Natalie and Kim Ellis, innovators in sustainable, ethical product design in South Africa

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Introducing The Joinery, creating solutions to environmental and community issues through design.

The global problem of how to deal with the mountain of plastic waste which is created every day is one that requires increasingly innovative and sustainable solutions. In South Africa, two pioneering sisters, Natalie and Kim Ellis, founders of The Joinery, are part of a vanguard of innovating entrepreneurs who are focused on building sustainable and ethical businesses that turn plastic waste into products not problems.

Micro-insurance opportunity for the funeral industry

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa

The professionalization of the funeral industry is long overdue to rid itself from unscrupulous dealers who have tarnished its reputation. The industry is now in a transformational phase due to regulations that are being phased in.

Thuladu Mngadi, a passionate South African foodpreneur creating first-class catering experiences

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Thuladu Mngadi, founder of Fresh Food Daily (South Africa)

Startup Story

To ensure your corporate or private function is memorable for your guests, great catering is essential. After all, people may forget the speeches but they will always remember the food. In South Africa, that’s where Fresh Food Daily comes in. Founder Thuladu Mngadi, has a passion for creating great African cuisine, all delivered with a touch of flair.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Lilly Loompa Creative launches its new My Africa Lap Desk

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa Creative (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

Lilly Loompa Creative is a South African brand known to many eco-conscious homeware consumers for its inventive hipcycling approach to transforming discarded waste into design conscious items for people to love. Founder, Lizl Naude, has just launched the latest must-have product which is already getting people talking - the My Africa Lap Desk. This portable piece of furniture is just the thing for home workers who want to create a comfortable yet stylish desk solution.

Listen Up!: How to Tune In to Customers and Turn Down the Noise by Karen Mangia

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Savvy business leaders know that the "customer is king”, that’s according to Karen Mangia, author of the new book Listen Up!: How to Tune In to Customers and Turn Down the Noise. The voice of the customer is what matters most in critical business decisions. How are you responding to customer concerns? Your answer is crucial to the growth of your business and your revenues. But are businesses really listening to their customers?

The lure of a mud pool

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

In South Africa, the northern side of the country is going into its rainy season and that is always known for big thunderstorms, heavy winds and heavy rain, whereas in the southern parts you get the “non-stop for days” rain mostly during winter. Each of these natural occurrences has a mesmerizing effect. Just watch a thunderstorm with all the lightning and you will understand.

How not to lose your ‘mojo’ as your business grows

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

It was the morning after the night before and the Head of Finance (HoF) was in a pensive mood, finally calling us one by one into the Boardroom.

What was this all about?

Why all the secrecy from the HoF?

Had we possibly made a terrible error and put decaffeinated beans in the Coffee machine?

These questions and many other horrific thoughts rushed through our minds.

Your mental health matters – why a detox is vital

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Anja van Beek, Talent Strategist, Leadership Expert and Executive Coach

Missing that ‘happy feeling’? This article focuses on why your mental wellbeing matters. How would you rate your current mental wellbeing? We all have been challenged over the past few months and have experienced how our mental health (our emotional, psychological, and social well-being) can impact and affect our thoughts, feelings and actions.

Quote of the Day by Kerryne Krause

November 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“We are meaning makers who generate wealth for all through inspiration, innovation and unwavering resolve.”

Kerryne Krause, founder and CEO, I-Slices Innovations (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Krystal Bella Shabani / Learn to conquer fear

November 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Krystal Bella Shabani, founder of Krysbel Designs (Burundi)

Learn to conquer fear!…

“Fear is one of the major barriers for young women to start a business. My advice would be that, in business, failure will be their best friend. So, they should start getting used to that.”

Krystal Bella Shabani, founder of Krysbel Designs (Burundi)

Quote of the Day by Eugenia Langa

November 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“My dream is to be part of my country's growth on a level where everything can be sourced locally.”

Eugenia Langa, founder, Nweba (Mozambique)

Entrepreneur Advice from Christelle Kwizera / Accept that mistakes are part of the journey

November 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Christelle Kwizera, founder, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)

Accept that mistakes are part of the journey!…

“My advice for all ladies starting up is to go for it and accept with grace and humility that failure and mistakes are just one part of a journey.”

Christelle Kwizera, founder, Water Access Rwanda (Rwanda)

Success leaves clues – but are you looking in the right place?

November 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Writing is my passion, but it wasn’t appearing in my calendar as regularly as I would have liked and I wanted to start dedicating a daily space for it. I looked to other professional authors on how they wrote their books and what tips of the trade I could implement. What do they know what I didn’t get the memo on?

Confession time: I have not cracked the code!

November 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu–Tapula

When we switch on our phones and open our social media applications we are bombarded with many people who seem to just always get it right. We often feel the pressure to act as though we have cracked the code, our businesses are booming, and we are eating healthily.

Quote of the Day by Margaret Hirsch

November 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“I am passionate about South Africa. We live in a country of wealth and abundance and it’s up to us as entrepreneurs to ensure this country goes from strength to strength.”

Margaret Hirsch, co-founder and Executive Director, Hirsch’s (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Nicoline Bole / Just start your entrepreneurial journey

November 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

Just start your entrepreneurial journey!…

“Nothing is born out of an idea without action. It’s better to start than not to start at all, because we all have the ability to do anything we set our minds on.”

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

Absa Lionesses Xpo opens to corporate buyers virtually

November 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Absa Lionesses Xpo

A wealth of opportunity is open for corporate buyers, CEOs and other decision-makers to connect and engage with 117 leading women entrepreneurs from a range of industry sectors in South Africa at the web-based Absa Lionesses Xpo, a sophisticated virtual exhibition platform, which went live on 29 October.

Nonhlanhla Ditshego, a South African entrepreneur building an exciting craft gin brand

November 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nonhlanhla Ditshego, co-founder of Vuttomi Liquids (South Africa)

Startup Story

The craft gin market has exploded globally over the past few years with some interesting independent brands emerging, particularly in South Africa. One of those brands is Vuttomi Liquids, co-founded by Nonhlanhla Ditshego and her family, and they have big hopes and ambitions for the future.