Graced By Grit: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide To Starting A Business With Power, Passion & Purpose by Kimberley Caccavo and Kate Nowlan

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Are you afraid that you will fail? Do you really want to start your own company; you are women, it will be difficult. These were comments entrepreneurs Kimberly Caccavo and Kate Nowlan heard when they decided to stop talking about creating a company and buckled down and went for it. In their new book, Graced By Grit, The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide To Starting A Business With Power, Passion & Purpose, two ambitious (and gritty) entrepreneurial women share their experiences and tools so that you can realize your dream and start your own business.

Angelique Adcock, a South African entrepreneur taking a state-of-the-art paint coating business to the next level

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Angelique Adcock, owner of Electrocoat (South Africa)

Startup Story

The automotive industry sector is one that requires specialist expertise, technical know-how and years of experience. In the field of specialized applied paint coating, South African company, Electrocoat, owned by Angelique Adcock, is a great example of an entrepreneur who brings all those elements to the table in her growth business.

Emily Kandanga, a Namibian entrepreneur who together with her co-founders is helping people find a path to fitness

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Emily Kandanga, Lwando Mufune and Lwimba Mufune, founders of Sweat Fitness (Namibia)

Startup Story

For many people, getting fit is a real challenge and one that requires not just motivation but also specialist help and advice. In Namibia, that’s where niche business Sweat Fitness comes in. Founded by entrepreneur and passionate fitness advocate Emily Kandanga and her two co-founders, Lwando Mufune and Lwimba Mufune, they are taking fitness to the next level in the country.

The TOP 100 Women CEOs in Africa 2019 celebrates leading women entrepreneurs

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

100 Lionesses

Reset Global People in partnership with Pulse and Avance Media has announced the inaugural list of the Top 100 Women CEOs in Africa, a ranking which highlights and recognizes the accomplishments of women CEOs from across 24 countries across the continent. A number of leading women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community have been recognised on this year’s list.

Kenya’s Suzie Beauty Wins Big at the Kenya Beauty & Cosmetics Awards

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Suzie Wokabi, founder of Suzie Beauty (Kenya)

Awards and Accolades

The Kenya Beauty and Cosmetics Industry Awards 2019 took place in December to recognize and celebrate key milestones and excellence in the hair, beauty and cosmetics industry in the country. Leading Kenyan beauty brand, Suzie Beauty, founded by successful entrepreneur Suzie Wokabi, took home a host of awards at the event. The company emerged winners in the following categories: Best Lipstick, Blush, Powder and Local Cosmetics Brand of the Year!! Suzie Beauty were also 1st Runners up in the Most Preferred Eye Shadow, Lip Gloss, Concealer, Primer, and Mascara Brand Of the Year.

Dream followers

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

How To Fight Your Business Hyenas

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Show up to yourself in 2020

December 22, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Entrepreneur Advice from Zainab Ashadu: I strongly believe in organic growth

December 19, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of Zashadu Bags in Nigeria — **Zainab Ashadu**, Founder and Creative Director of Zashadu Bags in Nigeria

Starting small and growing organically is a plus....

“In terms of expansion, I strongly believe in organic growth as there is nothing more motivating or satisfying… The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to dream big, but start small.”

Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of Zashadu Bags (Nigeria)

Entrepreneur Advice from Sarah Collins: Follow your gut

December 17, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Collins, founder and CEO of Wonderbag — **Sarah Collins**, founder and CEO of Wonderbag

Follow your gut....

"Be careful of placing too much trust in others, and rather follow your gut. I spent too much money on what other people told me was going to be successful. Everytime I go against my gut because I believe that other people know better, it’s invariably wrong."

Sarah Collins, founder & CEO of Wonderbag (South Africa)

Juvenália Brito, an Angolan entrepreneur building a professional make-up service

December 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Vanda Tchimuondje Costa, an Angolan entrepreneur building a business that promotes wellness and healthy eating

December 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Kenya’s Flora Mutahi, founder of Melvin’s Tea wins top manufacturing award

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Malawian fashion entrepreneur Lilly Alfonso recognised with UMP Fashion Living Legend Award

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

I'm Not Really a Waitress: How One Woman Took Over the Beauty Industry One Color at a Time By Suzi Weiss-Fischmann

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Breaking Away

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

A Christmas Saving Miracle

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.

Win by being agile and customer-centric

December 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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.