Ethel Cofie, a leading woman entrepreneur influencing IT in Africa

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, Founder & CEO, EDEL Technology Consulting (Ghana)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

EDEL Technology Consulting, combining strategy and technology to bring business success to clients.

Named one of the Top 5 Women influencing IT in Africa, Ethel Cofie is CEO and Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting, an IT Consulting Company in West Africa and Europe which was recently named IT Consulting Firm of the year by the Telecoms and IT Industry. Ethel is also the Founder of Women in Tech Africa, the continent’s largest women in tech group with members in over 30 African countries and in the diaspora and growing, and the 2018 UN Equals in Tech Award Winner, Leadership Category. She created Women in Tech Week, a global event that impacts over 10,000 women globally. Ethel currently sits on the Advisory Board for Ghana’s Vice President, helping to design a Digital Strategy for Ghana. She also sits on the Tech Advisory board for the Graca Machel Trust. She has been featured on BBC/CNN/FT/Wired UK giving her thoughts on the topics of doing business on Africa, technology in Africa, Africa technology ecosystems and women leadership in business in Africa.

Shamilah Damons, a South African data scientist helping companies with their digital solutions

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Shamilah Damons, founder, Shammah Innovative Solutions (South Africa)

Impact Partner Content - Absa

Shammah Innovative Solutions is an information technology company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is an EME with 100% black women ownership and Level 1 B-BBEE rating. Shammah aims to provide digital solutions to small and large companies. Data is currently considered as any organisation's most valuable commodity, and Shammah’s goal is to use intelligent data processing techniques to provide integrated business solutions that deliver accurate, efficient and timely results.

Know your audience

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By The Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Easter is for many across the world a time of hope and new beginnings, but what if the world is in a dark place at the time? There have been times when something small but positive has ballooned into something huge and the globe has grabbed this light and given itself a new energy. Sometimes it can even be something daft, but the smiles and humour generated can do wonders for our mental well-being, that over the previous years had been sorely tested. We are herding animals, we are drawn to each other, we gain energy from each other and together (as we all know) we are stronger. How can this be harnessed for our businesses?

Leading With Authenticity

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Shatho Babitse

Have you ever encountered an authentic leader? Someone whose voice resonates with their heart when they speak, to such an extent that you get goose-bumps? Someone who, even if you disagree with, you respect and seek to emulate? Well, I have. And it is truly a remarkable experience.

Inga Sebata, a South African serial entrepreneur building clothing and hair salon businesses

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Inga Sebata, founder, StitchedByInga (South Africa)

Startup Story

For some women entrepreneurs, one business leads to another, and in the case of South African entrepreneur, Inga Sebata, her business success has led to the creation of not one but three businesses. She is the founder of two clothing businesses, StitchedByInga and StitchedbyInga_Kids, and also co-owns a hair studio.

Become a Smart Investor

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Ronel Jooste

Investments play a vital role in creating financial stability and adding muscle to your wealth portfolio. The more you can invest today, the stronger financial future you can create. To make smart investment decisions, you need to understand a few investment concepts and principles.

The Key to Women’s Success

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Usha Maharaj

Following decades of research and spend on women empowerment, women still hold fewer leadership positions and earn less than their male counterparts. In keeping with the reflective theme of International Women’s Day which took place on 8 March 2021 #IWD2021, let us #ChooseToChallenge the key to women’s success.

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

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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.

Quote of the Day by Millicent Motsoeri

March 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

“Remember your dream is big and it won’t take a day to build, hence you must persevere and be patient. You are a winner!”

Millicent Motsoeri, founder, Heita Ngamla Holidays (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Nicole Magerman / Don’t wait for the perfect time to start

March 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Nicole Magerman, founder of Girl Spectrum (Mozambique)

Don’t wait for the perfect time to start!…

“Don’t wait on money or making time to kick start your journey. Start now and fuel your goals on the way! Remember, hesitation is the mind killer!”

Nicole Magerman, founder, Girl Spectrum (Mozambique)

Nondumiso Pikashe, a South African entrepreneur creating a proud indigenous wine brand (2021)

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa) — **Nondumiso Pikashe**, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa)

Exciting things are happening in South Africa’s winelands with a new generation of entrepreneurs making great wines for the local and global market place and building new brands to watch. Ses’fikile Wines, founded by Nondumiso Pikashe, is one such brand with high aspirations.

