Sandra Mwiihangele, a multi award-winning manufacturer in Namibia harnessing the power of innovation in cosmetic chemistry

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sandra Mwiihangele, founder of Kiyomisandz Beauty Products (Namibia) — **Sandra Mwiihangele**, founder of Kiyomisandz Beauty Products (Namibia)

Successful businesses start with a great product concept and a great vision, and for entrepreneur Sandra Mwiihangele, founder of Kiyomisandz Beauty Products, both these factors were in place from day one. Today, this innovative entrepreneur is building a successful business built on solid values, great technical expertise, and an understanding of what customers want and need.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Swaady Martin announces the launch of the Tounché, Global Consciousness Summit in South Africa on 1 December 2018

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Swaady Martin, the entrepreneur and founder of luxury lifestyle brand YSWARA, is launching an exciting new initiative and one that is close to her heart. Following hot on the heels of two other exciting projects she has launched in 2018, her new company SHIFT WITHIN, and the publication of a collection of spiritual tales for children MALAIKA AND THE ANGEL, she is now launching Tounché, Global Consciousness Summit on Saturday 1st December 2018.

Tatiana Massangu Ilunga, an entrepreneur from Cote d’Ivoire with a passion for bringing traditional African textiles into home decor

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tatiana Massangu Ilunga, founder of Kiyana Design (Cote d’Ivoire) — **Tatiana Massangu Ilunga**, founder of Kiyana Design (Cote d’Ivoire)

Africa has a long tradition of producing the most beautiful textiles, and for entrepreneur Tatiana Massangu Ilunga, founder of Kiyana Design in Cote d’Ivoire, that design tradition was the inspiration for her business. Today, she is producing a range of home decor items that celebrate the best of African textile design.

Lesotho’s women entrepreneurs showcase their strong business building spirit

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

On a beautiful and warm morning in Maseru, Lesotho on Friday 16th November, 60 leading women entrepreneurs gathered together at the Avani Hotel and Leisure Resort for a morning of inspiration and business networking at the final Lioness Lean in event of the year in the country. And what a morning it was! Co-hosted by Lionesses of Africa and Standard Lesotho Bank, the event aimed to inspire and connect women entrepreneurs from Maseru for greater business success.

Hands off my Sundays

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I don’t work on Sundays. No wait, I don’t do anything on Sundays! And this seems to boggle a lot of minds. People have numerous reasons why I should see them on Sunday. It’s fascinating. I have thus far taught my body to refuse all when I wake, I can literally spend the entire day (10 hours) in bed reading, eating and watching things on the laptop. Lazy right? Yep, yep, yep. But I have my reasons - give me a chance to explain.

Follow Her Lead by Claudette Nahum & Nangula Shejavali

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Namibia has no shortage of dynamic women with the ability, brains and willpower to bring about positive change to their organizations, their communities, and the world. Yet, when we question why women remain underrepresented in positions of leadership, a common and untrue response is, “We can’t find ‘good’ women.” In their new book, Follow Her Lead, authors and entrepreneurs Claudette Nahum & Nangula Shejavali, look to set the story straight.

Recruiting and Retaining a Winning Team

November 17, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant at Shiluvah

What are the key driving forces behind your business? Is it your product? Your service offering? Is it your price offering on your product or services? NO! What drives your business and the real success behind your organization is your TEAM. Therefore, if you want a growing and successful business, a business that is profitable and thriving, it is crucial that you have the right team driving your business. So, how do you go about recruiting and retaining a winning team?

Quote of the Day by Mariéme Jamme

November 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Coding is a 21st century skill and every young girl growing up today in our society should have access to it."

Mariéme Jamme, founder of iamtheCODE (Senegal/UK)

Cindy Maleombho-Codo, an entrepreneur from Cote d’Ivoire helping women-owned businesses stand out from the crowd

November 11, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Cindy Maleombho-Codo, founder of Indoka Creative (Cote d’Ivoire) — **Cindy Maleombho-Codo**, founder of Indoka Creative (Cote d’Ivoire)

In today’s highly competitive and crowded marketplaces, it can be difficult to get your business and brand noticed in Africa. But help is at hand. Cindy Maleombho-Codo, founder of Indoka Creative, knows just what it takes to get your brand and products seen, and importantly, to connect them to those all important customers.

