Abidjan’s entrepreneurial landscape is going through some exciting changes right now and that means good news for women entrepreneurs in the city. At the latest Lioness Lean In event held on 26 July, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, over 100 women entrepreneurs got the opportunity to meet, network and share their businesses experiences in order to grow.
Read moreSouth African distillery Inverroche closes deal with French liquor giant Pernod Ricard
The French liquor giant Pernod Ricard, which manufactures some of the world’s most popular liquor brands such as such as Absolut Vodka, Chivas, and Jameson, has acquired a majority stake in South African distillery Inverroche, founded by the pioneering entrepreneur Lorna Scott.
Read moreYour Business, Your Rules by Cat LeBlanc
Cat LeBlanc
For all those women who are considering escaping from the corporate grind and embarking on an entrepreneurial journey but don’t know how to make it happen, Your Business Your Rules by author and business coach Cat LeBlanc, could be a great read. Your Business, Your Rules shows you how to cut through the noise of generalized business advice and craft a business suited to the lifestyle you want to live.
Read moreAugust kickstarts with the launch of the new Lioness Lean In Enterprise series of events in South Africa
What better way to kickstart Women’s Month in South Africa than with the launch of a new series of Lioness Lean In Enterprise events in partnership with Absa? On 1 August, 100 high growth potential women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community gathered together with specialist banking advisors from Absa for a morning of inspiration, networking and business consulting, at the prestigious new Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg. The aim, to help them to take their businesses to the next level.
Read moreLIONESS LAUNCH: Nalydia Foods launches in South Africa to produce a natural food solution for the young, elderly and sick consumer
Dorothy Dolly Fatima Mofomme, co-founder of Nalydia Foods (South Africa)
In South Africa, a new natural food product specifically formulated to meet the needs of young babies and children, and also the elderly and sick, has been launched by serial entrepreneur, Dorothy Dolly Fatima Mofomme and her co-founders. Nalydia Foods is addressing a gap in the market for nutritious, easy to digest, completely natural and health food for the young, elderly and sick consumer.
Read moreAmanda Aminah Masire, an entrepreneur in Botswana creating a turnkey model for local horticultural farming
Amanda Aminah Masire, founder of Greenhouse Technologies (Botswana)
Many entrepreneurs are inspired to start their businesses by seeing a gap in the market or a need in their communities. In the case of Amanda Aminah Masire from Botswana, she started her business, Greenhouse Technologies, in response to the gap between government and local people in the agricultural value chain.
Read moreNeema Nkatha Kinoti, a Kenyan entrepreneur celebrating African culture through her unique designer swimwear
Neema Nkatha Kinoti, founder of Ohana Family Wear Limited (Kenya)
Whether relaxing in the pool or at the beach, everyone loves to look stylish. Ohana Family Wear Limited, the brainchild of Kenyan entrepreneur Neema Nkatha Kinoti, has just the answer, with her uber stylish range of swimwear. It celebrates African textiles and prints whilst at the same time providing comfort and chic.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Carrie Leaver: Find your people
Carrie Leaver, co-founder of Stoep Startup Co-Working & Stay (South Africa)
Find your people.….
"As a start-up, support, understanding and some extra love make the difficult days much easier. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely and it's easy to doubt and question one’s decisions and journey. Being part of a community of like-minded people brings strength, new ideas and also an eco-system of services and potential clients. We're stronger together!”
Carrie Leaver, co-founder of Stoep Startup Co-Working & Stay (South Africa)
Read moreTop 3 Yes Blockers …
by Laura Camacho
You probably were not aware of this when you started your business but now you know. Thriving businesses must sell. A lot. Ideas. Solutions. Products. Services. Add ons. Contracts. Upgrades. ROI…
Read moreMy ABC of business: How pursuing a client is similar to a romantic relationship
by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa
Do you remember the first time you fell in-love? Do you remember the excitement and the thrill of the “chase”? It could be compared to a pursuit and it usually begins when a person shows interest in another and is incredibly attracted to him/her. A thrilling period then starts, when traditionally the man starts showing his intentions for a romantic relationship by flirting, bringing gifts or verbally expressing his intentions to the woman. Depending on their compatibility or her level of attraction, she will respond eagerly, or she might play hard-to-get. Depending on his level of interest, he will keep romancing her, and if he does and says the right things, he might persuade her to take him seriously and commence a romantic relationship.
Read moreThings Smart Women Don’t Do When Opportunity Knocks
by Saajidah Esat
Women have instinctively and deeply nurturing characteristics. Unlike men, they take pride in the process vs being solely focused on the result. They strive to develop people along the way and want to know that they are making a real and positive difference in the world. So when the next big company comes along to sign a contract that could potentially change the entire trajectory of her business, she may appear slightly hesitant and need some time to weigh out the pros and cons. Although this may be a good thing, there are some things that smart women just don’t do when opportunity knocks.
