the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Lynette Beer
Book Review
Business coach and author, Lynette Beer, believes we are all born for greatness and success, and in her book Rise Into Your Own Power, she provides her wealth of expertise and insights to show you how to be the person you are meant to be. Importantly, it is a guide that helps you to build great relationships in life and in business by starting with knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and learning how to be the best version of yourself.
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Impact Partner Content / Absa / Relationship Banker Profile - Nadia Valli
In this week’s edition of Lioness Weekender, we are publishing the third in a series of regular profiles featuring Absa Relationship Bankers whose role it is to support entrepreneurs. The third of our profiles introduces Nadia Valli, Area Coverage Manager managing Commercial Relationship Executives, Private Banking and Small to Medium Enterprises.
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Lilly Alfonso
Lioness Launch
The Lilly Alfonso fashion design label, created by its founder of the same name, has evolved over the years to become one of the top fashion labels in Malawi and is slowly becoming a global fashion brand. Building on its success to date, the Lilly Alfonso brand is introducing an exciting new clothing collection for men and women called the 100 Year Plan collection.
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Narcia Taalumba Walle, co-founder & ceo, Margarida & Rose Beauty Bar (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Narcia Taalumba Walle is the co-founder and ceo of Margarida & Rose Beauty Bar in Mozambique. Margarida & Rose is a nail spa, make-up studio and cosmetics store that provides offers high quality products and services in a relaxed environment. The business was founded through a joint venture in 2021 and employs 4 women from the local Mozambican community. Narcia has 7 years’ experience in the beauty industry as a cosmetics retailer through her company Rose & Rose Store that has been catering to the Mozambican market since 2015. She is also a corporate lawyer, certified SAP consultant, and a humanitarian working for the UN WFP.
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Ellen Tshidi Cooper, Founder & CEO, Conscious Lifestyle Collective (South Africa)
Startup Story
Ellen Tshidi Cooper is the Founder and CEO of Conscious Lifestyle Collective, a South African, eco-friendly marketplace connecting conscious sellers and conscious shoppers. She is a social entrepreneur at heart, her business is more than just about making a profit but takes care of people and the planet. She holds an Honours Degree in business and also works as a Branding and Website Designer for startups and small businesses through her design studio ellecooper.co.
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Yoadan Tilahun
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Flawless Events, an award-winning market-leader transforming Ethiopia’s events industry
Yoadan Tilahun is the founder and CEO of Flawless Events in Ethiopia, a company specializing in conceptualizing, organizing, and executing corporate and government events. Yoadan is a seasoned entrepreneur and award-winning business leader who has transformed Ethiopia's events industry. She founded the business in Ethiopia in 2008, turning her passion that was ignited in 2004 in Washington, DC into a successful business on the continent. Flawless Events employs 14 staff with the majority of young women. Yoadan has an MBA in International Business, is fluent in three languages, is married to a supportive husband, and is raising three sons.
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By Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
We have been looking back at the incredible Lionesses who have previously graced the cover of our Lioness Weekender Magazine recently, and amongst the many fascinating questions posed to these inspirational leaders by Melanie in their interviews, there is always one asking how they got the entrepreneurial bug. More often than not the answer includes the fact that one or both of their parents were an entrepreneur. This got us wondering - is there any correlation to this or was it just luck (some who enjoy the 9-5 stability and simply do not understand the drive of a late night entrepreneur struggling with cash flow and supply bottlenecks, might argue ‘bad luck’ of course), that creates the entrepreneurial drive.
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by Onyinye Umeokoro – FutureSoft Team
In order to continue to survive, businesses need to continuously reach new consumers and continuously engage these consumers to boost that bottom-line. If you are reading this then you probably own and run your own business or plan to own and run your own business in the near future and want to learn how to attract these consumers that will help you fatten up that bottom line. What you may not know is that you are most likely looking for transformational consumers.
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by Anja van Beek
It is often said that culture is the competitive edge for any organisation. Culture is also referred to as the personality or character of the business. So it leaves us with the question: “Where does emotional intelligence (EQ) fit in?”
