Lee Chisale, an entrepreneur bringing the world of luxury wellness spas to Malawi

May 7, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lee Chisale, founder of Belle Afrique (Malawi) — **Lee Chisale**, founder of Belle Afrique (Malawi)

In Africa, the health and wellness industry is a growing business sector, but in Malawi there was a definite gap for a luxury wellness spa brand in the market. Belle Afrique, the entrepreneurial brainchild of Lee Chisale, is filling that gap with a world class brand and product offering.

Sazia Sousa, a Mozambican techpreneur making her mark in the country’s IT sector

May 7, 2017 Melanie Hawken

**Sazia Sousa, founder of Technoplus (Mozambique)**

Mastering the art of the career pivot is something that Sazia Sousa knows well, having originally studied to be an architect and then making the move into computer engineering. This adventurous move has led to her becoming a key player in this highly competitive field with the creation of her company Technoplus.

VIDEO: Lizl Naude, a South African entrepreneur turning trash into treasure

May 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Source: CGTN Africa | Published on May 5, 2017

Lizl Naude is a South African entrepreneur working to change perceptions about waste. She creates unique pieces of furniture from discarded materials or junk. Her creations also help save the planet at the same time. CGTN's Julie Scheier has more from Cape Town.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tina Byaruhanga: Find that thing that you're good at

May 4, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tina Byaruhanga, founder of Buzz Events Ltd (Uganda) — **Tina Byaruhanga**, founder of Buzz Events Ltd (Uganda)

Find that thing that you're good at....

"If you don't yet know what it is that you want to pursue, but think you want to start up a business, be yourself and it will come to you. Often times, we tend to want to "start up" what someone else is already doing. Don't just copy a business idea. It may have worked for someone else, but that doesn't mean it will automatically work for you. Each of us is good at something. Most times, you need to just find that thing that you're good at or passionate about, regardless of whether it’s big or small or different. And ask God to bless it and make it originally and uniquely yours."

- Tina Byaruhanga is the founder of Buzz Events Ltd, a youth, culture and experiential marketing agency in Uganda. Tina develops strategies and concepts to bring clients' brands and businesses to life with the aim of building lasting connections with their customers through well-crafted executions in the market-place. She is passionate about youth marketing and publishes a popular youth publication, Buzz Magazine, and also hosts several annual youth events.

Quote of the Day by Carrol Boyes

May 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“Employing people has always been very stressful for me, .... The idea of having someone’s life in my hands was nerve-racking. It was a responsibility I took very seriously and still do to this day.”

- Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.

Entrepreneur Advice from Kelebogile Makhafola: Focus on what defines your values

May 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Kelebogile Makhafola, founder of Maruapula Brand (South Africa)

Focus on what defines your values....

"Focus. Establish a thread that defines your values, one that crosses every contact point of your value chain. Have this notion in your mind, constantly. Learn to draw significance in all you do from this 'thread'. What this thread does is define your DNA; it teaches people how to treat you and sets you apart from all others. With this focus you're able to define the journey you want to go on."

Kelebogile Makhafola is the founder of Maruapula Brand, a South African brand strategy agency. Kelebogile graduated from University of the Witwatersrand with a honours degree in Fine Arts and saw prospects in merging art with her interest in brands. She went on to complete her second honours at VEGA, school of Branding, doing her post graduate studies in Brand Leadership. She launched her own business where she now uses these platorms as tools to help develop brands in South Africa.

Quote of the Day by Lydie Hakizimana

May 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“Reading skills build the foundation for all future learning, and it is proven that people who can read enjoy better health, make more money, and serve their communities more effectively,”

- Lydie Hakizimana is co-founder and Managing Director of Drakkar Limited, a specialist reseller and distributor of educational textbooks. It all started back in 2006 when this avid bookworm decided to follow her passion and opened a small bookshop. Before long, her entrepreneurial instincts had her developing relationships with numerous publishing companies. Eventually, she struck a deal that was to be the making of her company with UK publisher, Pearson Education. Drakkar rapidly evolved into a leading educational textbooks reseller in Rwanda, becoming an important enabler of her country's vision for building a knowledge-based economy. Today, Lydie manages 45 employees and thirty part-time distributors covering the five provinces of Rwanda. Lydie has also added exclusive distributor deals with Longman, Heinemann and Penguin to her Pearson contract.

