Lien Potgieter, a South African entrepreneur helping women to harness the power of colour therapy in their lives

April 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Lien Potgieter, founder of The Colour Option (South Africa) — **Lien Potgieter**, founder of The Colour Option (South Africa)

We have all probably heard the phrase ‘put a little colour in your life’, but entrepreneur Lien Potgieter is doing just that in the practical sense with her business, The Colour Option. She has created a range of online colour therapy courses specially for women who want to live a full, authentic life in relationships, business, and creativity.

Debra Mwodza, a South African entrepreneur helping small businesses to reach their goals

April 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Debra Mwodza, founder of Quest Support Solutions (South Africa) — **Debra Mwodza**, founder of Quest Support Solutions (South Africa)

In today’s fast changing business environment, small businesses across all sectors continue to face challenges in reaching their goals. Business owners need to step up their game in order to stay relevant and ahead of their competitors - and that’s where Debra Mwodza’s Quest Support Solutions comes in.

Like She Owns the Place by Cara Alwill Leyba

April 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Like She Owns The Place is the long-awaited sequel to Girl Code, from one of the rock stars of the female empowerment movement. Cara Alwill Leyba's riveting voice and kinship with her audience drove the self-published success of Girl Code, a book that encouraged women to support each other in the business community. Now her many fans are ready to take the next step: building sustainable confidence from the ground up.

Develop your change fitness

April 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change

Any reason could motivate you to improve your physical fitness: a new year’s resolution, a personal goal, a special occasion or a health scare. You may prepare an exercise schedule, eating plan, employ a personal trainer or partner with an exercise buddy to achieve your fitness goals. Besides physical fitness is not only beneficial to your health, it improves your mood, memory, attention span and improves your overall productivity and energy to support you in your demanding role as an entrepreneur.

The power of LinkedIn and what it means for your Business

April 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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

Are you one of those people that absolutely loves social media or completely hates it? I have the privilege of mentoring a few start-ups and one of the most common blockers we talk about is how to find new clients. Now it’s going to be quite a challenge if you despise social media in light of what follows. However, if you’re a newbie business owner, you’re just starting out with a rather shall we say “tight” marketing budget, then social media is your friend.

Understanding the virtues of custom made or bulk retail

April 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

What is custom make/made? Some people call it bespoke, private clients, exclusivity, etc. I have been doing custom make since the business started; I did not choose this approach, it just kind of happened. I decided I wanted to make clothes and the flow into custom make came about just because the orders per client I received at the time, required a specific, detailed and more personal approach - a custom make service. But I am currently also, some of my family and friends would say ‘finally’, in the process of including retail in the business model. People think it is a process of just deciding to multiply a certain style by a bigger quantity and voila! No, it is not!

Quote of the Day by Brigette Mashile

April 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“For today, I will be happy that the business I started 4 years ago is still in existence and operating. That fact alone is a cause for celebration.”

Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Cecilia Mnisi: Don't let fear stop you

April 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Cecilia Mnisi, founder of MMJ Interpretation Services (South Africa) — **Cecilia Mnisi,** founder of MMJ Interpretation Services (South Africa)

Don't let fear stop you....

"Do not let fear stop you from achieving your dreams. Associate yourself with people who are already in the industry that you are interested in and learn from them."

- Cecilia Mnisi is the founder of MMJ Interpretation Services, a Gauteng-based Interpreting and Translation Company in South Africa. The company specializes in Interpreting, Translation, Transcriptions, Recordings and Minute taking. Cecilia graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in 2002 and is a qualified Legal Interpreter and Translator. She registered the business in 2011 and operated on a part-time basis until she resigned from her full time job in 2014 to pursue the business full-time. Cecilia has attended the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship and is accredited as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) through WE Connect International in South Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Vasie Seweramulu: Perseverance always pays off

April 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Vasie Seweramulu, co-founder of Safeguard Hygiene and Safety (South Africa) — **Vasie Seweramulu,** co-founder of Safeguard Hygiene and Safety (South Africa)

Perseverance always pays off….

“Perseverance always pays off at the end. There were many times when I thought of giving up and looking for a job, but knowing that there are countless opportunities out there, I never gave up. Always try to stay ahead of the game.”

