Essential Read: 'The To-Be List' by Latesha Randall

January 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

We live in a busy, fast paced world where we can easily place a higher priority on achieving goals than on enjoying each day, Because of this, it can sometimes seem as if we are more like human doings, than human beings. In her new book, The To-Be List, author Latesha Randall, shows us there is another way.

18 Women authors from Africa inspire on business and entrepreneurship

January 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Over the past year, as part of our regular weekly Essential Reads feature on Lionesses of Africa, we have been showcasing the books published by Africa’s leading women authors on the subject of business and entrepreneurship. Here are 18 of our favourite books featured and which are well worth another read going into 2018. Prepare to be inspired!

5 Top Tips for Selling More – Even If You Suck at Sales Right Now

January 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Julia Pimsleur, author, speaker and coach, and the founder of Little Pim

Many of us do not love selling, and may even avoid getting better at it, even though we also know it’s one of the most important – if not THE most important – keys to growing our companies. Very few businesses making under $1M in revenues can afford a senior sales team so for now anyway, you ARE the rainmaker. Whether you can find and close deals really, really matters.

Change management is everyone’s business

January 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

By Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change

Imagine a sail boat, destined for a beautiful destination, equipped with state of the art navigation equipment, sleek design and immaculate engineering but never opening its sails to harness the energy of the wind. The scenario seems irrational. Why would an experienced Skipper embark on a remarkable journey without utilizing his most valuable resources?

Quote of the Day by Nondumiso Pikashe

January 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“I want to change the stereotype that indigenous brands don't work in the wine industry.”

- Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Nicola Bokaba: Find an empathetic mentor

January 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Nicola Bokaba, founder of Earthy Cook (South Africa) — **Nicola Bokaba**, founder of Earthy Cook (South Africa)

Find an empathetic mentor…

“One of the most invaluable things to have is a knowledgeable, empathetic mentor who pushes you beyond your comfort zone… Almost every successful entrepreneur I’ve heard of has recounted experiences of rejection and even ridicule on their journey. A great mentor can act as a buffer during those and other challenging times.”

- Nicola Bokaba is the founder of Earthy Cook in South Africa, a company that makes hand-made, personalized and customer branded products for the home kitchen and the hospitality industry. She currently employs 4 people and plans to work with a local college to bring in qualifying students to help meet her expansion plans in exchange for work opportunities.

Quote of the Day by Ngwana Matloa

January 11, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Ngwana Matloa, co-founder of ABOT Technology (South Africa)

“There’s no need to stab others in the back. Our journeys are different, even if you are in the same industry as millions of other women.”

- Ngwana Matloa is the co-founder of ABOT Technology (South Africa)

Quote of the Day from Cristina Margarida Rocha

January 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Start small, dream big, do it with passion and be resilient.”

- Cristina Margarida Rocha, founder of Daisy Social (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Dené Carlile: Build a solid foundation

January 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dené Carlile, founder of BluMallow Social & Design (South Africa) — **Dené Carlile**, founder of BluMallow Social & Design (South Africa)

Set up your foundation!…

“Do your research and do it well. Planning is so important. Take the time to give your business the best possible chance of success. Don't be afraid to ask questions, learn how to network, read articles, listen to podcasts, work late hours building up those first customers and give them a great experience! Without a solid foundation, you will simply be blown over.”

- Dené Carlile is the founder of BluMallow Social & Design in South Africa, a company providing social media management, marketing, advertising and design to companies of all sizes at affordable rates. Dené has over 7 years experience in Graphic design and Social Media Management and has worked for clients ranging from SMEs right up to Multi-national Corporates, and has been awarded several Service Excellence awards.

Quote of the Day by Monica Musonda

January 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and CEO of Java Foods, Zambia — **Monica Musonda**, founder and CEO of Java Foods, Zambia

“Have a vision and passion. Be courageous, focused and disciplined. Lastly, persist… it’s definitely not easy.”

- 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.

Quote of the Day by Ntsoaki Mabejane

January 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Align yourself with people on the same mission as you and never be afraid to ask a winner how to win.”

- Ntsoaki Mabejane, founder of Botanical Wares (Lesotho)

Entrepreneur Advice from Sihle Hlophe: Go for it!

January 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sihle Hlophe is the founder of Passion Seed Communications in South Africa — **Sihle Hlophe** is the founder of Passion Seed Communications in South Africa

Go for it!…

“Do your research and just take the plunge. Believe in yourself and others will do the same. You are enough. Be diligent with your finances. Don’t be intimidated by the sales process. Don't allow anything or anyone to dim your light. Shine! Read about the journeys of other female entrepreneurs and draw strength and inspiration from them. Life is too short to turn your back on your dreams. Gratitude is the key to true happiness. Most importantly, as we always say at Passion Seed Communications, do it with passion or not at all.”