Awards and Accolades: Lynette Hundermark, founder of Useful & Beautiful, recognized as the most inspirational Female Rolemodel in Tech

November 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Lynette Hundermark, founder of Useful & Beautiful (South Africa) — **Lynette Hundermark**, founder of Useful & Beautiful (South Africa)

This year’s Southern Africa Startup Awards have just been judged for South Africa, and the prestigious Female Rolemodel in Tech award in the country has been given to Lynette Hundermark, founder of specialist mobile solutions consultancy, Useful & Beautiful.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Professional Parts launches easy, cost effective vehicle service kits

November 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Professional Parts (Pty) Ltd opened its doors in February 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa with the aim of providing their customers with affordable genuine and quality aftermarket vehicle parts. The founder and CEO, Verena Koch has over 16 years’ experience in the automotive industry and has contributed to many OEM’s such as Volvo Car South Africa, KIA Motors SA and General Motors SA. She identified the need for a “one part number, one purchase with all the basic parts” required to service a vehicle.

The Freedom Plan by Natalie Sisson

November 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

If you have ever wondered how to Redesign Your Business To Earn More, Work Less And Be Free, then author Natalie Sisson has the answer. In The Freedom Plan book she shows you how to reclaim your time, streamline your business, and be more profitable while living your ideal lifestyle and feeling on purpose!

Laurettah Sibanda, an entrepreneur in Botswana building a successful construction and real estate development company

November 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Laurettah Sibanda, founder of Atlantis Construction Group and Developments (Botswana)

The world of building and construction is a tough one to break into, but one entrepreneur in Botswana is doing just that. Laurettah Sibanda, founder of Atlantis Construction Group and Developments (Pty) Ltd, is building a reputation for quality project delivery and a great approach to service.

Own your Memories

November 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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

At this point in the year, we are gobsmacked that it’s November and repeatedly tell ourselves how the year has flown. But when we create days that are memorable, they seem to stick longer in our mind and it feels like time slows down just a little bit.

Being the boss you have always wanted: Entrepreneurs and leadership

November 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant at Shiluvah

The decision to take on the entrepreneurial journey carries with it a number of novelties – the biggest (well at least for me) has been becoming your own boss, and hopefully at some stage somebody else’s boss. This means taking into consideration the kind of boss you want to be and more importantly, how your boss characteristics will impact the culture of the company as a whole, and how that culture will determine the health (both financial and otherwise) of your company and its people.

The trendiest thread

November 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

The world follows the US and UK for everything…literally everything. Maybe it’s because these places monopolize our media? It’s tougher to find out what is happening in Malawi than in Los Angeles. And see how far Los Angeles is compared to Malawi and to us? In fashion as well, retailers do their research in the UK and US first; then the rest of Europe. We are one season behind, so we are well set up for this follow-on game. But I can tell you that South Africans, just like Africans, have their own preferences. We take some of the trends, leave some, and make others in our own way. This is a list of what I have noticed this year making clothes for South African ladies.

Entrepreneur Advice from Christelle Kwizera: Listen to our inner voice

November 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda) — **Christelle Kwizera**, founder of Water Access Rwanda (WARwanda)

Listen to our inner voice....

"My biggest piece of advice is to listen to our inner voice and do what we think is good for us. As women we tend to hear others over ourselves, but in the end during our hard times we only have ourselves left. So make sure you are not being misguided by others or letting other people's comments reduce your self-esteem. One more thing is to surround yourself with other succesful women and to find role models without necessarily trying to fit into a masculine mould."

Christelle Kwizera, founder of Water Access Rwanda (South Africa)

South Africa’s women entrepreneurs get a high-powered start to the Lioness Lean In event in Centurion

November 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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At the final Lioness Lean In event of the year for South Africa, women entrepreneurs were given a unique opportunity to let off some steam and experience the thrill of adrenaline pumping, high-speed advanced driving, courtesy of impact partners Volkswagen. It was a great way of starting the morning’s programme with something a little different.

Mavis Nduchwa, a serial, impact driven agripreneur in Botswana empowering local farmers to be the solution to hunger and poverty

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mavis Nduchwa, founder of Chabana Farms (Botswana) — **Mavis Nduchwa**, founder of Chabana Farms (Botswana)

A growing interest from consumers in knowing where their food comes from, how it is produced, and who is producing it, inspired serial agripreneur Mavis Nduchwa, founder of Chabana Farms, to create a solution. Today, her endeavours in agribusiness are making a real difference to people and lives all along the value chain.

Michelle Smith, a South African entrepreneur creating the perfect gifting service for all occasions

November 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Smith, founder of Woven Bark Studios (South Africa) — **Michelle Smith**, founder of Woven Bark Studios (South Africa)

If you have ever struggled to find the perfect, personalized gift for your corporate clients or loved ones, then help is at hand. Michelle Smith, founder of Woven Bark Studios, is creating beautiful, thoughtfully curated gift boxes and gifting experiences that leave lasting feel-good memories. The added bonus is that each of the gift products is sourced from local artisans in South Africa, creating business opportunities that really make a difference to other entrepreneurs’ lives.

“Coding is a 21st century skill and every young girl growing up today in our society should have access to it."

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