Pesika Odera, Winnie Ochieng and Doreen Okal, three Kenyan entrepreneurs creating a beautiful natural soap brand

July 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Winnie Ochieng, Pesika Odera, and Doreen Okal — Winnie Ochieng, Pesika Odera, and Doreen Okal

Many entrepreneurs are driven not only by passion, but also a desire to make a difference, particularly when it comes to creating employment opportunities in local communities. In the case of the Kenyan natural soap manufacturing company, Wipedo Ltd, its three women founders are not only creating world class natural soap products, but also creating employment for others, extending the value chain of this unique and proudly Kenyan brand.

Sea, Salt and Sand

July 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

There’s something breathtaking in the shimmering beauty of a moving blanket of water and foam that seems woven together by microscopic gems of different hues. Spread across a vast expanse of space the body of water moving rhythmically swaying gently to its own tune, to its own invisible authority. The breadth, depth and width of the sea inspires supernatural possibility in our measured humanness, thinking beyond the immediate on what we can envision, what is possible, what can be. This great expanse that kisses the edge of the horizon unearths desires for equaled greatness lying within us. Picture the scene of designs that can be visualized, dreams that can be realized, and concepts that can be materialized. There’s something freeing and foreboding about the sea all at once.

On the journey to wealth, consider this important step first!

July 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

On your journey to wealth, you have decided to take the jump or the first step and that is already gutsy. It takes a certain kind of mindset to decide that you want a better life for yourself or family, and all that is necessary now is to get going! But wait....there are many things to consider.

ESSENTIAL READ: Real Tales of a Mompreneur - True Stories of Babies, Business and Balance by Kendra Garcia

July 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

There is an art to attempting to balance the challenging demands of motherhood and career, and it only gets more strenuous for those mothers who decide to take the risk and bank on their business idea. The demands and pressure of that lifestyle are extremely difficult to understand without actually experiencing it. In her new book, Real Tales of a Mompreneur, author and business coach Kendra Garcia tells it like it is.

Own your Positive Headspace

July 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

The world of an entrepreneur is a daily emotional roller coaster ride. When we don’t get the deal we wanted or wished we had said something different in a meeting, we tend to focus on the negative and ‘should have’s’. Here are some tried and tested steps I incorporate into my daily routine to stay focused on the positive.

Nigeria’s Chioma Ukonu, co-founder of Recycle Points takes 2nd place at the Chivas Venture Competition in Los Angeles

July 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Nigeria’s Chioma Ukonu, co-founder and COO of Recycle Points (Nigeria) — **Nigeria’s Chioma Ukonu**, co-founder and COO of Recycle Points (Nigeria)

Earlier this year, The Venture, a global competition staged by Chivas Regal, was launched with a mission to find promising, up-and-coming startups that also have a positive impact on the world. After a rigorous voting and pitching process involving inspirational social entrepreneurs from 32 countries, the grand final has just taken place in Los Angeles and Nigeria’s Chioma Ukonu, co-founder and COO of Recycle Points has scooped 2nd place and a prize of US$ 200,000.

Entrepreneur Advice from Judith Owigar: Do not stop

July 14, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Do not stop....

"Dream big, start small, start now. Just because you're not where you want to be does not mean you should give up. As long as you do not stop you will progress. I think this journey has developed some courage that I never thought I had within me."

- Judith Owigar is a coder, blogger and technologist; and the co-founder of Akirachix, a revolution for African women and technology. This social entrepreneur who uses technology as a tool to empower youth and young women, believes that exposure, education and use of technology can change the world. Through Akirachix she sought to increase the number of women who create technological solutions and in effect change the perception of technology by women. Judith is currently an ICT Advisor to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

Entrepreneur Advice from Deola Sagoe: Celebrate your cultural roots to build globally competitive products

July 12, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Deola Sagoe, haute couture fashion designer from Nigeria, on 'African Spirit' — **Deola Sagoe**, haute couture fashion designer from Nigeria, on *'African Spirit'*

African designers need to celebrate their cultural roots and fashion history in order to become globally competitive….

“When I started out, it was with a certain philosophy, because at that time it wasn’t cool to look African. Africa wasn’t on the map as it is now. … There was nothing really happening in terms of African fashion going global, or Africans being able to make a business of African fashion outside of the shore of Africa. So I went into it, sort of, to prove a point and to say ‘Listen. We can do this. We can add value.’ And to also bring the attention of the world to our own native abilities.”

- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.

Quote of the Day by Sandra Idossou

July 12, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Sandra Idossou, founder of The ServiceMag (Rwanda) — **Sandra Idossou**, founder of The ServiceMag (Rwanda)

"I am a strong believer in Africa's potential and a great advocate of all things 'African'."

- Sandra Idossou is the founder of The ServiceMag in Rwanda, an insightful, colourful magazine in English, French and Kinyarwanda, with a 5000 copy print run and a dynamic online version. Sandra has a solid and diversified experience of more than 13 years in the hospitality industry as a trainer in 32 hotels [from 2-5 stars] in 25 countries in Africa. She is the author of the book titled “The Customer Care Handbook” and a weekly columnist on raising awareness on Customer Service in the Rwandan “The New Times”.

Entrepreneur Advice from Jacqueline Rogers: You need to adapt

July 11, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jacqueline Rogers, founder of Label of Love (South Africa) — **Jacqueline Rogers**, founder of Label of Love (South Africa)

You have to be open to adapting....

