By Karen Wessels, co-founder of VA Connect & co-founder of SnappSales
Didn’t think it was possible to outsource your accounting? Not only is it completely feasible, but if accounting is not your forte you’ll be eternally grateful you did.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Paula Quinsee: Be realistic with your expectations
Paula Quinsee, Author, Relationship Expert & Life Coach
Be realistic with your expectations....
"Being an entrepreneur is not for the fainthearted but you won't know how far you can fly if you don't give it a try. Be realistic with your expectations, surround yourself with a support structure, build part-time if you can and get the foundations in place before you take the leap and lastly network, network, network."
- Paula Quinsee is a Relationship Expert & Life Coach in South Africa, working with individuals and organisations on EQ skills, conflict management and more. Paula is author of the book 'Embracing Conflict - a self-help guide filled with practical tools to help you navigate conflict and challenges in your life'. As a competitive athlete and adventure seeker, Paula knows from experience what it takes to set goals, overcome obstacles and achieve success, and she has a passion for mentoring the individuals and groups she works with.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Mellisa Mazingi
Mellisa Mazinga, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe)
"There is so much potential in Africa's people, in their minds and hearts. Being an entrepreneur in Africa means being a part of unlocking that potential."
- Mellisa Mazingi, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe)
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Chaymaa Rhou: We all fear taking risks
Chaymaa Rhou, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco)
We all fear taking risks....
"We all fear taking risks and we all experience failure. The only thing that makes you face the fear with courage is to take decisions and follow the journey with its good and bad. Among things that I've learned through this journey is that building confidence, courage and growing your skills in business happens only when you fail once, twice and even more times."
- Chaymaa Rhou is the founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy in Morocco, a new filmmaking platform dedicated for world nomads. Our mission is to help our participants experience adventure while filming it to share it with the world. Chaymaa holds a Bachelor degree in Mass media and Communication, and she was certifed as a wildlife filmmaker.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Njeri Rionge
“Entrepreneurship is what is going to build Africa. Integrity is also going to build Africa.”
- Njeri Rionge is one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and one of the very few women pioneers in the ICT sector on the African continent. She has co-founded internet service provider Wananchi Online, Ignite Consulting, Insite Limited, Business Lounge, and Njeri Rionge Business Consulting Inc. These days Njeri describes herself as a global citizen cross-pollinating her business interests in Africa, North America and Europe. She 'telecommutes' and regularly travels between her offices in Nairobi and Toronto.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tiguidanke Camara: Take time to learn
Tiguidanke “Tigui” Camara, founder, Chairman & CEO of Tigui Mining Group
Take time to learn....
"Do not let anyone discourage you. Take time to learn. Spend as much time as possible in the field. You may face discrimination sometimes, but always remain professional and persevere. Know that you represent yourself and those women who will follow your path. Find your path, work hard and let the universe do the rest."
- Tiguidanke “Tigui” Camara has had a remarkable career trajectory in Guinea, Africa. She is a former fashion model turned mining entrepreneur. As founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tigui Mining Group and Camara Diamond & Gold Trading Network, Tigui is one of the youngest women mining executives and one of the few women mine owners in Africa. A visionary and proactive businesswoman, she uses her entrepreneurial background to pursue her objective of creating a conglomerate of natural resources and innovative technology companies. Tigui is an active advocate of women’s role in the development of the mining industry. A member of Women in Mining International, she co-founded Women in Mining Guinée. Tigui has been featured in numerous high profile-media such as CNN, Mining Decisions and JeuneAfrique, to name just a few.
Read moreEssential Read: Rising from the Ashes by Miyanda Katiwa
Miyanda Katiwa
In her new book, Rising from the Ashes, successful serial entrepreneur and now author, Miyanda Katiwa, brilliantly draws life changing lessons from her experiences in life and business. She shares her moments of struggle, brokenness and hopelessness, and gives some invaluable lessons that will help any other woman entrepreneur to overcome their own challenges. Once broke, jobless and stateless, plus going through at the same time the heart wrenching experience of a painful divorce, Miyanda emerged as a successful entrepreneur and business consultant in her own right, building a strong human resource consultancy firm in Zambia. Today she is a serial entrepreneur, launching another highly successful agribusiness Pamushana Farm, specializing in growing seedlings for food production.
Read moreZambia’s women entrepreneurs share, inspire and connect at the Lioness Lean In event in Lusaka
On 8 November, the Lioness Lean In roadshow returned to Zambia to showcase and empower women entrepreneurs in the city. The event was once again held in partnership with Stanbic Bank at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, and brought around 80 women business owners from across the city from both the Stanbic Bank client list and also from the Lionesses of Africa network. Lionesses of Africa is one of the fastest growing networks of women entrepreneurs with over 450,000 women business and brand builders in 49 African countries and across the Diaspora.
