the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Meg Faure, founder of Play Sense (South Africa)
Startup Story
Any parent with young children knows just how critical it is to encourage early emotional development as the basis for a strong learning journey. In South Africa, well-known author and entrepreneur, Meg Faure, founder of Play Sense, has created a unique business focusing on unique play-based learning programmes for 2-4 year olds.
Read more
Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, founders of ’57 Chocolate (Ghana)
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Meet the founders of ’57 Chocolate, Ghana’s luxury chocolate brand
Africa needs women entrepreneurs who really understand the power of the entrepreneurial value chain in their countries, and in Ghana a great example can be found in Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, founders of ’57 Chocolate. The company’s philosophy is based on a bean-to-bar approach to manufacture and distribution, adding value to everyone along the value chain, from cocoa bean grower to consumer. ‘57 Chocolate is a world-class brand that believes in not merely trading the country’s natural resources in their “natural” state, but instead using creativity to transform these resources by developing made in Ghana products of premium value. Lionesses of Africa spoke to these pioneering sisters this month to find out more.
Read more
Natalie and Kim Ellis, founders of The Joinery (South Africa)
Lioness Launch
The Joinery, founded by sisters Natalie and Kim Ellis, together with their team of change makers, innovators, creators and activists, has built a formidable reputation for its ability to find impactful solutions to environmental and community issues through design. It achieves that goal by creating luxury products made from recycled plastic bottles, turning potential waste into something positive. In response to the current Covid-19 pandemic and the changing world we now find ourselves in, these enterprising entrepreneurs have now launched their impactful Together Again essential care pack for their customers.
Read more
by Erin Thomas Wong
Book Review
Mumpreneur Evolution, by Erin Thomas Wong, is a collection of insightful and inspiring interviews with 23 women who share their stories of building businesses around family life. Millions of women around the world are choosing a different way of working. They are not opting to return to a full time career working 60 hours a week, but they are instead carving their own paths, building businesses which allow them to be a mother and a business owner side-by-side.
Read more
from the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept
“Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t,
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t,
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes,
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul.”
….and that was what greeted us as we arrived in our office this morning, blaring from our Head of Finance’s open door!
Read more
by Adv. Lufuno Khorommbi, Cyber Law Consultant and MD: Orizur Consulting Enterprise
Did you know that internet users are not only having to protect themselves from Covid-19; but from online vulnerabilities as well? During the wake of Covid-19 being declared a world crisis; cyber criminals (hackers) jumped at an opportunity to deceive internet users? It does seem that internet users are not only having to fight against Covid-19 virus, but against cyber-attacks as well. Since everyone is genuinely seeking to know more about Covid-19, they saw an opportunity to defraud internet users.
Read more
by Nadia Marillier, founder of Tranquil & Tenacious Minds
How am I going to cope? Will I be able to sustain my business and see to my family? How will I remain relevant? These are questions many entrepreneurs, including myself, asked when COVID-19 became our reality.
Read more
by Robyn Keet
A strategy for Creatives to earn an income during location restrictions.
Are you a Creative at home waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so you can go back to work? Or you can get back to work but your clients are a little concerned to be going out or going ahead with your services? If this is you, then I might have an idea or two on how you can either add or adapt your current creative business to service your audience while making a living during these uncertain times.
Read more
by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation
Facing the same dilemma too? We actually don’t have to. A few weeks ago, I wrote on how moms can use screen time to get some work done. Screen time is awesome in the sense that your child gets entertainment, learns and sees new things but too much of it can really disempower your child. So, what do we do?
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)
Maria Auma, founder of Blue Luxury Investments (Uganda)
Read more
Ngozi Opara, Founder, Heat Free Hair (Nigeria)
What’s your why?…
Ngozi Opara, Founder, Heat Free Hair (Nigeria)
Read more
Stella Langat, Co-founder, Double Dee's (Kenya)
Stella Langat, Co-founder, Double Dee's (Kenya)
Read more
Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, Founder and Director, S.MAB GROUP (South Africa)
Believe in yourself!…
Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, Founder and Director, S.MAB GROUP (South Africa)
Read more
Christelle Kwizera, Founder & CEO, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)
Christelle Kwizera, Founder & CEO, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)
Read more
Thiitu Karega, founder, Binti Naturals, (Kenya)
Start small but start now!…
Thiitu Karega, founder, Binti Naturals, (Kenya)
Read more
Margaret Hirsch
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more