the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)
Pursue your dreams now....
Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)
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Event Report
A cold sea breeze may have been blowing across Cape Town on the morning of Friday 4 October, but it did nothing to deter the spirits of the 100 women entrepreneurs who gathered at The Argyle in Woodstock for the latest Lioness Lean In event. The welcome was warm, the breakfast and hot coffee gave a much needed boost, and energy levels were high as the conversation and networking got underway.
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The global news media was abuzz this month with the Royal Visit to Africa by their royal highnesses, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Lionesses of Africa had the opportunity to meet with the Duchess and talk women’s entrepreneurship in Africa during the final leg of their visit to Johannesburg. The occasion was a special reception hosted by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, Mrs Emma Wade-Smith OBE, at her official residence in the city.
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Lioness Launch
In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, entrepreneur Adele Cutten, founder of the renowned Adele’s Mohair, launches a series of Magic Mohair Gift Packs for creative crafter customers.
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If you are one of those women who dream of taking your creative ideas and turning them into a business, but you are not sure where to begin, then Mind Your Business by Ilana Griffo is the book for you!
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Sr. Julia ‘Masina Mafike, founder of JMM Beekeeping (Lesotho)
Startup Story
Lesotho is renowned for its natural beauty, attracting visitors from around the world. Today, however, it is also renowned for the quality of its honey production, thanks to an enterprising business, JMM Beekeeping, founded by Julia ‘Masina Mafike.
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Linda Dempah, founder of Adeba Nature (Cote d’Ivoire)
Startup Story
Empowering women to feel chic and beautiful is the mission of Ivorian natural beauty brand, Adeba Nature. Formulated using fewer than five ingredients, this product range created by beauty entrepreneur, Linda Dempah, is creating a brand that is rooted in the existing traditions preserved in Ivorian villages.
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by Tatenda Rungisa
Digital marketing is simply using digital ways to connect with different parties. Digital marketing encompasses websites, online brochures, bulk emails and so much more. For female entrepreneurs, digital marketing is advisable as it is more convenient, fast, and reaches larger groups of people rather than the traditional ways of marketing. So, what are the basics to kick off a digital marketing campaign?
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Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka
I attended a seminar recently with failure as the overarching topic. It’s always refreshing when a group of individuals come together in a safe environment to speak truthfully about their experiences. I realized just how important and necessary these authentic conversations are as a means to dilute the heavy traffic of information that we consume on a daily basis, some of which is not always a true reflection of reality. Failure, unfortunately, is as real as it comes, yet it is one of the least spoken about issues today. People would rather project themselves as pseudo superheroes, adopting phrases like “black don’t crack” than to show the real stories about their everyday struggles.
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Fidelis Wanjiku, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya)
Take care of yourself....
Fidelis Wanjiku, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya)
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Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech (Cameroon)
by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation
Like any other relationship, mentorship requires two individuals who put in the effort. I recently spoke to both a mentor and mentees. They were passionate about the issues they faced. The mentors blamed the mentees, the mentees blamed the mentors. I soon realized that it is easier to see the fault of someone else rather than acknowledging the role you played.
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Event Report
The women entrepreneurs of Port Elizabeth in South Africa may have had to wait a while for a Lioness Lean In event to be hosted in their city, but when the first event arrived on 27 September, they turned out in force. It was a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and the power of women entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate for business success.
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Adele Cutten, founder of Adele’s Mohair (South Africa)
Startup Story
Discerning visitors to the Eastern Cape know that it is not only renowned for its beautiful landscapes, its unspoilt beaches, and its wildlife. Those in the know also have an additional destination in their sights - a visit to Adele's Mohair, founded by passionate entrepreneur Adele Cutten. She has built a highly successful, high impact business that celebrates the much sought after mohair found on Angola goats, transforming it into luxury yarns, scarves, shawls, sweaters and much more. Adele and her team are an inspiration to those who visit, and those who depend on the business for jobs in the local community.
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Karen Potgieter, founder of L’abeille (South Africa)
Deola Sagoe is the founder of fashion brand Deola and the leading lady of African haute couture fashion from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
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Dana Mroueh
Lioness Launch
Calling all chocolate lovers! In Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, artisan chocolate company, Mon Choco, founded by the inspirational entrepreneur and talented chocolatier, Dana Mroueh, is launching an exciting new flavour in its delicious raw chocolate bar range this month. Mendiant is a new product which incorporates nuts and candied fruits into its world-class raw chocolate bars.
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Maribel Jimenez
Essential Read
Author and entrepreneur, Maribel Jimenez, waited almost twenty years to finally give herself permission to take the leap to pursue her dream of starting an online business for business development and marketing. She wanted to have the freedom to be home with her kids and live out her mission. And then burnout hit. Her new book, The Superwoman Entrepreneur, is her personal story and guide to navigating the journey to building the business and life you dream of.
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by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress
Dandapani is a Hindu priest, speaker on self-development and an entrepreneur. He lived as a monk for 10 years and then moved to New York City to pass on his teachings to the West. He made a profound statement saying we shouldn’t pursue happiness. What we need to do is create a lifestyle where the bi-product is happiness. For example, when you spend time with people who energize you, you feel happy. On the contrast, when you spend time with people or on work that drains you, then naturally you will tend to feel miserable.
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by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life
Running a business is like constantly getting ready for a holiday trip, a hiking trip, a physical retreat or a tough walk in the bush. You need to be fit! Being part of a fit team is a full-time job! This goes for any size business. So, whether you are starting up or have been doing this for a long time - your team and you need to be fit - all the time.
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