Rebecca C. Sani, a Malawian entrepreneur building an organizational development consulting business

April 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca C. Sani, founder & Managing Director Resani Consulting (Malawi)

Startup Story

Rebecca C. Sani is the Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Consultant of Resani Consulting in Malawi. The name Resani incorporates her first name and her father's name as a tribute to his contribution to her professional development. She started off as an independent consultant who realized that she could not achieve the mission of Resani alone and therefore expanded her team. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management (USA), an MBA in Finance (USA) and a Master of Management (DISTINCTION, USA). She is passionate about building teams and helping organizations run more efficiently. She is also the Financial Director and Board Member of Good Shepherd International School.

Tania Tome, a Catalyst in Leadership in Africa & Lusophone Countries

April 2, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Ecokaya, a one-stop-shop for building an entrepreneurship and leadership eco-system in Mozambique

Tania Tome is a serial entrepreneur, international speaker, elite coach and mentor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author in Mozambique. She is in demand as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and leadership in Africa and Lusophone countries. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience having co-founded Ecokaya and working with Ecokaya Corporate for the last 5 Years focusing on training, coaching, mentoring, and lectures in many countries. She also co-founded Womenice which focuses on women’s economic and leadership empowerment, and the fintech startup company focused on emerging markets. She is a published author, board member, and strategic advisor for several non-profit and social enterprise boards.

The Spirit of Warriors: Conceived in South Sudan, Born in Uganda, Discovered in America by Lilian Okech

April 2, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Lilian Okech is the author of The Spirit of Warriors, a book about how a young woman draws from her experience as a refugee and designs a successful life. She shares how she spent the first 15 years of her life in a refugee camp in Uganda, and her journey to the United States. She also shares how she survived sickness as a child, sexual abuse, constant hunger, and forced marriage to become a successful entrepreneur. This book will excite, inspire and most importantly help you to truly cultivate the spirit of a warrior.

Loyalty Programs. Everyone seems to be doing it, so it must be easy…

April 2, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

Loyalty programs are all about one thing - keeping and increasing your top value customer base whilst avoiding the race to the bottom through cheaper pricing (which as we know, has no winners, although Walmart would probably beg to differ). If through skillful marketing you are also able to persuade customers that they are ‘saving up’ for the free cup of coffee or flight or… in the age of inflation and high interest rates, then that’s a serious home run!

Regina Augusto Charumar, a Mozambican social entrepreneur building an environmental clean-up movement

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Regina Augusto Charumar, founder, Geração Consciente (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Regina Augusto Charumar is a social impact entrepreneur, an Environmentalist, PhD student in Sustainability, Teacher, Jurist and founder of the environmental movement Geração Consciente. Geração Consciente is a non-profit environmental volunteering movement, made up of hundreds of young volunteers, who carry out environmental activities throughout the country. With the aim of raising environmental awareness, educating and raising awareness in society, she carries out campaigns to clean and restore the mangroves, clean the beach and public spaces, plant trees in schools and communities, lectures, environmental workshops and raise awareness. The Geração Consciente environmental movement was created on May 2022, and has already carried out hundreds of environmental activities across the country. The goal is to build an environmentally conscious generation.

Ornília Faife, a Mozambican entrepreneur helping clients to clean their environments

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ornília Cândida Roseiro Artur Faife, founder of EnviroWorks Solucoes Ambientais, Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Ornília Cândida Roseiro Artur Faife is the founder of EnviroWorks Solucoes Ambientais, Lda, a business located in Maputo City Centre which has 11 employees. It’s main customers are private and state entities. She is currently the manager of two companies: EnviroWorks Lda. and Connected Business Center, and is also opening a laundry in the Maputo province.

When it comes to business success – managing workflow, not people, is key

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Rochelle Roos

In the business world, knowing how to successfully manage workflow or flow is key.

Simply put, flow is the movement and delivery of customer value through a process. Not having a good grip on flow means that an organisation cannot sustainably deliver value to its customers. In short, bad workflow means a constant struggle to accomplish more and faster which results in added stress.

Unpacking the Tech Lingo

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw

Daily we are having conversations around a new world and cryptocurrency, the metaverse, NFTs and Blockchain (to name a few). To many of us, this may seem like fiction or perhaps a trend that will fade. Therefore, many of us do not pay too much attention to it. However, ever-evolving technology is not just a trend, and it is something to stay informed of as our businesses would need to evolve and adapt to remain relevant.

What’s in a name?

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

When it comes to naming your business, is your first thought to use your name, child’s name, initials, or joining your nieces’ names? I ask this because 70% of young people I mentor want to use one of the previous ideas to name their business. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that, but does it convey the correct message to your potential customers and talk to what your business does?

Most People Think Imposter Syndrome Reveals Your Gaps. The Truth Is It Reveals Your Growth

March 31, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Imposter syndrome is not based on logic. The most successful people still experience the feeling that everyone will find out that they know nothing, that their success is based on luck, and that they don’t deserve to be there. It’s a debilitating pattern and one that can keep you playing small if you buy into your own story.

5 Questions To Build Your Personal Brand in the Workplace

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

In today's workplace, building a personal brand is no longer an option, but a necessity. Here are some questions to help you understand how to build your personal brand.

