Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert, a leading Kenyan marketing and communications industry leader

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

PMS Group Africa Ltd, an award winning and acclaimed 360°marketing and communications agency

As the Founder and current Chief Executive Officer of PMS Group Africa Ltd and Chair of COMESA’s FEMCOM, present in 21 countries across Africa with the primary goal of enhancing women’s economic power, Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert brings more than 23 years of multi-faceted experience in pan African commerce, integrated communication and public relations within both the public and private sector. Her partnerships straddle the globe and create opportunities for top talent in over 24 countries and four continents. Kenyan by birth, she is a culturally astute and discerning royal Ghanaian Queen whose culturally sensitive approach to socio-economic challenges make Africa and the globe, her home. Joanne has won numerous local and International Awards. She is a 3rd time finalist at The All Africa Business Leaders Award, is an Organization of Women in International Trade Woman of the Year award holder, a KPMG and Nation Media Group Top Entrepreneur of the Year and bearer of the coveted Head of State Commendation for her extraordinary achievements in formalizing the efforts to include women, youth and persons with disabilities in the Kenya Government’s Procurement policy.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s knowledge wealth company, ThutoKhumo, launches new online training courses for entrepreneurs

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sheila Baloyi, founder, ThutoKhumo (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

Entrepreneur Sheila Baloyi, founder of ThutoKhumo, which means Knowledge Wealth in Setswana in South Africa, believes her coaching and development courses serve that purpose for both her clients and her organisation as a whole. As a sales leadership and management coaching practice, the company provides bespoke sales training courses for corporates, SMMEs and startups. This month sees the company announcing the launch of a series of new online courses, both for 2021 and going forward.

Keeping it in the Family!

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2021-07-04 at 2.36.55 PM.png

By Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

We have had great feedback, support and excitement from our first research report produced in partnership with NYU, and in collaboration with ABSA, and of course with the incredible support of our >1.3 million membership. There are so many nuggets that one can take away from this, the South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Survey (here), but the above chart, says it all. In a world where life is not equal, needs must and so we as Lionesses roll up our sleeves and start a business. As the business grows so we recognize that we are not just supporting local employment and through this the local community, but also our extended families. A hobby becomes a business with the arrival of paying customers. We are not quite sure when a start up becomes a Family Business, but we are certain of one thing, soon after the money starts to flow in, so does the family interest and with it the pressure mounts…

Emotion-Based Decisions: Good or Bad?

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Jess Mostert

Emotions. Two in particular - FEAR and LOVE. It is these that drive and influence every thought and direct every response. It is what makes us run- towards certain things, and away from others. It is these emotions that stop us from living our lives or force us to live our lives!

The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Mbali Ndaba

A groundbreaking exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer in a culture obsessed with instant gratification, early success, and how finding one’s way later in life can be an advantage to long-term achievement and happiness.

Harnessing ADHD, OCD and Anxiety for Career Success

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lisa Malek

Being diagnosed with Adult ADHD in my 30s was both bewildering and enlightening. Suddenly there was an explanation for my constant vacillation between distractibility and hyper-focus. My brain is always flailing about, struggling to hold onto one thought for more than a few seconds – while simultaneously clinging to unresolved problems and manifesting new ones. It’s like listening to 13 blaring soundtracks from 13 genres at once. Further aggravating my overwrought mind is an urge to obsessively over multi-task, a side-effect of working from home since lockdown.

The Cages We Live in!

June 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

I am currently reading a book by Glennon Doyle titled, 'Untamed.' It’s the first time I am reading anything by this author and frankly I didn’t go through any reviews prior to this read. The title of the book just captivated me and surely as an untamed one myself, I thought let me see what it’s all about. And oh gosh, I felt as if it had changed my life, not because it made me think of all the things I was capable of, but because it made me realize how capable I had already been.

Victorine Sarr Awuah, a world-class natural beauty brand builder from Senegal

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Lyvv Cosmetics, a leading natural cosmetics brand for women of colour

With over 8 years corporate experience, Victorine Sarr Awuah worked as a marketing executive for industrial giants Apple & Loreal. After being selected by President Barack Obama to be a Mandela Washington Fellow in 2015 under his flagship program YALi , she decided to start her own beauty company Lyvv Cosmetics. She holds a Master in Management - Specialisation in Strategy Marketing from ISG school of Management in Paris. With a passion to share and train young people, she has been volunteering as a mentor for programs like TEEP, AWEC. Outside of work, she loves to travel and has under her belt 156 countries visited. She is also a wife and mom of two beautiful girls.

Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi, a cyber law specialist helping clients to deal with cyber security challenges

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi, founder, Orizur Consulting Enterprise (South Africa)

Startup Story

Adv. Lufuno T Khorommbi is a Cyber Law Specialist, a former public servant, and an award-winning thought leader who founded Orizur Consulting Enterprise in South Africa. She is a highly skilled knowledge worker with nearly two decades of experience working in a multi-disciplinary Cyber Law space. In her current role as a Cybersecurity Governance Specialist, she has pioneered unique solutions that creatively bring together cyber security governance, ICT procurement, and contract management. These regulatory compatible solutions give clients the ability to reduce cybersecurity and financial risks, whilst achieving cybersecurity regulatory compliance.

