Dr Ola Orekunrin and Nkemdilim Begho recognised at the MIPAD Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent

October 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Award Winners

At the prestigious 74th UN General Assembly in New York, which took place from 28th September to 3rd October, an important event took place on the sidelines - the MIPAD (Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent) Recognition Week for the Class of 2019. Amongst this year’s honorees were two outstanding and inspirational women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community, Nkemdilim Begho and Ola Brown, recognised in the Class of 2019 Business and Entrepreneurship Category.

Own your Goals

October 13, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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

I was listening to an interview with Essentialism author, Greg McKeon. He shared an interesting story of how he was in a fancy dress shop looking for a Halloween costume recently. He tried on a Star Wars Storm Trooper outfit and when he was looking in the mirror he remembered a significant childhood memory of him and his older brother as kids. His brother told him ‘You know you have really made it when you can buy your own Storm Trooper outfit’ (he was an avid Star Wars fan). Greg realized that the only reason he had this outfit on was because of the subconscious meaning behind it. But more interestingly, he recognized he didn’t want this outfit. It meant nothing to him, the only reason he had it on was because of his brother.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lilly Alfonso: Know yourself

October 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Know yourself...

"... it is important to know yourself. Understand and believe in your dreams. Give yourself room to research and plan for whatever you are dreaming of venturing into. Giving up isn’t the only way if things get tough ahead. Challenges build you up, and so does criticism. Failures make you unique, so use them and turn them into positives."

Lilly Alfonso, founder of Lilly Alfonso (Malawi)

Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Akinsemolu: Start now, start right, start proud and don’t stop!

October 8, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Start now, start right, start proud and don’t stop....

"Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most importantly, experiences to enjoy. All you need is a burning passion, an open mind and a compassionate heart. There will never be a perfect time to start a business. Start now, start right, start proud and don’t stop. I recommend reading People over Profit by Dale Partridge."

Adenike Akinsemolu, founder of the Green Campus Initiative (Nigeria)

Entrepreneur Advice from Lizl Naude: Pursue your dreams now

October 7, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa) — **Lizl Naude**, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)

Pursue your dreams now....

"Maybe some of us think it is too late to take on our dreams. We fear that too much time has passed, or we worry what others may think. We scurry around daily to make ends meet and put off our wild dreams for later. How about pursuing them now? How about forgetting the birth pains and scars of our entrepreneurial battles and venturing into new, innovative ground?"

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa (South Africa)

Cape Town plays host to another inspirational Lioness Lean In event for the city’s women entrepreneurs

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Lionesses of Africa talks women’s empowerment in Africa through entrepreneurship with HRH the Duchess of Sussex

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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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.

LIONESS LAUNCH / South African entrepreneur Adele Cutten launches new mohair craft gift packs

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Mind Your Business by Ilana Griffo

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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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!

Julia ‘Masina Mafike, an entrepreneur in Lesotho inspired by bees to build a successful business

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sr. Julia ‘Masina Mafike, founder of JMM Beekeeping (Lesotho) — **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.

Linda Dempah, an entrepreneur building a natural beauty brand in Cote d’Ivoire that is empowering women across the globe

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Digital marketing, the ‘in thing’ for female entrepreneurs

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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?

It's time to talk honestly about failure

October 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Fidelis Wanjiku: Take care of yourself

October 1, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Fidelis Wanjiku, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya) — **Fidelis Wanjiku**, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya)

Take care of yourself....

"Take care of yourself, your health, and your relationships so that you don't lose yourself in the maze of start-up. Take the power - be responsive to the clients as you need them: be the best you can. Do not waste their time with false promises. Have a plan, just in case - for example a financial back-up for when things go wrong, as they likely will. Have structures in place and most of all, be passionate."

Fidelis Wanjiku, founder of Round Square Marketing Limited (Kenya)

Entrepreneur Advice from Rebecca Enonchong: Keep it all in perspective

September 30, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech (Cameroon) — **Rebecca Enonchong**, founder and CEO of AppsTech (Cameroon)

Keep it all in perspective....

"Work hard, think big and never give up. When you do experience success, stay humble. Success is not linear; you will experience ups and downs. Humility helps keep it all in perspective."

Rebecca Enonchong, founder and CEO of AppsTech (Cameroon)

Mentorship is a relationship

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

High growth potential women entrepreneurs of Port Elizabeth Lioness Lean In for business success

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Adele Cutten, a pioneer in South Africa’s mohair industry, creating luxury products for the world to enjoy

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Karen Potgieter, a South African entrepreneur creating a high performance, natural skincare brand

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Karen Potgieter, founder of L’abeille (South Africa)

Startup Story

Everyone loves the idea of youthful skin but it can be hard to achieve in our busy lives. But help is at hand, thanks to L’abeille, a South African natural skincare brand that works at a cellular level, created by entrepreneur Karen Potgieter.

100 LIONESSES: Featuring Deola Sagoe, the leading lady of African haute couture

September 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.