Cola, too, has gone from ‘Drink Coca-Cola and enjoy it’ in 1886 to ‘Taste the feeling’ in 2016 (changing its slogan a whopping 57 times since it first went to market). Even Standard Bank, the bank that’s perhaps the most prominent among the Lionesses community, wasn’t always ‘Moving Forward’.

Let’s talk about fear

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

I strive to live a courageous life. This pursuit for courageous living has seen me embark on some bold, adventurous and passion-filled pursuits such as traveling alone for my first trip overseas, leaving my 9 to 5 job to build my business, going back to school to pursue my Masters degree, and most recently sharing a weekly inspirational email with you that I hope you are finding valuable :)

Nureshka Viranna, a South African entrepreneur building a business that helps others to showcase their products and services online

April 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

For many businesses, getting products and services to markets and customers is the hardest part of the journey. But for entrepreneurs in South Africa, there is now a specialist service on offer. ShopLi, the brainchild of Nureshka Viranna, is helping businesses to create their own online stores and catalogues, to attract customers and convert them into sales.

Quote of the Day by Jenna Clifford

April 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"Although I work longer hours than men work, I still grow my own vegetables and cook and design and have children and a husband.”

- 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.

Quote of the Day by Christie Peacock

April 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr Christie Peacock, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd — **Dr Christie Peacock**, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd

“People have to believe in you, and believe that you’re true to the vision. So you have to do that in the way that you live and work, and your actions must match your words.”

- Dr Christie Peacock is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd, a social enterprise in Kenya offering quality livestock services through a network of branded franchises. Christie is an animal scientist and former Chief Executive of FARM-Africa. She has worked in agricultural development in Africa and South East Asia for over 30 years. She is a founding member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Agriculture and Food for Development and is a member of the Guardian newspaper’s Global Development website Advisory Panel. Christie was awarded a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Reading and selected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2011.

Entrepreneur Advice from Judith Msonthi: You have to really want it!

April 18, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Judith Msonthi, founder of Judie Emcee (Malawi) — **Judith Msonthi**, founder of Judie Emcee (Malawi)

You have to really want it!...

"Do not be afraid of your dreams, everything you are dreaming of is going to come true. The catch is, you just have to really want it."

- Judith Msonthi is the founder of Judie Emcee in Malawi, a business that offers Presenter, Host and Master of Ceremonies services for corporate, social and festival events. Judith is a trained TV presenter who has led two prime-time television shows and anchored for TV news and radio. She is very comfortable in front of an audience, which makes talking to a room and crowd filled with strangers her speciality. Judith is rapidly breaking ground on local and international media platforms.

Quote of the Day by Fulufhelo Ramulifho

April 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Fulufhelo Ramulifho (L) founder of Careers For A Powerful You — **Fulufhelo Ramulifho** (L) founder of Careers For A Powerful You

"Dare to begin. Start small and anything is possible if you dare to do great things."

- Fulufhelo Ramulifho is the founder of Careers For A Powerful You (c4U) in South Africa, a goals-based career guidance academy on a mission to support high school learners’ ambitions using career guidance training, mentoring and coaching. Prior to starting her own business this Accounting graduate worked for KPMG as a forensic investigator and as a management consultant for an international consulting firm. Her passion for creating change and developing young people led to the launch C4U in 2013.

Understanding the Changing HR Environment for Entrepreneurs

April 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Some industry commentators call the Human Resources function in any business the last bastion of bureaucracy and it is seen in its traditional role – the department that merely hires and fires the staff needed to do the jobs. However, today the HR role should be seen differently.