Entrepreneur Advice from Thokozile Mangwiro: Focus on your vision

September 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa) — **Thokozile Mangwiro**, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)

Focus on your vision....

"A start-up can be challenging to women who do not have a vision of what they are trying to accomplish. My advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to focus on their vision. Focusing on a strong vision will pull you through the emotional roller-coaster; it will pull you through the fear and doubt that will surely come. A strong vision will lead to the success of your business."

Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Tumi Moitse: Have a clear vision

January 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Tumi Moitse, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa) — **Tumi Moitse**, founder of BlakSaffron Boutique (South Africa)

Have a clear vision…

“Have a clear vision about what solutions your brand has to achieve and be clear of your target market. Learn the industry that you would like to tap into carefully, backed up with detailed market research. Align yourself with female orientated incubation programmes to build your confidence.”

- Tumi Moitse is the founder of BlakSaffron Boutique, an online flower and gifting boutique store in South Africa specialising in luxury gifting experiences. Tumi offers modern fresh and long lasting flower gift boxes, beautifully designed with love. She aims to create an effortless experience for clients looking for a statement gifting experience.

Quote of the Day by Ntsoaki Mabejane

January 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“Align yourself with people on the same mission as you and never be afraid to ask a winner how to win.”

- Ntsoaki Mabejane, founder of Botanical Wares (Lesotho)

Quote of the Day from Vere Shaba

October 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Vere Shaba, founder of the Shaba & Ramplin (South Africa) — **Vere Shaba**, founder of the Shaba & Ramplin (South Africa)

"If your 'why' for looking to start-up does not compel you, it will not compel anyone else."

- Vere Shaba is the founder and Director: Green Buildings & Certifications at Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions in South Africa. She holds a BScEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Cape Town and is a Green Star SA Accredited Professional with the Green Building Council of South Africa, a Green Star Accredited Professional with the Green Building Council of Australia and a LEED Accredited Professional with the United States Green Building Council. In 2013, she was selected as one of SA's Top 100 Women in Business in the "Top Women in Business and Government 10th Edition" publication, featuring as one of the ten Top Women in Engineering. In 2017, she was selected as one of the Inspiring Fifty women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in South Africa by the Kingdom of Netherlands and as one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for Environment.

Entrepreneur Advice from Rianke Chapman: Define your standards and your values

June 13, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Rianke Chapman, founder of Tutor For The Future (South Africa) — **Rianke Chapman**, founder of Tutor For The Future (South Africa)

Define your standards and your values....

"If you are about to start a business, it is important to define your standards and your values very early on. When challenges arise, it is important to not compromise on what you believe in and the quality of the product or service that you offer. Be consistent in your character and in the way that you do business. Have integrity and respect others. Get to know yourself better because there may be times when the only source of motivations comes from within. It is important to think positively, because the battle to overcome is first won in the mind."

- Rianke Chapman is the founder of Tutor For The Future in South Africa, a company that creates interactive learning material and runs programs to help learners strengthen the foundation of their education. Rianke's content and programs focus primarily on Maths and caters to school learners from Gr 4 to Gr 7, with programmes implemented in various needy communities and rural areas. This educational developer and entrepreneur cares for each and every learner she empowers and is passionate about ensuring a successful future for them.

Entrepreneur Advice from Marion Nixon: Have a big why

May 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Have a big why....

"You need to believe in what you are doing - have a big why - to keep you going. Learn some basic business skills, preferably before you give up the day job. Having a vision is only the start, you need a strategic plan on how to get there, otherwise too much time is lost dithering about what the next step should be. Budget for help as there will be times you need professional skills you don't have."

- Marion Nixon is a natural health practitioner with over two decades of experience caring for the well being of her clients. Marion empowers women who are struggling to do, achieve, be what they want, to reach their full potential by demonstrating to them what is possible, encouraging them to believe their dreams are possible, and giving them the confidence to take the action needed to reach their goals. Before she discovered the world of natural health her love of learning took her into the academic world, and to a Masters Degree in Religious Studies.

Entrepreneur Advice from Brenda Wilkinson: Never fail on your vision

May 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Never fail on your vision....

"Look beyond your competition and never fail on the vision you aspire to for your brand and yourself! Eventually someone will believe in you….and your product!"

- Brenda Wilkinson is the co-owner and Marketing Manager of Rio Largo Olive Estate, a multi-award winning estate, situated in the Scherpenheuwel valley between Worcester and Robertson in South Africa. The Estate comprises olive orchards, vines, an olive specific nursery and a state of the art OLIOMIO olive processing and bottling plant. Brenda is a never say no, serial entrepreneur and marketing specialist who has previously created Leisure Seekers Guide to Hotels and Lodges in Zambia, run her own school, and produced wicker and wrought iron furniture in Malawi. A natural collaborator, Brenda is also currently working with Sarah Taylor and Zikhona Tefu, two women entrepreneurs who are using olive oil to build their own beauty and skincare brands.

Entrepreneur Advice from Kelebogile Makhafola: Focus on what defines your values

May 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Kelebogile Makhafola, founder of Maruapula Brand (South Africa)

Focus on what defines your values....

"Focus. Establish a thread that defines your values, one that crosses every contact point of your value chain. Have this notion in your mind, constantly. Learn to draw significance in all you do from this 'thread'. What this thread does is define your DNA; it teaches people how to treat you and sets you apart from all others. With this focus you're able to define the journey you want to go on."

