Cecilia M Kapasula, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for African fabrics into a great home decor business

August 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah (South Africa)

The big global trend right now for incorporating the beautiful, bold and luxurious textiles created in Africa into home and office decor, is growing rapidly. Harnessing the power of that trend is South African decor entrepreneur, Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah, a growing decor brand that is proving a hit with interior designers and home owners alike.

LIONESS LAUNCH: South African textile and design studio, Zuri and Imani, launches its new season LeManteau-Une collection of ladies coats

August 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Joy Ezeka, founder of Zuri and Imani (South Africa)

LIONESS LAUNCH

Zuri and Imani, founded by textile designer entrepreneur, Joy Ezeka, has built a reputation for its uniquely beautiful cotton coat designs, produced using its own studio designed textiles. This month sees the brand launching its brand new collection of the LeManteau coats which made it so popular with its customers. The new collection celebrates the best of its original print designs and colour ranges, but in new and exciting silhouettes to suit any wearer.

Fashion’s Finest Africa Awards Recognize Leading Women Entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community

August 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

The prestigious Fashion’s Finest Africa Awards 2019 have just taken place, and two leading women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community have scooped the top two awards. Bag Designer of the Year 2019 went to Femi Olayebi, founder of Femi Handbags and Accessories of the Year 2019 went to Anita Quansah, founder of Anita Quansah London.

The One Hour Content Plan: The Solopreneur’s Guide to a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells by Meera Kothand

August 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

So many entrepreneurs struggle to unlock their content ideas and to create powerful content that will help to sell their products and services to their customers. But now, content creation expert, Meera Kothand, author of the book The One Hour Content Plan, has the solution for all those solopreneurs out there who nee to get their content working harder for them.

Entrepreneur Advice from Phindile Ndlovu: Share your vision and go public

August 9, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Share your vision and go public….

“… sharing your goals can make you more accountable! Tell people you trust about your plans and ideas. Share your milestones. No one wants to look like a talker and not a doer.”

Phindile Ndlovu, founder of Bhekizenzo Foundation (South Africa)

Abidjan’s women entrepreneurs ‘Lean In’ to share, inspire and connect to build their businesses and networks

August 7, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

South African distillery Inverroche closes deal with French liquor giant Pernod Ricard

August 4, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Your Business, Your Rules by Cat LeBlanc

August 4, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

August kickstarts with the launch of the new Lioness Lean In Enterprise series of events in South Africa

August 3, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Nalydia Foods launches in South Africa to produce a natural food solution for the young, elderly and sick consumer

August 3, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Amanda Aminah Masire, an entrepreneur in Botswana creating a turnkey model for local horticultural farming

August 3, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Neema Nkatha Kinoti, a Kenyan entrepreneur celebrating African culture through her unique designer swimwear

August 3, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Carrie Leaver: Find your people

August 2, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Carrie Leaver, co-founder of Stoep Startup Co-Working & Stay (South Africa) — **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)

Top 3 Yes Blockers …

July 31, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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…

My ABC of business: How pursuing a client is similar to a romantic relationship

July 31, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Things Smart Women Don’t Do When Opportunity Knocks

July 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

The Value of Interpreting Your Financial Statements

July 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

It's too late, the Robots are here!

July 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Where There’s a Will, there’s a Relative

July 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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!”

Who really am I?

July 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.