Liina Mutilifa, a passion driven eco-preneur on a mission to turn Namibia’s waste into practical new products

November 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Liina Mutilifa, founder of Green Earth Creations (Namibia) — **Liina Mutilifa**, founder of Green Earth Creations (Namibia)

The world is waking up to the need to be more environmentally conscious, but more needs to be done to tackle the problem of plastic and other waste. In Namibia, one entrepreneur, Liina Mutilifa, founder of Green Earth Creations, is playing her part by recycling plastic into desirable objects that consumers want and need.

Listen, Learn, Succeed

November 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho, PhD

If you notice more during your conversation you will listen more perceptively. When you listen better, you learn more. Learn more, succeed faster. Stop planning what you're going to say next, and focus on what the other person is actually saying right now.

Entrepreneur Advice from Benji Coetzee: Need help? Then ask

November 29, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Benji Coetzee, founder of EmptyTrips (South Africa) — **Benji Coetzee,** founder of EmptyTrips (South Africa)

Need help? Ask...

"Don't be scared to ask. You will be surprised how willing people are to help, when you humble yourself."

Benji Coetzee, founder of EmptyTrips (South Africa)

My ABC of business: What is your relationship with money?

November 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

There is a saying that goes, “Every time you buy a product from a small business, someone literally does a happy dance!” This is certainly very true. Throughout my life I have had an interesting relationship with money. Like some of you, I’ve never had a time when I’ve ever had enough. I grew up in a fairly modest home, and I remember my mother all too often used the term: “Money doesn’t grow on trees!”

Keshni Morar, a South African entrepreneur looking to bring a little style into busy women’s lives

November 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Keshni Morar, founder of Styld (South Africa) — **Keshni Morar**, founder of Styld (South Africa)

How often do you hear busy women, at home and at work, complaining about the fact they have so little time to look after their wardrobe and their image? Well in South Africa, help is at hand from a new personalised, online styling services called Styld, created by entrepreneur Keshni Morar.

100 Lionesses: ZAAF set to open new store in Washington DC on 1 December

November 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Award-winning Ethiopian accessory brand, ZAAF, founded by Abai Schulze, has recently announced the exciting news of its planned opening of its new store in Washington DC in the US.

Reclaim Your Money Power: Learn to Eliminate the Top 3 Mistakes that Keep Most Women Entrepreneurs Broke and Exhausted by Denise Duffield-Thomas

November 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, burned-out, or stressed out about your business and income, then Reclaim Your Money Power, the latest book by Denise Duffield-Thomas is for you. In it, Denise walks you through the three key money mistakes that SO many women in business make, that keep them stuck and broke — or that force them to quit their businesses altogether. And that sucks. Because it’s so avoidable.

Cynthia Botshelo Mothelesi, an entrepreneur sharing Botswana’s unique travel adventure story with her customers

November 25, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Cynthia Botshelo Mothelesi, founder of Happy Soul Adventures (Botswana) — **Cynthia Botshelo Mothelesi**, founder of Happy Soul Adventures (Botswana)

For many travellers, their experience of a country is limited to what the guidebook and their travel operator sets out for them. But for entrepreneur Cynthia Botshelo Mothelesi, founder of specialist travel adventure company Happy Soul Adventures, her wish is to create uniquely memorable and special experiences for visitors to her country.

What does success mean to you?

November 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Marjón Meyer

Reflecting on the past year, when I think about success, it takes on different forms in my mind. My own definition of success has changed significantly over time. People assign different meanings to success. It could be a certain qualification, a position on the organogram, good education for your children, visiting beautiful places in the world, owning a house at a specific address, a luxury vehicle….. Although these could make you feel rather proud, these alone don’t necessary bring a feeling of achievement or accomplishment.

My life’s work

November 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

In the four and a half years I have been running Roka Roko I have been rejected just about a million times. Each time there was a reason why of course. A reason I couldn’t understand but reviewed deeply to better myself. At each of these times when I tried again and again after each rejection, I would feel like I am insane really. Why am I trying again? There is a saying that goes, doing the same thing expecting different results is stupidity; and some times I have felt stupid.

Defeat your fears and reach new heights

November 24, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech

There’s a saying that has always really resonated with me: “In life, we regret more the things we didn’t do, than the things we did.” I know these words to be true and I am sure that you’ve experienced the very same thing at least once in your life to date. If we are all honest with ourselves, we know that the reason why we don’t actively pursue the things we want. Is because of some or other form of fear. We are afraid of failure. We are afraid of what others may think or say about what we are doing. Worst of all, there’s always a small part of us that is afraid of actual success and of truly owning our greatness.

Entrepreneur Advice from Hanneli Rupert: Trust your gut!

November 23, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Hanneli Rupert, founder of Merchants on Long — **Hanneli Rupert,** founder of Merchants on Long

You need to have the confidence to trust your gut....

"Soak up as much advice as possible from as many people as possible - but trust your gut at the end of the day"

Hanneli Rupert, founder of Okapi (South Africa)

Namibia’s women entrepreneurs connect for greater business success at the first Lioness Lean In event in Windhoek

November 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Namibia’s women entrepreneurs looking to take their businesses to the next level gathered in Windhoek on the morning of Tuesday 20th November for the first Lioness Lean In event in the country. The much-anticipated event was hosted by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Nedbank Namibia - and it lived up to its promise of being a morning of inspiration and great business networking.

Entrepreneur Advice from Akosua Afriyie-Kumi: Begin NOW!

November 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, Ghana — **Akosua Afriyie-Kumi,** founder of AAKS, Ghana

Begin NOW!…

"It is really easy to get wrapped up in the planning of your business but sometimes you have to know what you want and just go for it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin now!"

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS (Ghana)

Success: you or the universe?

November 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

Every now and then I come across someone who has a burning desire to write a book. Whether it’s to see their name in print, or to achieve some kind of status that goes along with being a published author, it’s a serious bucket list item for many. This always takes me back to my own situation and how I fell into the world of writing books. I use the word “fell”, because it was never a burning desire of mine to write a book. Although I had written a fair amount of material in my professional career, I had never considered the idea that I might be an author at some point. I had not even studied languages at university.

Own your Story… about time!

November 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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

What is the story you tell yourself? But a more interesting question is what is the story you tell yourself about time? Your story is made up of your beliefs and the vocabulary you use to tell that story.

Iriya Jona, an innovative entrepreneur in Namibia using seaweed to produce commercial chicken feed products

November 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Iriya Jona, founder of Nam-Oceanic Kelp Production Enterprise (Namibia) — **Iriya Jona**, founder of Nam-Oceanic Kelp Production Enterprise (Namibia)

Many people walking on the beautiful beaches along the Namibian coastline see large amounts of seaweed washed up every day and don’t pay any attention to it. However, entrepreneur Iriya Jona, founder of Nam-Oceanic Kelp Production Enterprise, sees business potential in this natural product and has developed an innovative new business that turns this seaweed into affordable, highly nutritious chicken feed products.

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.