Dr. Victoria Kisyombe is the founder of SELFINA, a company in Tanzania that provides micro-leasing to mostly widows and young girls. Victoria is a leader who has used innovation, initiative, and determination to empower women in Tanzania to become economically self-sufficient. Her pioneering micro-leasing model as an alternative way to financing women has generated praise beyond Tanzania, and efforts are under way to expand the model to other countries in the region. SELFINA has gone on to economically empower more than 25,000 women with a total credit worth 25 billion Tanzanian Shillings (approximately $17 million US dollars). Over 250,000 lives have been impacted through the benefits accrued and more than 125,000 jobs have been created.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tabitha Karanja: The customer is always king
Always treat your customer as king....
"For me the customer is always king. They are and always will be my number one priority. I am up at night wanting to make sure they are happy and satisfied with the products we produce for them.”
Tabitha Karanja, founder and CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Read moreLIONESS COLAB: Benji + Moon X Little Pine Tree
Continuing its collaborative approach to business, South African specialist pet accessory online store, Benji + Moon, recently undertook to bring another niche business into its curated luxury pet accessory gift boxes. This time, social entrepreneur business, Little Pine Tree, based in Johannesburg was the chosen collaborative partner.
Read moreRumbi Serima-Fowler, a Zimbabwean organic skincare entrepreneur building a global ethical beauty brand
Rumbi Serima-Fowler, founder of Mimi’s Organics Ltd (UK/Zimbabwe)
Consumers are becoming more aware and interested in the ethical production of the cosmetics and beauty products they use. And Mimi’s Organics Ltd, founded by entrepreneur Rumbi Serima-Fowler, is one company that is passionate about creating world class products that have a soft touch on the environment and on the people who use them.
Read moreSuzanne Mouelle, an entrepreneur in Cote d’Ivoire helping companies to find their market and brand niche
Suzanne Mouelle, founder of Market’In Solutions (Cote d’Ivoire)
So many businesses struggle to break through into the marketplace when they are launching new products and services. In Cote d’Ivoire, specialist help is at hand from entrepreneur Suzanne Mouelle, founder of Market’In Solutions, a division of Blessing Business Cote d’Ivoire.
Read moreEssential Read: Powerful: Building a culture of freedom and responsibility by Patty McCord
Patty McCord
When it comes to recruiting, motivating, and creating great teams, Patty McCord says most companies have it all wrong. McCord helped create the unique and high-performing culture at Netflix, where she was chief talent officer. In her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, she shares what she learned there and elsewhere in Silicon Valley.
Read moreSurprise and Delight Your Audience
by Laura Camacho
Few activities help an entrepreneur get precious visibility more than public speaking. The only thing it costs you is time. Yet who is busier than a woman entrepreneur? How can you leverage that public speaking opportunity when you have so little time to prepare? As someone who’s been helping women become more effective speakers for almost twenty years, there’s one area you can laser focus on to knock the talk out of the ballpark.
Read moreCreating and maintaining opportunities in business
by Tatenda Rungisa, Human Resources Practitioner and co-founder of Twin Connect Solutions
When a new year commences, there are many goals, resolutions and strategies that are planned by individuals as well as organizations. The respective person/s has the duty to ensure that the set goals and targets are achieved. However, it is vital to note that there are opportunities that may arise within the year that we would not have planned for. On a more interesting note, as individuals or organizations, we are also able to create our own opportunities and use them to the fullest.
Read moreWhy you should care about IP
by Seno Namwandi
The business economy revolves around what one knows, knowledge is now a commodity and therefore to trade it as a commodity, one has to be able to quantify it. Intellectual Property enables quantification of knowledge expressed in various forms. Intellectual property (IP) is the legal right granted by a government entity to creations that result from one’s intellect and/or creativity. IP enables ownership of these creations and the legalizing element of ownership therefore enables an aspect of trading.
Read moreAntoinette Stoltz, a South African entrepreneur creating unique bags that celebrate a love of interesting African fabrics
Antoinette Stoltz, founder of Bobby Yarn (South Africa)
Everyone loves a great bag, whether it’s a trendy backpack, a practical shopper, or a fabulous handbag. For Antoinette Stoltz, founder of accessories company Bobby Yarn, her design inspiration comes from African nature and culture, and her fabrics are beautifully appealing to the eye and to the discerning buyer.