Read moreThe Value of Interpreting Your Financial Statements
by Thandekile Moloko
If you own a business, or are part of a business, the compliance process of documenting the finances of the business may be a bit tedious, especially if your main intent is to make money and create an empire in the process. However, there are jewels of wisdom in financial statements that can help you best run your business and help you make better business decisions. Thus, it is important to understand the basic techniques of interpreting financial statements.
Read moreIt's too late, the Robots are here!
by Paula Quinsee
There is a lot of talk going on about the 4th Industrial Revolution and Robots taking over the World...ok not really the world but our jobs and leaving us redundant. Whilst there may be some truth in this, it is not entirely true. Yes, the Robots are here, and work streams are being automated, so we need to constantly up-skill ourselves to remain relevant in the job landscape of the future. This doesn't only apply to individuals but also to organizations.
Read moreWhere There’s a Will, there’s a Relative
by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman
No one likes to think about dying, let’s face it, but it is one of those life certainties, like taxes, that’s impossible to avoid! And while you can’t dodge the tax man, many people neglect to draw up a will, either because they have more pressing priorities, or because they want to avoid thoughts around death. As a woman once said to me, “If I draw up a will, I will die!”
Read moreWho really am I?
by Thozama Ponti
It’s very funny how others can describe and say a lot about us, better than we can. Because people are very good at calling other people names, labelling, defining and describing. Unfortunately most often because we don’t know ourselves, we often fall within their descriptions and labels (we accept the things they call us as the best description of ourselves, the clothes they recommend for us, the hairstyles they suggest, and even the careers we must follow, etc.. ) Not knowing yourself can be very harmful for you and your career.
Read moreGaborone's leading women entrepreneurs gathered to share experiences and connect for success
Gaborone’s leading women entrepreneurs turned out in force on Friday 19 July to be part of the first Lioness Lean In event in Botswana this year. It was great to be back and the event marked the first of a series of Lioness Lean In collaborations between Lionesses of Africa, Stanbic Bank and Liberty Life Botswana in the country. Over 100 women entrepreneurs in the audience got to experience a great morning of inspirational startup story sharing, connecting for business success, and networking with like-minded women entrepreneurs to share experiences and gain support.
Read moreCátia Mondlane, a Mozambican beauty entrepreneur building an organic skincare brand to help those with sensitive skins
Cátia Mondlane, founder of Isabella Estética & Cosméticos (Mozambique)
Increasingly today, people suffer from skin irritations caused by the environment, food allergies, lifestyle challenges, and medical conditions. It can be hard to find skincare solutions for those consumers who find the big, globally produced, mainstream beauty brands just to harsh. Well now, help is at hand from Mozambican organic skincare company, Isabella - Estética & Cosméticos, founded by Cátia Mondlane. She is on a mission to bring natural, locally produced skincare solutions to her customers who want to be kind to their skins and to the planet.
Read moreLIONESS LAUNCH: Malawian luxury fashionpreneur Lilly Alfonso launches her LA Sport Brand
Lilly Alfonso
Successful Malawian fashion designer and entrepreneur, Lilly Alfonso, best known for her globally recognised and award-winning couture collections that regularly grace the world’s top fashion runways, is launching an exciting and very different collection this month. Her LA Sport brand is an uber trendy designer sportswear brand, featuring a range of gym attire, hoodies and sports jerseys, and can be worn both to the gym and also as stylish leisurewear.
Read moreWhat It Takes: How I Built a $100 Million Business from My Kitchen Table by Raegan Moya-Jones
Raegen Moya-Jones
The founder of global baby brand aden + anais, Raegen Moya-Jones tells the story of how she built a $100 million business that started at her kitchen table. She never thought of herself as an entrepreneur. She was a wife, a mother, and a full-time corporate cog in her thirties. But she was sick and tired of her micromanaging boss, so she quietly started a company in the wee hours of the morning while her daughters were asleep. She finally quit her 9-5 when her side hustle, boutique baby swaddle brand aden + anais, hit the $1 million revenue mark. It now generates over $100 million a year in revenue.
Read moreLindalva Mulembwe, a Mozambican entrepreneur turning a passion for flower arrangements into a thriving business
Lindalva Mulembwe, founder of LM Flowers On The Go (Mozambique)
Leveraging her many years of experience in the events business led Mozambican entrepreneur Lindalva Mulembwe, founder of LM Flowers On The Go, to identify a niche in the market - the creation of simple yet elegant flower arrangements. Today, she is building a successful business that brings flower celebrations to any special occasion.
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