the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Sara Bouazza, founder of SOSdigital (Morocco)
Startup Story
For those small businesses in Morocco that are looking to digitize their product and service offerings, Sara Bouazza, founder of SOSdigital, has the solution. She has a range of virtual digital platforms that provide showcase opportunities for those clients who are trying to connect with key markets.
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Omotola Olaniyi-Omosebi, founder, Gmoty Fashion Academy (Nigeria)
Startup Story
Gmoty Fashion Academy in Nigeria, founded by the passionate fashion entrepreneur Omotola Olaniyi-Omosebi, is changing people’s lives by giving them training in fashion manufacturing skills and business. Her work is accelerating her students’ ability to access jobs and business opportunities in the fashion industry on graduation.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operational Department
Let’s get something straight before we start. There is no universal truth that is time. Time for one person is very different for another. To give you an example: Time for a football team defending a 1-0 scoreline in the dying 2 minutes of the Cup Final is very different for the attacking team trying to score the goal that would take the final into extra time. For the defenders the clock ticks sooooooooo slowly, for the attackers it seems as if the clock jumps as it races towards the final whistle.
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by Ashika Pillay
Have you ever surfed at the seaside or perhaps watched people surf? One minute an incredible high, and then diving down into a blinding low. The ups and the downs. The high highs and low lows. Living and working in the world right now, feels that way. Riding the waves of uncertainty where we see the glimmer of hope and then plunge back into not knowing and fear. How can we manage these waves? Is it even possible?
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by Nontobeko Mbuyane
As the very observant soul that I am, I have been observing so many things lately, especially the behavioral patterns of most people. I learnt so many lessons from just that this week. Do you know that what you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it? Are you afraid of saying no in your professional life because you think you will miss out on a big opportunity? I have learned that a quick yes can sink a lot of ships. God only knows I have taken on too much at times because I feared I would miss out on something life changing. It is for that reason now that before I say yes to anything I have to consult, and my consultations are with God through prayer and fasting. I never say yes to anything that is life changing until God tells me so, be it business prospects, relationships, job opportunities and so many others.
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by Lori Milner
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”
- Anatole France
The fuel tank of inspiration and motivation is often directly proportional to the month of the year. In January and February, it’s pretty full because we have a clean slate and a renewed sense of energy. Fast forward a few months and the levels tend to go up and down depending on the season and what is going on for you. Don’t leave your internal fuel tank up to the mercy of external factors. How can you keep a steady gauge despite what the year holds for you?
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by Thuli Zikalala
Why interpreters should embrace change
It’s hard to think of relevance when things are going well in our lives and businesses; we have systems in place and often know what to expect. This is usually the time when people and organisations slow down and take a break because they’ve established predictable processes that satisfy clients and yield financial return – it works. However, this controlled and sometimes relaxed approach has dire consequences for people who don’t see the need to evolve; leaving organisations at risk of becoming professionally obsolete.
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Kah Walla, founder, STRATEGIES! (Cameroon)
Kah Walla, founder, STRATEGIES! (Cameroon)
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Fauzia Malik, founder, Pure Fitness Activewear (Tanzania)
Don’t overthink things!…
Fauzia Malik, founder, Pure Fitness Activewear (Tanzania)
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Carmen Stevens, founder, Carmen Stevens Wines Pty Ltd (South Africa)
Startup Story
Carmen Stevens, founder of Carmen Stevens Wines Pty Ltd, is the first black person accepted to study winemaking in South Africa and qualified in 1995 as South Africa's first black winemaker. She was recognised with a Top 10 Pinotage award in 1998 for her very first red wine production. Carmen's industry awards include International Decanter Trophy winner, 2015 Winemaker of the Year California, 2018 - Winemaker of the Decade UK (Naked Wines.com). In 2019, Carmen registered the first 100 % black-and-woman owned winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa and was awarded South Africa’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017 and 2019. The Carmen Stevens NPO was registered in 2015, the foundation to date, have provided 11 622 731 plates of food to 41 363 learners at school.
