1 choice + 2 simple words is all it takes to be successful

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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By Lori Milner

“All overnight success takes about 10 years.” — Jeff Bezos

When you think about success, often it feels like it will come from one game changing decision or one significant event. Someone is finally going discover your talents or give you your big break. The problem with this way of thinking is that you are putting your happiness in the control of someone else’s hands, you are leaving your life up to external factors. When you keep waiting for things outside your influence to drive your sense of accomplishment, it tends to leave you despondent and feeling out of control. You are always future focused and this is where anxiety breeds so it’s definitely not a good strategy.

First Meetings

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie

**“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.” — Maya Angelou**

Life is busy, and days pass by in a flash. Often, I reach the end of the day wondering what the heck happened! It is the most disorienting feeling to know that one has been not just busy, but frantically consumed by activity, and yet we are unable to account for our time and we have made no progress on our own goals.

Woman, arise!

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Nandi Odri Usher

An unapologetic and unstoppable force, a yet to be discovered by the world gem, a game changer, Miss Fidelia Obonetse Masomosomo is a 30 year old beautiful young lady from the village of Mochudi here in Botswana. A young lady on a journey of recovery, re-discovery and re-building her life, her dreams and her purpose. In a world full of players, Miss Fidelia has shown to be a game changer; playing by her rules, running her own race.

Lesego Seloane and Dinah Kgeledi, two South African entrepreneurs turning a passion for botany and horticulture into a thriving landscaping business

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lesego Seloane & Dinah Kgeledi, co-founders, Ronewa Creations (South Africa)

Impact Partner Content - Absa

Lesego Seloane and Dinah Kgeledi are co-founders of Ronewa Creations Ltd (Pty) in South Africa. This is a family business between a niece and her aunt, respectively. Lesego has a background in Botany, having completed her studies in Biochemistry and Botany at the University of Johannesburg. While Dinah has a background in the corporate world, working in the IT field using her Diploma in IT. She worked for various companies before resigning from her corporate career to fully pursue landscaping as her passion. Once Lesego completed her studies at university, she went into landscaping and Dinah followed too, having studied a few courses in landscaping design and horticulture. The passion they have for plants comes from Lesego’ s gran, Dinah's Mother, who has an eclectic small garden in Soweto. So the two have always seen her tend to her garden over the years and been inspired by her work. They are passionate about creating beautiful spaces for their clients.

Chinwe Ohajuruka, an award-winning Nigerian impact-driven green architect

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Comprehensive Design Services, an innovation-focused organization building climate resilience through architecture

Chinwe Ohajuruka is a Green Architect and Project Manager who is an ardent advocate for sustainability in the built environment. She is the CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (CDS), an innovation-focused organisation that stresses the importance of building Climate Resilience as a basis of all projects. She is successfully able to work globally through teamwork, technology and travel. In addition to her extensive architectural experience, Chinwe is a green building trainer and coach. Chinwe has worked on several award-winning projects in the United States & Nigeria. She was the 2015 Sub-Saharan African Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards in France. Chinwe holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. She has also attained four Accreditations from the US, UK and South Africa Green Building Councils.

Do What You Love, Love What You Do: The Empowering Secrets to Turn Your Passion Into Profit by Holly Tucker

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Holly Tucker MBE, co-founder of notonthehighstreet and creator of Holly & Co, is on a mission to change business forever, and in her new book Do What You Love, Love What You Do, she is on her way to doing just that. Having inspired over 100,000 entrepreneurs and identified the keys to their success, Holly now wants to help anyone build a business doing what they love, leading to a happier and more fulfilled life.

#NoiGoesToWTO!

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization | photo courtesy of ngoziokonjoiweala.com

“Choosing the WTO Director-General should be on merit. If that person happens to be a woman, then great. If that person happens to be an African, then great. I hope it is a sign not only to women and girls of my country, but to women and girls worldwide, that the world is ready and women can do it.”

…and so said our very own Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria who on Monday became the first African and the first women to take the reins of this massive global organisation at a time at which world trade is at its most polarized and highly politicized position for decades. Talk about a hospital pass!

Lioness Launch / Independent publishing house, LovingKindness Boma in South Africa, launches new children’s books

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

LovingKindness Boma is an independent Publishing House of Mindful and Diverse books for children, launched by Swaady Martin in South Africa. It creates and sell children's books that entertain, educate and enrich the whole family. This month sees the launch of 7 books that will bring joy and understanding to readers.

