To be young in Africa today is to carry within you hopeful and delusional optimism about your future as you survey the unemployment lines from a high-rise office that you will occupy. It is despairing to talk about the youth unemployment rates as I watch my sanguine nephews, one in final year of university and the other in matric, discuss their post-learning options. Especially when the OECD UNDP 2016 Africa Economic Outlook Report states that 9 out of 10 working youth between 15-24 years of age are poor or likely to be poor.
Read moreMy Dreams Recycled by Tiffany Ann Beverlin
Tiffany Ann Beverlin
My Dreams Recycled by Tiffany Ann Beverlin is based on the inspirational true story of how one woman turned the adversity known as divorce into a multi-million dollar business helping other divorcees.
Read moreBlantyre’s women entrepreneurs ‘Lean In’ for business success at the second Lioness Lean In Luncheon in Malawi
When women entrepreneurs get together in a spirit of collaboration, great things happen. And, that’s the mission of the Lioness Lean In Events held all across the African continent - to get successful women entrepreneurs to network, share their startup stories, inspire one another and to hopefully do business. The second in the series of the highly popular Lioness Lean In Luncheon events in Malawi took place in Blantyre on Thursday 4th May, once again in partnership with Standard Bank.
Read moreLee Chisale, an entrepreneur bringing the world of luxury wellness spas to 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.
Read moreSazia Sousa, a Mozambican techpreneur making her mark in the country’s IT sector
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.
Read moreVIDEO: Lizl Naude, a South African entrepreneur turning trash into treasure
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.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tina Byaruhanga: Find that thing that you're good at
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.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Carrol Boyes
“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.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Kelebogile Makhafola: Focus on what defines your values
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.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Lydie Hakizimana
“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.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Salma Abdulai
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.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tania Shedden: Be your own biggest fan
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.
Read moreKelebogile Makhafola, a South African brand strategist on a mission to help organizations find their unique value propositions
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.
Read moreSalma Abdulai named Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards 2017 Laureate for Sub-Saharan Africa
Salma Abdulai, founder of Unique Quality Product Enterprise (Ghana)
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.
Read morePowerhouse Woman by Lindsey Schwartz
Lindsey Schwartz
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.
Read moreBusiness partnerships are like a marriage
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.
Read moreImpi – the art of war
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.
Read moreTania Shedden, a South African entrepreneur creating a sweet new recipe for effective social media
Tania Shedden, founder of Sweet Social Studio (South Africa)
As entrepreneurs we all know how important it is to build an effective social media presence to engage with customers and get people talking in the most powerful way about our businesses and brands. Yet for many people, it’s hard work and very time consuming. That’s where Tania Shedden, founder of Sweet Social Studio, has the solution.
Read moreMastering the art of perseverance
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!
Read moreLionesses of Africa Lean In Event powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and Netherlands Embassy showcase Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs
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.
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