Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Start at home

September 4, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia) — **Monica Musonda**, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)

First focus on establishing your business in your home country....

“Let people know your product in your home market – it has to have a home, it has to be from somewhere – before you start spreading yourself too thin [by] exporting... There are all these nuances once you get your product outside of your country that you might not be able to control. I think build a strong successful brand, a strong successful distribution network, build supply chains which you understand in your country."

- Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.

Half-time anecdotes

September 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Life demands so much of us, we’re constantly performing, pleasing others and busy with stuff. Is it any reason, therefore, that we find ourselves so tired, depleted from doing our long list of to-dos, meetings to attend, deadlines to meet. We are enslaved to the other side, the other person, the competitor, the client, the customer; living in fear to secure acceptance, the deal, the market share, the sale, some semblance of happiness. When we start a business, the ‘busyness’ consumes us creating a constant avalanche of activity and expectation of high performance, and if we don’t take a break, we will start to underperform. Most performances have an interlude, a break, half-time, an interval, an intermission.

Linda Makatiani, a Kenyan entrepreneur on a mission to support all those who are left-handed in her country

September 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Linda Makatiani, founder of Lefty Kenya — **Linda Makatiani**, founder of Lefty Kenya

Have you ever wondered about the challenges experienced by those who are left-handed? Some of the things e take for granted each day, such as the implements we use, can be a real problem for those who use their left hand as their primary task hand. But Kenyan entrepreneur, Linda Makatiani, founder of Lefty Kenya, is on a mission to change all that.

Jacqueline Boulos, a South African entrepreneur helping businesses expand into Africa using powerful, localized content

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jacqueline Boulos & Natalie du Toit - Innocomm (South Africa) — **Jacqueline Boulos & Natalie du Toit** - Innocomm (South Africa)

All too often, brands try to break into new markets without having enough local insights. For one strategic communications agency, that scenario was simply not an option for their clients. Innocomm, the brainchild of entrepreneur Jacqueline Boulos, believes in spending time in and getting to know key markets in order to get brand messages to really resonate with local audiences.

ESSENTIAL READS: Meet 5 authors who are helping women entrepreneurs to achieve greater success

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Tumi Frazier, Shirley Anthony, Mulenga Kasoma, Lori Milner, Anna Shilina — L-R: Tumi Frazier, Shirley Anthony, Mulenga Kasoma, Lori Milner, Anna Shilina

Africa’s women entrepreneurs need access to a wide variety of business support, advice, inspiration and motivation from others who have been there and got the proverbial t-shirt in the world of business building. There are an increasing number of inspirational women authors across the African continent and globally who are publishing fascinating books to fulfill this need, and at this year’s Lionesses of Africa Conference we are introducing five of them, all based in South Africa. These highly knowledgeable writers will be showcasing their latest books, offering their insights and expert knowledge, and of course, networking to help women entrepreneurs to greater success.

Women entrepreneurs set to gather in Johannesburg to share, inspire and connect at the 2nd Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

On Wednesday 6th September, 300 of Africa’s leading and next generation high growth women entrepreneurs will gather in Johannesburg to take part in the 2nd Lionesses of Africa Annual Conference. On the agenda will be the opportunity for these ground-breaking women to share their experiences of building successful businesses in their own specialist fields, to connect with like-minded women, and to inspire one another to reach greater entrepreneurial heights. This important event is once again held in partnership with Standard Bank and Liberty as Lead Impact Partners, in the inspirational surroundings of the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg. The event is also supported by impact partners IDF Capital, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Yves Rocher.

Own your virtual space

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Forget what people say about ‘vanity searching’ or ‘ego surfing’, to google yourself is neither about vanity nor ego. If you’re serious about your professional presence, about owning your space in the virtual world as much as you are about owning it in the physical world, googling yourself is an absolute necessity.

How to scale a service business (and get your life back!)

September 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

You’ve probably heard the word on the street: investors typically have no interest in service businesses because they don’t scale easily. While scaling a service business comes with its own challenges, it’s not impossible.

Quote of the Day by Ally Angula

September 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Ally Angula, Co-founder & Managing Director of Leap Group of Companies (Namibia) — Ally Angula, Co-founder & Managing Director of Leap Group of Companies (Namibia)

"Nothing succeeds without hard work when following one’s dream of starting your own business."

- Ally Angula is a qualified chartered accountant and co-founder of Leap Holdings, a group of companies involved in the growing of fresh produce, garment manufacturing and retail in Namibia. She is also the founder of My Republik Brand, Namibia’s first locally designed, manufactured and retailed clothing brand with a flagship store situated in the Grove Mall in Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe suburb. She currently serves as non-executive director for Old Mutual Life Assurance (Namibia) and Rio Tinto's Rossing Uranium mine in Namibia. Ally was chosen as a Desmond Tutu Fellowship programme Associate in April 2013 and was one of two Namibian entrepreneurs selected to attend the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Kenya.

Entrepreneur advice from Lorna Rutto: Network and find yourself mentors

September 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost, Kenya — **Lorna Rutto**, founder of EcoPost, Kenya

Find those people who will help and encourage you....

"Women entrepreneurs should network and look for mentors who will advise, encourage and help them in setting up the business and to also provide them with the visibility that they really need. Surrounding ourselves with people who promote our ideas, rather than killing them, goes a long way."

- Lorna Rutto is a Kenyan eco-preneur, and the inspiring founder of EcoPost, a social enterprise created in response to the need to find alternative waste management solutions to Kenya's huge plastic waste problem. In 2009 she founded her company, which collects plastic waste and manufactures commercially viable, highly durable, and importantly environmentally friendly fencing posts, used widely across Kenya. In 2011, Lorna was recognised by the prestigious Cartier Women's Initiative Awards as their laureate for sub-Saharan Africa.