- Vasie Seweramulu is the co-founder of Safeguard Hygiene and Safety, a South African company that manufactures and distributes household and industrial cleaning detergents, including bio enzymatic, locally produced, eco-friendly products. Vasie, a former school principal, joined forces with two of her family members and launched the business in October 2015. Their products are targeted at the retail and hospitality industries in South Africa and across the African continent. Read Vasie's startup story.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adèle Dejak: Never give up

April 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Adèle Dejak, founder of Adele Dejak (Kenya) — **Adèle Dejak,** founder of Adele Dejak (Kenya)

Never give up…

“Passion is the driving engine for anything you want to achieve in life. Even when things do not always turn out exactly as you had planned, never ever give up.”

- Adèle Dejak is the founder of Adele Dejak in Kenya, a brand that creates luxury handmade fashion jewellery and accessories for the modern, sophisticated and multidimensional woman. Inspired by African shapes, textures and traditional techniques, Adèle’s cutting-edge pieces sit perfectly between artefact and high fashion statement designs. More about Adèle.

Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, a luxury silk fabric and fashion brand builder inspired by her West African heritage

April 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Silk has long been synonymous with the notion of luxury, and for fashionpreneur Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans, this was the inspirational starting point for her business. Today, this exciting luxury fashion and fabric brand celebrates the luxurious quality of silk, creating clothing and fabric collections that bring African design to life.

Nira Sklair, a photographer entrepreneur in South Africa turning her passion into a fulfilling encore career

April 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Some people have to wait a lifetime to find their real purpose in life, one that harnesses their innate talents. For talented photographer, Nira Sklair, that time came after the age of 50 when life presented the opportunity for her to finally pursue her real passion and turn it into an encore business.

Women Who Launch by Marlene Wagman Geller

April 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Dorothy Parker observed, “It’s a man’s world”, yet the women entrepreneurs and game-changers profiled in Marlene Wagman Geller’s book, Women Who Launch would beg to differ. This collection of inspirational stories and biographies of game-changing women is a testimony to women empowerment in the world.

About that 'L' word!

April 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser, Managing Director, Picketfence.Life

As part of a tribe of amazing Lionesses I know you will love this story which fits in perfect with many common journeys we share. When we embark on an exciting journey through the jungle or the bush we start off with excitement, anticipation, happiness and all those emotions that sends endorphins to our body. We also start with a good dose of fear.

Own Your Tribe

April 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

Tim Ferriss, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, shares the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure book — a compilation of tools, tactics, and habits from 130+ of the world’s top performers. From iconic entrepreneurs to elite athletes, from artists to billionaire investors, their short profiles can help you answer life’s most challenging questions, achieve extraordinary results, and transform your life.

Quote of the Day by Mignionette Fair

April 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“We always wish to be further along than we are. We wish we could be like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Michelle Obama or Thuli Madonsela. And there is nothing wrong with that, but you are running your race!”

Mignionette Fair, founder of Edita Services (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Shingai Nyagweta: Persistence pays off

April 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Shingai Nyagweta, founder of KuNa Kids — **Shingai Nyagweta**, founder of KuNa Kids

Persistence pays off....

"Keep at it. Stay on your toes, and if it isn't working in one direction, then look into doing it slightly differently."

- Shingai Nyagweta is the founder of KuNa Kids a South African children’s clothing company that embraces the uniquely local shweshwe fabrics. Shingai's children’s clothing range is bright and bold with a distinctive African twist. Read Shingai's startup story.

100 LIONESSES: Celebrating the life of a pioneering South African woman entrepreneur who revolutionized the real estate industry

April 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

This past week saw the end of an era in South Africa as one of the country’s pioneering women entrepreneurs passed away. Pam Golding, founder and Life President of the Pam Golding Property Group, was an extraordinary example of how to beat gender stereotypes and build a global business and brand from the bottom up. She died on Tuesday at her home Wittebomen in Constantia, Cape Town. She was 89 years old.

Londeka Mlawuza, a South African entrepreneur on a mission to declutter and help clients’ organize their lives

April 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

How many of us struggle on a daily basis to organize their lives and businesses efficiently, removing the extraneous clutter that holds us back from achieving goals and full potential? Well, help is at hand from entrepreneur Londeka Mlawuza, founder of LV & Co, the organizing specialists.

Vasie Sewramulu, a South African entrepreneur building an eco-friendly detergent manufacturing business

April 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Realizing that the South African consumer is far more educated in the field of enzyme, bacterial and green cleaning products than just a few years ago, entrepreneur Vasie Seweramulu and two of her fellow women entrepreneurs, created Safeguard Hygiene and Safety.