the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Robyn Keet
As a big-hearted Creative, I would run from negotiations. It’s made me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. To avoid this feeling I would take what was offered to me as “fair” instead of facing the throw-down that negotiations can bring. All I want to do was to create and deliver great work. Sound familiar?
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by Kathy Mann
My area of expertise is stress management. However, I don’t focus on the typical lifestyle interventions that many others focus on: deep breathing, exercise and meditation. These certainly work and I incorporate them into my own life as part of my stress management strategies, but this is only part of the picture.
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Sara Bouazza, founder, SOSdigital (Morocco)
Sara Bouazza, founder, SOSdigital (Morocco)
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Salma Abdulai, co-founder and ceo, AMAATI Company Ltd (Ghana)
Believe in yourselves!…
Salma Abdulai, co-founder and ceo, AMAATI Company Ltd (Ghana)
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Impact Partner Content / Absa
The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA), in partnership with Absa, hosted its first virtual conference since before the pandemic on the 25th and 26th August. The aim was to review, reset and revive the franchise sector in the country. South Africa stands out as the only country in Africa that embraced the franchising model way back in the 1960s and built it into the formidable business sector that has created 800 business brands operating through over 48 000 outlets and employing around half a million people. One of the key topics for discussion at the Conference was empowering Africa's women entrepreneurs and recognizing their role as critical job creators. Lionesses of Africa was invited to present its findings on this important subject from its recent South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Survey, undertaken in partnership with New York University, in collaboration with Absa.
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Scout Sobel
Book Review
Comprised of 25 lessons, The Emotional Entrepreneur by Scout Sobel will guide Millennial and Gen Z women through the emotional challenges of launching, running, and scaling a business such as fear, risk, uncertainty, and anxiety. Each of the lessons outlined are inspired by Scout Sobel's healing journey from living with bipolar disorder.
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Salma Abdulai
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
AMAATI Co. Ltd, an agri-business processing Fonio to empower small-scale women farmers
Salma Abdulai is the Co-Founder and CEO of AMAATI Company limited, a company that reflects her experience and passion for agriculture and social consciousness. She has her background in Agricultural Economics and has 10 years of experience working on different projects with International non-profit organizations. Her extensive experience in the agriculture sector is particularly focused on working with small scale rural farmers and women groups across Africa. She has managed AMAATI CO. Ltd since 2013 to become profitable, an agri-business company she co-founded which is into the processing and marketing of Fonio for local and export market.
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Cindy Matlapeng
Lioness Launch
The Female Founder Initiative Botswana is a Non Governmental Organization that aims at empowering women in business through voluntary business discussions and mentorship programs. Co-founded by Cindy Matlapeng (President), Nametso Manyepedza (Vice President), and Evita Tlhobogang (Vice President), the organization also aims to source funds for women who have the ideas but lack financial support to start up or expand their businesses. It’s first pilot program, Mosadi Khumo Entrepreneurship Program, launched in August.
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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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