Dana Mroueh, an artisan chocolatier celebrating Côte d’Ivoire’s renowned cocoa beans

August 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco (Côte d’Ivoire)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Meet MonChoco, a proudly Ivorian chocolate brand, reflecting the country’s exceptional terroir.

Côte d’Ivoire is renowned for the quality of its cocoa beans, but up until now, the world has not had the opportunity to widely celebrate those beans in the finest of chocolate forms. But that is rapidly changing as artisan chocolatier Dana Mroueh and her company, MonChoco, are producing a very special raw chocolate brand and range of products that is exciting taste buds in the country.

LIONESS COLAB / AMWA Designs X Allbirds team design a special edition of the Dasher trainer

August 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness CoLAB

An exciting CoLab has just been announced between the talented textile designer, Chrissa Amuah, founder of AMWA Designs, and Allbirds, the highly innovative and sustainable global footwear brand, well known for its trainers. Chrissa collaborated with the Allbirds team to design a special edition of the Dasher trainer - and the results were incredible.

Ball Gowns to Yoga Pants: Entrepreneurial Secrets for Creating Your Dream Business and Brand by Dr. Shellie Hipsky

August 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Dr. Shellie Hipsky’s daughter noted that her mom no longer wore power suits daily for work. As a successful motivational media company’s CEO and the nonprofit leader of The Global Sisterhood, Dr. Shellie helps inspire and empower the women of the world. Her daughter Alyssa stated she was always wearing either, “ball gowns for charity events or running around in yoga pants with her kids making deals on the phone.” This practical book takes you step by step from vision to startup and beyond as Dr. Shellie describes her rise from tenured professor to becoming an award-winning “Best Business Woman” and “Entrepreneur of the Year” whose company has grown massively in impact and revenue. The book takes you through 10 key Success Secrets, from how to be authentic in your leadership and marketing to attract the right customers and clients, through to building your dream team in your business.

Hope is a 4-letter word!

August 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Our Head of Finance (HoF) was in an excited mood and called us in to watch an interview from Stanford University with Marc Andreessen (founding partner of the massive and highly successful USA VC firm A16Z). One hour later and shocked, we began to realize why this was so important. A16Z look at 3,000 of the 4,000 startups in the USA searching for VC funding each year in A16Z’s sectors. Of those they only look at 200 in depth and of those they only invest in about 20 a year.

Covid-19 health pandemic amplified by a financial fraud crisis

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa | By Ulrich Janse van Rensburg, Head of Fraud Strategy for Absa’s Retail and Business Bank

A heartfelt call to exercise vigilance when it comes to money matters.

The past few months have been a really tough period for Jack and Sarah. While they are committed to curbing the spread of Covid-19 and have gone out of their way to protect themselves and the people around them during this time, they co-own a popular barber shop, which was closed for business during the first phases of the national lockdown. The lack of income has been a massive worry. Fortunately, the couple had accumulated some savings over the years, which was seeing them through this tough period, but it was fast running out.

Show up for your online meetings with your camera on!

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“This is an economy based on connection. Can you be heard, can you connect, can you be trusted?”

— Seth Godin

Still showing up for online meetings with the camera off? Here’s why you seriously need to reconsider…

Date nights in lockdown don’t have to be boring

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

I’m hearing so many couples say that there’s not much they can do when it comes to date nights with being in lockdown. That’s because traditionally when it comes to date nights, the majority of couples have resorted to dinner at their favourite restaurant, or maybe even a movie and popcorn thrown in too – it was quick and easy. However, being in lock down, we are not able to go to restaurants and movies anymore so it’s become harder for couples to implement date nights and they are needing to be much more creative.

Quote of the Day by Emma Maame Efua Tandoh

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Forget the odds and go for it. As crazy as it may seem, the future of our continent rests with us women entrepreneurs.”

Emma Maame Efua Tandoh, founder, Love Ankara, Ghana

Entrepreneur Advice from Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete / Differentiate yourself from your competitors

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, Founder, Dali Banga Eventos and Mulandi (Mozambique)

Differentiate yourself from your competitors!…

“Even if we provide the same services, our essence will differentiate us from one another. The market has space and customers for everyone!”

Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, Founder, Dali Banga Eventos and Mulandi (Mozambique)

Elohor Thomas, a techpreneur in Nigeria passionate about helping African software engineers find dream jobs

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Elohor Thomas, co-founder of CodeLn (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Companies know how tough it can be to find the right tech hire, those highly trained and experienced software engineers from the African continent who are a good fit for the job. CodeLn, co-founded by techpreneur Elohor Thomas, is there to help. This specialist software company helps companies seamlessly find, test, and hire the right skilled African tech talent at the right time.

Lethumusa Kulube, a South African entrepreneur driving change through digital communication

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lethumusa Kulube, founder of Stractiv8 Impact (South Africa)

Startup Story

These days, digital communication has become the most powerful tool for any business to reach those all important customers and markets. But for many non-profit organisations, the process of building a digital communication strategy and tools can be overwhelming. In South Africa, entrepreneur Lethumusa Kulube, founder of Stractiv8 Impact, has the specialist solution and approach that is needed.

I’m harnessing all that creativity and positive energy

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kabira Dewan

We are inevitably heading to the so called “new normal way of doing business” but I must admit I am still spinning with all the creativity and positive energy that I experienced during Lockdown.

Quote of the Day by Victorine Sarr

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“I have 100% of my destiny in my own hands, I set the vision.”

Victorine Sarr, founder, Lyvv Cosmetics (Senegal)

Entrepreneur Advice from Prudence Seya / Do not be afraid to dare

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Prudence Seya, Founder, Web Training Academy (Cote d’Ivoire)

Do not be afraid to dare!…

“If you are looking for someone who can help you realize your dreams, look in the mirror. Do not be afraid to dare.”

Prudence Seya, Founder, Web Training Academy (Cote d’Ivoire)

Feeling overwhelmed by news and social media? Develop a Mindful Media approach.

August 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Ashika Pillay

“Whoever controls the media, controls the mind”

— Jim Morrison

Social media is pervasive. Even the fact that you are reading this - is evidence of how much content is out there. The question is, are you “choice-full” about what you consume or are you a victim to relentless barrage of news items, posts about other people’s lives, polarized journalism, political agenda, and conspiracy theories.

Own your morning. Own your day.

August 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

The most important habit I have developed over the years that has given me more time in my day, more ‘me time’ and more energy, it’s this – waking up earlier. This is sacred time when no one else is awake and it’s the only gap I have in my day to truly focus on developing myself. Self-leadership can’t be found in a one day seminar or a book you read a few years ago, it is a daily discipline. Now, no one is going to give you this time. It has to be consciously carved into your day. I know you are thinking ‘It’s easier said than done’ – fair enough. So here are some tips on how to actually get yourself to wake earlier.

How to Boost Your Motivation

August 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

It’s not easy to maintain self-control, especially when things are difficult. Personally, I’ve found life very difficult over the past few months with the pandemic, lockdown and load shedding in South Africa. I’ve noticed that many people have abandoned their diets and have had difficulty staying focussed on their business objectives. So how can we keep motivated and working towards our goals?