100 Lionesses: Divine Ndhlukula appointed new Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce President

July 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico — **Divine Ndhlukula**, founder of Securico

This month saw the appointment of Divine Ndhlukula, founder of game changing security services company, Securico, as the new Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) President, a post she will occupy for the next two years. She has committed to dedicating her time at the helm of the ZNCC to furthering the cause of small to medium sized enterprises, something close to her heart as an entrepreneur. Divine said: “It will be important to note that we will focus on helping SMEs to realize their full potential as they now anchor the country’s economy. In the same vein, we will also strive to ensure that the country’s economy can realize its full potential.”

How becoming a new parent has taught me important business lessons

July 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

In May this year I became a mommy! What an honour and privilege it is to take care of this precious little one. And what an amazing journey it has been thus far. I went on maternity leave for 4 weeks and started easing myself back into work in the 5th week. This of course got me thinking, of how your time and priorities change, and what it’s truly like to be a working mom.

Essential Read: Uplevel by Tale Alimi

July 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

If there is anyone who knows how to make a living from an entrepreneurial passion then it has to be Tale Alimi, a business growth specialist from Nigeria. Her new book, Uplevel, is written to provide a step by step guide to help others to find their niche and convert it into a profitable business. She draws on her own personal experiences on how to find life’s calling, and is proof positive that it is indeed possible to grow a business based on an entrepreneurial passion.

Quote of the Day by Adèle Dejak

June 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"Do not rely on anyone but yourself."

- Adèle Dejak is founder of the Adèle Dejak brand which creates handmade fashion accessories for the modern, sophisticated and multidimensional woman. Adèle cut her teeth in the world of typographic design in England and Italy before moving to Nairobi, Kenya in 2005 and turning her attention to accessories design. She found herself intrigued by the natural beauty of horn and began to experiment with techniques of creating unique shapes and fashioned pieces. Her flair was noticed and spurred on by an admirer of one of her creations who encouraged Adèle to set up shop creating unique shapes to wear. Dejak’s Nigerian roots began to merge perfectly with European influences and she set out on her never-ending quest for that essential artefact that allows you to express your own style.

Entrepreneur Advice from Manyara Chigunduru: Look for problems to solve

June 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Manyara Chigunduru, Founder & Managing Partner Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe) — **Manyara Chigunduru**, Founder & Managing Partner Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe)

Look for problems to solve....

"You don't need a lot of money to start. Just look at what is in your hands and start with that. What's in your hands can be a hobby that you are passionate about, or a qualification which you can use to make money. Look for problems in your country or your area and provide the solutions to those problems, that is the beginning of a fruitful business."

- Manyara Chigunduru is the Founder and Managing Partner of Marianhill Capital (Pvt) Ltd & Marianhill Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe, offering financial advisory services, corporate finance, entrepreneurship development, and project finance to companies and individuals. Manyara, who is a Chartered Accountant (Zimbabwe) and a Registered Public Auditor has over 15 years’ experience in financial management, accounting, auditing and taxation.

Quote of the Day by Nkemdilim Begho

June 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Nkemdilim Begho, founder & Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited (Nigeria) — **Nkemdilim Begho,** founder & Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited (Nigeria)

"The notion is always that women should do art, be fashion designers, etcetera. I don't agree with all that. There are women who are astronauts! So, for me, you can do whatever you put your mind to."

- Nkemdilim Begho is 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.

Meet 40 inspiring Kenyan women entrepreneurs putting the country on the global business map

June 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Kenya is a dynamic and exciting place to be a woman entrepreneur right now. It has become a centre for innovation and entrepreneurship; it’s a world leader in mobile money systems like m-pesa; it has a long tradition of highly creative brand builders producing world class solutions, designs and products that the world is falling in love with. It also has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that is deeply rooted, and it is women entrepreneurs who are taking that spirit to a whole new level.

Quote of the Day by Raksha Mahabeer

June 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Raksha Mahabeer (R) is the co-founder of SummerTime (South Africa) — Raksha Mahabeer (R) is the co-founder of SummerTime (South Africa)

"If you are in it for the long haul, you need to look at your personal brand as a necessary investment that will outlive you. The projects you work on will come and go, but your personal brand will persist and add value to everything you create."

- Raksha Mahabeer is a co-founder of SummerTime in South Africa, a vibrant creative design studio that specialises in fresh graphic design, comprehensive brand development and innovative marketing support services for both SMEs and corporate clients. Raksha is a connector, a communicator, a purpose-driven, inspired inspirer! She prides herself in partnering with SMEs in establishing new South African brands with a view to creating jobs in South Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mary Njoki: Discover your passion

June 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mary Njoki, founder of Glass House PR (Kenya) — **Mary Njoki**, founder of Glass House PR (Kenya)

Discover your passion....

"Each woman has something to offer to the world, they just need to discover what they can do easily or what they are passionate about - they will then be able to create an authentic solution to a specific world problem that comes from who they are and what they can do."

- Mary Njoki is the founder of Glass House PR in Kenya, a communications and PR company that delivers professional communications strategy and support to their clients so they can reach their business and communication goals. Mary is on a mission to build a new kind of company; one that seeks to re-define Public Relations in Africa. Mary is providing the expertise, industry experience and the network needed to effectively manage today's corporate reputations.

