the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Catia Mondlane, founder of Isabella Estetica & Cosmeticos
A few days ago I had a conversation with someone which reminded me why I started an entrepreneurial journey. During the chat, I mentioned how talented the person was and the brilliant ideas she had. Interestingly, I asked what was keeping her from starting a business and, as I predicted, she gave me all the excuses you can imagine, but only three of them stood out.
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by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life
A beautiful but disturbing clip was doing the rounds of a pack of hyenas going for a lion. Killing was their main aim. This older lion fought for a long time from all sides - got a couple of good homps in, but the clan was very big. Mostly they were going for his ass!!! Yep - catching you from behinds! This lion turned and dodged and roared to get them away.
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by Lori Milner
So here we are…the thing we have all anticipated for an entire year but yet when it arrives, it is also clouded by a sense of dread. And that is…December! The disbelief is not so much about we are at the end of the year, but it is a symbol that forces you to really reflect on the year that has passed. This is a good thing because if you just move from one year into the next with no introspection, then there is little hope of creating the change you want to make.
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Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of Zashadu Bags in Nigeria
Starting small and growing organically is a plus....
Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of Zashadu Bags (Nigeria)
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Sarah Collins, founder and CEO of Wonderbag
Follow your gut....
Sarah Collins, founder & CEO of Wonderbag (South Africa)
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Startup Story
When it comes to creating make-up for special events, television and photography shoots, it needs professional expertise. In Angola, a team of women experts in the specialist make-up industry have been brought together by Juvenália Brito, under the Juvenália Beauty brand, a business offering truly professional and beautiful make-overs.
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Startup Story
Health and wellness conscious women in Angola have a wonderful source of help when it comes to getting great support and resources to aid overall wellbeing. Okupuyuka Brunch and Wellness is a business that is the brainchild of three women entrepreneurs who want to create a one-stop-shop for women to eat healthily, de-stress with great wellness treatments, and exercise with like-minded women.
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Flora Mutahi, founder of Melvin’s Tea (Kenya)
Award Winner
The results of Kenya’s Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey, an initiative of KPMG Kenya and Nation Media Group, have just been announced. The survey identified the country’s fastest growing, medium sized companies in order to showcase business excellence and highlight some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurship stories. Flora Mutahi, founder of Melvin’s Tea, was awarded with the prestigious Top Manufacturing Award at a special ceremony on 5 December.
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Lilly Alfonso
Award Winner
Malawi’s greatest fashion export and award winning design entrepreneur, Lilly Alfonso, has been honoured with a UMP Fashion Living Legend Award. The award presentation took place at the 2019 UMP Awards music and fashion blended event held on 14 December at the Crossroads Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi.
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Suzi Weiss-Fischmann
Book Review
Inspiring women to pursue their own colorful dreams, I'm Not Really a Waitress tells the story of how entrepreneur and co-founder of OPI, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, transformed a small dental supply company into a #1 beauty brand around the world.
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by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko
The moment you decide to start a business, understand that taking a conscious break will be impossible. A business has so many aspects to it that need your attention each day; so much so that taking a Saturday off is a sin. Imagine, a weekend day! You will feel bad for doing nothing all day, people will definitely contact you on that very day you are off; and you will want to speak to them. So ideally, taking a break as an entrepreneur becomes a struggle to pretend you don’t have work all day.
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by Kathryn Main, founder of Money Savvy Kids
The most wonderful time of the year is also the most expensive. When the Christmas spirit takes over, that one crucial ability to save is conveniently misplaced. This loss of ability is seldom noticed, but will deal a detrimental blow to your bank account in the long run. Money Savvy Kids (MSK) is built on the foundations of saving and budgeting, just to name a few. And it is here to help you through the hardest time of the year by saving and budgeting your way to a worry-free January.
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by Alice da Silva
A case study based on my personal experience:
Despite a current difficult economy, business services are still needed. Customers are under strain and are more discerning when it comes to choosing a service provider. Sometimes it’s a grudge spend following an unplanned emergency. It’s bad enough being forced to spend money when survival and priorities must be carefully considered, so to have bad service on top of that is just too unpleasant. Customers still have choices, and they choose who gets the business.
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Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost (Kenya)
Shikha Vincent, founder of SHIKHAZURI (Kenya)
Seek out frank advice....
Shikha Vincent, founder of SHIKHAZURI (Kenya)
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Flora Mutahi, founder & CEO of Melvin Marsh International (Kenya)
Flora Mutahi, founder & CEO of Melvin Marsh International (Kenya)
Read moreLorna Rutto resigned her comfortable banking job in 2009 to start EcoPost in Nairobi. Every month, her company uses approximately 20 tons of plastic waste. Utilising dirty plastic to make a product that saves wood is not just an environmental plus; it also boosts employment.
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Event Report | LionessLeanInENTERPRISE
Bringing a close to a packed Lioness Lean In Enterprise schedule for 2019 in South Africa, hosted in partnership with ABSA, the final event the took place on 4 December in the innovative environment of the Equinox Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg. Over the past few months, these special Lioness Lean In Enterprise events have aimed to bring high growth potential women entrepreneurs together in one room to talk about how they address their challenges with access to funding, markets, and opportunities. And importantly, because of the impact partnership with Absa, also potential solutions to those challenges.
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Filipa Oliveira, founder of MIRA Market Intelligence Research Angola
Startup Story
Any successful business knows that getting access to accurate and timeous market research and data is essential to success. Entrepreneur Filipa Oliveira, founder of MIRA Market Intelligence Research Angola, is bringing world class market insights to her customers to help them to tap into and grow their customer bases.
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Vânia Ribeiro, founder of Assinebwe, Lda (Angola)
Startup Story
In Angola, individuals and companies spend vast amounts of time completing administrative tasks by hand that can be done in minutes by harnessing the power of digital technology. Entrepreneur Vânia Ribeiro, founder of Assinebwe, Lda, is bringing the necessary software solutions to make things faster and more efficient.
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