Manufacturing Sector Working Capital Cycles: What entrepreneurs should be planning for

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content - Absa / by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sector Development, Absa Retail and Business Bank

Business conditions are improving but supply chain frictions remain

This week the latest Absa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data showed further evidence of the continued recovery of the sector with the PMI improving to 57.8 in May. This is the tenth consecutive month that the Absa PMI has been above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion and contraction and shows some promising resilience in the sector. Output and new sales orders continue to see strong reads in this survey.

You have power over your mind

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” So wrote Marcus Aurelius (seen above in a statue in Rome fittingly with a beautiful Blue Sky above him) in his book Meditations (here), which without doubt would have been a global best-seller at the time had he actually published it, given he was the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors of Rome’ at the end the era ‘Pax Romana’, controlling most of the known world at the time. However it was not published, they were writings only for him and him alone, which in a way adds great strength - they were not written to impress or to dictate or even to guide others, but more of a personal daily exercise, a mantra.

Emilia Banda Tambatamba, a Mozambican coffee brand builder helping SMEs to grow

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Emilia Banda Tambatamba, founder, Dvyn Treat Batamba’s (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Dvyn Treat Batamba’s is a Mozambican coffee brand and business, co-founded by Emilia Banda Tambatamba with the aim to assist SMEs with tailored coffee machinery solutions and premium fresh roasted coffee beans. She manages the daily operation of the business and also works a full-time job as a business assistant for an international company, working with sales and after-sales.

Ntsiki Gwendolyn Bereng, an entrepreneur building an early childhood development legacy in South Africa

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Ntsiki Gwendolyn Bereng, founder, Apple Tree Montessori (South Africa)

Startup Story

Providing a stimulating, safe learning environment for young children is key in Africa if they are to fulfill their potential. For entrepreneur and educator, Ntsiki Gwendolyn Bereng, founder of Apple Tree Montessori in South Africa, this need provided her with the inspiration to start her impact driven education business.

Kevine Kagirimpundu, a passion driven producer of eco footwear in Rwanda

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

UZURI K & Y, a rising star of African footwear, creating beautiful shoes and skilled jobs

Kevine Kagirimpundu is the CEO & co-founder of UZURI K&Y, the eco-friendly footwear brand in Rwanda. She obtained her degree in creative designs & environmental build, and she also acquired her business development and leadership skills from global entrepreneurship accelerators. She is passionate about sustainable environment and leverages her skills to educate youth & women from urban vulnerable communities. In 2019, the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative named her among top 10 business heroes creating change across Africa.

Innovation and Technology: the Future of Agriculture

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content - Absa

The world faces opposing challenges, feeding just under 10 billion people by 2050, whilst also minimizing the effect of this on our planet. To meet these challenges innovation and technology plays a key role in generating efficiencies and conserving scarce resources.

Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur: 10 Mindset Shifts for Women to Take Action, Unleash Creativity, and Achieve Financial Success by Charlene Walters

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In her book, Launch Your Inner Entrepreneur: 10 Mindset Shifts for Women to Take Action, Unleash Creativity and Achieve Financial Success, Charlene Walters covers exactly what women in business specifically need to know - from “Dealing with Haters” and “Closing the Confidence Gap” to “Overcoming Impostor Syndrome” and “Tips to Fight Self-Sabotage.” She addresses 10 specific Mindset Shifts and provides hands-on workbook activities, giving women the tools needed to embrace an entrepreneurial attitude, as well as actionable, practical advice on everything from crafting a USP to finding a work-life balance.

The First Cut is the Cheapest

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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By Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Every so often we come across real life practical issues amongst our Lionesses and even from outside of our inspirational membership as we talk, mentor and occasionally consult to these companies. Sharing the issues and the practical solutions we find, helps others who are in the same position. Obviously no names will be mentioned, but these are all generic problems that can potentially hit us all and from the experiences of others, we all can learn.

