Entrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: Discover your 'why'

February 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

Discover your 'why'....

“Before going into a business, you must discover the reason for going into the business. You need to ask yourself the following questions; why do I have to do this, why am I here, what is my purpose and what is it that I want to achieve in this business?”

Adenike Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)

Quote of the Day by Tania Reid

February 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“... stop making excuses about your 'small' business, all empires started off small.”

Tania Reid, founder of ithemba Office Solutions (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Lynette Hundermark

February 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

"Don’t feel intimidated, trust in your abilities, follow your passion and go with it.”

Lynette Hundermark, co-founder of Useful & Beautiful (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Bernie de Le Cuona: You can grow and fund your business through sales

February 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona — **Bernie de Le Cuona**, founder of de Le Cuona

You can grow and fund your business through sales….

“(My business) was totally self-funded. I never even used an overdraft. It was literally selling something, investing the money from that in something else and selling that.”

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of De Le Cuona

Entrepreneur Advice from Tayo Bello: You must have passion for what you do

February 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tayo Bello, founder of Bello Creations (Nigeria)

My best advice…

"To have the passion for what you do and make sure you have a business adviser and mentors in place to guide you through the journey."

Tayo Bello, founder of Bello Creations (Nigeria)

Quote of the Day by Dr Levashni Naidoo

February 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Reach out for a hand of support when the path seems daunting and be equally ready to reach out your hand to steady that of another on their journey. Growth is collaborative.”

Dr Levashni Naidoo, founder of The Dermatology Room (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Deborah Hartung

February 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Don’t be so hard on yourself and put so much pressure on yourself to do it all and be this perfect business woman, partner and mother.”

Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Don’t think you will always be a small business

February 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)

To survive over the long term, bigger is better…

“The reality is that to be a profitable, well-run business, it’s all about scale. I’ve never had an ambition to be a small business. I tell my staff they shouldn’t think like an SME. Don’t think you will always be a small business because then you will always be a small business.”

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Kerryne Krause, a game-changer in life sciences technology manufacturing in Africa

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Meet the Chief Excitement Officer at I-Slices Innovation.

Kerryne Krause, who calls herself "The Chief Excitement Officer", is the founder and CEO of I-Slices Innovations, a Top Technology 100 Company in South Africa. I-Slices® Technology is a first in the world, and is a unique Cryogel dermal delivery system with its applications in the cosmetics, veterinary & medical industries.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s More Than Golf launches inaugural event to showcase talented caddies

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Great golfers need great caddies. Ask anyone who plays professionally and they will tell you that the role of the caddy is critical to their own performances. But they often don’t get the recognition or support they deserve. In Johannesburg, South Africa, a new golf event is being launched on 8 March 2020 to shine a spotlight on talented caddies who have a great game of their own.

Creating new hospitality powerhouses

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa

Nyeleti Mushwana of Karibu Leisure Resort and Conference Centre shares how Absa is helping her expand into a nationwide hospitality powerhouse.

Aramide Ajayi, a Nigerian entrepreneur creating an engaging e-commerce platform for children’s products

February 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Aramide Ajayi, founder of Futureshoppers (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Being laser-focused on making shopping for children easier for busy parents was the inspiration to start a business for Aramide Ajayi, founder of Futureshoppers in Nigeria. Today, her e-commerce platform is a one stop shop for children’s products.

Cindy Matlapeng, an entrepreneur in Botswana making cleaning a breeze for her customers

February 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Cindy Matlapeng, founder of The Office Team Cleaning and Support Services (Botswana)

Startup Story

Anyone running a successful business or large home knows that keeping things clean and tidy is a must, but professional help is needed to achieve this state of domestic or corporate bliss. In Botswana, help is at hand from entrepreneur Cindy Matlapeng, founder of The Office Team Cleaning and Support Services, a business that makes light work of cleaning.

Yes, You Can Do This! How Women Start Up, Scale Up, and Build The Life They Want by Claudia Reuter

February 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you ever wondered how women can lean in to entrepreneurship to create the life they want, then author Claudia Reuter has the answer. In her new book, Yes, You Can Do This! How Women Start Up, Scale Up, and Build The Life They Want, she shares her own personal business building journey and a game-plan for taking the leap into the world of entrepreneurship.

