the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Tatum Billson, founder, NoolaBaby
Startup Story
NoolaBaby (formally known as NulaBaby) is a South African online retailer founded by Tatum Billson that specializes in baby strollers. Since launching the brand, the range has expanded to over seven different strollers (including a twin stroller), and now also sells nursery furniture, rocking chairs, as well as 360-degree rotation car seats and accessories.
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Tutuwa Ahwoi
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Nokware Skincare, a modern day, sustainable, African skincare company
Tutuwa Ahwoi is the 31 year old founder and CEO of Nokware Skincare. She was born in Accra, Ghana where she currently resides. She founded the business in 2017. Today, Nokware is a modern day African skincare company that has 11 female employees, 8 product lines (and counting) and a successful event gifting business.
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Impact Partner Content / Absa
Absa has a clear understanding of the fuel industry, which is clearly outlined in our banking solutions. We spend time understanding our clients’ needs within the industry and provide solutions accordingly. We have an end-to-end approach to solutioning the owner’s, business’s and employees’ needs. As a financial services partner to more than 30% of service stations in South Africa, Absa has a thorough understanding of the industry’s intricacies and specific challenges.
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Felicity Cowie
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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