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by Tapiwa Matsinde
Learning and refining your craft skills has taken a lot of your time and energy, and those of the artisans you work with. You are starting to see the results of your dedication and commitment and are now ready to take your business and work to the next level by positioning and presenting it in a way that reflects its high-quality craftsmanship and sophistication. Whether you are keeping your focus within your local markets or seeking to appeal to a global audience, excellence in craftsmanship, creativity and presentation are essential for successfully positioning your business as a world-class brand. To help you transform your hand-crafted artisan business into an impactful world-class brand here are key areas to pay attention to:
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by Lori Milner
When making progress on self-care goals, having a good intention is not enough. In my work as a coach and trainer, I know people genuinely have every good intention to show up on the calendar without guilt to make time for their self-care goals. They make promises to themselves, intending to honour them, but ultimately these agreements get broken. The excuses are coming from a good place — my boss needed something, I didn’t have enough time or my bed was too warm. I’ve realized that this lack of follow-through is not a character flaw nor a motivation problem. The real barrier is thinking too big.
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Alice Bentinck and Max Clifford
Book Review
How to Be a Founder, by Alice Bentinck and Max Clifford, is an essential guide to equip the next generation of business founders with the mindset and tools they need to take the leap to become globally successful entrepreneurs.
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Fatima Babakura
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Timabee Inc, an accessory brand that redefines luxury in Africa and beyond
Fatima Babakura is the founder, chief executive officer and designer of Timabee, an accessories brand that “redefines luxury in Africa and beyond”. Timabee is a premium women’s accessories brand. Fatima started Timabee at the age of 19 and it has since grown to become a global brand with customers all over the world. Fatima holds a BSc Honours Commerce degree from Canada’s prestigious McMaster University. Fatima has won many awards which include being acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s Top 100 Most Inspiring Women, WEF’s Iconic Woman in 2017, and has been nominated for prestigious awards like Forbes 30 under 30 in 2022. Fatima launched the business in 2013.
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Jolene Grobler
Impact Partner Content / Absa / Relationship Banker Profile - Jolene Grobler
In this week’s edition of Lioness Weekender, we are publishing the second in a series of regular profiles featuring Absa Relationship Bankers whose role it is to support entrepreneurs. The second of our profiles introduces Jolene Grobler, Regional Segment Head: Gauteng and Limpopo, whose area of responsibility within Absa is Relationship Banking: Business Bank.
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Irene Isac Mavie, founder & CEO, Mavie Cosméticos (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Irene Isac Mavie is the founder and CEO of Mavie Cosméticos in Mozambique. As a lover of creativity, her business is focused on the supply of natural and handmade cosmetics which are of good quality. Her business model takes into account ensuring accessibility of the product range for her customers.
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Startup Story
Zvikomborero Jane Chigumadzi is a Zimbabwean based entrepreneur who provides an online grocery shopping and door to door delivery service. She started her enterprise in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zvikomborero Jane sees herself as a fearless woman and a goal getter in life and in business. She is mother to a son Julian, and he is the reason the business was formed, so it was named after him. Zvikomborero Jane calls him her entrepreneurial baby.
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by Phindile Ndlovu-Tapula
Yes, I know you are probably wondering why I am writing again. I have asked that question myself several times too. You see I haven’t been able to write, felt like I have nothing to say and that no one is listening anyway. But something kept pushing to write, so I am here again.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
Totally shocked at the news that we won’t see the incredible, inspirational, the one, the only Serena at Wimbledon again, let alone in other Tennis Tournaments around the globe after the US Open, given her announcement of her impending retirement, or as she says (here): “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”. What a career, what an inspiration - 23 major singles titles; four Olympic gold medals; 319 weeks at No 1 in the world rankings; to say nothing of the drive to follow their dreams she gave to millions off the court, that they too could break glass ceilings and follow their passions - no matter the obstacles.
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by Marjon Meyer
Did you leap out of bed this morning? It’s cold… it’s winter, Covid-restrictions limit our movements and business operations, and we’ve learnt to no longer look too far ahead. So, do you even set any goals during these crazy times? If yes, what fuels your progress? This year’s lockdown restrictions and lifestyle is a lot easier for me than last year. I like the “new normal”. Working from home, doing more online shopping to avoid busy malls (buying things we don’t need) and appreciating my own lovely home is a blessing. I’ve learnt to focus on close relationships and live more intentionally. Learnt to not sweat the small stuff.
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by Nadia Absalom
Everything in life is here to teach us. This little bubble of life attended one of our workshops with her dad. She is free, confident, brave, happy and a special soul. She posed many questions, I could only smile...
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