by Karen Wessels, co-founder of SnappSales and VA Connect
It’s that time of the year again to review what transpired this past year, to make sense of the madness, learn from our mistakes and look forward to a great year ahead.
Read moreBeing festive without breaking the budget!
by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman
The festive season is upon us. For many people, the pace slows down, and we may take some time off work, spend quality time with family and friends, and perhaps even go away on holiday. Whatever shape your festive season takes, it’s an extra expensive time of the year – apart from the obvious giving of presents, we also tend to eat more, socialize more and generally spend more.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch
Margaret & Allan Hirsch, founders of Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
“There are two important days in a person’s life. The first is the day they are born, and the second is the day they find out why. Your job is to find out why you are here and to list five most important personal goals, and your five business goals.”
- Margaret Hirsch co-founder of Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Ancha Salvador: Pursue your idea
Ancha Salvador, founder of Anchaa's Gluten Free (Mozambique)
Pursue your idea....
"If you think you have a good idea go after it, never give up, and try to get help from the right people."
- Ancha Salvador is the founder of Anchaa's Gluten Free in Mozambique, a company that produces a range of gluten free food products. Ancha's journey to building her health food business has followed a very personal quest to finding solutions and alternatives to overcoming her intolerance to gluten, lactose and sugar. Her deep understanding of the problem has led her to create a range of exciting food products for people with similar dietary needs to enjoy.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Thokoza Mjo: Back yourself
Thokoza Mjo, founder of Beyond the Lemonade Stand (South Africa)
Back yourself....
"Starting a business, for me, is the best expression of backing yourself (taking a chance on you), believing that you have the ability to create value for yourself and for others. Don't put it off any longer, there's no better time than now."
- Thokoza Mjo is the founder of Beyond the Lemonade Stand in South Africa, a social venture that finds and accelerates teenage led enterprises. Thokoza is a finance graduate and worked in the investment field for 3 years before choosing to pursue her entrepreneurial aspirations. Her first entrepreneurial project was in high school where she and a friend sold sweets to their peers.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Candice Johnson
Candice Johnson, founder of Miss Knitwear (South Africa)
"If your heart is in what you are doing, then you will be supported by the universe."
- Candice Johnson, founder of Miss Knitwear (South Africa)
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Nthabiseng Mosia: You can be the change
Nthabiseng Mosia, co-founder of Easy Solar (Sierra Leone)
You can be the change....
"Never apologize for wanting a seat at the table and pursuing your dreams. For African women in particular, there will be times, in fact more often than not, when you look around a room (whether it’s of investors, fellow entrepreneurs, or potential partners) and wonder where your place is in this world of white men, this world that you want to be a part of, one of innovators, rebels, adventurers, game-changers. Don't let feeling like an outlier deter you from being the change in representation that you want to see in the world."
Nthabiseng Mosia is the co-founder of Easy Solar, a Sierra Leone based social venture, that makes clean energy affordable to those off-the-grid by offering solar-powered devices on a “rent-to-own” financing structure, enabled by embedded Pay-As-You-Go technology and mobile money. Nthabiseng is passionate about crafting solutions that address challenges at the nexus of energy and development. The idea for Easy Solar originally arose while pursuing her Masters Degree at Columbia University in the United States.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Bernice Dapaah
Bernice Dapaah, co-founder of the Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative
"I see entrepreneurship as a calling, not as a last resort for those who are looking for employment in the formal sector and not finding it."
- Bernice Dapaah co-founder of Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Rahel Mwitula Williams: It can be done!
Rahel Mwitula Williams, founder of ILAVA (Tanzania/Kenya)
It can be done!...
"Go ahead, DREAM BIG but have an ACTION PLAN. Every day do something towards realizing that dream. But, be aware of dream killers. You will always have people that will give you millions of reasons as to why your dream will not happen, but you can always find millions of reasons as to how you can make it can happen. Therefore, choose your company wisely. You will work hard for what you believe in, and there will be times when you will doubt yourself and you will want to quit, but don’t give up - press forward - it can be done!"
- Rahel Mwitula Williams is the founder and lead designer of ILAVA. As a social entrepreneur, she was born and raised in Tanzania, East Africa. She migrated to the USA with her family when she was 12 years old and held her Tanzanian heritage near to her heart. She obtained her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Loyola University and went on to receive her Master’s of Science from DePaul University in Chicago, Il. Rahel believes that women entrepreneurs are key in enhancing both women’s and overall community development. She aims to incorporate her culture into fashion and give back to her native country every chance she gets. While popular culture may see African attire as a trend, Rahel sees it as a lifestyle.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Njeri Rionge
“Taking an idea that’s on paper or in your head and moving it forward into real, tangible action is the true spirit of entrepreneurship.”