Quote of the Day by Salma Abdulai

May 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Salma Abdulai, founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise (Ghana)

"Believe in yourself, if you believe in yourself you can even change the whole world – that is the business philosophy I have."

- Salma Abdulai is the founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise in Ghana, a company that processes and markets fonio, a nutritious and climate resistant indigenous cereal. Driven by a desire to tackle malnutrition and transform rural women’s lives, 31-year-old Salma, from the impoverished, drought-prone North Ghana, launched Unique Quality Product Enterprise to process Fonio, a sustainable indigenous crop with extraordinary health benefits. She started her business with 10 landless women and to date, the business has supported 500 farmers – 350 women and 150 men. In recognition of her remarkable social impact, Salma Abdulai was named Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards 2017 Laureate for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tania Shedden: Be your own biggest fan

May 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tania Shedden, founder of Sweet Social Studio (South Africa) — **Tania Shedden**, founder of Sweet Social Studio (South Africa)

Be your own biggest fan....

"Just do it, believe in yourself and in what you offer. You should be your own biggest fan, if you don't believe in yourself nobody else will. Failing is also part of growing, learn from experience and try again. Positivity and doing what you love creates that natural spark that lights the fire within to succeed."

- Tania Shedden is the founder of Sweet Social Studio, a South African social media agency that helps its clients connect to modern day consumers in a meaningful way on social media. Tania is a Marketing Communications and Social Media Specialist who loves getting her clients' story out there on social media, allowing them to promote their own unique voice and giving their customers the opportunity to interact and contribute to the brand.

Kelebogile Makhafola, a South African brand strategist on a mission to help organizations find their unique value propositions

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Kelebogile Makhafola, founder of Maruapula Brand (South Africa)

For any business, large or small, one of the biggest challenges can be developing and communicating a unique brand essence, one that engages and connects with customers and employees alike. Maruapula Brand, founded by entrepreneur Kelebogile Makhafola, is helping those businesses through this brand maze.

Salma Abdulai named Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards 2017 Laureate for Sub-Saharan Africa

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Earlier this month, the 2017 group of Laureates were announced at the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, this year held in Singapore for the very first time. Cyrille Vigneron and Ilian Mihov announced the six laureates selected by an independent international jury amongst nearly 1900 applicants from over 120 countries. The Laureate for Sub-Saharan Africa this year was Salma Abdulai, founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise in Ghana, a company processing and marketing Fonio, a nutritious and climate resistant indigenous cereal.

Powerhouse Woman by Lindsey Schwartz

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Have you ever felt a subtle nudge that there's more for you in life? Maybe a message that you want to share or a passion project you want to create? Is there a bigger purpose for you to fulfill? A lot of women feel these subtle love taps from our souls, but it takes a special kind of woman to follow her nudge. In her new book, Powerhouse Woman, author Lindsey Schwartz shows you how to get out of your own way, fulfill your unique purpose, and live a powerful life.

Business partnerships are like a marriage

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Many organizations forget that their employees are human beings and have lives of their own, because they are so focused on chasing the numbers and the targets. But, if your employees are not happy, don’t enjoy coming to work, and feel like their contribution is not being valued they will eventually stop giving their best and start looking for other options.

Impi – the art of war

April 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

An analogy of war conjures up images of destruction, conflict, pain, looters, prisoners, death and losers. There are no real winners in war – victory and winning mean different things in wartime, yet it is used as a backdrop to many a competitive strategy.

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.