the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Sian Louw, ceo and owner, The Pacific Institute Swaziland
Startup Story
Everyone wants to have the opportunity to become the best versions of themselves, but achieving the desired end goal is not always easy with out expert help. In eSwatini, entrepreneur Sian Louw, ceo and owner of The Pacific Institute Swaziland, is assisting those who are looking to transform themselves and their organisations.
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Jenna Guarneri
Book Review
Did you know that about 90 percent of startups fail within the first five years of operation and one of the major reasons for their failure is poor brand awareness? Entrepreneur Jenna Guarneri, author of the book You Need PR: An Approachable Guide to Public Relations for Early-Stage Companies, believes that having the right exposure is vital to gaining new clients, growing the company, and securing future funding—in general, company success. But startups and small businesses don’t always have the kind of skills or resources they need to increase their visibility in an already oversaturated media landscape. Her new book is on a mission to help change that.
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by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie
Gone are the days when we clocked into our work day in the morning and clocked into the rest of our lives in the late afternoon. There was a clear separation between home life and work life and we could attend to the different parts of our lives without it being contaminated by the other parts of our lives. Where we were was where we were and we were able to give it our full attention.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
“Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.”
This quote was used by President Obama in his eulogy for Senator John McCain and was written by Ernest Hemmingway in his book, ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’. Although the book was based in the Spanish Civil War, the title of this incredible book was taken from John Donne's series of meditations and prayers on health, pain, and sickness (written after a near fatal illness). If one accepts the spelling that was used at the time (and as usual the use of the gender-specific pronoun to describe all humans, common throughout history), this is one of the most powerful thoughts on our place in this world. Written in 1624, it will be forever true:
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by Felicity Cowie, The Media Relations Coach
Media relations is frequently muddled up with public relations and that is very unhelpful for businesses seeking media coverage. Fundamentally, media relations is about working with journalists. Whilst the intention is to ultimately reach the public (be it customers, investors, talent or the world at large) via media coverage, it’s critical to understand that in all media relations work your audience is journalists. And journalists are under no obligation to do what you ask. You have no rights to approve or request changes to their work otherwise it wouldn’t be the independent third party endorsement which makes it so valuable.
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by Nkemdilim Uwaje-Begho
I spent yesterday evening talking to my friend and leading wealth coach in Nigeria, Abiola Adekoya, on her maiden edition of Disruptors with Abiola Adekoya, an IG LIVE series focused on Disruptors, Industry Trends, Wealth Creation and how to navigate the 21st century with all its quirks and kinks.
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by Kathy Mann
This weekend I went on a women’s retreat. On the first night I admitted to the ladies that I was really there to escape my children. Of course, I also went to renew myself and spend some time alone. It is the first time I have attended a retreat and I’m glad to say that there were no intolerable team exercises or war cries. The activities included art, dancing and reflection (including guided meditation).
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Oghenetega Gbadagri, founder, The Mobile Spa (Nigeria)
Startup Story
Oghenetega Gbadagri is a well-being entrepreneur and the founder of Nigeria’s foremost on-demand Spa, The Mobile Spa, founded in 2017 and now a business employing 17 people. She is certified by the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC UK), and she has certifications in various therapies including – Massage, Facials, Collagen Induction, Electrocautery and Advanced Skin Peel. Oghenetega is committed to helping people improve their skincare and well-being by making rejuvenating spa services easily accessible to them in their personal space.
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Gugu Mpungose, founder, Black Tie Media and Communications (South Africa)
Startup Story
There is nothing quite as powerful as women who share their experiences and insights through storytelling in order to inspire others. Gugu Mpungose, founder of Black Tie Media and Communications, is creating platforms through publishing, content creation and event experiences to tell stories and share information that can help and inspire others.
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Evelyn Kaingu, Co-Founder and CEO, Lupiya (Zambia)
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Lupiya, an innovative fintech business in Zambia building inclusive and accessible financial solutions
Evelyn Kaingu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lupiya, a Zambian fintech providing financial solutions for individuals and businesses in Zambia. Evelyn is an award-winning young leader whose selfless belief in people drives her to innovate solutions that are people centric. Her ideas are well-placed in considering small enterprise and technology as enablers and measurements of economic progress in Africa. She has first-handedly designed products with very few resources and built Lupiya to be a million-dollar business. Launched in 2016, today Lupiya employs 20 people. Evelyn is one of the 50 founders selected for Google’s prestigious inaugural Black Founders Fund in Africa.
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Book Review
Are you Poised for Exit in your business? That’s the important question asked by author and business exit expert Julie Keyes. In her new book, Poised for Exit: A Woman Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Transition, Julie says that one of the hard facts in business you need to come to terms with is that, regardless of your age, gender, industry, or company size, you will eventually need to exit from your business. How well you exit is largely dependent upon how well and early you plan.
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Kelebogile Makwala, founder, Maruapula Brand (South Africa)
Lioness Launch
Maruapula Brand is an integrated brand strategy consultancy based in South Africa, and focused on working with business and brand leaders who are looking to invest in and enhance their internal and external brand position and performance. Founded by entrepreneur Kelebogile Makwala, Maruapula Brand helps businesses create meaningful connections that get their brands seen, heard and valued by customers. The latest launch by Kelebogile and her team is a suite of strategic frameworks and brand tools to help businesses looking to enhance their brand performance and customer connectivity.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
by Rewa Udoji
In Africa, Art has rarely ever been a priority. In schools, the Arts are considered a lesser educational endeavour and pursuing a career in this space has long been openly discouraged. On the transactional side, African Art collectors were seen as eclectic with most buying African art more for the aesthetics than as an asset - the latter attribute however, being assigned to art by international artists. In recent years however, African art has been accruing higher prices at auction houses all over the world. This, coupled with increased demand have placed a spotlight on the African art scene, highlighting a lively arena that had previously been viewed as unsophisticated by the international art community.
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by Lori Milner
If you could stop one habit today, what would it be? As a professional coach and trainer, I have asked this question in hundreds of workshops, and without fail, the one habit that always comes up consistently is procrastination. Procrastination is the habit of putting off something until later. When you repeat this habit on a consistent basis, it becomes detrimental not only to your productivity but also to your emotional state. Feelings of self-hatred, self-criticism, judgement and fear taunt you when you’re at you’re lowest.
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by Anja van Beek
We currently work in businesses where we find five generations in the workplace. This means if you’re a manager in your 30’s you’re most probably managing team members that are 10 or 20 years older than you. In my career as an HR leader for a multinational business, we have appointed many younger managers based on their leadership potential - not their technical skills - which resulted in them managing older team members. How do you feel about reporting to someone younger than yourself?
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by Catia Mondlane
Nowadays, the idea of being an entrepreneur has been the main theme. From small community campaigns to large international platforms which have not only sold the idea that entrepreneurship is the way to success and financial independence, but also recently adopted the inclusive method where women empowerment programs have been the main target of the moment, not just encouraging them but funding their brilliant projects.
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Marie Behrens, founder and CEO, Kipepeo (Mauritius)
Startup Story
Marie Behrens is the founder and CEO of Kipepeo in Mauritius. She is a serial entrepreneur with over 13 years experience developing beauty salons and spas internationally, and with that skillset and passion for the industry she is now building a pan African marketplace that provides beauty and wellness professionals with a management and booking solution to optimize their business. It is the first start up of its kind in Mauritius and has been operational for more than a year, creating a community and business support to over 100 professionals. Her vision is to create equal growth opportunities for these professionals across Africa by using an end-to-end digital solution.
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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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