Lioness Launch / Award-winning South African upcycling design company, Lilly Loompa opens ‘first of its kind’ concept shop

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

South African upcycling design company, Lilly Loompa, founded by the talented eco-designer Lizl Naude, opened its ‘first of its kind’ concept shop on 17 November 2021 in Paarl, Western Cape. Known for celebrating the possibilities of upcycling waste, Lilly Loompa is known far and wide for its quirky, upcycled décor items. But more than that, Lizl herself is known for her purposeful and environmentally-consciousness approach to design. A great example of this can be seen in the launch in 2020, during the pandemic, the “My Africa Lap Desk”, currently the brand’s most popular product and made with discarded, waste material.

If you live in a world where you don’t need ramps, you simply do not notice

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

The above powerful photo of Sázia Sousa, in her words “a proud member of Lionesses”, the General Director of Technoplus, Lda, Mozambique (here), taken by the brilliant Giulia Bosis, says it all for what we are, as she says:

“A note for the International Women Entrepreneur's Day:

Be a # woman and be a # entrepreneur! I have this photo as a symbol of much that I have achieved so far. And for all women I scream: We do not want to be equal to men. We do not want to stop taking care of the house or the children. We just want them to stop looking at women as a being incapable of opinion, intelligence, and strength. We want to stop conditioning our life to a successful marriage. We want to continue being women, but above all, we want to be human beings able to help our community.”

The Expecting Entrepreneur by Arianna Taboada

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In her book, The Expecting Entrepreneur, parental leave consultant Arianna Taboada asks women entrepreneurs a key question - your life is baby-ready, but did you baby-proof your business? She knows that when you’re the boss, planning for much-needed parental leave, making money, and the survival of your business can feel overwhelming. You deserve to recover from childbirth and transition into this new chapter without the stress of work. The Expecting Entrepreneur shows you how to design a parental leave that works for you, your family, and your business, without having to sacrifice your entrepreneurial success.

Survey: The Online Experience in the Deaf Community

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Thuli Zikalala

Happy creative, a marketing agency based in the UK, reveal that market research is a crucial part of any business. Although businesses may think they know who their target market is, after some research, they are often surprised – and pivot their strategy to match the data collected. Here are three benefits of conducting market research they mention.

Buyer Personas, Buyer Profiles & How to Get In Front Of Your Ideal Buyer

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

There is plenty of evidence that shows the ineffectiveness of digital marketing, but at the core of this supposed evidence is businesses having a poor understanding of their ideal buyers. This poor understanding results in poorly crafted and presented messaging or content which literally makes your prospective ideal buyer switch off on you and all your marketing.

It’s time to develop a powerful personal brand

November 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“A brand for a product is like a reputation for a person” - Jeff Bezos

Why do brands spend what they do on advertising and marketing? Of course it’s the obvious essentials like profit and growth, creating social impact but really it comes down to creating loyal fans. It’s the same with your personal brand.

Cheat Days

November 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Emily Kandanga

Committing to a healthier lifestyle often requires giving up some of your favorite sweet or fried treats, that won’t help you with achieving your overall goals. Undoubtedly this is one of the biggest challenges you will face along your journey, because it requires you to give up on food that you actually love and enjoy eating.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Blazing Moon Corporate Training launches new Video and E-Learning programmes

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Brenda MacLaren, founder, Blazing Moon Corporate Training (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

These days, the need for virtual training and development services to supplement those that can be obtained by in-person programmes, has never been greater. In South Africa, Blazing Moon Corporate Training, founded by entrepreneur Brenda MacLaren, is a SETA accredited business that offers blended learning solutions. The company has developed a range of Video and eLearning programmes that are launching in the first quarter of 2022. The company has been a long standing training provider since 1999. It is accredited with the MICT SETA for its IT courses and the Services SETA for all its soft skills training courses, as well as being a registered training provider with COMENSA (Coach and Mentors of South Africa). The company offers both short skills programmes and learnerships that can be conducted in live online sessions and also facilitated in classroom sessions.

Harnessing Stress by Kathy Mann

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Stress expert Kathy Mann believes that stress is not something that can be dominated, suppressed or avoided, and in her book Harnessing Stress, she shows us how it’s possible to learn to live with it and harness it for good. Kathy says that by understanding the way our brains and bodies react in supporting us through stressful situations, we can learn to embrace stress and to use it to our advantage, in life and in business.

Taíla Carrilho, a creative Mozambican entrepreneur with a passion for design

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Taíla Carrilho, co-founder, Ruum Gallery & founder, Atelier Taila Carrilho (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Many entrepreneurs are born to create, and in Mozambique, Taíla Carrilho, co-founder of Ruum Gallery and founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho, is one such person. Her design talent has led her to co-found a creative gallery to showcase handcrafted design objects, and also her own fashion atelier.

Rumbidzai Matemachani, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a unique footwear and accessories brand

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rumbidzai Matemachani, founder, Rungano Rwedu (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

For lovers of eye-catching luxury fashion accessories and footwear, look no further than Rungano Rwedu in Zimbabwe, founded by Rumbidzai Matemachani. Her creative talent, combined with some of the finest specialist training in footwear and accessory design and manufacture in Italy, led Rumbidzai to launch her own brand back in her home country of Zimbabwe.

Eva Muraya, serial entrepreneur, brand innovator, and women’s champion

November 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

BSD Group, a regional award-winning brand strategy and communications company based in Kenya

Eva Muraya is the Founder and CEO of BSD Group, a regional award-winning brand strategy and communications company based in Kenya. It comprises four companies: Brand Strategy & Design Limited, Avid Public Relations Ltd, Whiteboard Advertising Limited and Brandquad Africa Limited, a knowledge sharing and talent development consultancy. Eva is an entrepreneur widely known in marketing and communication circles as a brand innovator and builder, with at least twenty years now in her crown. She has most recently gained attention as an advocate and champion for inclusivity and growth of women markets. She is a co-founder of the Kenya Association of Women Business Owners (KAWBO) and is currently a Director at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) – Gender and SMEs.

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.

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