Entrepreneurship and friendship

February 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Claudia Castellanos, ceo, Black Mamba Chilli

I believe most entrepreneurs agree on the fact that we could have chosen something easier to do in life (in fact I am convinced most of us are masochistic). From the sheer excitement of closing a great deal, to the doom of realizing you don’t have enough cash flow to pay salaries for your employees in a given month, being an entrepreneur is an eternal roller coaster. The levels of stress and anxiety can become intolerable some times. And those are the times when you need to be reminded that everything will be OK and that all your effort and hard work will pay off eventually.

Here are your 3 easy-to-apply sales tips for the week

February 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Karen Wessels, founder of SnappSales and VA Connect

Sales really does get such a negative reputation sometimes, and I get it - most of us have a bit of a skewed understanding when it comes to sales, so we would rather steer clear than truly harness our sales powers.

Quote of the Day from Jazeera Suwani

February 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Jazeera Suwani, founder Say it with Chocolate (Kenya) — **Jazeera Suwani**, founder Say it with Chocolate (Kenya)

Just try!...

"You won't know if it will work unless you try, and if you try then there is hope for it to work."

Jazeera Suwani, founder of Say it with Chocolate (Kenya)

Quote of the Day by Magda Wierzycka

February 18, 2019 Melanie Hawken

“If you work hard and prioritise, there is absolutely no limit to what you can achieve.”

Magda Wierzycka, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sygnia Asset Management (South Africa)

Johannesburg’s women entrepreneurs kickstart 2019 with a powerful Lean In in Sandton

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

What better way to start the year than with a great Lioness Lean In event for women entrepreneurs, and the first event in what will be an exciting programme for 2019 took place in Johannesburg on Friday 8 February. Over 100 women business builders came together to share, inspire and connect at the impact partner host venue for the event, the Volkswagen SA headquarters in Sandton.

Dieketseng Mangope, a South African wedding planner making clients’ dreams come true

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Dieketseng Mangope, founder of Grace Wedding Supplies (South Africa) — **Dieketseng Mangope**, founder of Grace Wedding Supplies (South Africa)

As everyone knows, one of the most stressful occasions can be a wedding. There are huge expectations, big dreams to fulfill, and everyone is emotional. That’s where great wedding planners and specialists come in. For one South African entrepreneur, Dieketseng Mangope, founder of By Grace Wedding Supplies, other people’s big days are where she comes to the rescue and takes all the stress away with her specialist wedding supply and event management services.

Keren Pybus, an entrepreneur with a vision to demonstrate that ethical manufacturing can be done at scale in Africa

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Ethical Apparel Africa is a company co-founded by Keren Pybus based in Ghana and Benin, working with international brands who are interested in growing a manufacturing base in Africa with a positive social and environmental impact.

100 LIONESSES: Carrol Boyes, the woman who's made business an art form

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Carrol Boyes, founder of Carrol Boyes (South Africa) — **Carrol Boyes**, founder of Carrol Boyes (South Africa)

Carrol Boyes is an iconic South African designer who has built a global brand. She founded Carrol Boyes (Pty) Ltd in 1991 combining her artistic flair and talent in sculpture with her jewellery experience to create an extensive range of distinctive homeware, giftware, flatware and table top products. Today, her company designs and manufactures a meticulously crafted product range of well over 1000 items and sells over a million items every year. Products are always imbued with Carrol's trademark artistic flair and finesse. The brand is available through her 35 branded shops in South Africa and in over 30 other countries around the world.

ESSENTIAL READ: Killing It: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart by Sheryl O’Loughlin

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In Killing It, the former CEO of Clif Bar, Co-founder of Plum, and serial entrepreneur Sheryl O’Loughlin offers insights about launching and growing a business while maintaining a fulfilled life in this practical guide filled with hard-won advice culled from the author’s own sometimes dark, raw experiences. The book contains a foreword by Steve Blank.

Dear client, you’re fired!

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Clare Appleyard, founder of Katannuta Diamonds

Often, when we start out in business, we try to be everything to everybody. If somebody asks who your ideal client is, “Everybody!” is your enthusiastic response. And then, reality sets in. You realize that not everybody is your ideal client, and that’s okay. No business, be it a large conglomerate or an SME, will be able to serve everybody’s needs and wants.

