Suzie Wokabi, leading lady of Kenya's beauty industry

January 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

The African continent represents a rapidly growing marketplace for the beauty and wellness industry. What is really exciting is the emergence of a generation of African women beauty brand-builders who are creating world-class beauty and skincare products that are specifically formulated to meet the needs of African women consumers. In Kenya, Suzie Wokabi is one such trailblazer with her SuzieBeauty brand that is winning legions of consumer fans, both at home and abroad.

Mara Cancune, a Mozambican entrepreneur dedicated to human capital development in her country

January 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Mara Cancune, founder of CharbanúRH (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Developing people and human capital is the key to the successful economic development of any country. In Mozambique, entrepreneur Mara Cancune, founder of CharbanúRH - Consultoria e Capacitação, is playing her role to ensure that young people are trained to enter the labour market.

Abueng Leepile, a South African agripreneur providing healthy and delicious vegetables to the country

January 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Abueng Leepile, founder of Bokamoso Abu Farms (South Africa)

Startup Story

South Africa has a long tradition of growing some of the world’s finest fruit and vegetables. In the North West province of the country, agripreneur Abueng Leepile, founder of Bokamoso Abu Farms, is playing her part in the important food production value chain in the country.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tiguidanke Camara: Find your path

January 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tiguidanke Mounir Camara, founder of TIGUI MINING GROUP TMG (Guinea)

Find your path…

“Do not let anyone discourage you. Take time to learn. Spend as much time as possible in the field. You may face discrimination sometimes, but always remain professional and persevere. Know that you represent yourself and those women who will follow your path. Find your path, work hard and let the universe do the rest.”

Tiguidanke Camara, founder of Tigui Mining Group (TMG) (Guinea)

Quote of the Day by Lynn Worsley

January 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2016-11-20 at 6.20.20 PM.png

“Be creative, be unafraid, and take that step off the mountain. I assure you it’s worth it.”

Lynn Worsley, founder of All Women Recycling (South Africa)

Customer First Talk vs Delivering Value

January 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo, founder of Unlimited Experiences

What is "Customer First Talk"? How does this look, tangibly, and how does a company recognize that it’s moved beyond ‘customer first talk’ to delivering value for its customers?

There must be more to caring than copy…paste…share. At least, I hope so!

January 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

Now and then on Facebook I see a certain post. It’s about suicide awareness, and usually invites others to copy, paste and share. Sometimes it includes a dare, something like, ‘Most people won’t share, but I know who will’. The post usually has multi-coloured hearts and a sort of story about how, ‘I am always available if you need to talk…’

Finding the best operating model for your fashion business

January 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

When I started Roka Roko, I didn’t consider my options as to how I wanted to operate. I didn’t think that far ahead. My main goal was to make clothes people felt and looked amazing in. I had been postponing my dream for at least 10 years and finally the opportunity was here. So, I just dove in. As the years passed, I became more and more exposed to other fashion businesses and ways of operation. I toyed with a few operating models and realizedthat it is better to find one and stick to it. I mean, you can 80% do one, and maybe 20% another; but your cash cow needs to be clear and strictly followed.

Quote of the Day by Divine Ndhlukula

January 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula at the 2016 Annual Lionesses of Africa Conference

"Women entrepreneurs have to work twice as hard to succeed... the best thing to do is to remain resolute, focused, ethical and preserve your integrity."

Divine Ndhlukula, founder of SECURICO Security Services (Zimbabwe)

Entrepreneur advice from Anna Richerby: Take yourself seriously

January 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Anna Richerby, Founder of Beloved Beadwork, South Africa — **Anna Richerby**, Founder of Beloved Beadwork, South Africa

You have to take yourself seriously....

"As women we are often taught to prioritize other people’s expectations and live up to other people’s perceptions of us, and that can be a very difficult space to navigate. So you have to take yourself seriously as an entrepreneur."

Anna Richerby, founder of Beloved Beadwork (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Kimberly and Priscilla Addison

January 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

"57 Chocolate aims to inspire the people of Ghana, especially the youth to create and develop Made in Ghana products of highest value."

Kimberly and Priscilla Addison, co-founders of '57 Chocolate (Ghana)

Entrepreneur Advice from Masana Sangweni: Don’t get lonely

January 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Masana Sangweni, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality (South Africa) — **Masana Sangweni**, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality (South Africa)

Don’t get lonely….

“Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, especially in the beginning. Surround yourself with other entrepreneurs, those who are eager to share their experiences and cheer you on; they don't even have to be in the same industry you are in, as long as they have passion and drive for what they do.”

Masana Sangweni, founder of Sanaandi Events & Hospitality (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Lorna Scott: Be adaptable

January 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lorna Scott, founder of Inverroche Distillery (South Africa) — **Lorna Scott**, founder of Inverroche Distillery (South Africa)

Be adaptable…

“Things change, sometimes overnight and often without warning – that’s the only thing you can be sure of - remain flexible and ready to adapt your strategies, but not your vision and goals - and get a good accountant right from the start to help you make informed financial decisions.”

Lorna Scott, founder of Inverroche Distillery (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Oluwafemi Oyedipe

January 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

"The cocoa industry provided a good opportunity to demonstrate the value of processing a raw material into a finished product."

Oluwafemi Oyedipe, founder of LoshesChocolate (Nigeria)

Entrepreneur Advice from Adedoyin Jaiyesimi: Focus on adding value

January 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, founder of The Sparkle Writer's Hub (Nigeria)

Focus on adding value....

"Let your focus be on adding value through your business and meeting the needs of your target market. That's what will ensure the long-term sustainability of your business."

Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, founder of The Sparkle Writer's Hub (Nigeria)

90 Days to CEO: A Guide to Avoid Business Pitfalls and Unlock the Secrets of Entrepreneurship By Rochelle Graham-Campbell

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book review

If you have ever wondered how to take the giant leap to becoming an entrepreneur, no matter what your background, your experience, or your funds, entrepreneur and author, Rochelle Graham-Campbell, founder of Alikay Naturals has some insights. In her new book, 90 Days to CEO: A Guide to Avoid Business Pitfalls and Unlock the Secrets of Entrepreneurship, she shares her journey and her experience.

Africa’s high growth women entrepreneurs pitch to UK investors

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community took part in a special business event on 16 January in London designed to champion African women in business, ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit next week. Start-up Night Africa! London saw 11 women Founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a room of UK investors, buyers, influencers and media as one of a number of focused events organized in the lead up to the summit.

Fátiha Manuel, an Angolan creative entrepreneur creating fashion and accessory designs to dress the nation

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Fátiha Manuel, founder of Hathifa (Angola)

Startup Story

In Angola, celebrities and regular fashionistas alike know that if there is a special outfit or accessory required, then Hathifa is the place to go. Founder Fátiha Manuel and her team are highly talented creatives building a reputation for delivering bespoke and ready-to-wear outfits that deliver on style.

Working capital considerations for growing businesses: PBM Group

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 11.58.32 AM.png

Impact Partner Content: Absa | by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sector Development, Absa Retail and Business Bank

“Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity and cash flows are reality”. This phrase may sound like a cliché, but it is a really important consideration when businesses move into their next growth phase. A major contract may look great from a revenue perspective, but if there are mismatches in the working capital cycle (timing differences of cash going out and cash coming in), the growth may not be worth it.

The ultimate productivity hack

January 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

I have written many articles and run master classes about how to own your Time. This includes tools about dealing with procrastination, multi-tasking (which is actually a bad thing), anxiety and spiralling thoughts, planning, prioritising – this is just a few from my toolkit.