Fade Ogunro, a digital pioneer empowering gig workers in Africa

October 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Bookings Africa, a digital work platform connecting clients to skilled professionals in Africa

Fade Ogunro is the founder and ceo of BookingsAfrica.com, a pan-African digital work platform that enables African service providers, agencies and professionals digitize and monetize their skills by connecting clients efficiently and transparently to skilled professionals in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. As a leading technology platform, Bookings Africa is the only African freelance marketplace with a video call feature that allows clients and Brands connect with service providers from procurement, payment to service delivery which is rendered end-to-end, online. Fade has over 15 years of experience in media and technology, and most recently is also the Africa Chair for the Cherie Blair Foundation. She is dedicated to the pursuit of gender equality, digital gig work opportunities and African prosperity. Her vision is to produce self-sustainable and dignified work through digital work for over 5 million Africans.

The Making of a Successful Business Woman by Telishia Berry

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Publisher and entrepreneur, Telishia Berry, author of the book, The Making of a Successful Business Woman, believes that women can empower themselves by being their own boss lady, a self-sufficient woman who creates and thrives in her own business. Telishia encourages women to take control of their lives by building their own businesses and finding their independence by doing what they love and turning that into a commercial success story.

Concentrate on what you do best and ‘EaaS’ the rest!

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

There was a time when if you wanted to travel from Kenya to New York, the only option was a boat. Telegrams were the fastest way to get a message any distance and if a child left to study or live and work in another country, an occasional letter would be all that one could hope for. These days we have got as close as possible to Teleportation (moving from A to B instantaneously), without actually climbing into a machine and being transported to another place, as Zoom/Teams have become commonplace. We are now suddenly ‘transported’ into the office or living room of another with such ease. Indeed perhaps teleportation is not so far off - they have recently invented the ability to have a hologram placed in front of you that you can touch and the sensation will be just as if you are shaking their hand - incredible! Of course not everything is changing - on the subject of letters home (or occasional zoom), to be fair in this area - plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!

Benefits Of Improved Business, Work and Accounting Processes With Cloud Accounting

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Charmel Flemming

Adapt or die. That was the theme for businesses throughout 2020 and 2021. If it has taught us anything, it's that businesses and companies who took the chaos, uncertainty and vulnerability of the last two years and turned it into opportunities to learn, pivot and regroup were the real survivors of the pandemic onslaught.

Two Post-Pandemic Businesses You Can Start Today

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The current pandemic has opened up the entry way for new and extended business openings as purchasers adjust to post-COVID life. The effect of COVID-19, especially on the business world, couldn't have been anticipated yet has been an amazing learning experience—particularly for trying business people. Social distancing and remote work have constrained customary in-person businesses like eateries, physical retail and event organizers to get innovative with arrangements and stay relevant, while additionally opening a universe of opportunities s for entrepreneurs to meet shoppers' new and developing needs.

Losing Your Job or Income Can Be Hugely Crippling

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

So many people’s jobs have been impacted financially by the pandemic either by having to take salary cuts, being made redundant due to the financial impact on business, or sadly business having to close down because they just couldn’t find a way to keep their doors open anymore.

You Are What You Say You Are

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu-Tapula

I lovingly challenge you to randomly ask people how they are doing. I bet you the majority will be complaining! I used to have a habit of replying “Eish, I am trying” until someone asked,” When are you ever good or well?” I was stunned, I was good and well most days, but I often felt the need to not say it and opted for this mediocre which served my mental wellbeing in no way. Because I was saying it , I ended up feeling it. I was going about my days barely making it, surviving, trying.

OH SH*T, I’m in Sales?: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Making Sales Your BFF by Susan Trumpler

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

OH SH*T, I’m in Sales? An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Making Sales Your BFF by Susan Trumpler, solves a problem that is very easy to understand. Women entrepreneurs do not go into business because they have been dreaming of being a sales professional, right? They go into business because they are passionate about helping people and have amazing products or programs they want to put out into the world. But the problem is that if they don’t make friends with sales, they won’t have a business. End. Of. Story.

Thuli Zikalala and Yellow Owl win recognition at the New Generation Digital Awards

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2021-10-03 at 8.25.20 PM.png

Awards and Accolades

The New Generation Digital Awards took place in South Africa in September 2021, a ceremony to recognize and honour independent social and digital media campaigns and initiatives in the country. MC for this year’s awards was the renowned South African Actress, Singer and Songwriter; Relebogile Mabotja, who announced this year’s Silver award for Best Use of a Podcast/Vlog to Promote a Brand or Event going to the Blind History Podcast, produced by CliffCentral.com and Taylor Blinds and Shutters, with sign language interpretation by Thuli Zikalala and Yellow Owl.

Safietou Seck, a fashion entrepreneur from Senegal blending African and Western cultures in her designs

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Safietou Seck, founder of SARAYAA (Senegal)

Startup Story

There is a growing interest by textile lovers around the world in discovering handwoven fabrics from the African continent, and this interest is something that Safietou Seck, founder of SARAYAA, is tapping into with her business. Her clothing line effortlessly blends contemporary design with the inspiration of beautiful handwoven fabrics from the African continent.

