the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Erica Paiva
Have you ever found yourself looking into the future imagining what it could be, how it could be, and how happy you can be and years later, living that future, looked back and saw how much you lost? How much did you not feel? How much were you deluded by the dictates of society? Ehhh this is normal and very common believe me.
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by Izane Cloete-Hamilton
Whether you work in a large corporate, a small-medium enterprise or own a business, you've heard about benchmarking. Renowned business leaders often highlight the importance of benchmarking to the success of a business.
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Startup Story
Skhokho is a software development company based in South Africa and launched by tech entrepreneur Bertha Kgokong. Bertha is a self taught developer who graduated with an Engineering degree in 2003 and has spent over 15 years in corporate. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2017, where she founded Tati Software. Since then she has created numerous software applications, and also runs an online tech learning platform called Skolo https://skolo.online - where she provides free programming lessons on Youtube, and some paid courses on her website skolo.online.
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Helen Viljoen, founder Nebü (South Africa)
Startup Story
Nebü is a transparently priced, pure investment-grade gold jewellery brand inspired by and made in South Africa by entrepreneur Helen Viljoen. She creates legacy pieces for clients that will not only hold their value but grow in capital appreciation Helen believes this value not only enriches her customers but preserves our precious natural heritage.
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Lauren Anderson
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Koa Academy, a South African online learning business helping children learn and fulfill their potential
Lauren Anderson is the co-founder and CEO of Koa Academy Online School in South Africa. She founded the business with her husband in January 2021 and today it employs 21 people. Her background is in nursing and health systems, which she credits to teaching her much needed skills in the startup world. Lauren is driven to provide high quality education that is easily accessible and engaging, while creating a work culture for staff that is inspiring and conducive to growth.
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Jemma Roedel
Book Review
If you are a woman entrepreneur who wants to build a successful mindset for positive thinking, growth and banish limiting beliefs, then She Thinks Like a Boss: Business Affirmations: 200 Affirmations for Women in Business, Entrepreneurs, Solopreneurs by Jemma Roedel is just what you need to read.
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by Josefa Massinga
Hello Lionesses. Today I am writing about being successful in life, not that what I'm going to write is really the path to success in life. But I believe that from what I'm going to write it can help each of us to find some light. I believe we are all successful in some area of our lives. We have all achieved great goals and victories in certain areas of our lives. Success is in each of us. We have to accept the life we have and know how to say that our life is a great success.
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by Nkemdilim Uwaje-Begho
Digital marketing is entirely a world of its own and a digital marketing revolution is taking over the world! It is almost impossible to know every element as it comprises numerous features, limitless possibilities and ever changing features. It is a challenging task to have mastery of the subject when it is not a core business focus.
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by Zodidi Gaseb
I had just moved into my new manufacturing site when Covid 19 hit. We were suddenly plummeted into lockdown and reality struck. Businesses were forced to shut down, strategize and make ends meet in one of the most challenging phases the modern world has ever known. I had to let my team go, we tried minimizing work as sales were not met, but the shift in consumer priorities forced me to evaluate my own priorities.
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by Lori Milner
I am a collector of gems but not the shiny kinds. I surround myself with incredible mentors who guide me and seem to show up when I need them most. Luckily, I am not dependent on actually meeting these incredible people but can access their knowledge whenever I need it. Books are my happy place. Over the years, I have collected valuable nuggets and gems that I often go back to when I need a jolt of inspiration or if I’m feeling stuck.
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Lisa Bonner
Book Review
The LegaliTEAs of Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence and Balance in Starting Your Own Business by Lisa Bonner is a must-have "how to" guide that gives you the tea on starting and maintaining your own business from a legal perspective, dispensed with a side of practical, first-hand advice that every entrepreneur needs.
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Dr Hajira Mashego, founder, Fitness Junction (South Africa)
Startup Story
Dr Hajira Mashego is the founder of Fitness Junction in South Africa. She is a qualified sport physiotherapist who studied further to complete a Master’s Degree in Public Health (with a focus on fitness) and a PHD in Human Movement Science (also focusing on fitness). She has vast experience in sport physiotherapy, exercise science and sport management and has served a combined 26 years in the health, wellness and sports sectors. Hajira resigned from a senior management government position, took her pension contributions and established Fitness Junction, a gym company in February 2018. The company has been bootstrapped and has grown organically, now employing 14 people. Fitness Junction is a provider of commercial, corporate and home gyms.