Read moreDeborah Sawyerr, a Nigerian entrepreneur on a mission to educate kids on money literacy
Deborah Sawyerr, founder of Sawyerrs’ House (Nigeria)
You are never too young to learn about money as a child, and never to old to learn how to manage your money better and create your future wealth as a woman, according to Sawyerrs’ House founder, Deborah Sawyerr. She is passionate about increasing money literacy amongst both children and adult women alike.
Read moreNonhlanhla Khumalo, a South African entrepreneur bringing financial management and accounting solutions to its clients
Nonhlanhla Khumalo, founder of LeHay Consulting (South Africa)
Businesses need access to specialist financial services advice and support, but often for start up companies, it can be a daunting process. Now help is at hand from experienced accountant and entrepreneur, Nonhlanhla Khumalo, founder of LeHay Consulting.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Dorcas Muthoni: On the importance of cash-flow to the entrepreneur
On the importance of maintaining cashflow for entrepreneurs...
"Rule number one, never run out of cash; rule number two, never run out of cash; rule number three, never run out of cash; rule number four, when in doubt, see the first three rules."
- Dorcas Muthoni is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Openworld Ltd, a specialist computer software company she established in Kenya when she was just 24 years old. Today, Openworld is a leading e-Government and business software services firm involved in the delivery of some of the most widely used Web and Cloud applications in Africa, such as ARIS, an African Union reporting application used by all 54 member states; and the Performance Management System for the Government of Kenya, automating performance contracting in the public sector. Dorcas is passionate about using technology to positively transform African society through the lives of its ordinary people, businesses and governments and is a co-founder of the regional organization LinuxChix Africa. In 2012 Dorcas was inducted by the Internet Society into the Internet Hall of Fame.
Read Dorcas's 100 Lionesses profile.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Kofo Akinkugbe
Kofo Akinkugbe, founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd (Nigeria)
"Once you have a good plan and a good concept and you work through it, the funds will always come."
- Kofo Akinkugbe is recognised globally for her entrepreneurial success story and strong business track record. She is founder & CEO of SecureID Nigeria Ltd a market leader in smart card technology and digital security in Africa. SecureID is a world-class manufacturing facility with the only smart card production plant in West Africa and one of only six on the continent. In January 2015 the company commissioned a new state-of-the-art EMV-certified smartcard manufacturing plant – the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company serves 16 countries across Africa and is fully certified by VISA, Verve and MasterCard. In 2012, Kofo won the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship Mature Business Award.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Angela Dick: Trust your inner instincts
Angela Dick, founder of Transman, South Africa
You need to trust your instincts....
"The most important thing is to trust your inner instincts. Look at what you respect; who you respect and who you believe in."
- Angela Dick is the co-founder and CEO of Transman the largest privately owned, temporary-employment service provider in South Africa. This one-time schoolteacher, who was the SA Business Women’s Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006, has grown her company’s revenue from a mere R85 000 back in 1983 to well over half a billion rand today. Angela also served as the first woman president and chairperson of Board of Directors of The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa).
Read moreQuote of the Day by Dee Poku
Dee Poku, founder and CEO of WIE
"Choose to be visible, choose to be known – find mentors, find sponsors, and make sure the decision makers at all levels know who you are."
- Dee Poku is a social entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of WIE, an innovative women’s leadership and empowerment network. WIE, which stands for Women, Inspiration and Enterprise launched its first symposium in New York City in 2010. Their mission is to provide a platform for curating dynamic conversations with powerful industry leaders via its global conferences and salons, all designed to inspire emerging women leaders. The organisation has attracted an incredible range of speakers to its US, European and African events, including Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington, Queen Rania, Graca Machel, Ted Turner, Melinda Gates, Diane von Furstenberg, Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Katie Couric, Tyra Banks, Lauren Bush, Elizabeth Banks, Iman, Deepak Chopra and Christy Turlington.
Read moreSetbacks are inevitable, it’s how you get back up that matters
In my last few blogs, I focused on two of the key things you need to get right if you want to grow your business in 2017: setting your strategy and relentlessly executing your plan. But no matter how well we plan, no matter how hard our teams work, there will be setbacks along the way.
Read moreOwn your calendar (Part 2)
Our to-do list has started to become a guilt list constantly getting longer and a reminder of what we have not achieved. The problem with the to-do list is it has become a collection tool but does not provide any clarity in terms of order of importance of tasks and what truly needs our focus to achieve our goals.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Christine Moraa: Consistency is key
Christine Moraa (L) and Ruth Ogendi (R)
Consistency is key....
"I'd advise my fellow women to get over the fear that easily keeps us from meeting our destinies and when you get your foot in the door, remain persistent till you fulfill your destiny. While running your business, always remember consistency is key in whatever you do."
- Christine Moraa is the founder of Kenyan PR company, Tendai Communications, a boutique public relations firm that's customer centric and uses a mix of services including brand management, corporate communication and communication strategies in a bid to position brands to their target audiences as well as project the image that is pillared on the company values and culture.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Jennifer Riria
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.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Adenike Ogunlesi
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.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Christine Buchanan - It can't be just about making money
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.
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