Hearing is a sense. Listening is a skill

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Ashika Pillay

My training as a medical doctor initially unearthed in me, the great desire to solve mysteries and problems - and make puzzles fit. I would listen to patients for clinical signs and symptoms and be quick on the button with solving the “issue”. As I trained though, I started to really sense into “why is this person really here?” What is the unsaid, unseen, and unheard symptom that they are wishing to reveal - given the right time and attention. I suppose this is where my “coaching” started early on. In a GP practice that I worked; I was known for taking an incredibly long time with patients. Patient’s moved from “needing weight loss medication” to revealing deep insecurities about themselves, their marriages, and lives.

Why You Shouldn’t Keep Customers Waiting and How Route Planning Software Can Help

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

The biggest problem facing any industry that is required to go to the customers’ location, is that people are becoming increasingly impatient. A survey sponsored by Interparcel out of the UK, found that 50% of Brits admitted to becoming more impatient in the past 5 years. While it’s no surprise that patience is waning in our society, there are ways to monitor and measure customer satisfaction, and also improve the accuracy of your daily schedules.

Entrepreneur Advice from Ngozi Opara / What’s your why?

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Ngozi Opara, Founder, Heat Free Hair (Nigeria)

What’s your why?…

“You should figure out your “why?” first. It’s probably the most important aspect of your business because, as you scale, things get tougher and tougher and your reason for beginning your entrepreneurial journey is something you will always come back to.”

Ngozi Opara, Founder, Heat Free Hair (Nigeria)

Quote of the Day by Stella Langat

July 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Growing up, we didn’t call it entrepreneurship, but we knew about ‘hustling’.”

Stella Langat, Co-founder, Double Dee's (Kenya)

Entrepreneur Advice from Snoekie Mabena-Saleh / Believe in yourself!

July 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, Founder and Director, S.MAB GROUP (South Africa)

Believe in yourself!…

“Know where to focus based on your capabilities and strengths, hold yourself responsible and accountable in acts in your business. Never fear to ask for assistance from your stakeholders (banks and associations related to your industry). Never be afraid to fail for failure exposes you to learning. Believe in yourself.”

Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, Founder and Director, S.MAB GROUP (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Thiitu Karega / Start small, but start now!

June 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Thiitu Karega, founder, Binti Naturals, (Kenya)

Start small but start now!…

“There is never going to be a perfect time to go after your goals. Start small but start now. I fail more times than I’m willing to admit but at least I’ve tried.”

Thiitu Karega, founder, Binti Naturals, (Kenya)

Margaret Hirsch, an impact-driven retail pioneer in Southern Africa

June 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Hirsch’s is a truly South African family business and was founded 41 years ago by Margaret Hirsch and her husband Allan. Today, it is the largest independently owned Appliance and Electronics retail outlet in South Africa - Margaret now has the role of Executive Director of the company, Allan is the Chairman, son Richard is CEO and daughter Luci is Brand Manager. Lionesses of Africa chatted to Margaret this month to hear her shared insights during this Covid-19 pandemic, and its impact on her personally and on the business. She opens up very honestly about her personal experiences, and also her people centric approach to business.

Pretty Kubyane, a blockchain technology entrepreneur in South Africa disrupting the hair supply chain industry

June 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Pretty Kubyane, co-founder of Coronet Blockchain (South Africa)

Startup Story

In Africa, hair is big business, from the supply chain of human hair products, to hair suppliers, salon businesses, and associated services. Pretty Kubyane and her husband co-founded Coronet Blockchain, a company looking to create an end-to-end transparent supply chain by harnessing the power of technology.

Linda Khumbanyiwa, a Malawian womenswear brand-builder celebrating local heritage and craftsmanship

June 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Linda Khumbanyiwa, founder of Lynne Kayenne Studio (Malawi)

Startup Story

Creative entrepreneurs are often inspired by their cultural heritage, and for Linda Khumbanyiwa, founder of Lynne Kayenne Studio, that was certainly the case. Her inspiration came from Malawi, the country of her birth, and a deep desire to change people’s perceptions of it, through her creative work.

Business agility in turbulent times

June 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: by James Noble, Head of Wholesale, Retail and Franchising – Absa Business Banking

No business has been left unscathed by the COVID19 pandemic. Even businesses in the fast- moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector that trade in groceries, health, hygiene, long-life consumables and pharmaceutical products have been impacted due to shorter trading hours and more conservative purchasing behaviour by consumers.

Energetic Selling & Marketing; A New Way to Create Extraordinary Growth in Your Business by Lenka Lutonska

June 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

So many women entrepreneurs find sales and marketing the tough part of their businesses, it doesn’t always come naturally to them. But in her new book, Energetic Selling & Marketing; A New Way to Create Extraordinary Growth in Your Business, author, entrepreneur and sales guru, Lenka Lutonska, has a different approach. By focusing energetically on five critical areas of business, she shows readers how to change their current ways of thinking and doing, and instead to experience growth by adopting a new way of selling and marketing.

Are you a ‘Lean-Back’ or ‘Lean Forward’ Business?

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

It was one of those mornings, our coffee machine had broken (to be fair it was very well used and abused, especially by our Head of Operations) and our IT/techno guru who doubles as the go-to expert for all things that involve electricity, plugs and buttons (not the business shirt kind) was nowhere to be found.

Panic, chaos and mayhem ensued!

In times of crisis, up the comms!

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo, founder and Managing Director of Brandbuilder

At a time when we are practicing social distancing in real life, we need to do the opposite with our customers. In other words, use this time to get closer. How can you do that?

Communicate, communicate, communicate!

The power of mindfulness meditation in stressful times

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, Founder and CEO of Empowervate

Mindfulness meditation is a great way to still the mind and stop the thoughts from causing stress and anxiety. Our brains have a default network which creates all kinds of thoughts all the time except when we are focusing on something and being “in flow”. All the other times, our thoughts continue. The problem comes when we get stuck on a thought, and obsess about it, which causes negative emotions like fear, worry, anger etc.

Mapping your business journey

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo, ceo, Unlimited Experiences SA

We are living in times where the way of doing business and living has been redefined for years to come. Pandemics are generally known for taking years to reach their full destructive potential, it is therefore critical for organizations to behave responsibly during the different phases of the pandemic. The consequence of irresponsible behaviour is a new era of disputes that are going to need to be resolved by employers.

Self-Compassion: A Valuable Stress Management Tool

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Have you ever been told that you are too hard on yourself? When you receive feedback do you scroll past all the good stuff and focus on the negative or ‘constructive’ feedback? This is was my norm for most of my life, particularly early in my corporate career.

A Step Closer to a Healthy Balance

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane, Founder Estética & Cosméticos

When I started the organic journey, which wasn’t a piece of cake I have to say, I found very interesting facts about the powerful effects food has on the mind, emotions, and the physical, and how the immune system reacts to different situations.

Perfection versus Excellence

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Ashika Pillay

In the quest for progress rather than perfection…

Is it possible to get out of your own way so that you can gain traction and get action on things that you would like to do? Sometimes the thing that can keep us stuck in unfinished cycles and continuous loops of inertia and inaction is a fixated view of getting things right vs getting the right things done.