What do business owners want from their accountant?

February 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nthabiseng Maidi, Principal Director, MMCP Wealth and MMCP Business Advisory Services

Gone are the days where an accountant will receive paper invoices, receipts, bank statements and delve into processing and producing a trail balance, then the financial reports. There is an old myth that accountants are necessary for compliance purposes and that is not true. With the advancement in technology and the move to digital, some of the work that was previously done by accountants will be obsolete. The WEF of 2019 issued the trends of threatened jobs, and accountants were on the list. Meaning that accountants must rethink their service offering. We are not paper pushers anymore and we do not focus on the past. Our role should be forward looking and providing a service that will grow our clients.

A Case of Customer Loyalty

February 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo, founder of Unlimited Experiences

A wave has just hit South Africa's banking industry, so who will be left behind? Tyme Bank is the new kid on the block promising to help South Africans achieve their full potential. The bank empowers South Africans to take back control of their money by helping them understand how money really works and giving them a transparent view of their own financial situations. Is this what customers are looking for from banking? What does banking mean for South African consumers? Could it be that Tyme Bank is the answer to the pain points of the South African consumer as far as banking is concerned?

What if?

February 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

During the holiday break, we took the kids to do indoor climbing on a rainy day. My son objected from the moment we arrived and cried all the way until we reached the entrance of the venue. When he looked inside and saw how incredible this place was – it had everything from different types of climbing walls to mazes, obstacle courses and trampolines. Now when he saw this, he was running in and didn’t know where to start. Just pure excitement and joy!

Entrepreneur Advice from Andra Massamba: Stay strong and focused

February 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Andra Massamba, founder of Uabalika (Mozambique)

Stay strong and focused…

“… never give up, however difficult and long the path is, never give up! I have Faith, Strength and Focus, and that is all, and it’s enough to achieve everything I want in life.”

Andra Massamba, founder of Uabalika (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Evangelia Kalaitzi: Entrepreneurship grows you as a person

February 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Evangelia Kalaitzi, founder of HealthyWise & Evangelia Nina K Brand (South Africa)

Entrepreneurship grows you as a person…

"Entrepreneurship and having my own business has brought tears, laughter and experience into my life. It has also brought new people, as well as the opportunity to unleash a greater part of me and grow me as an individual.”

Evangelia Kalaitzi, founder of HealthyWise & Evangelia Nina K Brand (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Sarah Collins

February 18, 2020 Melanie Hawken

"I am driven by a deep sense that every human needs to make a contribution and leave this world a better place."

Sarah Collins, founder and CEO of Wonderbag

“Before going into a business, you must discover the reason for going into the business. You need to ask yourself the following questions; why do I have to do this, why am I here, what is my purpose and what is it that I want to achieve in this business?”

“... stop making excuses about your 'small' business, all empires started off small.”

"Don’t feel intimidated, trust in your abilities, follow your passion and go with it.”

“(My business) was totally self-funded. I never even used an overdraft. It was literally selling something, investing the money from that in something else and selling that.”

"To have the passion for what you do and make sure you have a business adviser and mentors in place to guide you through the journey."

“Reach out for a hand of support when the path seems daunting and be equally ready to reach out your hand to steady that of another on their journey. Growth is collaborative.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself and put so much pressure on yourself to do it all and be this perfect business woman, partner and mother.”

“The reality is that to be a profitable, well-run business, it’s all about scale. I’ve never had an ambition to be a small business. I tell my staff they shouldn’t think like an SME. Don’t think you will always be a small business because then you will always be a small business.”

“… never give up, however difficult and long the path is, never give up! I have Faith, Strength and Focus, and that is all, and it’s enough to achieve everything I want in life.”

"Entrepreneurship and having my own business has brought tears, laughter and experience into my life. It has also brought new people, as well as the opportunity to unleash a greater part of me and grow me as an individual.”

"I am driven by a deep sense that every human needs to make a contribution and leave this world a better place."

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