LIONESS LAUNCH South African entrepreneur Jessica Alily and her family launch a uniquely African online comic book site

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Jessica Alily, founder of Vanimax Comix (South Africa) — **Jessica Alily**, founder of Vanimax Comix (South Africa)

Comic books are big business around the world, with millions of dedicated fans following their favourite heroes and heroines in illustrated stories each week. In South Africa, fans of comic books are now going to get their own uniquely African characters to engage with, thanks to Vanimax Comix. This new online comic book site, created by Jessica Alily and her family, is set to win a host of new fans across the African continent and globally.

Lesotho's leading women entrepreneurs lean in for greater business success

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

On a beautiful morning in the district of Leribe, Lesotho’s leading women entrepreneurs arrived in style at the Mahlakapese Guest Lodge to connect with one another and to be inspired by a packed and inspirational Lioness Lean In programme ahead.

Eunice Andrade, a Mozambican retail entrepreneur creating a marketplace for great local products in the country

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Eunice Andrade, founder of Fabrazilbyeunice (Mozambique) — **Eunice Andrade**, founder of Fabrazilbyeunice (Mozambique)

Mozambique is building a reputation as an entrepreneurial centre where local, women owned brands can emerge and thrive. Fabrazilbyeunice, launched by Eunice Andrade, is one such retail brand, created to showcase local designers and product manufacturers in an environment where customers want to shop.

Why frame Spirituality in the Business World?

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Nereyda Ah-Hoy

Since I decided to live my spirituality more fully and share it with the world, the most recurrent question I have received has been: "But what does it mean to be Spiritual? And how can you reconcile this with the material part of Life?"

7 PR Secrets All Founders Should Know by Jane Yin Bolander

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In today's world, the lines between PR, marketing, and social media are blurred. Social Media has given founders the chance to promote their organizations without having to spend a lot of money; yet, founders often overlook a lot of opportunity by not exploring some of the more traditional, or not-so-traditional, PR avenues. 7 PR Secrets All Founders Should Know is a book compiled and published in honour of the late Jane Yin Bolander, a PR professional and founder of specialist PR firm JSY PR & Marketing. It explores those traditional and not-so-traditional PR avenues so that founders can get the maximum exposure for their organizations. Jane used these secrets with lots and lots of startups, professional athletes, and non-profits during her working life. Some of these secrets revolve around how traditional PR techniques, like the press release, can be used to maximize exposure, while others deal with what is actually newsworthy.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lien Potgieter: Know yourself well

June 21, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lien Potgieter, founder of The Colour Option (South Africa) — **Lien Potgieter**, founder of The Colour Option (South Africa)

Know yourself well….

“Make sure you know yourself well! Know what your habitual reactions to challenges are and how that can affect your business and decisions. And then learn how to better deal with obstacles!”

- Lien Potgieter is the founder of The Colour Option in South Africa, a company offering consulting services and online programmes on how people can use the gentle power of colour to help them live their best lives in business. Lien’s clients are women who are life-long entrepreneurs, and who have built successful businesses that are aligned with their personalities, purpose, strengths, and values. Read Lien's startup story.

South African entrepreneur disruptor, Benji Coetzee, advocates to privatize Goliath Transnet Freight Rail

June 19, 2019 Melanie Hawken

South Africa is home to a number of innovators, creators and entrepreneurs. We boast the likes of Charlize Theron, Elon Musk, Nelson Mandela, Lebo Gunguluza, Raymond Ackerman, the Oppenheimers – the list goes on. Recently, the country has also seen a significant uptick in technology entrepreneurs. The ecosystem has evolved and although the fraternity requires more support, the efforts by particular parties such as Knife Capital, Kalon Ventures, alongside supportive corporate programmes such as Alpha Code, Standard Bank Incubator, Startupbootcamp, to mention only a few, has been commendable.

Durban's women entrepreneurs head to Ballito for a morning of Lioness Lean In networking and inspiration on 7 June

June 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

At the first Lioness Lean In event to be held in Durban, South Africa, this year, the city’s women entrepreneurs representing businesses both large and in startup phase, gathered for a morning of inspiration, great networking, and story sharing. As always, it was great to be back in the city, seeing like-minded women entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and making important business connections.

Ava Tutsi is a Zimbabwean entrepreneur taking African storytelling to a new level through the power of radio drama

June 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Ava Tutsi, founder of Ava Tutsi Productions (Zimbabwe) — **Ava Tutsi**, founder of Ava Tutsi Productions (Zimbabwe)

Africa has a long tradition of storytelling, and radio provides an effective medium to get those stories to reach key audiences. In Zimbabwe, entrepreneur Ava Tutsi is harnessing the power of radio drama to produce great content that addresses key issues and challenges in today’s society. Her company, Ava Tutsi Productions, is winning many young fans who tune in to hear the inspirational stories it creates.

