When is the right time to involve your kids in your business?... Today was the first official day of ‘work’, for my two daughters, both aged under 12. I gave them instructions to the tasks that I needed done, which were mostly the cleaning of tuna cans for our Toona Can product. After I explained the task I went over to my desk and attended to some emails. After a while I heard some bickering between the two of them. They were struggling to divide the work and defining roles. I heard the eldest, Chelsea, (in a highly irritated voice) say: “It’s impossible to work with you Kirsten!” And she walked off! I had to chuckle!
Read moreQuote of the Day by Laura Camacho
Dr Laura Camacho, founder of Mixonian Institute
“Whenever you’re feeling like you don’t belong, know you are in precisely the right place at the right time and there’s an opportunity just waiting for you.”
Dr Laura Camacho, founder of Mixonian Institute
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Top advice
Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)
Monica's top advice....
“Have a vision and passion. Be courageous, focused and disciplined. Lastly, persist… it’s definitely not easy.”
- Monica Musonda 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. Read Monica's 100 Lionesses profile here.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Magda Wierzycka
Magda Wierzycka, Chief Executive Officer, Sygnia Asset Management (South Africa)
"It’s a fact that women need to work a lot harder than men to be recognized. I have met a lot of women who complain about that, but you need to recognize the fact, embrace it and work harder to prove yourself.”
Magda Wierzycka, Chief Executive Officer, Sygnia Asset Management (South Africa)
Read more100 Lionesses: Flying Doctors Nigeria founder, Dr Ola Brown, honoured with Aviation Most Remarkable Medical Personality Award
Flying Doctors Nigeria Founder, Dr Ola Brown and Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury after Brown received the Aviation Most Remarkable Medical Personality Award from NIGAV in Lagos.
In recognition of Flying Doctors Nigeria’s role in saving lives during critical and emergency situations in sub-Sahara Africa, Dr Ola Brown, the company's founder has been bestowed with the prestigious 2017 Aviation Most Remarkable Medical Personality Award by the Nigeria Aviation Awards (NIGAV) held last month.
Read moreThe Big Thing: How to Complete Your Creative Project Even if You're a Lazy, Self-Doubting Procrastinator Like Me by Phyllis Korkki
Phyllis Korkki
In her new book, The Big Thing, New York Times business journalist Phyllis Korkki explains why it’s important for people to pursue big creative projects, and identifies both the obstacles and the productive habits that emerge on the path to completion—including her own experience writing this book.
Read moreAnnabel Biggar-David, a South African eco-warrior creating a unique holistic retail lifestyle experience
Annabel Biggar-David, founder of Organico (South Africa)
There is a growing interest on the part of consumers to find products that have been created with a gentler footprint on the planet. So it’s exciting to hear of a great holistic lifestyle store in South Africa, Organico, created by passionate social entrepreneur Annabel Biggar-David. This is a business that has environmental sustainability at its heart.
Read moreQuote of the Day by Sandra Idossou
Sandra Idossou, founder of The ServiceMag (Rwanda)
"Being an entrepreneur made me realize the enormous resources women have. Women can be good entrepreneurs, wives, mothers etc, all combined in one person."
Sandra Idossou, founder of The ServiceMag (Rwanda)
Read moreQuote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch
Margaret Hirsch, co-founder of Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
"Never listen to anybody who tells you, you can’t do it. You know you can so just get on with it.”
Margaret Hirsch, co-founder of Hirsch's Homestores (South Africa)
Read moreChoices ignite possibilities
by Nokubonga Mbanga, founder of Self Insights
Earlier this month, the world recognised International Women’s Day on 8 March, a time to reflect on progress made, to celebrate successes, and to inspire continuous improvement of women equality. It will take 217 years to close the gender parity gap according to the World Economic Forum’s global gender gap report. These figures are alarming, as they don’t seem to improve from last year’s figures (117 years in 2017).
Read moreWhy we constantly need to check our Values
by Paula Quinsee, Relationship Expert and Author
Values are our moral compass, they guide us each day in our thoughts, actions, behavior and decision making. We use our values in every area of our life such as our goals, relationships, decisions, the workplace, leadership and more. They serve as the tick boxes against which we mentally reference ourselves as to making the right decisions and choices based on the situation we are facing at that time.
