the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Lori Milner
7 ways to create the best version of yourself...
I have coached and trained hundreds of people on personal branding and the number one question I get asked is: “Is it too late for me to reinvent my brand and change perceptions?” The good news is that it is never too late.
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by Kathryn Main
Gone are the days when the mom stays home to take care of the kids while the dad goes to work. I was fortunate when I was younger because my mom stayed at home. She on the other hand was totally unfortunate. When her and my dad divorced at 40, she had to start her life with nothing, never having worked and having no real skills.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Kevine Kagirimpundu
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.
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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.
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Charlene Walters
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Iris Lezi Munguambe
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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