Should it be more about attention management and less about time management?

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Teboho Seretlo

Counting the number of hours spent on any given task, is it really practical? I know that in some management consulting firms, pay is arrived at using time-sheets of how much time you have spent on a particular project. I have also come across APPS that help you manage your timesheet to make it easier to collate and send to those who will be paying you for your time and maybe vice-versa - it could be you paying a consultant/contractor you have hired, based on time.

Build Everyone’s Thinking Skill

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho

You probably know it’s better to ask questions than to tell your team the answer. But answering their questions is so much faster! Easier! Who has time to play Socrates?

Anxiety – the latest Bully in the room

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Marjon Meyer

Are you currently experiencing a difficult moment and feeling under some pressure? Or are you experiencing such high levels of tension that you lash out at people, become erratic, and possibly even approaching a physically or mentally unhealthy condition? Then maybe you’re not alone on the precipice; perhaps anxiety is there with you. The precipice can be attractive, undesirable, or both.

Twelve-Minute Risk Management: Strategies and Tools Small Business Owners Need Right Now to Navigate Today's Business World by Ivy Walker

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In Twelve-Minute Risk Management: Strategies and Tools Small Business Owners Need Right Now to Navigate Today's Business World, author Ivy Walker reminds us that 70% of small businesses will fail within the first ten years. She says that with threats to small businesses multiplying daily, you can't afford to put your head in the sand and hope for the best. But with limited time and resources available, how and where do you begin to mitigate and manage your business risk?

Anchored in the past, by the people who control the present, with a future that is looking increasingly bleak

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

If proof that the world was changing for the worse, proof that Climate Change is real, and proof that it was accelerating away from us was ever needed, we got a loadful this week.

Camille Storm, a dynamic Kenyan music entrepreneur elevating African musical talent to new heights

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Angela "Camille Storm" Kariuki, founder of CNC Distro and Camille and Company Limited (Kenya)

Startup Story

Angela "Camille Storm" Kariuki is a dynamic music executive with a passion for East African talent and the founder of CNC Distro and Camille and Company Limited. Her career started with the founding of "The Camille Way" music blog and grew to include Camille & Co., a boutique talent and PR agency that represents ground-breaking artists such as Blaqbonez and Lojay. Camille's latest venture, C&C Distro, is a digital music distribution and market platform for emerging artists. She has gained recognition from publications such as The Fader and Apple Music, and became an official juror at the AFRIMA Awards in 2022, solidifying her status as a leading force in the music industry, and elevating African music to new heights.

Nelly Paulser, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a client centric graphic design business

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Nelly Paulser, co-founder, Graphic House Zim (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Nelly Paulser is an Events Branding Designer and the co-founder of a graphic design, printing, branding and events business in Zimbabwe called Graphic House Zim. She is an Alumni of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs, a Geneza School of Design Scholar, a recipient of a Tony Elumelu Foundation grant, one of the 503 African Women Entrepreneur Finalists selected by Women In Africa for training and mentorship, and now a UPG Biashara Candidate - Class of 2023. She is also a winner of the 100 Voices For Our Planet Award and was nominated for Women Changing the World Awards presented by Dr Tererai Trent. She is also an ImpactHer Ambassador for Zimbabwe. Above all this she is a wife and a mother to three beautiful children.

Dr Noeline Kirabo, a Ugandan social entrepreneur positively changing lives

March 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Kyusa, a purpose-driven organization that empowers marginalized youth and women through enterprise development in Uganda

Dr Noeline Kirabo is the founder of Kyusa, a purpose-driven organization that empowers marginalized youth and women through enterprise development in Uganda. She is a distinguished personal and business development coach/consultant, author, TED speaker, certified mentor, trainer, and life coach. With a doctorate in Entrepreneurship Management and over fifteen years of experience in the civil society sector, Noeline is a recognized authority in the fields of personal and professional growth. As a family therapist and social entrepreneur, Noeline has made a lasting impact on the lives of children, youth, women, and community initiatives. She has also served as a personal and business development consultant for numerous exceptional companies in the East African region and beyond. Noeline is the founder and executive director of Kyusa, a for-impact organization committed to improving the quality of life for marginalized youth through entrepreneurship development. Her dedication to this cause has earned her a reputation as a transformative leader in the field of social entrepreneurship.

Kabira Dewan, a South African entrepreneur creating jobs for women in underprivileged communities

March 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Kabira Dewan, founder, Tamura Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)

Startup Story

Kabira Dewan is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Tamura Enterprises (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. She is also a proud wife and mother of 3 with a successful career pivot from being a 20 year Ex-Banker at one of the 4 Big Banks in South Africa. She is a passionate social entrepreneur with a firm belief in combining profit with philanthropy and is the founder and Craft Director at Bead Expressions, a social enterprise that is creating jobs for women in underprivileged communities in an effort to eradicate unemployment. In addition, she is also a Franchisee for a Famous Brands Combo Store Restaurant Franchise. She enjoys sharing her insights and knowledge of women franchisees, as women are particularly underrepresented in fast food franchise. She is also a guest blogger for Lionesses of Africa.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.