Kelebogile Makhafola is the founder of Maruapula Brand, a South African brand strategy agency. Kelebogile graduated from University of the Witwatersrand with a honours degree in Fine Arts and saw prospects in merging art with her interest in brands. She went on to complete her second honours at VEGA, school of Branding, doing her post graduate studies in Brand Leadership. She launched her own business where she now uses these platorms as tools to help develop brands in South Africa.

Quote of the Day by Christie Peacock

April 20, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr Christie Peacock, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd — **Dr Christie Peacock**, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd

“People have to believe in you, and believe that you’re true to the vision. So you have to do that in the way that you live and work, and your actions must match your words.”

- Dr Christie Peacock is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd, a social enterprise in Kenya offering quality livestock services through a network of branded franchises. Christie is an animal scientist and former Chief Executive of FARM-Africa. She has worked in agricultural development in Africa and South East Asia for over 30 years. She is a founding member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Agriculture and Food for Development and is a member of the Guardian newspaper’s Global Development website Advisory Panel. Christie was awarded a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Reading and selected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2011.

Entrepreneur Advice from Olukemi Omotayo Asalu: Chase the vision, not the money

February 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Olukemi Omotayo Asalu, founder of Daolus Organic Products (South Africa) — **Olukemi Omotayo Asalu,** founder of Daolus Organic Products (South Africa)

Chase the vision, not the money....

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure so chase the vision, not the money: the money will end up following you. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

- Olukemi Omotayo Asalu is the founder of Daolus Organic Products in South Africa, a company specializing in the wholesale and supply of high quality, unrefined, raw organic natural products for the production of natural skin and hair care products. Kemi is passionate about sharing the benefits of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, and Africa Black Soap with the world in a way that would benefit everyone, especially the women who harvest and produce the products. She is also deeply passionate about ethics and rights and all her products adhere to Fair Trade values and principles.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sofia Dias Cassimo: You don't need a business background to be a great enterpreneur

November 17, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Sofia Dias Cassimo, founder of Samsara Development and Investment & Sublime Special Events & Catering (Mozambique) — **Sofia Dias Cassimo**, founder of Samsara Development and Investment & Sublime Special Events & Catering (Mozambique)

You don't need a business background to be a great entrepreneur....

"Create a vision, hold that thought, breathe, and walk your business. That's the differential you will be bringing to the market. And, also believe in you, use your resources wisely, and don't stress about what you don't know. You dont need a business background to be a great entrepreneur. A great past doesn't make a great future!"

- Sofia Dias Cassimo is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Samsara Development and Investment and Sublime Special Events & Catering in Mozambique. Sofia, who has a medical degree, turned entrepreneur following a stint working for an NGO, when she followed her passion for food, catering and hosting, starting up Sublime Special Events & Catering. She also followed her passion for developing programs that help neglected people and communities, starting Samsara Development and Investment, a social enterprise that creates programs for empowering women to become changemakers in rural communities.

Entrepreneur Advice from Raheel Muhammad: Be true to your vision everyday

November 16, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Raheel Muhammad, founder of Excolo (South Africa) — **Raheel Muhammad**, founder of Excolo (South Africa)

Be true to your vision everyday....

"I love this quote by Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos: "Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you." as it is the must-have character trait of all successful entrepreneurs. My advice to my fellow entrepreneurs is: Be true to your vision everyday and let it resonate passionately through your company culture and client commitment... the money will come!"

- Raheel Muhammad is the founder of Excolo in South Africa, a company that provides business improvement services to entrepreneurs in the SMME sector. With more than two decades’ experience in FMCG management and almost a decade’s specialist Business Design and Development insight, Raheel is focused on delivering business process optimisation guidance to SMEs, single and multi-business units and franchises.

Entrepreneur Advice from Heather Cresswel: Have a vision that you can hold onto

September 6, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Heather Cresswell (L) & Savannah Sefor (R), founders of Firebrand (South Africa) — **Heather Cresswell (L) & Savannah Sefor (R),** founders of Firebrand (South Africa)

Have a vision that you can hold onto....

"Find a friend who loves and supports you on your worst days and who believes in you when you doubt. Surround yourself with good people. Most importantly, I think it’s essential to have a vision that you can hold onto and focus on during those challenging days."

- Heather Cresswell is the co-founder of Firebrand in South Africa, a consulting company that creates strategic, bespoke organisational transformation programmes for its corporate clients. Heather is a qualified Facilitator and Coach in the Thinking Environment, and has spent the past 20 years working in the field of personal, team and leadership development. As a successful entrepreneur she knows the challenges faced by leaders and teams in business during these uncertain times. She’s passionate about what it takes to create workable relationships and believes your relationship to yourself, others and life largely determines your level of joy, fulfillment and happiness.

Entrepreneur Advice from Thokozile Mangwiro - Focusing on a strong vision will pull you through the emotional roller-coaster

August 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

You need to focus on a strong vision....

"A start-up can be challenging to women who do not have a vision of what they are trying to accomplish. My advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to focus on their vision. Focusing on a strong vision will pull you through the emotional roller-coaster; it will pull you through the fear and doubt that will surely come. A strong vision will lead to the success of your business."

- Thokozile Mangwiro is the founder of Nyla Naturals a South African company that is focused on manufacturing personal hair and skin care products. Their 100% natural cosmetic products use a fusion of natural ingredients with premium oils, such as the Southern African indigenous Marula oil for skin and hair nourishment. Thokozile's mission is to produce products that are natural, nourishing, healing and that pamper hair and skin of all types.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Get people to believe in your dream

November 5, 2014 Melanie Hawken

The challenge is getting people to believe in your dream....

“The typical challenges that most start-ups would face would be definitely finance and getting people to believe in your dream. But being able to articulate this in a business plan is one of the ways you can overcome that challenge.”

- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.