Exposure by Felicity Cowie

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

When you are starting out in business, learning the art of media relations can be a daunting prospect, but Felicity Cowie in her new book Exposure, provides a practical and insightful playbook for doing just that. She genuinely empowers entrepreneurs to take control of their own media coverage generation and journalist relationship building instead of having to layout precious cashflow on external agencies. This is a great book that provides all the insider secrets you need to make your business a go-to authority for journalists.

Saving the Earth - one game at a time!

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

With so much going on in the world in the form of Covid shutdowns in China; continued Supply Chain issues; higher prices pushed even higher thanks to a war in what is clearly the world’s and if the massive import needs are anything to go by - Africa’s largest bread-basket otherwise known as The Ukraine; and of course the push-pull within Central Banks over raising interest rates to counter inflation or keeping low to keep recessions at bay (see our warnings on Stagflation here and here); one could be forgiven in our rush to lower electricity pricing by firing up coal fired power stations, for forgetting that the Globe is still suffering.

What are you Avoiding? And, why avoiding difficulties doesn’t work

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie

Avoidance is one of the more sinister patterns that we adopt. Firstly, by avoiding the discomfort we’re trying to escape, we ironically make it permanent in our lives. Secondly, as a function of avoidance, we make our power to improve our situation invisible to ourselves. We make the cycle of pain and avoidance perpetual and even permanent for ourselves.

Laughter as medicine

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

It is well-documented that laughter is good for you. In fact there seems to be quite a movement to stimulate laughter as a mechanism to reduce stress. I met someone once who conducts team workshops to laugh together for this very purpose. In my research on methods of healing, I’ve also come across Laughter Yoga, some sessions of which end with ‘laughter meditation’. I understand the benefits of laughter, but I also know that this is just not for me. Just as some people simply are not interested in meditation or a gratitude journal, forced group laughter is just something I can’t bring myself to do.

The Future I Wanted So Much

May 1, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Proposal benchmarking: The first step to a better win rate

April 29, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Bertha Kgokong, a serial techpreneur from South Africa developing software applications and platforms

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Helen Viljoen, a South African sustainability focused luxury jewellery brand builder

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Lauren Anderson, a passion-driven entrepreneur making learning accessible

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

She Thinks Like a Boss - Business Affirmations: 200 Affirmations for Women in Business, Entrepreneurs, Solopreneurs by Jemma Roedel

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

The secret you need to succeed in life

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

7 Reasons why outsourcing digital marketing will grow your business

April 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

How to trick your mind into solving business challenges

April 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

5 mentors, 7 astounding pieces of wisdom

April 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

The LegaliTEAS of Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence and Balance in Starting Your Own Business by Lisa Bonner

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Dr Hajira Mashego, a South African business founder making fitness and exercise more accessible

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Abira Mahumane, a Mozambican entrepreneur with a niche business focused on invitations and gifting

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Chilufya Mutale, building a Pan African Challenger Bank for SMEs

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Collaboration is key to growth for women entrepreneurs

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

April 17, 2022 Melanie Hawken

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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