Entrepreneur Advice from Tatenda Ndambakuwa: Shoot high!

April 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tatenda Ndambakuwa, founder of Shiri (Zimbabwe) — **Tatenda Ndambakuwa**, founder of Shiri (Zimbabwe)

Shoot high!…

“Find your passion and seize every opportunity related to it. Do lots of research around the industry you want to break into. Focus on the things you can control and perfect the details. Cultivate a network of trusted mentors and colleagues. Choose the right teammates. Above all shoot high, the most important thing is to get up and keep trying, never give up on something you believe in. PS: Don't forget to shatter glass ceilings!”

Tatenda Ndambakuwa, founder and developer of shiri (Zimbabwe)

Effective brand communication during uncertain times of COVID-19

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kelebogile Makhafola

The saying that goes, “you cannot manage what you cannot measure” proves to be earnest in such a time. Marketing managers, brand leaders and business owners are not only having to deal with the core sustenance of the business, but also forced to figure out how best to keep their brand healthy and helpful in such a time. Effective brand communication during uncertain times is vital for stakeholder management and brand impact. Below are 5 ways to keep your brand engaged and empathetic to its’ customers as we globally navigate uncharted territory.

The influence of COVID-19 in South Africa’s work environment

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nomihlali Ntsunguzi

In the last week prior to and during the lockdown, the number of people working from home increased, some were sent home on unpaid leave. This has distinguished companies that have started adapting to the 4IR through proper systems, from those that haven’t adapted at all. Jacques du Preez (IOA) says, “those quickest to utilize the new technologies that come with the 4IR will reap the most benefit. Some estimates place the profits reaped by early-adopting firms at almost 120%, with a measly 10% for those who only adopt the new technologies later on”.

8 Ways Designers Can Adapt During The Crisis

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tapiwa Matsinde

The pandemic has forced us to rethink the business plans we set out for the year ahead. While we cannot control what is happening we can control how we choose to react and for designers and creatives that includes adapting the way we work. Conversations with designers in my network have revealed the ways in which they are pivoting and I share theirs and my suggestions with you.

How I keep my spirits up, while adapting to a new reality

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

The global Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to live differently. I am noticing that many people are very distressed about changes to planned goals and activities. The social distancing and self-isolation is causing many to be apprehensive and frustrated at home. I have decided to share how I keep my spirits up, while adapting to a new reality. I’m no expert, and what works for me may not be everyone’s solution, but maybe some of this will inspire others with their own ideas.

Stress management is boundary management

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Prior to the Corona pandemic, you were battling to ‘balance’ work and life and that’s when work and life were at least separated geographically (for most of us anyway). Now you find yourself in a situation where the boundaries are completely mixed up.

Making the best of a crisis situation

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

Up-skilling yourself has never been more critical than now, whether that be to cope with what is happening in our world at the moment, or to cope with what the world is going to look like in a few months (or years) from now.

Be careful out there!... Not because of a virus, but of becoming smaller and smaller...

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Shaleen Wohrnitz, General Manager, BrandBuildingSA

To all the Lionesses out there: Be careful out there...! Not because of a virus, but becoming smaller and smaller… This is the time when one should not cave in and stop creating - the exact opposite in fact. Promote more, increase your reach, gain more market share and run with your life and everything in it. Live your life to the full and show all those around you how to expand in spite of adversity!

Pandemic marketing. Working through the Covid-19 pandemic.

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2020-03-24 at 5.41.23 PM.png

by Damaris Nyabuti

For the past week, schools and other learning institutions have remained shutdown, several countries have gone on lockdown-closing their borders indefinitely, businesses are working from home, events and gatherings have been made illegal and thus cancelled and soon so many other establishments will be forced into closure. All of this will have a detrimental impact on the economy. Hence, until this quarantine period is over, businesses globally must be aware of how to correctly market their goods and services.

