Quote of the Day by Jennifer Riria

November 8, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria (Right), founder & group chief executive of Kenya Women Holding — **Dr. Jennifer Riria** (Right), founder & group chief executive of Kenya Women Holding

“Leadership is not about you. It’s about us. I believe women are God-made leaders.”

- Dr. Jennifer Riria is the Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding and one of Africa's leading women entrepreneurs who has always been on a mission to transform the lives of women and their families in her native Kenya. She is distinguished as a microfinance banker and practitioner, researcher and gender specialist. She has served in many leadership roles for which she has been recognized locally and internationally. In 2013 she was awarded the Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the year, East Africa 2013, and subsequently, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014, at which point she was admitted to EY’s Global Hall of Fame.

Quote of the Day by Adenike Ogunlesi

November 7, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Adenike Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria) — Adenike Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

“Success for me is a journey. It is not a place you would say you have reached. It is not only about money, it is not about awards or accolades. It is about what you stand for, what your values are. For me, there has to be a wholesome definition to success.”

- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.

Entrepreneur Advice from Christine Buchanan - It can't be just about making money

November 7, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Louiza Rademan & Christine Buchanan, founders of oh-lief (South Africa) — **Louiza Rademan & Christine Buchanan**, founders of oh-lief (South Africa)

You should never embark upon an entrepreneurial venture with the aim just on making money....

"... it is essential to find something that you are really passionate about and that you understand. The danger is sometimes that you can have a great love for something, but if you are not fully conversant with everything it takes to make that passion turn into a business reality, then it is a problem. So you need to find a balance between your passion and the business side of things."

- Christine Buchanan is one half of a sister duo from South Africa who founded oh-lief Natural Products based on their love of all things natural and organic. They are capturing the imagination of customers looking for an alternative to the mass produced, chemically formulated skin and body care products on the market. The Oh-Lief Natural Products company is developing 100% natural and organic products that are truly world class.

Entrepreneur Advice from Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy: Do not be afraid

November 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, founder of The Talent Factory (Mauritius) — **Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy,** founder of The Talent Factory (Mauritius)

Do not be afraid...

"Do not be afraid to try. Do not be afraid to fail. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Find your added value and build your service offering on it. It is worth it!"

- Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy is the founder of The Talent Factory, a boutique Public Relations consultancy in Mauritius. Marie-Noelle leads a consultancy business that specialises in crafting tailor-made Public relations & Communication solutions for businesses, SMEs, and start-ups. Before launching her company she worked in the media industry for over 10 years at La Sentinelle, one of the most important media groups of the Island. As Chief Editor, she managed various publications and editorial teams and also created Essentielle, a glossy women's magazine.

Quote of the Day from Mariéme Jamme

November 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mariéme Jamme, founder Spotone Global Solutions — **Mariéme Jamme**, founder Spotone Global Solutions

“The growth of mobile technologies and internet access is now the backbone of any knowledge economy — we must learn that the more information we share, the more people will benefit.”

- Mariéme Jamme is a Senegalese born-British businesswoman, who runs a technology consultancy business, Spotone Global Solutions, that helps technology companies to identify a new markets, generate leads, increase revenue and set a foothold in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. Mariéme is best known for her role in promoting technology, good governance, transparency and a better education standard in Africa. She was recently named as one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2014 by the Africa Business Magazine and Forbes Magazine.

The Lioness Radio Show launches giving voice to Africa’s women entrepreneurs

November 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

November sees the launch of an exciting new communication platform for women entrepreneurs across the Lionesses of Africa network, both on the continent and in the Diaspora. The Lioness Radio Show aims to inspire, inform and give voice to Africa's women entrepreneurs. This premier, weekly magazine show features the best of women's entrepreneurship on the African continent, hosted by Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa, and powered by Standard Bank.

Essential Read: My Fight to the Top by Michelle Mone

November 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

The perfect blend of business and drama, My Fight to the Top by leading UK entrepreneur, Michelle Mone, is a unique, heart-rending autobiography that has mass appeal, whether the reader wants to learn how to get ahead in business, or simply learn how to keep it together through life's challenges.

Gwendolyne Gosselin, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for Shweshwe fabrics into a high impact community childrenswear and toy brand

November 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Gwendolyne Gosselin, founder of Mathilde & Co. (South Africa) — **Gwendolyne Gosselin**, founder of Mathilde & Co. (South Africa)

Resourcefulness is a key trait needed by most entrepreneurs, and in the case of Gwendolyne Gosselin, founder of Mathilde & Co., that translated into learning how to sew. Today her unique brand of children’s clothing and toys, all made from Shweshwe fabrics, is winning fans at home and abroad. Importantly, it is also helping to change lives closer to home in her local community.

Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, an entrepreneur based in Mauritius advising companies on how to get their messages and brands across

November 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

In the world of communications and brand positioning, getting the right advice and specialist help is key. In Mauritius, that’s where The Talent Factory comes in, led by one of the industry’s key exponents, founder Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy.

Outsourcing 104 – why it makes sense to outsource your sales activities

November 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

In my last post we spoke of the importance of outsourcing your marketing function. You can find the article here to refresh your memory. I have a tendency to lump marketing and sales together. And yes, I do understand how very different the two are! However, for me, the one cannot work without the other. In order to have great sales deals you need to have a converting marketing campaign, therefore sales and marketing go hand-in-hand.

