Climate change leadership takes bravery, courage and action

November 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

At the time of writing, COP26 is into its last days and sadly it is not looking good for any meaningful results. The current feeling is that (non-binding) commitments so far given are driving us to an increase of 2.6 degrees, significantly higher than the 1.5 required to keep the globe relatively stable. The above quote tragically says it all. It is from Philip Davis, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, one of the many countries on the battle front of Climate Change, as he arrived home disappointed but sadly not surprised by the lack of courage in his fellow leaders. "I invited them to be brave, to be courageous and act…” But as he added: “They don't seem to have any teeth to them.” (here)

5 Visibility mistakes women make in the workplace and how to solve them

November 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

In today’s competitive corporate world, being good at your job isn’t enough. Women often lose out on opportunities because key stakeholders are unaware of the work they do, even though they are star performers and work very hard.

4 Ways to Start Getting Your Legal Life “Ducks in a Row”

November 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Sinal Govender & Claire Keet

It’s really hard to think and talk about your own death. It’s even harder to take action around preparing for death. You may sign up for life insurance or take out a funeral policy or make lifestyle choices to live a happier, longer, healthier life. But few of us go a step further to create a “when I die” folder - or, as we call it, a life.file - of everything our people will need one day when we’re not around anymore. Unless we’ve experienced a life threatening situation or experienced loss, the concept of death can seem ephemeral. It’s almost like our brains protect us from really engaging with the concept of our own mortality, despite it being a universal certainty for each and every one of us.

Working Moms’ Unite!

November 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu-Tapula

I started the Working Moms’ Club after I had my first baby. It was 11 months after I gave birth. I was doing it, I was a Mom to this incredible human, and I had a tribe of women to thank for my sanity. I had support and advice from loving women who wanted me to thrive. Motherhood felt like second nature and as much I was born to do this, without my tribe, it sure was going to be tougher.

Dark kitchens and the changes in Quick Service Restaurant models

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content / Absa

Sluggish growth on the traditional brick n mortar restaurant market is demanding alternative ways of doing business.

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered changes that also fast-forwarded trends on our shores. One trend that is presenting opportunities in the prepared food business is the ‘dark kitchen’ model. Dark kitchen essentially refers to a food eatery that sells meals exclusively through delivery channels for remote consumption, there is no physical dine-in experience.

Business Minded: A Guide to Setting Up Your Mind, Body and Business for Success by Carly A Riordan

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Author and social media influencer, Carly A Riordan, who has just launched her new book, ‘Business Minded: A Guide to Setting Up Your Mind, Body and Business for Success’ believes that it’s possible to turn your creative passion into a successful company. With clarity and approachability, Carly’s book is a complete guide that will teach you how to monetize your creativity with a sustainable operation, helping you to become a happy, healthy, successful, business-minded boss.

Refilwe Sebothoma, a visionary South African entrepreneur in PPE

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

PBM Group, a South African high-growth business helping companies to create safe employee work environments

Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of specialist PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) business, PBM Group, in South Africa, a company started in 2014 and today with 2500 employees. As the builder of a growing market-leading business, she continues to grow as a visionary entrepreneur with proven business savvy and qualities. Through such business acumen, she founded her business in an industry monopolized by large, well established business and manufacturing industries, and established it as high-growth start-up that is highly recognized as a valuable business partner. In the past two years, as part of her growth strategy, she has been acquiring business shares in huge businesses which own her value chain.

Chaimaa Elghani, an entrepreneur providing co-working inspiration in Morocco

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Chaimaa Elghani, founder, GO4Work (Morocco)

Startup Story

The concept of co-working for entrepreneurs is not a new one globally, but in Morocco, Chaimaa Elghani, founder of GO4Work, there was a gap. Today, she is creating an inspirational co-working space for people to develop their entrepreneurial spirit and to network with like-minded people who are all on their own business building journeys.

Joan Mugenzi, a Ugandan entrepreneur coaching people to be the best versions of themselves

November 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Joan Mugenzi, founder, Imagine Me Africa (Uganda)

Startup Story

Joan Mugenzi is the founder of Imagine Me Africa, based in Uganda. She is an International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach with 385 hours of coach training and over 750 hours of coaching, with a focus on employment transition. Whether a person is getting into a new job, moving into the next opportunity within the organization, grappling with management and leadership transition role, or planning on exiting, Joan enjoys facilitating the conversations. Joan has trained in coaching up to the highest level of coaching (Mastery), and wholly believes in the need for people to experience professional coaching. She is the founding and current president of the International Coaching Federation Uganda Chapter. Her focus is building Africa's coaching hub of choice.

“We can’t get to net zero by flipping a green switch”

November 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

…and so said Mark Carney the ex Bank of England Governor, now the UN’s special envoy on climate action and finance (here), and indeed he is right. To save the world; to ensure people continue to have homes, jobs and a future; to allow for a world where crops are not constantly facing drought one day and then hit by flood the next; to ensure that forests continue to provide habitats and local (and global) climate ecosystems - this all requires long, hard work from us all. Just to put it into further context, successive years of extreme weather events have plunged Madagascar into what WFP officials say is the world’s first climate-induced famine. Five years of consecutive drought compounded by sandstorms, as well as cyclones, an invasion of locusts and growing insecurity have created what World Food Program officials call the perfect storm. There is no magical green switch.