Marie-Paule Tano, an entrepreneur with a passion for Cote d’Ivoire creating a luxury jewellery and accessory brand inspired by African art and culture

June 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In the global jewellery and accessory design space, finding your niche and your design style is all important. For Marie-Paule Tano, founder of rising star brand ROKUS LONDON, her inspiration came from her African heritage and her interest in the ancient cultures of the continent.

Impact Founder: Inspirational stories of entrepreneurs who risk everything for what they believe in by Kristin R Darga

June 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

After there were two suicides of startup founders and the sudden death of a third, Kristin Darga created Impact Founder to do whatever she could to help alleviate the feelings of inadequacy, isolation, stress, depression and suicide among founders by sharing real stories of real entrepreneurs’ struggles and successes. Her book, Impact Founder, tells real stories of entrepreneurs to help all of us understand that we are not alone with the challenges. Through Impact Founder, she is on a mission to make sure another entrepreneur isn’t lost due to isolation, feelings of inadequacy, failure, or for any other reason. Self-doubt is part of life and sometimes entrepreneurs face the issue alone and lose their perspective.

The biggest risk for the entrepreneur is being unable to work due to illness, trauma or force majeure

June 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Nthabiseng Mokone, CA (SA), Tax Practitioner, Wealth Manager & Entrepreneur Owner: MMCP Wealth and MMCP Business Advisory Services

The freedom and flexibility of being self employed comes with its own challenges and risks. These can however be mitigated and when that is taken care of, as an entrepreneur you can say you are truly free. Most entrepreneurs are the business and any chance that they are unable to work, will drastically affect their business. As a self-employed professional, I have first-hand experience in the effects of an illness and trauma on my business.

Own your mornings

June 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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

There is magic in a morning routine. If you can train yourself to wake up even 30 minutes earlier, you open up a quiet space for yourself when the family are asleep. We find ourselves saying, ‘I don’t have time to think’. This time doesn’t open up for us out of nowhere (unless a meeting suddenly cancels) so we have to carve out a dedicated time in our calendar for the things we want to take ownership of and that truly matters to us. For me, mornings are the best place to do this. Exercise is part of my world and has been for over 25 years. The only time I can get this done is 5:30 before I take my kids to school.

Choosing a Name that Counts

June 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Seno Namwandi

Names enable us to identify different people, places, countries and things. Birth certificates, title deeds or other legal arrangements often legitimatize these names. Similarly, business names enable us to identify one enterprise from another. Business names are legitimized through the intellectual property system called trademarks.

The Real Interior by Nthabi Taukobong

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Nthabi Taukobong has had a career spanning over 23 years in the interior design industry working on esteemed residential and leisure projects for Presidents, African Royalty, top CEOs, South Africa’s 5 Star Hotel groups, and even the Governor of the Reserve Bank (to name but a few). In her book, The Real Interior, Nthabi reveals the truth about her journey in design and the pitfalls and challenging terrain she had to manoeuvre herself through, determined for a clearer, more forgiving way and understanding of her chosen field.

100 LIONESSES: Monica Musonda, high-flying lawyer turned food manufacturing entrepreneur

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia) — **Monica Musonda**, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.

Annette Cassy, an entrepreneur in Mozambique who is passionate about specialist paediatric care in the country

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Annette Cassy, founder of Kidz Kare Centro Médico Infanto-Juvenil (Mozambique) — **Annette Cassy**, founder of Kidz Kare Centro Médico Infanto-Juvenil (Mozambique)

When children get sick, they need the reassurance of a specialist, caring environment that gives them comfort, specialist care and advice, and understanding. In Mozambique, Kidz Kare Centro Médico Infanto-Juvenil, founded by entrepreneur Annette Cassy, does just that.

Nthabiseng Dube, a South African entrepreneur who has created a real HR and payroll powerhouse to support businesses of all sizes

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Nthabiseng Dube, founder of Polish Management Services (South Africa) — **Nthabiseng Dube**, founder of Polish Management Services (South Africa)

Managing people and payroll for any size and type of business can be a challenge, but in South Africa, that is no longer the case. Entrepreneur Nthabiseng Dube, founder of Polish Management Services, is bringing her specialist HR expertise to add value and, importantly, find solutions for her clients. From Recruitment Solutions, Payroll Contract Management and Labour Relations, Polish Management Services is a go-to source of help and advice.

Run Your Life Like a Business

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Thandekile Moloko, Wealth Coach & Wealth Manager

Scaling, which is also synonymous with economies of scale, is a business term which in its truest form means expansion. It is being able to be profitable when demand has increased for your services or goods. It is the ability to increase supply and still maintain or reduce costs. In scaling your business, you need to make sure that your expenses work for you and produce the ultimate profits.

Get Real. Get Rid. Get Rich.

June 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

Stuck in a financial rut? Maybe too much debt, too much retail therapy, too much of a people pleaser, too little money, or just not sure how to take control of it all? Financial freedom is within your grasp. By changing your outlook, you can change your life.