Dr Dorcas Muthoni, a technology leader and innovator on the African continent

December 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

OpenBusiness Africa, a business transforming African enterprises through technology

Dr. Dorcas Muthoni is an entrepreneur, computer scientist, and founder of OpenBusiness Africa and OPENWORLD. She started her software business at the age of 24 and today it employs 50 people. She is greatly passionate about the transformation of African enterprises through technology. Dorcas is also the founder of the regional organization AfChix, a mentorship and capacity building initiative for women in computing across Africa. Globally, she has been involved and honored in technology leadership by the Internet Society (ISOC) as an Internet Hall Of Fame Global Connector, World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Young Global Leader (YGL), AnitaB Institute as a Change Agent Award Winner and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Spain as an Honoris Causa.

Research? Or simply wing it…

December 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2020-12-06 at 7.26.50 AM.png

From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The title picture this weekend is of the Peters’ Globe (℅ Graphic). The ‘normal’ globe inflates the sizes of regions as they move further from the equator. Since much of the developing world lies near the equator, these countries appear smaller and less significant. On Peters' globe, areas of equal size on the globe are also equally sized on the map - so poorer, less powerful nations are now restored to their rightful proportions. GO AFRICA!

How to nail the “On camera but remote” interview or meeting

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Gabriella Von Ille

At Lifa, we spend a lot of time on media training and presentation coaching for our clients. Since lockdown began and Skype, Teams and Zoom became our new best friends, we have received numerous requests for advice on how to come across in the best possible way when “on-camera but remote”.

Let’s talk boundaries: When all work and no play leads to burn-out

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

I love this quote: “Balance is not better TIME management, but better BOUNDARY management?” Have you ever calculated how many of your 24hrs you are in “work-mode” – whether thinking, doing, or responding to a quick mail at a family braai?

Purposeful Planning & Propositions

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally

Investing years of diary entries and your daily energetic imprint in business takes a special kind of dedication and calling, and anyone with the intention to go towards that pull and stay the course can do it.

Beyond the year 2020 – Where to from here?

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka

The ability to look ahead and prepare for the future is rare. As human beings, we have mental models and biases that prevent us from thinking differently and looking out for alternative outcomes. We prefer existing within familiar territories and are supportive of our beliefs and intellectual conceptions of what reality ought to be because the alternative is incomprehensible. However, with or without our awareness, these conceptions prevent us from tackling problems more efficiently; they hinder our creativity and ability to seek solutions in unlikely places even at the risk of operating at our minimum capacity.

Get your business ready for the shopping season

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Boost With Facebook x Lionesses of Africa / Virtual Masterclass Series

With the busy season now just around the corner, and those all important sales to try and achieve, it could be time to brush up on those skills and tools you need to turn your online connections into customers. Lionesses of Africa has partnered with Boost With Facebook to show you how!

The Girlfriend’s Guide to Closing the Deal by Melody Spann Cooper

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Melody Spann Cooper is one of the USA’s leading female broadcast executives who has mastered the art of Closing the Deal. In her debut book, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Closing the Deal, she shares her story of finding her voice in a male-dominated industry. In this semi-autobiographical work, Melody uses her special brand of warmth, candor and wit as she shares with readers how they can use their power to enhance opportunities as the highest level.

Xoliswa Hlongwane, a South African entrepreneur creating jobs in the clothing manufacturing sector

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Xoliswa Hlongwane, founder of XO Collection (South Africa)

Startup Story

South Africa needs jobs, and it also needs to rebuild a strong clothing manufacturing industry sector, and that’s where entrepreneur Xoliswa Hlongwane is making her contribution to the economy through her XO Collection (Pty) Ltd.

Zola Shabangu, a South African entrepreneur developing next generation clothing manufacturers

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Zola Shabangu, founder of iGoda Clothing Manufacturing Incubator (South Africa)

Startup Story

Driven by a desire to create opportunities for South African clothing manufacturers and designers to create and supply their clothing to local retailers, Zola Shabangu launched iGoda Clothing Manufacturing Incubator PTY Ltd. Today, the business is a development incubator for a new generation of fashion designers and seamstresses.