Adanne Uche, a Nigerian agro-processing entrepreneur on a mission to improve consumer nutrition

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Adanne Uche, founder & CEO of Ady's Food Mart (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Adanne Uche is the founder/CEO of Ady's Food Mart, an agro-processing company in Nigeria that ensures families choose a healthier option in cooking ingredients and Spices. A graduate of Foreign Languages and Literature, she started Ady's Food Mart in 2017 in a bid to improve nutrition and well-being of consumers.

She Markets, A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs: Five Simple Steps to Attract More Clients, Make More Money, and Have More Impact by Cynthia Trevino

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Author and entrepreneur, Cynthia Trevino, knows how to attract more clients and ensure they stay with you, and in her book, She Markets, she shares her expertise to help other women entrepreneurs achieve the same results. Marketing to bring in dream clients can be a complex process for life and wellness coaches, consultants, and services-based business owners, but She Markets: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs, Cynthia teaches you exactly how to do it, step-by-step, without feeling salesy or overwhelmed.

Let’s Dance!

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Negotiation, a word that brings fear into many, not least because it usually involves two or more parties that are not close, don’t know much about each other, and are not sure as yet if their counterpart can be trusted to ‘negotiate in good faith’. Easy to be overwhelmed.

Digital Transformation: Why Companies Must Innovate Bottom-to-Top & Drive Stability Top-to-Bottom

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2021-06-20 at 7.37.53 AM.png

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

In a recent study by Forbes, 52% of Fortune 500 companies went bankrupt, were acquired, ceased to exist, or dropped off the list due to digital disruption since the millennium. In the 21st century an organization’s survival is almost wholly dependent on its ability to strategically use digital initiatives to achieve business goals. Digital is no longer an option, but a necessity to succeed in the world of business.

5 Easy Ways to Better Manage Working from Home with Load-shedding

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

If your business is affected by the challenge of load-shedding right now, and you work from home, here are 5 easy ways to better manage the situation as an entrepreneur. With just a relatively low cost compared to other options, and no disruption of your home systems, you can continue working with a smile and being productive instead of using your energy to complain, blame and feel stressed. You will also feel proud of being self-sufficient and managing your deadlines under all conditions. These small victories add up and contribute to an elevated mood, which flows into all areas of your life, enabling you to face life with a more positive mindset.

Arise Africa and Succeed!

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Sibongile Mtsabe

How will you define success? The dictionary defines success as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. I took time looking around me, in my community and friends. I saw people mark success milestones when they obtained material things like a modern car, a beautiful house, etc. I sat down and asked myself some deep questions within on this subject, and naturally answers came spontaneously.

A Business Owner’s Guide to Successful Email Marketing

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Wuraola Ademola-Shanu

Is email marketing dead? With all the talk about video marketing, virtual reality and chatbots, as well as artificial intelligence, it’s not surprising if you feel like email marketing is an ancient practice.

Nisha Ligon, a social entrepreneur making an impact through edutainment

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Ubongo, a Pan-African social enterprise creating localized edutainment for kids in Africa

Nisha Ligon is the co-founder and CEO of Ubongo, a Pan-African social enterprise that creates edutainment for kids in Africa. Nisha is a social entrepreneur with a background in media and science, and a passion for education. Before co-founding Ubongo, she was a media producer who created content for the BBC, the Guardian, online learning platforms and award-winning documentaries. She was part of the team who designed and launched Fuse School, and has also contributed to numerous e-learning initiatives across Africa. She studied at Yale University, University of Dar es Salaam, and Imperial College London, specializing in science media production.

Makhosazana Megan Ngubane, a South African edupreneur committed to empowerment through skills development

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Makhosazana Megan Ngubane, founder, Makhophila Training (South Africa)

Startup Story

To change people’s economic prospects, it’s essential to give them the skills they need to access jobs or to start their own businesses. In South Africa, Makhosazana Megan Ngubane has built a highly effective, specialist education business, Makhophila Training, to provide those essential skills, particularly to people in rural areas.

Zanele Hobongwana, a South African edupreneur uplifting young people through maths and science

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Zanele Hobongwana, founder, Swazi Tutor Academy (South Africa)

Startup Story

Every country knows that the education of young people is key to the alleviation of poverty and the economic growth of communities as a whole. In South Africa, Zanele Hobongwana, founder of Swazi Tutor Academy, is playing her role in tackling education in maths and science at a community level. Her work is helping to change young people’s lives as they open their minds and develop the key learning skills they need to become active contributing members of society.

Only WE can change the narrative

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2021-06-13 at 5.29.26 PM.png

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Without doubt the above is a beautiful picture from the UN Economic Commission for Africa’s recent publication entitled: “Increasing women’s access to capital critical in Africa’s fight against poverty.” Sub-titled: “Women entrepreneurs continue to face greater barriers to accessing financing for their businesses”, see here.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.