Quote of the Day by Dorcas Muthoni

August 31, 2017 Melanie Hawken

“My greatest wish is to see a global community where our society is embracing internet technology to positively change lives and improve the efficiency of work done in our offices.”

- Dorcas Muthoni is a leading Kenyan entrepreneur, computer scientist and CEO and founder of OPENWORLD. The company she founded at the age of 24 is now a leading e-Government and Business Software Services firm in the Eastern Africa region. Dorcas was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2014.

Entrepreneur Advice from Fatuma Abdullah: Give yourself a break

August 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Fatuma Abdullah, founder of Akiki Dolls — **Fatuma Abdullah**, founder of Akiki Dolls

Give yourself a break....

"As women I think we tend to be very harsh on ourselves, so give yourselves a break - do you and be you."

- Fatuma Abdullah is the Kenyan-born founder of Akiki Dolls in South Africa, a company that makes and distributes brown dolls known as Akiki Dolls. Fatuma is also an author and has published her first children's book based on the Akiki character called, 'Akiki’s Short Stories'. The Akiki Doll was born out of Fatuma's need as a mother to empower her daughter and her vision is to have all children embrace diversity and ethnicity by giving them access to a great playmate.

Quote of the Day by Chioma Angela Ukonu

August 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Chioma Angela Ukonu, Co-Founder of Recycle Points Limited (Nigeria) — **Chioma Angela Ukonu,** Co-Founder of Recycle Points Limited (Nigeria)

"Don’t wait until you hit jackpot before you start that business because you might never start. You can use your garage, it can be your car boot, just start."

- Chioma Angela Ukonu is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Recycle Points Limited, a waste recycling and social benefit venture that operates an incentive-based scheme in Nigeria. Chioma is a Certified Social Sector Manager and Social Entrepreneur with focus on environmental sustainability, poverty eradication, women empowerment, youth employment and community engagement. She is a member of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change, a YALI “Green Champion”, a Mandela Washington Fellow, a LEAP Africa Social Innovators Fellow, Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) Alumna and she most recently took the second place prize in the global Chivas Venture competition in Los Angeles for social enterprises who have solutions for pressing social issues.

Quote of the Day by Magatte Wade

August 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Magatte Wade, founder of Tiossan (Senegal)

"No nation has ever created millions of middle class jobs by selling raw commodities alone. We need to streamline the business environment for Africa to become prosperous."

- Magatte Wade is the Senegalese-born founder of Tiossan, an all-natural, artisan skin care brand inspired by the traditional Sufi healers of Senegal. At the heart of this growing global brand are the proud tradition of ancient Senegalese recipes from which Tiossan draws inspiration. Magatte is a passionate champion of entrepreneurial education in Senegal and 50% of Tiossan profits are dedicated to the creation of innovative schools.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sarah Collins: Rather go slow

August 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Rather go slow....

"Part of an entrepreneur’s psychological makeup is that you’re chasing and you want to grow your business fast, but you make mistakes that way. People promise the earth and don’t deliver so rather go slow and grow your business organically."

- Sarah Collins is the founder and CEO of Wonderbag, a simple non electric slow cooker which works in mud huts in Africa to Manhattan apartments, possibly one of the only cooking devices that is globally relevant! Sarah is a South African adventurer, entrepreneur, and lifelong social activist. She thrives on challenges and has worked tirelessly over the past two decades to inspire change in the realms of gender-equality and environmental sustainability.

Essential Read: The Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur's Playbook: Create an Online Business You'll Love in 7 Simple Steps by Juanita Renee Jones

August 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Are you worried that your true entrepreneurial talents are wasting away? Discover a system for growing your passions into a blooming business. Are you struggling to find your calling? Have you tried (and failed) to follow industry advice by focusing your energy on just one trade? Successful entrepreneur coach Juanita Jones can relate. After wasting time and money pursuing other people’s idea of a successful business, she wised up and built her company around her passions.

Have you found your business owner identity?

August 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2017-08-27 at 12.28.49 PM.jpg

Who are you? What is your identity? These discussions often lead to a reference of one’s roots, where one comes from. As a business-owner you don’t lose your identity, you just show up differently.

Thandiwe Makhanya, a passionate and high energy entrepreneur on a mission to create great events and marketing activations for client brands

August 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Thandiwe Makhanya, founder of A.T.L Events and Promotions (South Africa) — **Thandiwe Makhanya**, founder of A.T.L Events and Promotions (South Africa)

Getting brands and messages out to key audiences and markets is key to any customer centric brand, but the key to success is creating experiences that connect the right customers to those brands and products. For entrepreneur Thandiwe Makhanya, this is where her specialist company, A.T.L Events and Promotions, comes in with the solutions.

Accra’s women entrepreneurs gather to be inspired, get connected and network at the first Lioness Lean In event in the city

August 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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If there’s one thing that captures the spirit of enterprise in Africa, it’s when women entrepreneurs get together to network, to share experiences, and to collaborate for greater business success. That spirit was evident this week when Lionesses of Africa hosted the first of its Lioness Lean In events in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, in partnership with Stanbic Bank.

Tumi Moitse, a South African floral designer with a passion for creating luxury gifting experiences for her clients

August 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tumi Moitse, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa) — **Tumi Moitse**, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa)

Who doesn’t like receiving flowers? They cheer us, they brighten our days, they remind us fondly of the people who are giving them as gifts to us. For entrepreneur Tumi Moitse, her love of flowers started at an early age. Today she is taking that passion and creating a luxury floral design and gifting business, BlakSaffron Boutique, that helps her clients to express their feelings through the floral experiences she creates.