Lioness Launch / Organic Naturals Skincare in Botswana launches its new ‘one-stop’ toning serum for balanced skin tone

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Organic Naturals Skincare, the Botswana-based business and brand founded by entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, is launching its new Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum in October 2022. The scientific potency of the Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum is proven to brighten and clear the skin by reducing hyperpigmentation; reduce fine lines by improving skin roughness, colour and elasticity by strengthening the skin barrier; reduce severe acne by fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing sebum production; and hydrate the skin.

Dancing with Numbers: Grow a Financially Healthy Business and Choreograph the Life You Want by Tricia M Taitt

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Just as dancers strengthen their physical core to dance at peak performance, small business owners need to strengthen their financial core to be at peak financial performance. Dancing With Numbers: Grow a Financially Healthy Business and Choreograph the Life You Want by Tricia M Taitt lays out the dance moves that established small business leaders can take to engage in a harmonious relationship with their numbers, step confidently in their CEO shoes empowered with actionable financial advice, and grow a profitable enterprise.

Climate Change - A series of crises or a new era?

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

It has been 30 years since the Rio Climate Summit, when a global system was set up to bring countries together on a regular basis to try to solve the climate crisis. On Nov 6th the COP27 meeting in Egypt starts. Usually we wait with bated breath as to what the ‘great and the good’ pledge on behalf of their countries and how this will reduce the warming of the world to a level at which we as a species can continue to survive on this beautiful planet we call home. Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, summed up the agreement a year ago as one that was “on life support”. He wrote (here) “The 1.5°C limit lives. We brought it back from the brink. But its pulse remains weak.” Bringing back from the brink is a good description as just before the end of COP26 brinkmanship was taken to a new level when China and India both refused to sign the agreed text pledging to ‘phase out’ coal, instead insisting at the last moment that it be changed to ‘phase down’.

Just Get Started!

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

We all have big dreams, big goals, and big ideas on what we think our life should look like, or how we think life will end up. Some of us meticulously plan out our lives, envisioning and letting ourselves daydream as we think about all the stuff we would love to accomplish. The problem is, a lot of us have trouble reaching the potential we have set for ourselves. Time kind of flies by, and we end up looking back and wondering what went wrong. Well, one reason stands out like a sore thumb: We never really get started doing the things we truly want to do.

Let’s trade, shall we? Part 4: Human resources in business

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Tsitsi Mutendi

This week we continue on our journey with Ms. Olivia Simbajena. Ms. Simbajena is a businesswoman whose business falls under the category of SME and MME. Hers also falls under the category of Family Business. As we have defined before Family Business is a business started by an individual for the benefit of his or her family and is then run by the individual to serve the interests of their communities as well as those of their family. Family Business’s main characteristics are that a family owns the majority shareholding of the business. However, from the characters and their situations, although fictional, we are starting to see that there are dynamic intricacies that effect Family Businesses. Laying down a foundation by introducing our fictional business owners will help to establish context when we go in-depth and unpack more problems and solutions for Family Businesses.

Would you consider employing someone with a criminal record?

October 29, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

In 2018, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) partnered with the Charles Koch Institute to launch research on individuals with criminal records in the workforce in the USA. In 2021, they revisited the topic with some interesting findings. Recently the 2021 Getting Talent Back to Work Report was issued by SHRM. Whilst the findings are US based, it is worth unpacking the main elements of the report.

Your friendship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have

October 29, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

The relationship with yourself is the foundation upon which every other aspect of your life develops. Your health, wellbeing and happiness are directly proportional to how you treat yourself. If you want a different life, it's nothing to do with more money or career success. It is all about making decisions that are in your best interest. I remember asking my coach for the unconditional self-love and acceptance checklist; I wanted an excel spreadsheet with a bullet list I could work through and tick off each item. By the time I'm done, voila – a new friendship with myself!

Adérójú Ope-Ajayi, a Nigerian entrepreneur with a passion for fostering positive change in the sports industry

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

Adérójú Ope-Ajayi is the Founder and Lead Instructor at Dolphin Swim School and Dolphin Aquatic Center in Nigeria. She is also a Sports Development Advocate with a passion for fostering positive change in the sports industry in Africa. Her mission is to help develop the sports industry in Nigeria by partnering with the right stakeholders, helping to build sustainable sports businesses, and providing knowledge to new entrants in the industry. She founded her business in 2017 and has over 15 team members. She brings over 17 years’ experience in sales and business development expertise gained in the corporate world to the business.

Doreen Michelo, a Zambian agripreneur addressing food security through affordable locally grown farm produce

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Doreen Michelo, Founder and Managing Director, Mzala Enterprise Ltd (Zambia)

Startup Story

Doreen Michelo is the Founder and Managing Director of Mzala Enterprise Ltd in Zambia, a business founded in 2018. She is a serial entrepreneur and business leader focusing on enhancing local community capacity growth and sustainability by growing and producing high quality farm produce for the local market that is not only accessible but very affordable. Empowering the local community through Agriculture Skills training and knowledge dissemination through the skills hub/centre is another major focus of the business as it aims to leave a lasting positive impact on the community supporting its operations. The business has employed 9 permanent workers and 20 seasonal workers. Doreen has 9 years business work experience as a professional in various industries.