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Abira Isabel Mahumane, founder, Bibi Invites e Flores (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Abira Isabel Mahumane, graduated in Financial and Insurance Management and is an entrepreneur and founder of the brand Bibi Invites e Flores in Mozambique. She started her business in 2019, a company specializing in invitations and gifts for various occasions, which operates in e-commerce. She has always been passionate about art and decided to turn this art into work. She now has three employees who carry out various tasks with great passion for its growth.
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Chilufya Mutale
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
PremierCredit, a Zambian fintech platform supporting women entrepreneurs and small scale traders
Chilufya Mutale is the Co-Founder and CEO of PremierCredit, an online microlending and investment platform operating in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Since 2019 PremierCredit has been offering micro loans in Zambia, supporting local entrepreneurs and small scale traders, many of whom are women, increasing their access to capital and the ability to grow their businesses. With the support of its partner banks in Zimbabwe, PremierCredit provides affordable bicycles, smart phones and solar equipment to underserved communities across Zimbabwe. PremierCredit is the first mover on the Zambian market to offer Peer to Peer lending, a platform that connects Investors to borrowers. The company currently employs 60 people.
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Event Report
When you talk about an important topic such as The Power of Collaboration for Women Entrepreneurs in Growth Mode, then women want to hear and engage, and that was certainly the case at the latest Lioness Business Agility Webinars on 13 April 2022. The event, organized by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Absa, brought together a record number of women entrepreneurs together online to engage, connect and importantly, explore potential future collaborations.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
No one can be in any doubt now about the impact the Russian attack on Ukraine and subsequent horrific war is having on our day-to-day lives. Two countries that provide a huge amount of the world’s basic staples such as wheat, sunflower oil and many other food essentials, at war, was always going to be felt in our weekly shop, no more so than in Africa given its massive imports of those basics. Many in the West have never experienced inflation of this kind, although for our Lionesses in Zimbabwe, there is still a long way to go as they sadly know only too well. The battle scars gained through having to cram Trillion Zim$ notes into their pockets and then fight their way to the front of the queues at the shops will never go away…
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by Ashika Pillay
For many of us, by now, New Year’s resolutions have become a distant memory. Research says that of the 41% of Americans that set resolutions at the beginning of the year only 9% are successful at keeping them. Perhaps the fact that we set our resolutions, often misty eyed, in the afterglow of a holiday, festivities, rest and fun could be a factor? However, the New Year promises a new beginning, a time to reset and inspire ourselves into what we believe our potential is. In my view, even a small step towards a positive change is an improvement. So, are you in the large majority whose goals are now fading slowly? This is not a disaster. I have recently been helping MBA student clients review their goals for their year ahead, and also experimenting with my own.
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by Brigette Mashile
In 2021 I made a decision to go retail. I have been thinking about this for maybe a 100 years LOL! In line with my creative procrastination talent, I think and ponder and wonder and eventually go in scared. After this decision I had to decide how; I then approached my options and received 2 yesses. So now, we are mainly online with Shopify and Zando. This sound easy right, like just two more sales channels. Alas, my brain has been fried with set up on both platforms, it took 4 – 6 weeks to complete the set up. Even with help!
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by Teboho Seretlo
In my line of work, as a sole business owner of my consulting business, I often rely on a professional network of associate consultants to get some of my work done. Example - if there is a specific project that I want to work on, be it responding to a published tender or putting together a proposal for a specific project, I often prefer to gather professionals in my networks to ensure we put our best foot forward and we offer a team with as diverse skills as possible. I also welcome other consultants approaching me to work with them on their own projects, especially if I can add value to their projects.
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by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila
Language is the art of communicating with others in any situation. Using proper language in each context is vital to ensure that the message is clear, received and understood well by the intended recipients. In a business context, it is a must that proper business language is utilized to portray professionalism and business language etiquette. The use of proper business language should be embraced by all in the business environment. The usage should also be done and applied in all forms of communication, be it verbal or written.
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