Entrepreneur Advice from Valerie Nyamwaya: There's no better way to live life

November 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Valerie Nyamwaya, founder of Afrivazi Limited (Kenya) — **Valerie Nyamwaya**, founder of Afrivazi Limited (Kenya)

There's no better way to live life....

"It is a tough journey but worthwhile - you get to learn a lot not only about yourself as an entrepreneur, but also about your industry and other issues, and what better way to live life than becoming a better version of who you are, and constantly improving and having an impact on other people's lives."

- Valerie Nyamwaya is the founder of Afrivazi Limited in Kenya, a fashion line and offers fashionable ‘Made in Kenya’ clothing and apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children from local designers under their various brand names. Valerie’s love for fashion inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree specializing in Clothing, Textile and Interior Design at Egerton University. The dream was realized further when she decided to become an entrepreneur, committed to revolutionizing the fashion industry in Africa.

Quote of the Day by Tammy Frazer

November 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tammy Frazer, founder of Frazer Parfum — **Tammy Frazer**, founder of Frazer Parfum

"At every African’s heart is an entrepreneurial spirit: we are survivors of struggle, malleable enough to embrace change and celebrate doing things differently."

- Tammy Frazer founded Cape-Town-based Frazer Parfum in 2008 creating organic and natural perfume products, all handcrafted in collaboration with local artists. Tammy is part of a growing new generation of African women entrepreneurs transforming quality local raw materials into world-class African luxury products.

Quote of the Day Damilola Solesi

November 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Damilola Solesi, founder of Smids Animation Studios, Nigeria — **Damilola Solesi**, founder of Smids Animation Studios, Nigeria

"I might fail in a business venture but I do not consider myself a failure until I have given up. Failure is giving up on my goals and dreams."

- Damilola Solesi is founder and CEO of Smids Animation Studios based in Lagos, Nigeria specialising in computer animation, motion graphics and visual effects. Damilola's passion for animation dates back to her childhood when she used to dream about producing her own cartoons. Today, her work fuses the richness of African stories with the latest world-class animation techniques.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: You need to achieve clarity and focus

November 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria) — Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

A sense of clarity and focus is always a great help to entrepreneurs....

“Be focused and clear in your mind about what you want to do, and if you set out to do something, complete it. It is also important that you develop yourself, to know your strengths and weaknesses,”

Quote of the Day by Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi

November 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, founder of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Nigeria — **Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi**, founder of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Nigeria

"If success means living with joy, contentment, and doing great things with my talent, then failure is the opposite of success. It means not living with joy, contentment, or using my skills and gifts. Failure would also mean not pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and not daring to try new things and ideas."

- Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi is founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre a Nigerian NGO working to empower girls and women socially and economically, using information and communication technologies. Oreoluwa is a 2014 Vital Voices Lead Fellow, 2013 Ashoka fellow and a recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award for her commitment to issues of women in computing in Nigeria.

Entrepreneur Advice from Carrol Boyes: Get the right staff for your business through referrals

October 31, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Recruiting the right people is always tricky. Referrals are the way to go....

“Recruiting new staff is always tough; people may come with excellent credentials, but until they are actually doing the job, you never know what you are going to end up with. That’s one of the reasons why I prefer to employ people who are personally referred to me.”

- 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.

Quote of the Day by Sonia Mugabo

October 31, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Sonia Mugabo, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda — **Sonia Mugabo**, founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda

"... when I feel like giving up I think about the big picture and ask myself the question - why am I doing this?"

- Sonia Mugabo is the founder of Sonia Mugabo (SM), Rwanda , a fashion brand established in 2013. It was born out of Sonia’s strong interest in design; and the desire to tap into the existing local artisan talent to make high quality men and womenswear. Sonia Mugabo develops 2 collections each year, and all year round makes bespoke items for its clientele. A pioneer of Rwanda’s fashion industry; Sonia is setting the standard for Rwandan fashion in global and local markets.

Tiny tweaks lead to big changes in your business

October 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

One of my favourite authors is Derek Sivers, he started the company CD Baby as a passion project which was later sold to iTunes for over 20 million dollars! He released a book called ‘Anything you want: 40 lessons for a new kind of entrepreneur’. I have shared the most useful excerpt which has made me think differently about how I run my company, Beyond the Dress, enjoy!

100 LIONESSES: Jenna Clifford, world-renowned jewellery designer

October 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jenna Clifford is a world-renowned jewellery designer, known for her unique designs and superlative craftsmanship. Established in 1992, her company has steadily grown its clientele and improved its profile to institute itself as a powerful force in the jewellery industry. Her bold and dramatic designs are sought after by some of the most recognised business icons and celebrities from around the world. Today, Jenna Clifford Designs employs around 60 people, including some of the finest jewellery artisans and craftsmen in South Africa.

Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee, a design and print entrepreneur in Mauritius also building a brand turning advertising waste into exciting bags

October 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee, founder of Nineteen Fifty Design & Print Co Ltd (Mauritius) — **Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee**, founder of Nineteen Fifty Design & Print Co Ltd (Mauritius)

Many companies are being encouraged to consider the environmental impacts of their businesses, but for entrepreneur Lalita Anousha Purbho-Junggee, founder of Nineteen Fifty Design & Print Co Ltd, she is going one better. Her Sakili up-cycled bag brand is turning billboard advertising and textile waste into multi-purpose bags for her clients.