Read moreBig Question of the Week: What is the Soundtrack to your Life?
by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
Cal Fussman is a New York Times bestselling author, world-renowned interviewer, podcast host, keynote speaker and corporate consultant on interviewing and storytelling. I first came across Cal on the Tim Ferriss Show podcast and recently discovered one of the most thought-provoking articles in a while and wanted to share it you.
Read moreCelebrate the unique person you are
by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
This article is to celebrate yourself as you are. Whoever you are and wherever you are, if you are alive, you are doing pretty well. It’s so tough living today, and avoiding destruction daily. We have more reasons to give up on some days; to just say aaag suka, I’m done. But there is a chemical balance God bestowed upon you that makes you keep breathing everyday and the next, and as a bonus actually excel in a few areas in life. This is my list of reasons why I am still alive and running a business in this economy.
Read moreJust enjoy the show!
by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
My husband can be quite philosophical at times. Both of us are big movie watchers, and try to always dissect a movie once done watching. We watched the Brad Pitt movie, Moneyball, recently. And I think, since we saw it the first time, my hubby has watched it at least four times again! Here are some thoughts stimulated by that experience.
Read moreMarjon Meyer, a South African HR specialist on a mission to help people become better versions of themselves
Marjon Meyer
Everyone encounters difficulties and challenges in their lives at some time or another, and often specialist help and coaching is needed to overcome those challenges. Marjon Meyer, founder of the specialist Training and HR Consulting business that carries her name, has the expertise to help others to fulfill their potential in life and business.
Read more5 guidelines for a market-friendly business name and why it’s important
by Karen Wessels, co-founder of VA Connect and co-founder of SnappSales
The launch of a new business is always exciting! You’ve probably left your corporate job, told your friends and family about your new venture, and you’re putting the finishing touches on your ideation before going public.
Read moreWhat is in your financial backpack?
by Eldari Visser, Managing Director, PicketFence.Life
Getting ready for a trip is always exciting - to pack the bags is all part of the fun. Seasoned travellers have a lot of tips on how to be a pro in getting everything in and you can find many examples of practical tips on social media. Packing for a trip to the wild is a different story.
Read moreAfrica’s digital women entrepreneurs shine in Berlin at the 2nd 'Start-up Night! Africa' event
Lionesses of Africa officially kickstarted its global women’s entrepreneur showcase event programme for the year back in our favourite European city, Berlin, on the evening of 20 March. Lionesses of Africa founder and CEO, Melanie Hawken, joined Former Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries, and other leading entrepreneurial eco-system players, to showcase and celebrate innovative digital entrepreneurs from both Germany and Africa.
Read moreCofounding The Right Way: A practical guide to successful business partnerships by Jana Nevrlka
Jana Nevrlka
What do Jobs & Wozniak, Page & Brin, Ben & Jerry all have in common? They were cofounders who built successful businesses together. In her new book, Cofounding the Right Way, author and entrepreneur Jana Nevrlka, shares her insights on how to build successful business partnerships that are a win-win for all concerned.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Lynette Hundermark - Trust in your abilities
Lynette Hundermark, co-founder & chief product officer, Useful & Beautiful (South Africa)
You need to trust in your own abilities....
"Don’t feel intimidated, trust in your abilities, follow your passion and go with it. It took me a year longer to have the courage to do what I am doing. I was afraid of failure and also looked out and only saw boys doing it. I had to take that leap of faith and go with it and trust that I could do it..."
- Lynette Hundermark is an enterprising South African techpreneur and co-founder of Useful & Beautiful, a mobile product strategy, design and development company. Lynette has a degree in Computer Science & Psychology and prior to launching on her own held various technology roles with companies such as the Naspers Group, HSBC, Citibank, and Tesco. Lynette's appetite for the mobile space while keeping abreast of the latest industry trends has established her locally as an expert tech commentator and opinion leader. She is also involved in a variety of mentorship programmes that aims to build a greater community of passionate people in the tech and mobile field. Read Lynette's startup story.
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