Quote of the Day by Rebecca Enonchong

January 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Just knowing that other people are in your situation and are making it through is great support. I think that this is how you build out the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa, one person at a time supporting others.”

Rebecca Enonchong, founder of AppsTech (Cameroon)

Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Learn by doing

January 7, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and CEO of Java Foods (Zambia) — **Monica Musonda**, founder and CEO of Java Foods (Zambia)

It's often best for entrepreneurs to learn by doing....

“I think you have got to learn by doing. You may not have all the answers, you may not know the size of the market, you may not know how much the competition is selling. But if you get into the business, do your initial groundwork as much as you can – but get in there and then start gathering your own data.”

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Quote of the Day by Eldari Visser

January 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Every road that is worth traveling on will bring its own set of challenges”

Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Brenda Katwesigye: Focus on your product

January 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Brenda Katwesigye, founder of Wazi Vision, Uganda — **Brenda Katwesigye**, founder of Wazi Vision, Uganda

Focus on the product....

"A lot of questions will come up about how you make money. But if you focus on creating a quality product that people will use to solve real life challenges, there will always be opportunities to monetize your solution."

Brenda Katwesigye, founder of Wazi Vision (Uganda)

9 Angolan women entrepreneurs making their mark in the country

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Country Feature

Angola is increasingly becoming an exciting place to do business, as regional and international visitors are finding out for themselves. In particular, the country is seeing a growth in entrepreneurship, with some interesting growth businesses emerging and catching the attention of the global and regional marketplace. The country’s business environment is changing and a new spirit of enterprise is being driven by a new generation of women entrepreneurs who are making their mark and building exciting and diverse businesses that are poised to grow.

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, the ecopreneur saving Uganda’s gorillas with her high impact coffee brand

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee (Uganda)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

A new generation of environmentally conscious women entrepreneurs on the African continent, or ecopreneurs as they are better known, are making a real and tangible difference by building socially and environmentally conscious, impact driven businesses. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of Gorilla Conservation Coffee in Uganda, is one such woman.

Georgina Angélica, an Angolan entrepreneur turning a passion for early years education into a business

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Georgina Angélica, specialist education and professional development consultant (Angola)

Startup Story

For Georgina Angélica, her business motto is: “Cada necessidade um recurso”, which translates as, “For every need, a resource”. In her specialist education and professional development consultancy, she lives by that motto, providing courses and workshops for local educators to meet all needs.

Chasing the Bright Side: Embrace Optimism, Activate Your Purpose, and Write Your Own Story by Jess Ekstrom

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Social entrepreneur and author Jess Ekstrom believes that success is not born out of skill, school, where we’re from, who we know, or how well we did in our exams at school or college. In her new book, Chasing the Bright Side, Jess Ekstrom shares her own inspirational story of how optimism helped her overcome multiple challenges, and the dynamic ways her mind-set propelled her as an entrepreneur, international speaker, and philanthropist.

Claudia Phantshi, a South African entrepreneur creating memorable travel experiences for her clients

January 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Claudia Phantshi, founder of Pathfinder Travel Consultancy (South Africa)

Startup Story

Whether planning a business trip or a vacation, it always pays to have a specialist travel planner to help organize the ultimate experience. In South Africa, Claudia Phantshi, founder of Pathfinder Travel Consultancy, is doing just that.

Divine Ndhlukula, Africa's queen of security

January 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of SECURICO (Zimbabwe)

100 Lionesses

This Zimbabwean woman tackled the previously male-dominated security industry head on, achieving remarkable success and becoming one of Africa's most inspiring women entrepreneurs. Meet Divine Ndhlukula, the founder of SECURICO, a 100% Zimbabwean and 100% Women owned company.

Why Your Business Needs To Consider These 2020 Strategic Planning Insights

January 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo

I’m sure we are all familiar with the culture of “strategic planning” which sees most businesses taking time out to plan for the year ahead. This practice has become a culture in such a way that massive budgets are allocated to these gatherings. These sessions should be about looking at ways to solve business challenges through design whether this is what happens nobody knows except when customers and employees start feeling the pain.