Rokhaya Diop, an entrepreneur building a new approach to customer service evaluation in Senegal

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rokhaya Diop, co-founder , NoterKo (Senegal)

Startup Story

Every business knows that getting feedback about customer service and measuring customer satisfaction is key to success. In Senegal, Rokhaya Diop and her co-founder of NokerKo, have launched a platform where users can rate the quality of customer service for public and private companies.

Mayleen Kyster Nduli, an entrepreneurial pioneer of Africa’s steel industry

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Africa Steel Holdings, a boutique investment holding company in the steel and metals value chain

Mayleen Kyster Nduli is the founder of Africa Steel Holdings in South Africa, a boutique investment holding company with interest across the steel and metals value-chain. Her business ASH was founded on the foundation of her passion for the steel industry as well as her sound education and personal experience of 15 years in steel. Mayleen sits on various boards in her industry as either Non or Executive Director. Mayleen is passionate about woman empowerment and inclusion in all industries. Mayleen is a wife to Zano and mother to Rocco and Nala.

Lioness Launch / Burundi-based Margaux Wong launches its beautiful new Joy collection of wearable art pieces

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Margaux Rusita, founder of Margaux Wong (Burundi)

Lioness Launch

A highly personal and beautiful new collection of wearable art pieces has been launched by Burundi based designer, Margaux Rusita, founder of Margaux Wong. This new collection of wearable art pieces, Joy, celebrates strength & delight in two exciting capsules: Daisy & Veronica. Joy is named after and dedicated to designer Margaux Rusita’s mother, Joy Edlyn Frank Wong, who, this year, transitioned after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Joy also battled mental health illness for many years. Being a beautifully gifted artist herself, Joy provided the love, inspiration and fighting spirit which Margaux today embodies.

Timing is everything!

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

We often hear of ‘first mover advantage’ whereby the first one into a new industry, country or product, the ‘Pathfinder’, has a significant advantage that is not easy to beat. But is that true?

To a certain extent, yes. There is after all a reason we all still talk about “Hoovering our homes” (yet Hoover Inc (formed in 1908) has not been the market leader for years), but to stay at the top (as Hoover did for many decades) is not easy and takes serious effort.

5 Steps to Create an Effective Digital Marketing Strategy

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

There are over 3.5 billion people online and the current marketing reality is that digital is impossible to rule out. No growing business can afford to walk around in the dark without a clear plan to follow and expect to generate successful results. A digital strategy provides the framework your company needs to make the best decisions for strategy development and implementation.

How to become the Chief Energy Officer of your life

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“Memory with no emotional charge is wisdom”

— Rich Litvin

As we are rounding the corner of 2021, it is important to make time to press pause. Really stop, reflect and course correct to ensure you are not steam rolling into 2022 on autopilot. When you open up Waze or Google Maps, there are two basic requirements before you can begin the trip - a starting point and a desired end destination. Equally, you need to assess where you are at now in your life and where you want to go. Do not bring the emotional baggage of 2021 into the new year but rather learn from it and make sure you are charged and ready to tackle 2022 with a fresh perspective.

Your joyful purpose

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Angelique Adcock & Dr Alison Hofer

Did you ever ask yourself: “How did I get here?” or, “What am I doing with my life?” Some days it can feel like you work and love with all you have, and yet life can throw your efforts back in your face. And that can really hurt. And it can set you back. Sometimes, then, we have to dig deep to rediscover our purpose and our joy. Rediscovering what makes you joyful, and what enriches your life with purpose, can reinvigorate you. It can restart your engine and help you rev your way out of an emotional ditch.

My traumas made me better

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

I recently read an excellent book, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. It’s about what happens to our brains and bodies as a result of trauma and how to treat it. Even events that seem fairly tame or punishments that parents deem reasonable, can be experienced as a traumatic event by a child. We are changed by these events. Not only in the way we think and behave, but we experience physiological changes. Van der Kolk writes, “trauma produces actual physiological changes, including a recalibration of the brain’s alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity, and alternations in the system that filters relevant information from irrelevant.”

Upping the game: Digital innovation for better customer service delivery and experience in local government

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content / Absa

Municipalities, along with many other public sector entities, are highly dependent on revenue generated from services rendered. As such, they are always looking at ways to improve processes, revenue collection and the overall customer experience. In response to this growing need by municipalities as well as to address concerns of the auditor general with respect to revenue collection by municipalities, Absa has embarked on a journey to provide digitally led solutions to municipalities.

Side Hustle in Progress: A Practical Guide to Kickstarting Your Business by Elizabeth Ogabi

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Author and entrepreneur, Elizabeth Ogabi, believes it’s time to make your ideas a reality, and in her new book Side Hustle in Progress: A Practical Guide to Kickstarting Your Business, she shows you how. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the information out there about starting a side hustle; or you have a great business idea but no clue where to start; or you are looking for advice to help you build the portfolio career you desire - then her new book is just what you need to read.

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