Catherine Mahugu, a change-maker revolutionizing Kenya’s coffee value chain

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Chiswara, reinventing the coffee supply chain through technology to benefit Kenya’s coffee farmers

Catherine Mahugu is a globally acclaimed entrepreneur. She is a software engineer by profession and change-maker by passion. Catherine is a certified human-centred design expert, a skill she acquired at Stanford University. Currently, she is the founder of Chiswara, a tech-enabled specialty coffee company launched in 2018 that offers an equitable coffee experience for both local farmers and global consumers. Partners committed to the company's growth and impact include Alibaba, UNCTAD, and IFC.

Lioness Launch / ASPIRE Luxury Magazine launches two new digital features

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Bella Ikeme, founder of ASPIRE Luxury Magazine (Nigeria)

Lioness Launch

For all those lovers of luxury brands and products on the African continent, ASPIRE Luxury Magazine in Nigeria, founded by entrepreneur Bella Ikeme, is already a destination of choice for online readers. This month sees the launch of two new digital features which aim to share more positive narratives about African luxury brands and showcase some of the most exciting luxury brands to emerge from the continent.

Never lose sight of your Gifts…

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Terrific Tuesday (or ‘TT’ as we like to call it) is, if you remember, when the Head of Finance (HoF) gives us the morning to think outside the box, to move for a moment away from the incredible projects with which we are busy and step back for a moment from the crazy energy that is Melanie who, in the last 2 months, not only brought us the amazing LOA/Harvard Conference, then the Lioness Xpo B2B platform with Absa, and not stopping for breath just this week, the brand new (and in time for Christmas no less), incredible LOA / Facebook - Virtual Masterclass Series.

Tailored Group Life Cover for SMEs. At the speed of Life

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa

Absa acknowledges the vital role that your employees play in the success of your business, particularly if you are a small and medium enterprise (SME). In the event of tragedy, businesses and employers often feel morally obliged, and rightly so, to support their employees’ and their families, which can put a financial and emotional strain on the business. By covering your employees for unforeseen events, you are not only insuring their financial futures if something happens but you are also covering your business too. As such, Absa developed the Employee Care Plan, an extremely affordable group life insurance offering for SME’s to address this need and is available only to Absa customers.

Are lionesses born or made?

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Martine Irakoze

Are lionesses born or made? This article will not take a stand on this point, but rather offers another perspective: “if made, who makes them?”. To answer that question, I interviewed an extraordinary woman who is passionate about creating a network of lionesses in Burundi. Belyse Inamahoro Bushombo is Burundian, a Wellesley College Alumni, and founder of Sisters in Success.

Who needs a Business Mentor anyway?

November 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kabwe Mulolo

It is interesting yet distressing to read about South African statistics on the number of start-up companies that fail. The failure rate is almost 80% within the first three years and 50% after five years. One lives to wonder, why start a business anyway, statistics isn’t on anyone ones favor, and despite the ratios even those who make it might someday close their doors.

How to make the most of your budget this December

November 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste

December is time for fun, relaxation and spending time with loved ones. It is school holidays and the children need to be entertained for an extended period. Many people go away to a holiday destination while other people stay at home and do day trips. December is associated with entertainment, activities and gifts.

Cultivating a coaching approach to support team members in 8 steps

November 28, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

Over the years, the role of a leader and manager of teams have evolved. It is no longer a command and control scenario, where you give instructions and your team will follow. The pandemic has fast-tracked an agile and empowerment approach. Leaders need to be adaptive problem-solvers. This is due to the uncertainty and pressure over the past couple of weeks and months – there were no clear and obvious answers to issues and challenges and leaders did not have the luxury of telling their teams what to do. They had to be adaptive and guide them to figure it out for themselves.