Want to Publish a Book? Here are The Key Things You Need to Consider

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Tapiwa Matsinde

There is a saying that everyone has got a book in them. Publishing a book is a great way to share your knowledge, skills, and experience with your world. However, knowing what to do and where to turn to for help can make it a daunting task. As with any project you embark on planning and preparation will make the publishing process a whole lot smoother. So, if you want to publish a book but are not sure of where and how to start here are some of the key things you will need to consider…

Challenge…

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Mircea Neto

Challenge - it is a word that everyone knows, that has about 39 synonyms and that carries immense meaning, because without realizing it every new day there is a challenge to be faced.

Compassion is your compass to happiness

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” - Lao Tzu

The definition of compassion is “to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help through acts of kindness”. The component of action is what separates compassion from empathy, sympathy, pity, concern, or any other compassion synonym. The difference is that compassion gets involved”.

The Power Of Habit

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie

For a long time now I have had a healthy appreciation for the power of habit in my life, in the lives of others as well as in the lifespan of businesses. I can’t say that I absolutely believe that what you put into something determines what you get out, but for the most part I am in agreement that what you get out of any endeavour strongly correlates with what you put in. The only challenge is that we are quite often completely oblivious to what exactly we put in.

Naike Moshi, a woman entrepreneur in Tanzania passionate about empowering women in business

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Naike Moshi, founder of Women in Management (WIMA) (Tanzania)

Startup Story

Closing the gender gap and promoting visibility from women leaders on the African continent is key to making positive and lasting socio-economic change happen. In Tanzania, Naike Moshi, founder of Women in Management (WIMA), is playing her part through her work in business management and human resources.

Didintle Leatile Moreki, an organic skincare manufacturer celebrating nature’s ingredients in Botswana

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Organic Natural Skincare-Collage.png — Didintle Leatile Moreki, founder of Organic Natural Skincare (Botswana)

Startup Story

Many people battle acne in their youth and throughout their lives and it can be challenging to find a solution that is both effective and natural. This was a challenge that entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, founder of Organic Natural Skincare in Botswana, successfully took up in starting her business.

Olga Mundangepfupfu, a South African entrepreneur building a niche software consulting business

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Olga Mundangepfupfu, founder of CM Solutions (South Africa)

Impact Partner Content - Absa

Companies large and small know that harnessing the power of technology to get business done can pay dividends, but getting the right tools and advice is key. In South Africa, Olga Mundangepfupfu, founder of specialist software consulting and data management business, CM Solutions, has the solutions to meet every need.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s luxury skincare brand, L’abeille, launches its new IonActive Deep Cleansing Brush

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

L’abeille, the South African luxury skincare brand founded by entrepreneur Karen Potgieter, has built a reputation for combining exceptional luxury skincare experiences with science-proven actives. This month sees the launch of its new IonActive Deep Cleansing Brush, which has a cleansing action that lifts even the most stubborn of impurities, providing a much deeper clean than your hands alone can. The brush has three different speed settings which allow you to set it at a speed that suits your skin sensitivity and area you are cleansing. The more gentle the vibration, the better it will be on sensitive skin and delicate face areas.

Risk is Relative!

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

We have to immediately state (for those of a fearful nature) that the Lioness cub in the above incredible picture by Sarah Skinner that won the Comedy Wildlife Photograph of the Year 2019, did survive unhurt (somehow!). But it shows clearly that for all of us there are differing levels of understanding and appreciation of risk, in this case both for the cub and for the unsuspecting male who would assume that no one is that daft. As Einstein would agree, Risk is Relative! (Feeling brave? Zoom in and see those claws!)

She Made It by Angelica Malin

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

For all those aspirant women entrepreneurs who want to go out and launch the business of their dreams, award-winning rising star entrepreneur and author, Angelica Malin, shows you how in her new book She Made It.

The Awakening of the Mind

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Elizandra dos Santos

About the book “Ho'oponopono", today I come to share the insights I had after reading the work three times, at different stages of my life. Written by three authors of different backgrounds, it is a very interesting and easy-to-understand book. I recommend it to all who seek to live a life with more love and lightness in their hearts.

A simple guide to building your dream team

February 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Farida Yahya

Let’s face it, building a team is nerve wrecking for most founders. It’s a cross between anxiety and excitement and it’s usually as a result of projected fear, usually from experience, and sometimes just from hearsay. I am sharing these simple tips with you to broaden your horizon, and make you realize that it’s possible to build your dream dream.