LIONESS ON TOUR - Taking the Lioness Roar to Berlin

June 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

It’s been another busy month for Lionesses of Africa as we tour the continent and the rest of the world getting the message out about Africa’s talented, game-changing women entrepreneurs and showcasing their businesses, products and services. We know that getting critical access to global markets for women entrepreneurs in Africa is often a challenge, so it’s always welcome to get the opportunity to talk about possible solutions with fellow women’s economic empowerment champions in key capitals of the world - this month it was Berlin!

The Dos and Don'ts of Building Your Personal Brand

June 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

As you would have read in my previous blog on why you can’t just have a business brand, personal branding encompasses the ongoing process of establishing a positive extension of who you are and what you stand for in the minds of others. In this online era, authenticity is key and can only be achieved if you create a personal brand that defines its own unique characteristics, that genuinely adds value to people’s lives.

The Bird Chronicles

June 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Birding (or birdwatching for those not in the know), may seem to be a fruitless pastime amidst the many challenges of life. However, when I conjure it up in my mind and envision the experience of birders, it presents itself as a welcome reprieve and distraction from the harsh ugly reality of clipped wings, the stationary, the dull, the silenced, the wingless. I ponder on Maya Angelou’s “I know why the caged bird sings” and picture the contemplative constraining space of life’s trappings and the freedom and opportunity in roaming outside of confinement but only within the boundaries of your natural capability and inclinations.

ESSENTIAL READ: From a Tin Shed to the United Nations by Stephanie Woollard, Founder and CEO of Seven Women

June 25, 2017 Melanie Hawken

At the age of 22, Stephanie Woollard encountered seven disabled women subsisting in a tin shed in Kathmandu. Shocked to learn that disabled women are stigmatized in Nepal, Stephanie started helping the women to help themselves. Soon they had a thriving business selling handmade produce, and Stephanie had found her calling as a social entrepreneur making a difference to the lives of others.

No more excuses, make a plan!

June 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

We all know that life happens and challenges are inevitable. Some of the challenges you will have control over and others you won’t. The ultimate test to life's challenges is how you react.

100 LIONESSES: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu the creative force behind soleRebels, Africa's fastest growing footwear brand

June 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Watch this fascinating interview with Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder and ceo of soleRebels, as she talks about how she has led her Ethiopian business to become the fastest growing African shoe brand, now taking the world by storm.

Mimi Kalinda, a South African entrepreneur empowering fellow Africans through the power of storytelling

June 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mimi Kalinda, founder of Africommunications Group (South Africa) — **Mimi Kalinda**, founder of Africommunications Group (South Africa)

Shaping the African continent’s positive narrative and opening up the minds of others around the globe to see its full potential, requires making connections with people at a human level. And, there is no better way of achieving this than through the sharing of stories and experiences. Entrepreneur Mimi Kalinda and her company Africommunications Group are both on a mission to harness the power of storytelling to change perceptions of this amazing continent.

Chule Gobodo, a South African film-maker connecting consumers and brands through visual storytelling

June 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Chule Gobodo, co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives (South Africa) — **Chule Gobodo**, co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives (South Africa)

They say everyone has a unique story to tell, but often people, businesses and brands find it hard to get that story told in a way that is engaging. But one woman entrepreneur is on a mission to change all that. Chule Gobodo, co-founder of Brainbow Conscious Creatives, is showing clients how to powerfully connect their brands with their consumers using storytelling through film.

Entrepreneur Advice from Stella Langat: Be ready to embrace opportunities

June 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Stella Langat, co-founder of Double Dee's (Kenya) — **Stella Langat**, co-founder of Double Dee's (Kenya)

Embrace opportunities....

"... be ready to embrace opportunities that will propel you a step further to fulfilling your entrepreneurial dream. And those opportunities sometimes come in the form of a disappointment or failure - for instance, an investor who says no might be the best person to approach as a mentor to help you make improvements on your business plan."

- Stella Langat is the co-founder of Double Dee's in Kenya, a company that produces elegant lingerie pieces for the busty Kenyan woman. Stella, who is presently studying economics at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs in the U.S., plans to return to Kenya after completing her degree. Together with her three women business partners she plans to open a lingerie store in the capital city of Nairobi. It will be the first such store in the country.

Quote of the Day by Olajumoke Adenowo

June 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Olajumoke Adenowo, founder of AD Consulting, Nigeria — **Olajumoke Adenowo**, founder of AD Consulting, Nigeria

"Our organisations are not just situated at locations – these locations are our host communities, and we must invest in them… give back to them. This is even more important for an African female entrepreneur because, as females, we are nurturers and it is our responsibility to raise the next generation,”

- Olajumoke Adenowo, founder of AD Consulting, is a Nigerian Architect, Speaker, Radio Host, Philantropist and Author. CNN has described her as “Africa’s Starchitect”. She has been featured in the World’s foremost Architectural Journal; Architectural Record and has spoken on several platforms including the Global Women’s Forum and Harvard Business School (African Business Club). Olajumoke also hosts a Syndicated Radio show on Leadership called “Voice of Change”.

Entrepreneur Advice from Bilikiss Adebiyi: Get networking

June 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Get networking....

"Network! Network! Network! I cannot stress the importance of networking. It is very vital to growing yourself and your business."

- Bilikiss Adebiyi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, and founder and CEO of WeCyclers. This Lagos-based company is focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. Bilikiss holds an MBA from MIT and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University. She is a 2013 Echoing Green Fellow and WeCyclers were a Sustainia100 Company Award winner in 2014.