".... you might have one plan in your head but your journey or business might have another plan for you. You need to adapt to where your business and journey goes. And just never, never, never give up. I still have to push and work hard to keep my business alive and push to the next level, and most of the time it's not easy, so its important to realize that. But when you hard work and effort comes together, it makes all the pain and sweat worthwhile. And ask for help, ask anyone and everyone that can help you - put yourself out there and talk about your business - you never know who might hear you or your story."

- Jacqueline Rogers is the founder of Label of Love, a South African company that designs feminine comfortable maternity wear. Jacqueline is on a mission to create the most beautiful clothes that make any mum-to-be feel special during this important time in their lives, whilst at the same time designing each garment to be comfortable, practical and long-lasting.

Essential Read: Regroup - The How-To of Never Giving Up by Jaunique Sealey

July 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Real, relatable and raw - an unflinching look at what it takes to live life on your own terms. Written in the words of a savvy best friend and packed full of emotion-stirring moments, Regroup is the entertaining and uplifting read that we all need in these days of uncertainty.

Lindiwe Mafavuneh, a Botswana based entrepreneur on a mission to help companies to manage their risk and maximize their investments

July 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lindiwe Mafavuneh, founder of LCM Capital (Botswana) — **Lindiwe Mafavuneh**, founder of LCM Capital (Botswana)

Every company and organization needs to manage its risk profile whilst at the same time maximizing its ability to drive business success, but it’s a fine balancing act. For many, specilalist help and advice is needed to get that balance right, and that’s where LCM Capital has found its niche, thanks to founder Lindiwe Mafavuneh.

In the footsteps of the Caesars

July 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Every year in July I travel, but this time I won’t be, so allow me to do so vicariously through nostalgia of a past sojourn’s images etched colourfully in my mind. Though I traversed the breadth of Italy, it is Rome’s smells and spirited tales that beckon to be revealed and re-explored and I find myself willingly teleported to strange yet familiar sounds from my history books and daily business Latin phrases.

Quote of the Day by Rapelang Rabana

July 7, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Rapelang Rabana, founder of ReKindle Learning and co-founder of Yeigo Communications — **Rapelang Rabana**, founder of ReKindle Learning and co-founder of Yeigo Communications

"...to improve and support innovation in Africa, the single most powerful thing to do is to deliver quality broadband internet to the majority of Africans. That, I think, will do a lot more than any 'Ministry of Innovation,' than any innovation fund, or any kind of innovation vehicle that we can think of....Access to information and communication is the most empowering thing we can do to support innovation. It opens doors for greater innovation in farming, education, health, and financial services."

- Rapelang Rabana is an internationally recognized technology entrepreneur, a thought leader and business speaker. She is the founder of Rekindle Learning, a learning technology company, and previously co-founded Yeigo Communications, South Africa's first free VoIP mobile services provider. In 2012 Rapelang was named on Oprah Magazine's O Power List; in 2013 she was listed on Forbes's 30 under 30 list for best entrepreneurs of Africa, and in 2014 she was named one of the Entrepreneurs of the World by the World Entrepreneurship Forum.

Become a master asker!

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

In general, people like to mind their own business…excuse the pun. But I will tell you something about small town people…they love to help! We live in a society where we are trained to be self-sufficient and independent. Although it has merits, is it all that healthy?

Why not be the first?

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

I watched the movie Hidden Figures recently and there is a scene in the movie where the character goes to court to fight to be able to attend a school she cannot go to. When asked why she was doing it, she told the judge that because it had never been done, she would have to be the first.

Awards and Accolades: 5 Young Women Entrepreneurs Recognized by the Keroche Foundation Young Entrepreneurs Mentorship Programme

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2017-07-06 at 4.05.38 PM.jpg

The Keroche Foundation Young Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program is one of the tangible ways that leading Kenyan entrepreneur, Tabitha Karanja, founder of Keroche Breweries, is fulfilling her vision of empowering a new generation of young entrepreneurs in her country. Five young women entrepreneurs have just been recognized for their business building activities in the second cohort to graduate from the program.

100 Lionesses: Nigerian entrepreneur Mo Abudu, founder of Ebony Life TV, honored with journalism award

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mo Abudu, founder of Ebony Life TV (Nigeria) — **Mo Abudu**, founder of Ebony Life TV (Nigeria)

This week, on 6th July 2017, the 4th Women in Journalism Conference takes place, honoring the outstanding work done by women in their own individual fields in the media sector. Nigerian game-changing media entrepreneur, Mo Abudu, founder of Ebony Life TV, is to be recognized for her work in changing the media landscape in Africa.

Quote of the Day by Caryn Formby

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Caryn Formby, founder of Power Plastics, South Africa — **Caryn Formby**, founder of Power Plastics, South Africa

"The starting point for entrepreneurship is for aspiring entrepreneurs to adopt a 'can do' attitude within existing companies. There are so many of us with opportunities within our current jobs.”

- Caryn Formby is founder and CEO of Power Plastics a South African company that joins, welds, shapes, sews and seals various plastic materials to fabricate high quality and cost effective end products. The company is well known for its plastic pool-covers and Caryn is passionate about child safety around pools. She is the driving force behind TopStep, the home of pool safety – an educational platform for all things relating to child drowning prevention. In November 2014, Caryn was an awardee at the prestigious global IWEC (International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge) ceremony held in Stockholm.