Mistakes Companies Make When Recruiting For Board Members

November 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

Having the right people on your board is absolutely fundamental to ensuring the organization is run effectively and efficiently. As with any recruitment exercise, it is important to consider what role the board members will have, and the skills, knowledge, and experience they need.

Are You a Relationship Master Or a Disaster?

November 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Marjon Meyer

People who are good at relationships are already happy with their lives and don’t expect others to make them happy. People who are good at relationships are living happy, fulfilled lives before they even enter into a relationship. They bring their happiness into the relationship, instead of extracting happiness from the relationship.

Why Boundaries Are About Saying Yes!

November 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ashika Pillay

What happens when you hear the word boundary? Most people feel a sense of contraction. A feeling of resistance. We feel that a boundary means “no”. Because we wish to be liked, and to please others, setting boundaries can feel like we are pushing others away, and that we are being selfish.

Investing in Yourself

November 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

What comes to mind when you think about investing in yourself? Is it items that require serious expenditure, like an additional tertiary qualification, a new computer or a trip to an out-of-town conference? Or do you think about simpler things like a scented hand cream, a series of therapy sessions or a short online course? Whichever category your idea of investment is in, investing in ourself means you are foregoing other things to create value for yourself - and usually in a way that will enable you to learn, grow and improve your output.

Rebecca Tshuma, a South African agripreneur with a big growth vision

October 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca Tshuma, founder, Becks Foods (South Africa)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Becks Foods, building a reputation for supplying fresh, healthy produce direct from the farm.

Ensuring food security and continuity of the agri value chain is important in South Africa and globally, and for agripreneur Rebecca Tshuma, founder of high-growth business, Becks Foods, that is her inspiration. She is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm. From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs, and Becks Foods is growing to be there for them.

Business Growth Do's and Absolute Don'ts: Applied Wisdom from My Work with Dell, Costco, Amazon, and Multiple Start-ups by Carolyn Byron Lowe

October 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Digital marketing expert and author of the new book Business Growth Do's and Absolute Don'ts, Carolyn Byron Lowe, says it’s the question emerging entrepreneurs and burgeoning business leaders ask themselves every day: Am I doing this right? Markets fluctuate and trends come and go, but some principles of the business world are here to stay. Founders and leaders need to know—and cannot ignore—the vital differences between success and failure.

Meet Mozambique's women entrepreneurs who are showcasing the country's unique business offerings

October 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

In Focus / Mozambique

Like countries across the African continent, Mozambique is emerging from the impact of many challenges over the past two years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. But those challenges have spurred on women entrepreneurs in the country who want to create businesses that can help them to better weather the social and economic storms going forward. What each of these women entrepreneurs share in common is a passion for the businesses they are creating, ambition for the brands they are launching, and a desire to create opportunities and jobs for local people. These true Lionesses of Africa are not just showcasing their own unique products and services to the world, getting consumers interested in buying what they have to offer, but they are also putting Mozambique on the map and stimulating interest from across the continent.

Why You Should Hire for Skills Not Talent, and the Stigma of Mental Health

October 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

Talent Management has been a focus for quite some time now, but what we’re really implying is that a candidate needs to have the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job perfectly from day one. (i.e. a self-starter that can hit the ground running). Instead, what we really need to be looking for is not only does a person already know how to do something, but can they also learn it? How flexible and adaptable are they to learning new things whether that be skills, systems or ways of working?

Lioness Launch / Africa’s luxury jewellery brand, Adele Dejak, launches its new Malaika Collection

October 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Adele Dejak, the brand, is an authentic jewellery and fashion accessories brand that offers a direct access to the true premium African experience. Founder Adele Dejak has built a powerful brand over the years, globally renowned for creating a wide variety of lovingly designed and handcrafted pieces including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and handbags. Every piece tells a story and is inspired by African textiles, cultures and traditions, with everything being produced directly in the Adele Dejak studio in Kenya or through collaboration with an established network of partners. On 5 November 2021, Adele launches the inspirational new Malaika Collection, a new capsule collection of jewellery and accessories for the modern warrior man and woman.

Catherine Nakayemba, a Ugandan entrepreneur manufacturing menstrual kits for rural women and girls

October 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Catherine Nakayemba, co-founder, Safe Girl (Uganda)

Startup Story

Catherine Nakayemba is the co-founder and administrator of Safe Girl in Uganda, a business on a mission to lower the cost of menstruation by making safe and eco-friendly reusable menstrual kits. Each kits consists of two reusable sanitary pads, a knicker, storage bag and a piece of soap. This lasts for 12 months hence enabling a rural woman or girl to save from buying monthly pads. Since launching the business, it has produced over 1000 reusable menstrual kits and distributed them all around Uganda. The business employs 20 women working in both production and marketing of the pads.

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