Entrepreneur Advice from Iris Munguambe: Share your journey

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Iris Munguambe, founder of Mariée Boutique Lda (Mozambique) — **Iris Munguambe**, founder of Mariée Boutique Lda (Mozambique)

Share your journey...

“Inspire other people with your story, and share your journey as an entrepreneur. I want to be a good example to other young ladies, telling them how I started at the age of 17 and now 11 years later, I have my own space. We can be more than we can imagine, and we can run the world!”

Iris Munguambe, founder of Mariée Boutique Lda (Mozambique)

Quote of the Day by Brigette Mashile

March 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“… you are definitely here for a reason. Find it; and do it.”

Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Bernie de Le Cuona

March 30, 2020 Melanie Hawken

"Know in your heart there is always a way to succeed. There is always a way to make things work.”

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona

Entrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: Persist… it’s definitely not easy!

March 30, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Monica's best advice for other African women entrepreneurs....

“Have a vision and passion. Be courageous, focused and disciplined. Lastly, persist… it’s definitely not easy.”

Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)

Lioness Launch / Shedding Light founder, Dineo Molokoane, launches new self help book

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Shedding Light is an inimitable South African human and organization development company, which has built a reputation for offering customer-centric transformational services to its clients. This month sees it launching a new personal transformation book entitled, ‘A New Becoming’. This is a guide that helps people change the way they see themselves and the world around them.

Brenda Katwesigye, a Ugandan tech innovator providing access to quality eye care

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Wazi Vision’s co-founder and ceo, Brenda Katwesigye, has a big vision for her business - to help everyone access quality eye care, without paying hefty sums for it. She and her team understand that good eyesight is critical to overall health and well being – especially for children and that is why the company has created affordable eyeglasses that are designed in Uganda and cost 80% less than what is currently on the market. Wazi Vision’s virtual reality (VR) testing kit also helps bring eye care testing to communities that do not have optometrists or access to affordable eye care services.

Coronavirus - Resist!

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Two ‘Lioness Weekenders’ ago, we dived straight into the most important aspect of our business lives, that of Cash Flow. This week, the London Business School showed us why it is Cash Flow that is the only thing that keeps our Head of Finance awake at night.

Coronavirus necessitates new ways of doing business

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa / by Riaan Petersen, Head of Business Banking Segment Solutions, Absa Retail and Business Bank

Governments across the world are taking drastic measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19. At the time of writing this article, the virus affected 199 countries and territories, 536.6k confirmed cases, 24.1k deaths and 124.4k recoveries. There are now more than 2,400 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across Africa and growing warnings that the pandemic will cause major challenges for the continent’s under-resourced health services.

Nancy Ernesto, an Angolan entrepreneur bringing the world of Avon beauty to the country

March 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nancy Ernesto, founder of Avon Nancia Comércio Geral (SU) LDA (Angola)

Startup Story

The beauty industry is a growing one across the African continent, and in Angola the market has great potential. For entrepreneur Nancy Ernesto, founder of Avon Nancia Comércio Geral (SU) LDA, this represented a great opportunity to bring a renowned, empowering global franchise into the country.

Sales Un-usual: These sales techniques will help you in this unprecedented time

March 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Karen van Zyl, Founder & CEO, VA Connect and SnappSales

The world is a-changing and at a rapid pace too! A few short months ago you were putting your New Year’s Resolutions in place and gearing for an exciting year. And then everything changed. It’s so surreal and those that I have spoken to say they feel like they are in a movie. The Corona Virus has hit and has hit us hard. Nothing could have prepared us for what is about to unfold.

Covid-19: How to capitalise on the next 3 weeks

March 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Clare Appleyard

On the 31st December 2019, there was a global sense of optimism. 2020 is our year, said everybody from entrepreneurs to politicians and Olympic athletes. Fast forward three months and much of the world is in tatters. Dreams have been shattered, economies have been devastated and lives have been lost. Nobody, nobody could have predicted the worldwide havoc that an invisible enemy called Covid-19 would wreak.