Risk Forward: Embrace the Unknown and Unlock Your Hidden Genius by Victoria Labalme

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Every entrepreneur is in search of inspiration - an innovative idea to elevate their business. In Risk Forward: Embrace the Unknown and Unlock Your Hidden Genius by author Victoria Labalme, she helps you to discover how to embrace uncertainty, trust your intuition and achieve success.

Lioness Launch / Takora launches new professional CV writing platform in South Africa

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

In South Africa, a new professional CV writing online platform is launching - Takora, founded by entrepreneur Kabwe Gondo. Unlike other companies, Takora specializes in professional CV writing and CV training, and is focused on helping people to land their next job with a reputable organization. Kabwe believes that having a well written CV is like having a superpower under your sleeves. It is a well-known fact that the unemployment rate has risen to over 30% in South Africa, and having a well written CV can help someone land his/her dream job, an executive level position, or that internship position.

Lynda Aphing-Kouassi, a catalyst for human capital optimization in business

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lynda Aphing-Kouassi, founder of Kaizene (Cote d’Ivoire/UK)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Kaizene, a Cote d’Ivoire and UK based human capital development business shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

Lynda Aphing-Kouassi is a passionate believer in the development of human capital to create the leaders that Africa and the rest of the world need, both today and tomorrow. Her business, the international Kaizene Firm based in Abidjan and London, defines itself as a catalyst, allowing public and private companies, micro-businesses and SMEs to optimize their human capital, improve their services and their quality approach. The services on offer from Kaizene include capacity building, coaching, organization of institutional conferences, and VSE/SME support and shared services.

Sandra Mauricio Vuvu, an entrepreneur from the DRC, now building an organic beauty brand in South Africa

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sandra Mauricio Vuvu, founder of Vuvu Organic Beauty (DRC/South Africa)

Startup Story

The rapidly growing global market for organic beauty products is one that Vuvu Organic Beauty, founded by Sandra Mauricio Vuvu, is now tapping into. Born in Angola, originally from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, and growing up in South Africa, Sandra’s passion for beauty and skincare started when she was 17 years old. She watched her mother have such beautiful fashion sense and the beauty products that she used made her want to know more about beauty herself. Sandra qualified as a beauty therapist where she gained more insight in beauty before launching her business.

Ijeoma Onuoha, a Nigerian fashion brand builder creating stylish yet affordable fashion for women

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Ijeoma Onuoha, founder of Asoebigirl Limited (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Every woman wants to feel and look good, and finding the right stylish clothing for any occasion plays such an important part in that process. In Nigeria, entrepreneur Ijeoma Onuoha, founder of fashion business Asoebigirl Limited and creator of the brand, Touchbyasoebigirl, is bringing her stylish designs within reach of every discerning woman.

Now is the time to focus!

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The world famous free solo (alone and with no rope!) climber Alex Honnold as pictured above (whilst climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock, the 3,200ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park) yes, we’ll just say that again - with no rope, says that often his most dangerous moment on any climb is just before the end when the climb starts to level off towards the top of the mountain and he starts to relax. That is when he is far more likely to slip and fall than when he is vertical, clinging to a crack a thousand metres above the ground. See the terrifying trailer from National Geographic here of the film by Jimmy Chin of this amazing assent. The film, "Free Solo" even won an Oscar for best documentary.

Levelling the playing field

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Usha Maharaj

Unemployment rates are on the rise, retrenchments are commonplace, the job market is transforming, and hope turns to despair everyday as graduates face the reality of a saturated job market. Levelling the playing field matters more today than it ever has before.

Digital Marketing 101

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Geraldine Eve

There are basic questions that you need to answer before you embark on your digital marketing journey, and in this article we shall go through them. You may need a pen and paper or better still just open your notes app on your device and answer the questions.

Practicing Mindfulness in Entrepreneurship

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Zodidi Jewel Gaseb

Last week I almost quit because of exhaustion. My body and mind were operating in overdrive, a state all too familiar to many of us running a business. We strategize daily, from operation, marketing and financial opportunities to explore, as well as making your third cup of coffee to keep up with it all. Surviving a global pandemic in the midst of running a business can also be tiring.