Own your meetings

December 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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

I have interviewed people across many industries, levels, companies, entrepreneurs – and the number one time waster that comes up again and again is meetings. David Grady, has coined the phrase MAS – this is a new epidemic sweeping the working world today. It stands for Mindless Acceptance Syndrome. In other words, as soon as we receive a meeting invite, we accept it without questioning our role in it or the purpose of the meeting. So his solution to MAS is…NO MAS.

Sima Mlangeni, an entrepreneur based in Namibia using her passion for the hygiene industry as the inspiration for her business

December 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sima Mlangeni, founder of Biocol Hygiene (Namibia) — **Sima Mlangeni**, founder of Biocol Hygiene (Namibia)

Often, business success comes by finding the right market opportunities and then creating the products and services to meet the needs of those markets. For entrepreneur Sima Mlangeni, founder of Biocol Hygiene, she identified a niche market opportunity in Namibia that would harness her expertise and experience in the specialist hygiene industry.

Cote d’Ivoire’s women entrepreneurs share, inspire and connect at the second Lioness Lean In event in the country

December 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Cote d’Ivoire’s women entrepreneurs who are looking to take their businesses to the next level gathered in the city of Abidjan on the morning of Thursday 29th November for the second Lioness Lean In event in the country. The much-anticipated event was again hosted by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Ambassade du Royaume des Pays-Bas. It promised to be a morning of inspiration and great business networking, and it lived up to that promise.

Amanda Simango, a creative graphic designer in Zimbabwe building a business that is driven by a love for her work

December 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Amanda Simango, founder of Amy Designs (Zimbabwe) — **Amanda Simango**, founder of Amy Designs (Zimbabwe)

For any company or organisation, building and maintaining a strong brand in the marketplace is key to success, and to achieve that goal relies on the support of great design and brand appeal. In Zimbabwe, Amanda Simango, founder of Amy Designs, is bringing a wealth of creativity and a portfolio of design expertise to help any client get noticed.

Paulina Alfeus, an entrepreneur finding an innovative use for old recycled oil drums in Namibia

December 3, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Paulina Alfeus, founder of Power Six Investment (Namibia) — **Paulina Alfeus**, founder of Power Six Investment (Namibia)

Most people look at old discarded oil drums and other scrap metals and just see junk. But for entrepreneur Paulina Alfeus, founder of Power Six Investment, she sees endless possibilities. Her business finds its inspiration in turning trash into treasure, creating innovative and desirable furniture from recycled scrap oil drums.

Mo Abudu awarded honorary doctorate in London

December 2, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Mo Abudu, founder and CEO of EbonyLife Media in Nigeria, has been recognized for outstanding services to broadcasting and enterprise, by the University of Westminster in London. She was presented with an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs gather for the country’s final Lioness Lean In event of the year in Maputo

December 2, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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What a year, and what a final gathering in Maputo, as around 100 women entrepreneurs got together for the last Lioness Lean In event in the country for 2018. On a blustery, rather chilly morning outside, the atmosphere was much warmer and more inspirational inside the Standard Bank Incubadora, once again the host venue for the event.

Empowering youth through mentorship

December 2, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu

I was massaging my mother’s feet when I was about 9 years old when she asked me, “Phindile, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I answered so enthusiastically, “I want to be a social worker.” She then gave me this disapproving frown and repeated “A social worker?” in a tone to check if I was sure about my answer. I gave it a thought and quickly changed my mind and with the same enthusiasm I said, “Okay, a doctor!”

Work Party - How to create and cultivate the career of your dreams by Jaclyn Johnson

December 2, 2018 Melanie Hawken

First, we leaned in. Now we stand up. Jaclyn Johnson, the founder and CEO behind Create & Cultivate, the fastest growing online platform and conference for millennial women in business, has published her new book Work Party which offers a rallying cry for a new generation of women who are redefining the meaning of work on their own terms.

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.