Read moreDr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka’s Gorilla Conservation Coffee ranked in Top 30 Coffees list in USA
Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka (R), founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee with Melanie Hawken at the Lionesses of Africa ‘Start-up Night Africa!’ event in London 2018
Getting global public and industry acknowledgement for your products is always rewarding, and that is certainly the case for multi-award winning entrepreneur and renowned gorilla conservationist, Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka. Her new social enterprise, Gorilla Conservation Coffee, has just been awarding with a top ranking in the prestigious Coffee Review Top 30 Coffees ranking in the USA.
Read moreMeet 8 Women-Owned Companies to Inspire Africa in 2019
On 16 January 2019, London Stock Exchange Group launched the second edition of its ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ report, identifying and celebrating some of Africa’s most dynamic growth businesses. Lionesses of Africa saw eight of its most inspirational women entrepreneurs and their companies from across the African continent making it into the final publication.
Read moreLIONESS LAUNCH: AAKS showcases its new Spring/Summer19 collection at Maison et Objet in Paris
The month of January saw award-winning Ghanaian accessory brand AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, launching the company’s exciting new Spring/Summer19 Collection at the prestigious annual MaisonetObject show in Paris. Akosua also took the opportunity to showcase the company’s new impact-driven home decor line of products, including some cutting edge lighting designs, created in collaboration with UNHCR.
Read moreScale or Fail: How to Build Your Dream Team, Explode Your Growth, and Let Your Business Soar by Allison Maslan
Scaling a business is not for the faint of heart. It’s a mind-bending journey that causes millions of business owners around the globe to either throw in the towel, or avoid risk entirely and suffer from smallness and mediocrity. In her new book, Scale or Fail, author Allison Maslan provides a proven guide to scaling your business, using her revolutionary new methodology and harnessing her own personal experience in business.
Read moreFitness and the life of an entrepreneur
by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
I have cancelled my gym membership. I can hear a wave of horror and disbelief riveting through my people. I mean how dare I in this age of green healthy bodies. What am I doing? Honestly, it feels like freedom and something I have been trying to do for a long time. I have been signed up to some or other gym for the longest time all because someone said I must be part of a gym. They are right, but I do think there are other ways of achieving fitness? Other than being committed to a contract, I have failed over and over to honour.
Read moreWe are on track for our next amazing journey!
by Eldari Visser, founder of PicketFence Life
A big, big thank you! As part of a pack of courageous women in Africa I can honestly start off this year with a brand new zeal! A new destination and focus. A new road in mind. Why? Because of who and what we are. How we carry each other, the sharing of ideas, the tips, the topics of discussions, how we have enriched and supported one another and how we never leave a lioness when she is down.
Read moreAnd here we are... 2019
by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
During the holiday season, I saw a post on social media asking the question ‘What moisturizes your soul’? I really loved the idea of an exfoliation followed by an intensive moisture mask for the soul. So I want to pose that question - what moisturizes your soul? What activities bring you back to yourself and reignite that spark in you - that make you remember what you are passionate about?
Read moreLilly Alfonso, a leading light in African fashion
Source: CNN African Voices | 11 January 2019
Building a fashion brand with a unique personality, great style appeal, and a social conscience can be a tall order for many. But for the talented designer and entrepreneur, Lilly Alfonso, a leading light on the Malawian fashion and business scene, this is the nature of the business and brand she is building.
Read moreEssential Read: Superfast - Lead at Speed by Sophie Devonshire
Sophie Devonshire
In today's fast-paced world, leaders need to move at speed. The rate of innovation and change in organizations and the challenges of impatient investors or shareholders mean leadership decisions must be quick, smart and deliver real impact. Sophie Devonshire’s new book, Superfast, Lead at Speed provides cutting edge inspiration and a host of exciting ideas about how to accelerate performance in an agile and thoughtful way, shedding new light on leading in a world which is fluid and uncertain.
Read moreLionesses of Africa invited to showcase Africa’s women entrepreneurs at the Companies to Inspire Africa 2019 launch in London
On 16th January 2019, London Stock Exchange Group launched the second edition of its ‘Companies to Inspire Africa’ report, identifying and celebrating some of Africa’s most dynamic growth businesses. Lionesses of Africa Founder and CEO, Melanie Hawken, was a guest speaker at the high profile event in London, invited to showcase some of Africa’s most inspirational women-led growth businesses who were included in this year’s report.
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