Sewela Setshogoe, a South African growth-focused engineering entrepreneur

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Lefata Engineering, a growing specialist engineering and maintenance services and construction business

Sewela Basetsana Setshogoe is a South African entrepreneur operating in the traditionally tough and highly specialized engineering industry sector. She is the owner of Lefata Engineering, an engineering services and construction business which operates mainly within the mining and manufacturing industries. The business has been in operation for six years having launched in 2016, and harnesses the management team’s personal extensive engineering experience. Lefata Engineering currently employs 11 people, and has grown to undertake turnkey and high quality projects for large corporates and businesses across different sectors with a focus on the mining industry.

The impact of bias in women’s lives

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“The pen has been in their hands…” - Jane Austen.

We have recently been drawn to the brilliant book by the award-winning author, Caroline Criado Perez, entitled INVISIBLE WOMEN: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men’, ‘IW’ (here). We assumed it would contain many of the statistics we have seen in the world of finance (such as only 2% of VC funding going to US Start ups in 2021 and 82% to all-male founding teams here and not much better in Africa where there is a far greater ratio of women entrepreneurs to male). Therefore, we were pleasantly surprised to note that this book deals very much with the mundane, our day-to-day lives and how bias, indeed any bias (unconscious or otherwise), makes a huge difference in the long run (as any Casino knows too well). However, as we shall show through her investigations and other studies, this is far from mundane, instead deadly serious and is something we all must take very seriously indeed for our businesses and most importantly, our employees.

The Happy Hermit: how to thrive as an introvert entrepreneur by Brigitte van Tuijl

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

For all those naturally introverted women entrepreneurs who have been told to change in order to find success, Brigitte van Tuijl’s book, ‘The Happy Hermit: How to thrive as an introvert entrepreneur’ could be just the counterpoint needed. She believes that you should never have to change who you are just to grow a successful business, in fact just the opposite is true.

My ABC of Business - 10 Things I learnt after 10 months in our first retail shop

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude

Having a retail space is a huge responsibility and not one I thought I would get so soon. But in October 2021, I was offered a great deal on a small space, and I decided to take the leap of faith and open up shop! I was both terrified and excited at the same time! After a few weeks of renovation, we officially opened on 19 November 2021.

Inside Customer Care

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

Our businesses exist to serve customers. As entrepreneurs, we should know our customers inside out to be able to serve them better, and to meet their diverse and unlimited needs. Customers are unique people and this calls for entrepreneurs to care for their customers in a unique and individualized manner. This will ensure provision of tailor-made services and products to customers which will results in customer satisfaction and retention. These customers could also share the exciting customer care received and recommend the business to other people and as a result, there will be increase in customer base. Entrepreneurs should also know that customer care requires patience, discipline and the ability to learn, adapt, adopt, adjust and implement.

Let’s trade, shall we? Part 3: Family structures in business

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Tsitsi Mutendi

This week, we continue on our journey with Ms. Olivia Simbajena. Ms. Simbajena is a businesswoman whose business falls under the category of SME and MME. Hers also falls under the category of Family Business. As we have defined before, a Family Business is a business started by an individual for the benefit of his or her family and is then run by the individual to serve the interests of their communities as well as those of their family. The Family Business’s main characteristics is that a family owns the majority shareholding of the business. However, from the characters and their situations, although fictional, we are starting to see that there are dynamic intricacies that affect Family Businesses. Laying down a foundation by introducing our fictional business owners will help to establish context when we go in-depth and unpack more problems and solutions for Family Businesses.

The ultimate goal is to outgrow bad habits, not break them

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

A bad habit is a pattern of behaviour that sabotages you somehow. The language associated with habit change is that you want to start a good habit and break a bad one. Breaking a habit assumes that the problem is with the habit, but really, it's about your beliefs, triggers and actions about what this habit will give you.

Lionesses of Africa launches it’s new Portuguese portal for women entrepreneurs in Africa and the Diaspora

October 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

We have some exciting news to share with you!

Lionesses of Africa has launched its new, dedicated Portuguese portal for women entrepreneurs in Africa and the Diaspora. The new portal gives Portuguese speaking women entrepreneurs on the African continent the opportunity to raise their voices and create visibility for themselves, their businesses and brands, connecting them to one another and to new markets.

100 Lionesses ‘The Future of Work’ Playbook for Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs offers personal hacks and insights on how to transform business models, workplaces and workflows for future success

October 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Press Release

Report financed by African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Africa’s women entrepreneurs to smartly rethink the way they run their businesses, organize their workspaces, and manage their employees. They have had to think out-of-the-box, innovate, and pivot their existing business models to adapt to new, often restricted and challenging market realities. The future of work now includes remote working, increased digital business and e-commerce, and the introduction of a whole raft of new technology, tools and platforms to connect effectively with customers and employees. For many women entrepreneurs, preparing their businesses for the future of work can be a daunting prospect. As a practical response, the 100 Lionesses Future of Work Playbook has been launched, the second in a series of practical digital tools for Africa’s women entrepreneurs produced by Lionesses of Africa, with the support of The African Development Bank through its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA).

Alexina Phiri, a global women’s rights change-maker in Africa and the world

October 16, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Alexina Phiri, founder and ceo, Adona Foundation

Startup Story

Alexina Phiri is the founder and ceo of Adona Foundation, a global women’s rights organisation that aims to inspire, empower and educate girls and women across the world.. She is a lawyer with over seven years of experience in implementing international-level policy to tackle issues such as human rights, governance and counter terrorism. Her most recent role was with the UK’s Department for International Trade. As a British Diplomat at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Alexina spearheaded international summits including the Africa Investment Summit in 2019 and COP26 in 2021. She is a former Acting British High Commissioner to Zambia (2019) and Acting Deputy British High Commissioner to Botswana (2020).

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