the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Karen Wessels, co-founder of SnappSales and VA Connect
I have a love-hate relationship with networking. Sometimes it makes absolute sense to me and at other times I feel no benefit at all from networking. Reflecting on why I experienced these two extremes on an activity that really should be fun and beneficial, I was able to determine where I, and most people, go wrong with networking and how we can make it one of our top skills going forward.
Read more
by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
It was 12 September 2015, and I had hit rock bottom. I remember the day clearly. I was a visitor at a ladies church conference in Sandton, and with every speaker that took the stage I seemed to feel more and more confronted by my flaws. It was like they were speaking directly to me. These ladies were well rounded, well dressed, confident, and experts in their respective fields. It was their whole demeanour, paired with God’s message that actually gave me a wake-up call!
Read more
by Eldari Visser, Managing Director, Picketfence.Life
Ask any child of Africa what a thunderstorm over the plains smells like. Crisp, clean and the promise of life. Nature itself rejoices when rain is near. It brings joy and deep gratitude to man and beast.
Read more
Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, founder of House Of Agness (Mozambique)
- Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, founder of House Of Agness (Mozambique)
Read more
Claudia Castellanos Roques, co-founder Black Mamba (Swaziland)
Believe you can do it…
- Claudia Castellanos Roques is the co-founder of Black Mamba, a fair trade brand of gourmet chilli products from the Kingdom of Swaziland made with organically grown ingredients and no artificial flavours or preservatives. The range includes chilli sauces, pestos, and chutneys. Black Mamba partners with a local NGO called Guba that trains small farmers in organic farming. Black Mamba then buys at negotiated prices all the organic produce grown by these farmers to manufacture their products. Products are currently exported to South Africa, the UK, Germany and Australia.
Read more
by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer, Ithemba Office Solutions
We recently came up with an idea to create a ‘morning after’ survival kit, to help conference attendees recover from a team-building event the night before. So there were SUPER C sweets (to replenish the vitamins lost) and Orbit chewing gum (to help them stick with the programme) and it got me thinking that if there was an entrepreneur survival kit, what kind of things would I want in it?
Read more
J. Kelly Hoey
In Build Your Dream Network, acclaimed business columnist and networking expert J. Kelly Hoey offers a fresh new approach to mastering the timeworn skill of networking in a world where everyone is posting, liking, and friending fast and furiously, but many are failing to leverage their connections successfully.
Read more
Phindi Msomi, founder of Olwazini Consulting Services (South Africa)
Creating a working environment where employees can thrive and excel is a challenge for many companies and organisations. For South African company, Olwazini Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, founded by Phindi Msomi, this represented a key business opportunity.
Read more
by Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change
Entrepreneurs wear a variety of interchangeable hats every day. Business owner, customer service, sales, marketing and finance are only a few. Imagine if while juggling all the hats of an entrepreneur a new hat is introduced; the change agent hat.
Read more
by Lynette Hundermark, managing director of Useful & Beautiful
Never under-estimate just how fiercely personal your mobile device is. It may be hard to believe, but it’s 7 years since the explosion of the smartphone market, and with the increased availability of low cost smartphones there is now a phone in almost everyone’s hands. But…before we can start talking about any trend, as marketers we need to understand that mobile starts with an understanding of how fiercely personal this device is. It has become more of an appendage rather than a device.
Read more
Overcome your doubts…
- Tracey Gilmore is the co-founder of The Clothing Bank, a high impact social enterprise on a mission to upskill and empower unemployed people in South Africa. Her work enables other women to not only learn the craft of entrepreneurship, but also to grow in self esteem and confidence. Tracey started her career in Deloitte, PWC and SAP before moving to Woolworths in the position of Head of Finance in South Africa. She is a chartered accountant and has been widely recognized as an outstanding business leader and social entrepreneur in South Africa.
Read more
Tumi Moitse, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa)
- Tumi Moitse, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa)
Read more
by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman
I am not a great believer in New Year’s resolutions, as they generally tend to be forgotten within a week or so! But what each new year does bring us, is a time of reflection, and from a financial point of view, a desire to perhaps improve ourselves over the next twelve months.
Read more
Wezi Moyo, founder of Benequity Consultancy and Hillside Lodge (Malawi)
In Malawi, many women entrepreneurs have not just one business, but several, working on the philosophy that it is better to both spread business risk and increase the chances of success. Wezi Moyo, founder of Benequity Consultancy and Hillside Lodge, is one such woman, demonstrating that it is indeed possible to be a successful serial entrepreneur in the country.
Read more
- Tracey Gilmore, co-founder of The Clothing Bank (South Africa)
Read more
Emma Maame Efua Tandoh, founder of Love Ankara (Ghana)
Keep at it every day…
- Emma Maame Efua Tandoh is the founder of Love Ankara in Ghana, a brand that is re-defining what authentic African fabric stands for. Emma is passionate about building a footwear and accessories brand that seeks to promote authentic African prints, empower women and preserve local textile industries. Love Ankara shoes and accessories are worn by powerful, outspoken, daring and empowered women the world over.
Read more
by Nokubonga Mbanga, founder of Self Insights
Every January magazines (online and hard copies) have an article about the new year it usually reads: “New year, New You/Me”. So, naturally I am thinking about what I think this year should achieve, aka: New Year’s resolutions….
Read more
by Paula Quinsee, Relationship Expert and Author
December can either have a positive (or negative) impact on relationships but what can you do if the holiday season hasn’t gone so well on that front? Relationships are a constant challenge. No matter who you are, or who your partner is, for relationships to work, both parties need to put in some good effort to keep them going, and to keep both partners engaged, interested, and happy.
Read more
Magdalena Yesil
With empowering insights to help women entrepreneurs navigate the narrowest corridors of sexism, tech-industry pioneer Magdalena Yesil shares on-the-ground business advice that is as powerful as any MBA, in her new book Power-UP.
Read more
Sonia Paiva, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland)
Building one business is tough enough, but creating and running two successful, high impact businesses that both positively impact on society and the lives of those working in the agricultural sector is impressive. Sonia Paiva, founder of the Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Pty) Ltd is proof positive that it can be done.
Read more