the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Candice Perkins and Teleszia Pillay, co-founders of Happy Earth People (South Africa)
Startup Story
As consumers are becoming more educated and conscious about the need to make healthy eating choices that are also kind to the environment, a South African company is opening minds to the health benefits of legumes. Happy Earth People, founded by Teleszia Pillay and Candice Perkins, is exciting consumer tastebuds with their wonderful range of handmade, healthy legume based food products.
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by Thozama Ponti
Have you ever wondered what happened to all the dreams you had when you were young. Do you remember those occasions when adults constantly asked you the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Can you still remember some of your answers? Well, whether you can recall them or not, it’s okay.
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by Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life
For most citizens of the world, we reeled with shock when the beautiful Amazon forest was burning for more than 60 days. The #Amazonforest is the lungs of our planet our survival pumps! As usual, everybody started pointing fingers and most of us could just watch, capable of doing nothing. A sick feeling of despair as we watched the destruction.
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Susan Mashibe, founder and executive director of VIA Aviation (Tanzania)
Susan Mashibe is founder and executive director of VIA Aviation, an international fixed-base aircraft services operation and the first company of its kind in Tanzania. Susan is also the first woman in Tanzania to hold both a FAA certified commercial pilot and an aircraft maintenance engineering qualification. This passionate aviator left Tanzania at the tender age of 19 to learn to fly jetliners in the United States, later returning home to help reshape African private air travel. Today, VIA Aviation provides logistical support for corporate, diplomatic and private jets. Her clients include heads of state, monarchs, Fortune 500 executives, celebrities, and military flights. VIA was the first company to offer such services in Tanzania and East Africa as a whole. Susan was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2011.
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Johanna Mukoki, co-founder of Travel With Flair (South Africa)
Johanna Mukoki, co-founder of Travel With Flair (South Africa)
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Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)
Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)
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Ethel Cofie, Founder & CEO of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana)
Ethel Cofie, Founder & CEO of Edel Technology Consulting (Ghana)
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Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi, founder of Orizur Consulting Enterprise (South Africa)
Lioness Launch
With the 4th Industrial Revolution comes the need to address the growth of cyber threats in business and government, which have the potential to cause disruption and damage. The need to stay on top of cyber law and cyber security issues has never been greater. In South Africa, specialist cyber law enterpreneur, Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi, founder of Orizur Consulting Enterprise, is launching two new initiatives to help clients to navigate their way through cyber threats and cyber law.
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Event Report
On the morning of Wednesday 11 September, 70 women entrepreneurs gathered together for the latest in the series of popular Lioness Lean In networking events in Windhoek, once again hosted by Lionesses of Africa and Nedbank Namibia. As always, the focus of the event was on women business builders sharing their startup stories, inspiring each other with their experiences, and of course, lots of networking.
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Kindra Hall
Essential Read
The moment you take control of your stories, you take control of your business and your life. That’s according to author and professional storyteller, Kindra Hall. In her new book, Stories That Stick, she shares insights on how to make your story your greatest business tool. Kindra is a firm believer that storytelling can do everything—from helping leaders better communicate to motivating sales teams and winning customers away from competitors.
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Farida Yahya, founder of Lumo Naturals (Nigeria)
Startup Story
The challenges facing many women in Africa of how to manage and care for their natural hair is one that entrepreneur Farida Yahya is all too familiar with. It was the inspiration for the launch of her business Lumo Naturals, which today creates a range of specialist hair products that both cleanse and treat the hair gently. Today, the brand is winning scores of fans who are looking for a natural solution for their natural hair.
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Tia Linda Zuze, founder of Chimango Research (South Africa)
Startup Story
To make change happen in Africa and to make the right decisions at the right time, you need to understand the facts, you need access to accurate information, and you need to hear people’s stories and opinions. In South Africa, Chimango Research, a specialist consultancy launched by entrepreneur Tia Linda Zuze, is undertaking research initiatives that provide the essential data needed by those in change-making positions on the continent.
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
There is an idea formed by many of us that people who run businesses, or at least render some service to us, are not human like us. For some reason we see them as the ‘lady at the coffee shop’ or the ‘petrol attendant’; we never ever relate to them as people who sleep at night and wake up in the morning. This experience is the same for me. I believe a lot of fashion business people like myself feel like this...no…just me? Ok LOL. I have seen that many clients are not aware of the things they say that could be offensive or just make no sense at all. Most of the time, they say things that benefit themselves.
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by Laura Camacho
You know failure is part of success, but what is the best way to get the most benefit from those painful and maybe embarrassing mistakes?
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Ethel Cofie is a leading tech entrepreneur from Ghana and the founder and CEO of Edel Technology Consulting, a company that provides IT and software services as an enabler and catalyst for businesses to achieve their goals. Ethel is the founder of Women in Tech Africa, initiator of the 1st Pan African woman in tech meetup and was shortlisted for the UN GEM Tech Award for work supporting women in ICT. She has been featured by the BBC and CNN for her work in technology and promoting women's leadership. Ethel sits on numerous boards and is also a President Obama Washington Fellow for Leadership (YALI).
Read Ethel's full '100 Lionesses' profile here.
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Divine Ndhlukula, founder of Securico, Zimbabwe
You need your people onside to succeed....
Divine Ndhlukula, founder of SECURICO (Zimbabwe)
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Event Report
A gloomy rainy morning in Johannesburg did not deter a packed audience of 150 women entrepreneurs from gathering together for the September edition of the Lioness Lean In event, held at VWSA headquarters in Sandton. As always the atmosphere was lively, warm and filled with the sound of women doing business, the hallmark of a good Lioness Lean In event.
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Thandi Hillie, Co-founder & CEO of Sbhekuza Rail (South Africa)
Startup Story
In South Africa, getting products safely and efficiently transported across the country can often be a challenge. But for entrepreneur Thandi Hillie and her company Sbhekuza Rail (a division of Sbhekuza Women Investments (Pty) Ltd), she is focused on solutions and providing a world-class service to her customers.
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Boineelo Moyo, founder of B&B Garden Masters (Botswana)
Startup Story
Every proud homeowner longs to have a beautiful garden to enjoy, but not everyone has the knowledge or experience in creating landscapes that are both lovely to look at and easy to maintain. In Botswana, entrepreneur Boineelo Moyo, founder of B&B Garden Masters, has the answers and the experience to match.
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Mitzi Perdue
Essential Read
Did you know that only 30% of family business will make it to the next generation? In Mitzi Perdue’s book, How to Make Your Family Business Last, she gives practical advice on how family businesses can develop a culture that supports keeping the family business in the family.
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