Own your self worth

January 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

I was asked to present a master class on self-leadership to a new client for their team of 8 women. It was a fantastic morning and I was feeling really good… except when it came to the Q&A part of the session. Clearly, I may have ruffled some feathers and was faced with some rather defensive questions from the senior client. Now this often happens as people are faced with a huge dose of self-awareness and if they don’t love what they see, there are two possible reactions: Number 1 – they reflect, take accountability and decide to make a change to shift from where they are to where they want to be. Number 2 – they blame and deflect all responsibility.

Does your business need a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?

January 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Aleshia van der Ploeg LLB. (RAU), Director VDP Legal Consulting (PTY) LTD

So what exactly is an NDA? A Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”) is a legal agreement between at least two parties that stipulates that the confidential information that the parties share with one another for certain purposes, may not be disclosed to or must be restricted access to third parties. An NDA creates a confidential relationship between the parties, in order to protect confidential information.

Bongiwe Gangeni: Lessons from the Lioness

January 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Bongiwe Gangeni, Deputy CEO of Absa Retail and Business Bank

Impact Partner Content: Absa

Bongiwe Gangeni the Deputy CEO of Absa Retail and Business Bank talks about her journey to the top.

Entrepreneur Advice from Banke Kuku: The key is perseverance

January 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Banke Kuku, founder and CEO of Banke Kuku Textiles — **Banke Kuku**, founder and CEO of Banke Kuku Textiles

“Talent, hard work and education definitely help but like with every start-up the key is perseverance and understanding your product and customer much of which is learnt along the way. Running a creative start-up is by no means an easy exercise at all. Success wasn’t instant. I tried several things many times and eventually things are starting to take shape,”

Banke Kuku, founder of Banke Kuku Textiles (UK/Nigeria)

Entrepreneur Advice from Marjon Meyer: Know yourself

January 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Marjon Meyer, founder of Marjon Meyer Training and HR Consulting (South Africa) — **Marjon Meyer,** founder of Marjon Meyer Training and HR Consulting (South Africa)

Know yourself….

“Know yourself and your talents well, to ensure that you can capitalize on these. Be aware of your development areas and surround yourself with a competent team of people who will be there for you.”

Marjon Meyer, founder of Marjon Meyer Training and HR Consulting (South Africa)

Diane Kayakez Mukaz Domingos, an Angolan entrepreneur bringing the specialist field of occupational therapy to her country

December 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Diane Kayakez Mukaz Domingos, founder of REABILITARY DI-VERSIDADE (Angola)

Startup Story

Occupational therapy is a real calling, with professionals who have a passion for making a difference to people’s lives. Diane Kayakez Mukaz Domingos, founder of REABILITARY DI-VERSIDADE is building a clinic in Angola where her specialist knowledge in areas such as nutrition, physiotherapy, psychology and occupational therapy, are helping so people who are in need of rehabilitation.

Lebogang Ndhlovu, a South African entrepreneur making high quality beauty therapy accessible and affordable

December 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Lebogang Ndhlovu, founder of Amare Beauty and Consulting (South Africa)

Startup Story

Every woman wants to look good and feel confident, and there is nothing quite like getting a great beauty therapy experience to help achieve that goal. Yet for many women in South Africa, getting access to high quality beauty treatments that are affordable can be a challenge. But in Johannesburg and Soweto, entrepreneur and beauty therapy specialist, Lebogang Ndhlovu, founder of Amare Beauty and Consulting, has the solution.

100 LIONESSES: Julian Adyeri Omalla - 'Mama Cheers' is Uganda's favourite juice maker

December 29, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Julian Adyeri Omalla, founder of Delight Uganda Limited — **Julian Adyeri Omalla**, founder of Delight Uganda Limited

Julian Adyeri Omalla is one of Uganda's top female entrepreneurs. She is founder, chairperson and managing director of Delight Uganda Limited, producing the country's most popular fruit drink sold under the brand name 'Cheers'. Julian has diversified into a range of other business activities, including egg and poultry farming, maize-feed production, a flour mill and bakery, a student hostel for 400, as well as coordinating women’s farmer cooperatives that provide food aid into Sudan. Today, Julian employs over 1,000 Ugandans and exports to countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Zaire.