Making a necessary change

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

I think we are surely all extremely “bored” by the whole Covid 19 pandemic, although we cannot change the heartache it brought. We still mourn loved ones and we still pray for the world. Let’s talk about a bit of a different point of view today. As hikers, we know that we can go and hike the same road and see many different sceneries every time, although it stays the same route. Somewhere you get that urge to do something totally new and different. The exact same can and maybe should happen in our finances and our businesses.

How to Get Money Savvy – Step 2: Snakes & Ladders

May 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

Life is like a game of snakes and ladders. You never know what the next roll of the dice is going to give you. It could be a snake (threat) that could cause you to regress in your financial life. Or it could be a ladder (opportunity) to take you to the next financial level of success.

The art of speaking in future tense

May 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Elizabeth Otieno

Business is booming! You are at the top of your game, your clients have fallen deeply in love with your product and services and now, new clients are diving in because let’s face it: you are just that good!

Critical Phases of a Go-To-Market Strategy

May 29, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kelebogile Makhafola

We spent the majority of 2020 learning new skills, joining courses, and committing to hours of virtual engagements. We, as business owners and brand leaders, had time and energy set aside to acquire new knowledge and pursue agile solutions for our business and brand activities. Let this year (moreover, this time of the year) be dedicated to processes that position your brand in the mind of your customers. It is time for the rubber to meet the road, it is indeed the time to make those insights work for your brand.

The Fearless Woman's Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to be a Courageous, Authentic and Unstoppable Entrepreneur by Ameé Quiriconi

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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Book Review

The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to be a Courageous, Authentic and Unstoppable Entrepreneur by Ameé Quiriconi is a book for freedom-seeking female entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who want to know how to connect with their true passions, skills, and desires. It’s a book for startup business women who get honest with themselves about their reasons for wanting to start a business.

Iris Lezi Munguambe, Mozambique’s wedding and event planner extraordinaire

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Mariée Eventos Lda, a specialist business creating happy endings for clients with big event dreams

Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos, is a 31 year old Mozambican woman entrepreneur, dreamer and Event Planner. She built her company, originally named Mariée Boutique, but now known as Mariée Eventos in 2013. Her inspiration came from watching the well-known movie, "The Wedding Planner.” She then designed her business specifically to meet the needs of, and to appeal to, Mozambican culture. Since a young age, she planned small events and designed invitations, so perhaps the entrepreneurial bug was there from the start. As someone who loves happy endings, Iris chose to build her business in the wedding and events industry as a way of helping to make clients’ dreams a reality.

My own truth will set me free

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Andiswa Silinga

There are times in life where we look for validation from other people, whatever we need to do has to be supported by somebody else for us to believe that it is the right thing to do.

Lessons from a Lifetime

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Paula Quinsee

Have you ever drawn up your Life Line over your lifetime? Drawing up your life line is a great way to identify both positive and negative experiences in your lifetime that have contributed to where you are today.

All change is messy in the middle..

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ashika Pillay

Being an entrepreneur, especially a female one is not all pretty business. We see the stories on the LinkedIn and Facebook, and perhaps even on Lionesses Of Africa, and we get a good case of either Imposter Syndrome and or Mrs. Doubt (Fire). Sitting in the aftermath of that hit can become ugly and unsettling. We question the choices that we’ve made, and paths we’ve chosen, and wonder if it’s all really worth the effort, and the not-so-prettiness. How can we find help to get out of the hole when we find ourselves there.

How to finally take the plunge into your courage zone

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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by Lori Milner

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” - Robin S. Sharma

If you want to start running, you aren’t going to put your hand up for a monster marathon. You’ll begin with some light jogging and build your way up slowly. When you want to get into a swimming pool, you tend to dip your toes in first to test the water. Even though you know it’s not the best strategy to get in so slowly, it still feels easier than taking the plunge and jumping in. Why not adopt the same approach when it comes to stepping out of your comfort zone?

Embrace Training!

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Last weekend we showed that one of the best ways to keep good employees and to encourage them to invest their lives into your dream, was through training. We quoted the great Ben Horowitz, (in his book here) who found out that one reason employees left was “The company wasn’t investing resources in helping employees develop new skills.”

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