Absa Lionesses Xpo to connect women-owned businesses to corporate buyers on virtual platform

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Absa Lionesses Xpo

Doing business with women entrepreneurs has never been more vital, as South Africa grapples with the ripple-effect of the extended lockdown and economic crisis. The challenge is to connect women business owners with potential corporate buyers. Against this backdrop, the Absa Lionesses Xpo has been developed to showcase a diverse array of products and services from 117 of South Africa’s exciting women-owned businesses on a sophisticated virtual platform that will be launched on 29 October. The initiative is a partnership between Lionesses of Africa and Absa.

Tshego Ratshidi, a South African entrepreneur building a successful business inspired by her passion for flowers

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Tshego Ratshidi, founder of Bleu Rose Flowers (South Africa)

Startup Story

Who doesn’t love flowers, either as gifts or in the home and office? They make us feel good, they cheer up our living and work spaces, they can help with our healing processes, and they make us feel closer to nature. In South Africa, entrepreneur Tshego Ratshidi, founder of Bleu Rose Flowers, knows the power of flowers to brighten lives and is delighting customers daily with her beautiful floral arrangements and floral gift boxes.

Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms by Shellye Archambeau

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms is the brand new book by Shellye Archambeau, one of Silicon Valley's first female African American CEOs. Full of empowering wisdom, this inspiring leadership book offers a blueprint for how to achieve your personal and professional goals.

Nicoline Bole, an entrepreneur from Cameroon crafting beautiful shoes for women with larger feet

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nicoline Bole, founder of Bolnique Ltd (United Kingdom / Cameroon)

Startup Story

As any woman who has larger feet will tell you, it can be a real challenge trying to find shoes that not only look beautiful, but are also well crafted and comfortable to wear. Entrepreneur Nicoline Bole, founder of Bolnique Ltd based in London, has the solution. Her uniquely created designs are appealing to all those discerning women customers who want luxury shoes that actually fit larger feet.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Ataraxia Lifestyle Group launches its new Luxury Concierge Services

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Botsang Mdluli, founder of Ataraxia Lifestyle Group (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

According to South African entrepreneur, Botsang Mdluli, founder of Ataraxia Lifestyle Group, everyone knows that time is of the essence, because it’s the one thing in this world you can’t get back. That’s why she is launching a new Luxury Concierge Service to help busy individuals, families, and corporations in Africa and around the world with everything from buying and couriering a last minute gift, obtaining coveted theatre tickets, running personal errands, and so much more.

The best decision was not to follow consensus

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The above is a quote in an FT article by the highly successful outgoing UBS CEO, Sergio Ermotti (he is off to Chair SwissRE) and was on our desks when we arrived this morning. Given the coffee-grain fingerprints, there was only one possible person who could have left this and indeed the HoF (Head of Finance) was deep into the FT (as well as a 3rd cup of coffee) as we walked over to discuss.

The 5 R's to achieve business agility

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa / by Hwalani Mabaso, Provincial General Manager, WIMI Distribution, Absa RBB

Today we operate in a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA), therefore personal and business agility is increasingly important. Business agility refers to a business owner’s ability to adapt and thrive in a changing environment that demands constant adaptation.

Tools for Preventing Stress

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

I am fascinated by stress. One of the favourite parts of my work is interviewing people about how they engage with stress. In writing my second book, Harnessing Stress, I found that many people have developed habits to prevent stress. Through experience and in knowing themselves well, they have created rules to ensure they keep their stress levels low.

How to find happiness in a busy life

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Usha Maharaj

“Happiness comes from aligning what you do to who you are”

It is said that happiness is a choice, but what if you are struggling to find your happiness, or you are feeling out of balance and stressed? This could be a sign that your outer reality and inner world are not totally in alignment. Perhaps the way you spend your time and live your days is not entirely consistent with the way the real you would want to invest that time to bring you happiness in life.

Stop existing, start living

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Elizabeth Otieno

It's been a hectic month. Board meetings and client meetings seem to be happening daily. You still haven’t updated the monthly financial report. Your three articles are still pending and to top it all off, none of your new projects seem to be going as planned. But you still want—need to do more.

Ambition and motherhood - should we even bother?

October 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tshego Dludla, founder of RoboSTEAM Train

3 points to consider as you go for your dreams as a Mompreneur.

There was a time when becoming a mother meant that one would have to quit work and just be a mom. Yes, that is the best job in the world but even as I type that I’m rolling my eyes a little because we can’t use that to make moms feel guilty for being ambitious. Not anymore. The truth of the matter is that many moms suffer in silence on so many matters and this one is no different. Before your name was changed to mom, you had hopes and dreams so why should they die now. It took me reading a blog by Busie Sholo to help me realize that I don’t have to feel bad about still wanting to build an empire even though I am a mom of three.

Entrepreneur Advice from Angela Franklin / Have passion for what you do

October 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Angela Franklin, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal)

Have passion for what you do!…

"Starting a small business is simply based on filling a niche or void, but most important have a passion for what you do."

Angela Franklin, founder of Chez Alpha Books (Senegal)

Quote of the Day by Suzie Wokabi

October 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“I hope to continue filling the gaps that still exist in the local cosmetics space.”

Suzie Wokabi, founder of SuzieBeauty, Kenya

Entrepreneur Advice from Kofo Akinkugbe / Keep innovating

October 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Kofo Akinkugbe, founder of Secure ID (Nigeria)

Keep innovating!…

“Encourage staff to be innovative, do things innovatively.”

Kofo Akinkugbe, founder, Secure ID, (Nigeria)

Quote of the Day by Lori Milner

October 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Self-care equals self-leadership. By making more space for yourself, you achieve more, not less.”

Lori Milner, founder, Beyond the Dress (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Mariana Agness Francisco Eria / Surround yourself with people that challenge you

October 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, founder, The House of Agness (Mozambique)

Surround yourself with people that challenge you!…

“Make sure to surround yourself with people that challenge you physically, mentally, spiritually and that will be there for you when the going gets tough.”

Mariana Agness Francisco Eria, founder, The House of Agness (Mozambique)

Lioness Launch / Pathway in Angola launches new digital delivery app

October 18, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Luisa Senda, founder of Pathway in Angola, has just announced the launch of a new digital delivery app aimed at helping people and companies to sell and advertise their products to customers. Pathway is a virtual store selling smartphones and computers and extra digital services, including providing software development for customers.

Working From Home: Making the New Normal Work for You by Karen Mangia

October 18, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you are an entrepreneur who wants to master the delicate art of working from home in the New Normal work and business environment, then the great new book Working from Home: Making the New Normal Work for You by Karen Mangia is the perfect read. Karen provides readers with a detailed strategy on how to turn working from home into a powerful work/life choice.

The COVID Currency Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs and SMEs

October 18, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa / Absa Forex

Keep your business in balance with these foreign exchange (FX) strategies for COVID-19 and beyond. Right now, the only thing that’s certain is uncertainty. As any entrepreneur will tell you, the COVID-19 pandemic – with its lockdowns and downturns – has brought confusion and volatility to almost every aspect of doing business.