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Fauzia Malik, founder, Pure Fitness Activewear (Tanzania)
Startup Story
Fauzia Malik is the Managing Director of Cool Blue Pure Drinking Water, Tembo Tiles Limited, and the recently launched Pure Fitness Activewear. Despite having two companies to run, Fauzia has gone ahead and launched a new company selling active wear. She has successfully implemented policies, strategic plans and financial controls which allow her to work as a visionary leader for the businesses. Fauzia believes in learning and is constantly on the lookout for learning opportunities. In 2014, she joined Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) which has been a stepping stone to accessing a wealth of knowledge from the global community of entrepreneurs. Away from office, Fauzia is a mother of three children and a fitness enthusiast who strives to promote a workout culture among women for improved physical, and mental wellbeing.
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Kah Walla
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
STRATEGIES!, a consultancy firm specializing in leadership and management solutions
Kah Walla is a Political Leader, Activist and Entrepreneur from Cameroon. She is the founder and CEO of the 26-year old consulting firm, STRATEGIES! and the current president of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP) she joined in 2010. In 2011, she became the first woman to ever run for President of the Republic of Cameroon. She has been recognized with several awards: The Vital Voices Global Leadership Award in public Life (2012), the DVF Award (2014), and the Vital Voices Vanguard Award (2015).
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One Oreeng, founder, Addison & Western (Botswana)
Lioness Launch
In Botswana, Addison & Western (Pty) Ltd, founded by One Oreeng, is a company known for providing marketing and project management services to its clients, It’s sister company, Certus, which provides technology-driven service as a software solution to ease the traditional KYC onboarding process, is now offering a KYC (Know Your Customer) solution that digitizes the AML compliance process. Certus is 100% citizen owned and woman led.
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Nikki Nash
Book Review
If you want an expert-preneur's guide to building your audience in business, then look o further than the new book from Nikki Nash - Market Your Genius: How to Generate New Leads, Get Dream Customers, and Create a Loyal Community. She shares how you can tap into your own personal experiences and expertise to make a profound difference in someone else's life. Nikki believes it’s possible to create a profitable business from your own personal stories, and build a simple plan for growing your audience.
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by Linda Zuze (PhD)
Is it just me or does it feel as if we spend an awful lot of our time waiting for things to happen these days? Waiting for lockdowns to be lifted. Waiting for schools to re-open. Waiting for financing to keep our businesses going. Waiting to feel better. Waiting for ‘pandemic pivot’ to be yesterday’s buzzword. Waiting for things to get back to ‘normal’.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
When times are tough, when times are uncertain, indeed, when times are frightening, let us not make our lives anymore complex - let’s just keep it simple.
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by Kathryn Main
South Africa is a buy-now, pay-later society. The effects on young people’s financial literacy are thus characterized by the same behaviour patterns as parents and society. These are high credit and high consumer behaviour with very little savings, and in turn high social risk behaviour. Money Savvy is working to change this disastrous pattern.
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Grace Stevens
by Grace Stevens
Women like Julia Child, Nigella Lawson, and Martha Stewart are proof that building an empire based on your home baking skills is not only achievable but incredibly fruitful and rewarding. However, there is a big difference between having a delicious side hustle and building a baking empire.
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by Eldari Visser
After a year or two of just waiting, many entrepreneurs are wandering around with a sense of despair and even guilt. Waiting for the world to get back to some normal. Let’s be honest here. During a world full of turmoil many sat staring at a screen hoping for a call to action. Any action and any type of income - whatever the contract entailed, were welcomed. Many also sold their hours for way less than their worth. Others sat in awe as fellow business ladies invented new strategies that made you cry and your mind struck panic buttons often. Red flags and sleepless nights formed part of daily rituals. Your inner voice was the biggest enemy. Where was the surplus budget? Why didn’t I invest more, save more, buy less, and how did the cashflow dry up? A voice of reason wasn’t part of your thought pattern, no, mostly you had a feeling of kicking yourself and being ridiculous by blaming yourself to a point of utter destruction.
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by Elizandra dos Santos
Do you know how to wait? That is the question that I bring to the present moment. It’s worse for the quick fixers who want instant results, quick effects, quick responses, goals achieved in the shortest time and miraculous resolutions. I wish life were like this. Many people, because they don't know how to wait, end up frustrated immersed in anxiety, anger, depression, they become impatient. They are overwhelmed by their own emotions counting the days, hours, minutes, crazy seconds until the time comes to get out of this confinement, go back to traveling or have a supposedly normal life.
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