the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Sofia Cassimo, founder of SamSara Development and Investment
- Sofia Cassimo, founder of SamSara Development and Investment (Mozambique)
Read more
Fear nothing....
- Sibongile Sambo is a pioneering woman of South African aviation. She is founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRS Aviation Ltd., the first 100 percent black, female-owned aviation services company in South Africa. Launched in 2004, SRS is an integrated provider of private aviation services offering South African and international clients professional and personalized flight options including VIP Charter, tourist charter and helicopter services, to destinations around the world. Today, the company also provides maintenance, sales and fleet management services to private jet owners. Read Sibongile's full LoA profile here.
Read more
Lunice Johnston, founder of Lunice Johnston Communications (South Africa)
- Lunice Johnston, founder of Lunice Johnston Communications (South Africa)
Read more
Brenda Katwesigye, founder of Wazi Vision (Uganda)
Keep it simple and build teams....
- Brenda Katwesigye is the founder of Wazi Visionin Uganda, A mobile app that uses virtual reality technology to perform visual acuity tests. Brenda's mission is to bring quality eye care closer to communities, providing better and more affordable eye care for every school going child between the ages of 6-18 years. She holds a BSc Telecommunications Engineering (Hons) from Makerere University, is an ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditory, Information Security and Audit member, and has a post graduate qualification from Virginia Commonwealth University in Business and Entrepreneurship.
Read more
Lioness Lean In Event, Johannesburg, 9 March 2018
The much-awaited first Lioness Lean In event of 2018 took place on 9 March in Johannesburg, South Africa in a new, centrally located venue in the city - Open in Sandton, a great new co-working and event space for entrepreneurs. The sun came out and the rain stopped for the occasion, bringing over 100 women entrepreneurs from across the city to the event to network and be inspired.
Read more
South Africa has a rich traditional heritage and one that is celebrated through dress and costumes that tell a unique story. Today, entrepreneur Nomafu Mdlambuzi is carrying on the family business and her mother’s original vision, creating beautiful traditional wear for her customers through her company, Ezakwantu Sewing Co-op.
Read more
Emma Holmes
Beyond Ordinary – who wants to be ordinary anyway? Author Emma Holmes’ new book, Beyond Ordinary, is for those people who have decided that they are happy to defy ordinary when it comes to building a business.
Read more
Patricia Majule, founder of Unique Favors TZ (Tanzania)
Trying to find the right company to create a gifting and party favour experience can be a real challenge, but in Tanzania, one woman manufacturer is providing a solution. Patricia Majule, founder of Unique Favors TZ, is creating a range of gifting and party favour products that are made locally at a great price.
Read more
Natasha Sideris, founder of Tashas (South Africa)
Phanice Shamalla, founder of Iris Management (Kenya)
If you don't love it don't do it!...
- Phanice Shamalla is the founder of Iris Management in Kenya, a company committed to promoting a healthier community by building partnerships with health care providers, businesses, and non-profit organizations in order to motivate consumers to take actions and make healthier living choices through the annual trade expo - The Health Festival - and the Iris Health & Wellness Information website. Phanice is tapping her passion for event management and education to help families and communities change their behavior patterns and choose more healthy lifestyles.
Read moreLeading woman entrepreneur Amina Hersi has inspired many young women in Uganda to work because she has made it clear that working hard puts you up there and helps you to achieve great things. Amina is one of the most influential women in Uganda who has inspired many to work tooth and nail to achieve success. Having started from a humble beginning, Amina is now enjoying fruits of her hard work.
Read more
It's a fact, no entrepreneur likes the thought of failing in business. But here's another fact - research shows that while fear of failure is the biggest concern for all entrepreneurs, women fear it more than men. Women who are considering starting a business should not be afraid of failure, and instead see it as part of the journey and an opportunity to continue learning.
Read more
Judith Msonthi, founder of Judie Emcee (Malawi)
- Judith Msonthi, founder of Judie Emcee (Malawi)
Read more
Gayathrie Schatz, founder of The Little Bo Baby Company
Giving up is simply not an option....
- Gayathrie Schatz is founder of The Little Bo Baby Company, a South African children’s handmade toy manufacturer with a unique twist. Gayathrie's company literally brings the imagination of children to life. They take children's drawings and convert them into a 3D plush toy, creating a unique and personal toy for each child. All their toys are lovingly handmade by previously disadvantaged women in Hout Bay, South Africa. Read Gaya's startup story.
Read more
by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
People tell me they see I have made it. And I used to respond and say no, not really - I’m still working on it. They don’t believe it. They have their own measurements of success for me of course, and based on them, I have made it. Well, thank God, because if they used my measurements I would be nowhere near success. I have learned to say thank you and receive the compliments; and see them as a small reminder from God that I am doing okay and on the right track.
Read more
by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
In the world of work, we learn to equate silence with doing nothing, and doing nothing is rarely valued as an effective application of professional skill. Since silence is not widely valued, it’s not widely developed. Worse, it’s sometimes knocked out of those to whom it comes naturally. Throughout my career though, I’ve seen that what the very best trainers and coaches have in common is the ability to sit back, observe carefully, and listen intently. Whether applied to yourself or to others, the rare skill of creating and holding silence is worth developing.
Read more
by Karen Wessels, co-founder of SnappSales and VA Connect
In the old days, if we were looking for a shoe repairman or a new fridge, the first place we would turn to would be the classifieds or the yellow pages. Remember those times? Nowadays you bring the world to you by means of your mobile phone. Isn’t great how we can search for a curry restaurant, a new stove, a boating holiday, and a friend’s contact details all in one place, on one device?
Read more
Lee Chisale, founder of Belle Afrique (Malawi)
- Lee Chisale, founder of Belle Afrique (Malawi)
Read more
Nercia Celeste Mazive, executive director of Premier Human Capital Corporation (Mozambique)
Think carefully about how you evaluate your progress....
- Nercia Celeste Mazive is the founder and executive director of Premier Human Capital Corporation in Mozambique, a company focused on Talent Acquisition, Talent development and a range of Human Resource services. Nercia is passionate about helping companies and organizations thrive by providing access to a pool of talented and qualified people able to make positive contributions to growth and development. Read Nercia's startup story.
Read more
Hanneli Rupert, founder of Okapi and Merchants on Long (South Africa)
Believe in yourself....
- Hanneli Rupert is the founder and owner of 'Merchants on Long' and Okapi. This young South African entrepreneur opened her chic, African concept store, Merchants on Long, stocking ethically-produced, luxury hand-crafted, African sourced design, art and fashion products. She is one of the industry's most compelling advocates for ethical production and sourcing and has her own ethically produced, African luxury handbag line, Okapi. In 2012 Hanneli launched her first pop-up store in London-based concept store, The Shop at Bluebird.
Read more