- Sihle Hlophe is the founder of Passion Seed Communications in South Africa, a film and television production company that is geared towards giving a platform to minority languages and minority groups. Sihle produces fiction and non-fiction content for theatrical release, live event coverage and corporate videos. Passion Seed has been commissioned by organizations such as the National Film & Video Foundation, the Foundation For Human Rights, SAB Miller, the Hot Docs Blue Ice Group Fund, and the New York Times.

Entrepreneur Advice from Que Lebatha: Build your brand

January 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Que Lebatha, founder of Que Lebatha Consulting (South Africa) — **Que Lebatha**, founder of Que Lebatha Consulting (South Africa)

Build your brand…

“… it’s very important to believe in what you have to offer in the world, and then to wear that on your sleeve and completely be about that thing. This means ensuring things like having a professional email address (Google Business, for example), a business card, cleaning up your LinkedIn profile, and setting up a website - these are all simple steps that tell the world that you are taking yourself seriously. Once that happens, any business you start from there already has a solid foundation on which to stand.”

- Que Lebatha is the founder of Que Lebatha Consulting in South Africa, an integrated Marketing Communications agency that provides companies with Public Relations, Social Media and Event Management services. Que specializes in strategy development and implementation in the marketing communication field. She has worked on a number of campaigns with brands such as Montecasino, Tsogo Sun, Absa, Tsheto Leadership and Coaching Academy and Three Ring Circus.

Essential Read: Live Your Best Day Ever - Thirty-Five Strategies For Daily Success by Anne-Marie Faiola

January 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Success is something everyone wants, yet it often feels elusive. How do you get it? And once you get it, how do you stay at the top? Anne-Marie Faiola’s new book, Live Your Best Day Ever, is a practical guide for achieving what you want in life―and doing it in a way that doesn’t burn you out, break your integrity, or steal from your personal and family time.

Bandile Mooka, a Botswana entrepreneur turning her passion for floral decor and art into a business

January 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Bandile Mooka, founder of Niyacraft (Botswana) — **Bandile Mooka**, founder of Niyacraft (Botswana)

Many busineses start out as a result of a passion or a personal interest. In the case of Botswana entrepreneur Bandile Mooka, founder of specialist events solution and decor business, Niyacraft, that passion stemmed from the world of art and design.

Entrepreneur Advice from Bev Missing - Stay authentic and true to your brand

January 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Bev Missing, founder of RAIN (South Africa) — **Bev Missing**, founder of RAIN (South Africa)

You need to stay authentic....

"The challenge as a business is to stay authentic and true to your brand. How do we achieve this? By having formalized mission statements, clear vision and company ethos and by revisiting our values each time we make critical direction altering decisions."

- Bev Missing is the founder of South African body and bath product brand RAIN. Back in 1999 Bev saw a gap in the market to start making soap as it was labour intensive and all the lovely soap at that stage were imported. Bev started the project in her garage hoping to help solve unemployment in her hometown of Ladybrand, and to make a difference in the lives of the poor and jobless. Today, RAIN has eight stores across South Africa, two unique wellness spa's, and two stores in New York. Bev has recently signed two huge contracts to open a further 70 Rain stores in the USA and Canada and then 40 in the UK and Ireland.

Quote of the Day by Dr Ola Orekunrin

January 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Ola Orekunrin, medical doctor, founder & managing director of Flying Doctors Nigeria

“I believe that the solutions to development in Africa lie in the minds of Africans. Particularly African entrepreneurs. An important part of Africa’s future lies in our ability to take Western ideas and adapt them to Africa.”

- Dr. Ola Orekunrin founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria

Beatha Shitemba, a Namibian entrepreneur who is brightening up children’s nurseries across Namibia

January 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Beatha Shitemba, founder of Nels Babies (Namibia) — **Beatha Shitemba**, founder of Nels Babies (Namibia)

Any design conscious parent in Africa knows how difficult it can be to find great, high quality children’s decor items for the nursery. But in Namibia, entrepreneur Beatha Shitemba, founder of Nels Babies, has the solution.

Nkatha Gitonga, a Kenyan entrepreneur curating chic jewellery through a unique storytelling marketplace

January 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Everyone loves a good story, and for today’s conscious consumers, getting to know more about the backstory of the brands and products they buy is increasingly important. Nkatha Gitonga, a Kenyan entrepreneur and founder of Yakutti, is using the power of storytelling to advance the identity of African design.

Here's Your Successful Sales Action Plan For The New Year

January 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

By Karen Wessels, co-founder of SnappSales and VA Connect

What do you want to achieve in business in 2018? I know that typically when we start the New Year we think of New Year’s resolutions and more than likely these resolutions fizzle out by the 10th of January. So just how effective are these New Year’s resolutions really?