We fear success more than failure

February 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I have always said that I am more fearful of my success than my failure. I mean what is failure? How many rejections have you been through at this age; try and count and you will fail. In my case, from my first attempt to touch a candle flame, or my mom refusing for me to not make it into the NETBAL EERSTE SPAN in high school, and to the tertiary Dmerits! There have been failures, but yet I am here. So failure to me is just a T-Junction on a road - I went right but I was supposed to go left. But…success… you see success is a new can of worms I have never experienced. It demands another me I have not met before, and definitely feels like growing a new tooth.

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Dream big

February 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria) — **Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi**, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

Dream big....

"The size and clarity of a person’s vision are very important. It is very important to dream big and be single-minded about the dream. Also, you must love this dream and be passionate about it."

Adenike Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

Can I Get a Connection? 3 Tips to Overcoming Loneliness in a Digital Age

February 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Deborah Hartung, founder of PivotPeople Tech

We live in such exciting times, where technology has truly enabled us to break down the barriers of space and time and to forge new paths and discover new frontiers in business and our personal relationships. But the same technology that has liberated us in so many ways, has enslaved and imprisoned us to the point where we aren’t able to make and maintain true human connections. In our world of DMs and FaceTime and same day delivery or click and collect, we have convenience and near instant gratification at our fingertips. But we are lonelier and feeling more isolated than ever.

LIONESS COLAB: Katannuta Diamonds X Chocoloza - Ruby X Ruby

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

It’s always exciting for women entrepreneurs to be able to partner up with fellow successful brands. So, following on from the excitement of Katannuta Diamonds’ chocolate diamond collaboration with leading South African artisan chocolate brand Chocoloza in June last year, the two brands came together once more to host another exciting evening in November. This time, the theme was Ruby X Ruby - a focused collaboration inspired by rubies - ruby chocolate and ruby jewellery.

Andrena Sawyer, a woman entrepreneur from Sierra Leone on a mission to help non-profits and small businesses thrive

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Andrena Sawyer, founder of P.E.R.K. Consulting (Sierra Leone) — **Andrena Sawyer**, founder of P.E.R.K. Consulting (Sierra Leone)

One of the biggest challenges for so many small businesses and non-profit organisations is getting the right capacity building and business development advice in the early years to ensure long term sustainability. That is where Andrena Sawyer and her company, P.E.R.K. Consulting, come with the right solutions.

LIONESS LAUNCH: The Confident Creative Academy launches in South Africa

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Abigail Klopper, The Confidence Crusader

For all those female creatives out there who are in need of a real source of confidence boosting advice, information and support, help is at hand. South African entrepreneur Abigail Klopper, better known as The Confidence Crusader, is launching her new online platform, The Confident Creative Academy this month.

Hard work pays off

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

The journey of building my own business empire has been many things, including amazing, challenging, surprising and painful. Luckily, God is kind enough not to allow these experiences to happen at the very same time. Instead, they are spread across time. I believe this is the 5th year this year. Halfway to a decade, imagine! I think I should one day sit down and write all the major events that have happened during the building of my business, Roka Roko, and look at them as an audience rather than as the main character involved. Maybe I might cry from the sheer multitude of what small actions eventually add up to on this entrepreneurial journey.

Essential Read: The Launch Book: Motivational Stories to Launch Your Idea, Business or Next Career by Sanyin Siang

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Every launch is a change from the status quo that generates uncertainty, fears of failure, and self doubt. But launches can and should inspire.The Launch book by Sanyin Siang draws on first hand stories from industry leaders and serial launchers. It weaves together wisdom and reflective exercises with authenticity and passion. Readers will find this a thoughtful and relatable guide to help them succeed with their practical launch journeys.

Born to Stand Out: 3 Tips to Remaining Authentic when the Going Gets Tough

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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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.

Managing and Growing Millennials in the Workplace

February 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant at Shiluvah

The general workforce has undergone many significant changes over the years – with the most significant of this generation being the introduction of Millennials into the workforce. So, significant is this introduction that numerous articles have been written on this subject. Therefore, one needs to ask what makes this generation so special that we need to quantify and qualify their entrance into the workspace. And more importantly, what do non-millennials need to know about this generation that will enable them to not only coexist but also thrive in the workplace together.