- Njeri Rionge serial entrepreneur (Kenya/Canada)
Read moreEssential Read: Lady with Steel Eggs - 12 Strategies for Starting a Successful Business by Evelyn Frazier
Evelyn Frazier
Author and entrepreneur, Evelyn Frazier, believes that women wear invisible capes, dashing from one commitment to the next, and often it may seem impossible for this seemingly superhuman strength to extend to them owning their own businesses in their own minds. So, her new book, Lady with Steel Eggs - 12 Strategies for Starting a Successful Business, has been written to take readers on the journey of business success from inception.
Read moreMalawi’s women entrepreneurs lean-in to inspire and connect in Mzuzu
This month saw the 2017 programme of Lioness Lean In events to be held in cities across the African continent, come to a close in great style as the team headed to Mzuzu in Malawi for the first time. The latest in the series of inspirational monthly Lioness Lean In events took place on Friday 8th December, once again powered by Standard Bank, and hosted at Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel, in Malawi’s northern region city of Mzuzu.
Read moreTania Tome, a Mozambican serial entrepreneur using her skills to train and develop a new generation of business leaders in Africa
Tania Tome, founder of Ecokaya (Mozambique)
Creating sustainable and more inclusive entrepreneurial ventures in Mozambique is key to the country’s future economic success. But that requires the development and training of a new generation of entrepreneurs who can build businesses capable of growing and succeeding. Ecokaya, founded by entrepreneur Tania Tome, is on a mission to be part of the solution to making this vision a reality.
Read moreNtsoaki Mabejane, an entrepreneur from Lesotho building a passionate organic cosmetics brand
Ntsoaki Mabejane, founder of Botanical Wares (Lesotho)
For all those who experience the challenges of sensitive skin, hope is at hand from Botanical Wares (Pty) Ltd, a Lesotho woman-owned company inspired by its founders who needed to find a skincare and cosmetics solution for themselves and their families.
Read moreJoy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana - Sisters weaving for peace and profit
Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana, co-founders of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda)
Joy Ndungutse and Janet Nkubana co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994 with a vision to “empower rural communities to become entrepreneurs and earn better incomes to live with dignity among their communities.” Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques.
Read moreOwn your Finances
In ‘Own your Space; The Toolkit for the Working Woman’, my co-author Nadia Bilchik and I found it imperative to include a chapter on owning your finances. We reached out to author and speaker, Sylvia Walker, to share her insights and guidance. This is a snippet of what she had to say about how to own your finances.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Lorna Rutto
Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost, Kenya
"I love my work. Each day when I go to work, I feel that I am serving my purpose in this world and working towards our goal to transform Africa’s waste into wealth. This renews my strength every day."
- Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost (Kenya)
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Anila Mussá: Plan, focus and persist
Anila Mussá, founder of IZYSHOP (Mozambique)
Plan, focus and persist....
"Plan and prepare a small business plan (write your idea on paper, how you want to run the business, how much you will sell, who your audience is, etc.) and execute your plan. Do not overthink things, and do not be afraid of failure. Only the day-to-day operation of the business will tell you the needs, the problems, the positive aspects, etc. And with focus and persistence, it is possible to overcome or circumvent any obstacles."
- Anila Mussá is the founder of IZYSHOP in Mozambique, a multi-award winning online supermarket, connecting local small and medium size producers to consumer markets, giving producers access to a broader market and income increase, and consumers a more convenient shopping experience. Born in the small city of Inhambane in Mozambique, Anila learned from a young age the art of getting things done and the value of hard work. Her first business at the age of 12 years old was selling cookies at school so she could buy her school lunch.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Devotha Ntuke Minzi
Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)
"Keep Learning - there is so much I don’t know, so I am always open to new ideas and opportunities."
- Devotha Ntuke Minzi, founder & CEO of K-finance Limited (Tanzania)
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Helen Njoroge - Start innovating
Helen Njoroge, founder of Tenders Kenya
Start innovating....
"I encourage women, especially the young women, to come up with innovative products and services and deviate from engaging in "traditional" entrepreneurial opportunities."
- Helen Njoroge, is the founder of Tenders Kenya, Kenya’s Number 1 Tender Site, where she is in charge of overseeing the strategic growth, profitability and development of the business. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Moi University and a Masters degree in Population Studies from the University of Nairobi. She has extensive experience in the NGO sector and in particular, women economic empowerment, policy advocacy and lobbying.
Read more