Lioness Launch / South African lifestyle brand, Ledikana, launches unique new golf wear range

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

Popular South African lifestyle brand, Ledikana, founded by entrepreneur Mapholo Ratau and based in Johannesburg, has built a great reputation for offering relevant, quality and unique contemporary ready-to-wear African clothing and gifting. This month sees the launch of the exciting new Ledikana golf wear range. It consists of cute African inspired dresses, skorts and pants for ladies and gents that could be worn on and off the course. The range also includes some great new gifting accessories. This collection of unique timeless golf and lifestyle outfits empower women and gents to play confidently by looking and feeling their best. As with all Ledikana products, the new range is handcrafted and culturally inspired.

Lioness Capital. Looking to raise? Think SAFE!

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

We saw the other day a fabulous post on LinkedIn highlighting a recent Lioness Lean In event (here), by one of our extraordinary Lionesses. A total inspiration to us all, Sarah Collins of Wonderbag, has built a global company now on every investors’ wish list, yet the bottom of her post we saw the hashtag, #bootstrap.

What I've learnt about personal growth from my 8-year-old daughter

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

My daughter came out of her dance class in tears. I assumed one of the girls said something nasty to her, but she assured me it wasn't the case. Eventually, she admitted that she was upset because the class was challenging, and she struggled with the new moves. My children are constantly my greatest teachers; this situation reminded me of how difficult it is to experience challenge and discomfort for the first time.

Taking the pain out of payroll with six simple steps

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Anja van Beek Consulting: contributed by Jeff Ryan, MD of AWCape, a leading Sage business partner for HR, payroll and financial solutions

The payroll team is one of those invisible functions that runs quietly in the background of a business, not attracting much attention unless something goes horribly wrong. When it does, the impact on the business can be severe, ranging from angry employees who didn’t receive their correct salaries on time through to penalties for late or incorrect tax submissions or heavy losses to fraud.

The 3 Fundamental types of people who will shift your growth and the trajectory of your life

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

All of us want to accelerate our growth across landscapes of whatever our chosen craft is. When you are building yourself up, whether it be in business, sports, entertainment, or whatever your chosen craft may be, if you really want to accelerate your growth and development, and to take yourself to the next level of your capabilities, there are 3 kinds of people you need in your life. You need a Coach, a Mentor, and a Sponsor!

Creating Cash Flow

May 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

When I started my first business, I considered the financial side of things as “boring accounting stuff” – something I was not keen on initially. My feelings on the matter soon changed. Financial structures in your business are much more than mere accounting practices. As important as it is to manage your income and expenses, there is a lot more to setting up your financial structures than you may expect.

Neema Gerald, a Tanzanian entrepreneur building a full-service event and project management company

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Neema Gerald, founder and ceo, Penuel's Investment Ltd (Tanzania)

Startup Story

Neema Gerald is the founder and ceo of Penuel's Investment Ltd in Tanzania, a seven-year-old investment firm that provides a variety of services such as event and project management, as well as office equipment supplies. She is the co-founder of LN Extreme Beauty Ltd which has deep experience in the beauty and personal care industry, partnering with companies across the entire value chain to help their clients achieve their strategic goals. Her passion is to empower young ladies to know their identity and to unlock their potential, so as to be proud of themselves and have an impact in their society.

Fátima Lorgat, an accessory brand builder celebrating Capulana fabric in Mozambique

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Fátima Lorgat, founder, Ohana (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Fátima Lorgat is an entrepreneur and the founder of Ohana in Mozambique. She is also a wife, and a mom of 4 children. She always had a passion for sewing and fabrics, and in 2018 she started to make beach tote bags for family members. By the end of that year, she was approached to sell her beautiful tote bags commercially, and so came up with the idea of creating a Brand. In 2019 she founded Ohana as a business and in April of 2020, expanded her range to start producing protective masks to help prevent Covid19. Thanks to the love and effort that she put into her work, the masks were a success and the brand name started to be well-known for its quality. In early 2022, Ohana reinvented itself and today produces a range of useful and versatile products which use 100% cotton fabric and only good quality Capulana fabric. The main product range includes the Ohana Eco-bags, tote bags, personal and home organizers, and accessories for cooking and kitchen. All Ohana products are made with care to make our clients life a little bit better.

Abiola Olusola, a designer pushing the African narrative through fashion

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Abiola Olusola, a Nigerian contemporary women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke fashion brand interweaving minimalism with artisan craftsmanship

Born and raised in Nigeria, designer and fashion brand builder, Abiola Olusola, graduated with a BFA in fashion design from Istituto Marangoni Paris in 2015. She immediately gravitated towards a minimalist aesthetic, femininity, functionality, ease and undercurrents of innate sensuality. Abiola Olusola launched her eponymous brand in 2017, a contemporary women’s ready-to-wear and bespoke line with a distinct juxtaposition of minimalist cuts, sleek architecture and African sub-cultures and craftsmanship.

Lioness Launch / South African eco-fashion and lifestyle brand LUNAR launches new collection at SA Fashion Week

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

South African eco-fashion and lifestyle brand LUNAR, led by owner Nicola Luther and her talented creative team, has launched its latest collection at SA Fashion Week. LUNAR has firmly established itself as one of the country's leading design labels over the past 25 years, and has built a reputation for creating understated, sophisticated clothing using only the finest, most sustainable natural fabrics.

Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business by Melissa Houston

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Melissa Houston, author of Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business, believes it’s time for you to own your financial power and learn to make smarter, and more profitable, business decisions. Let’s start with a question… Do you know why 82 percent of new businesses fail? Poor money management. To focus on profit and wealth building, entrepreneurs need to become confident about understanding their business finances as well as their ability to manage them. Everything in business affects your bottom line, as do all your decisions. You need to take ultimate responsibility for the financial future of your business—you need to become cash confident!

Leading a company or organisation is a service

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“We’ve placed over time so much emphasis on notions of assertiveness and strength that we have assumed it means you can’t have those other qualities of kindness and empathy.” – Jacinda Ardern.

Having run New Zealand as Prime Minister for many years, Jacinda Ardern knows a thing or two about assertiveness and strength. She also led from the front in kindness and empathy during some very tough times. Indeed many believe that her ability to marry these two seemingly diverse (for some) groups, made her the global leader that she absolutely was and is still to this day.

7 Ways to help create an accountability and ownership mindset

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

What do you do when someone doesn't do what they committed to? They were due to deliver something, but when you follow up, there's always an excuse or someone else to blame - 'they never replied to my mail, finance is too slow or fill in the blank’. Most people don't say anything, and then the passive-aggressive behaviour begins. When there is no consequence for non-delivery, it becomes culture because, ultimately, silence is permission.

Harnessing my biggest strength

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile

My biggest strength in running a business in South Africa is that I am multilingual. I can comprehend Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, isiSwati, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, isiXhosa, isiZulu, English and Afrikaans. I am struggling with isiNdebele, and lately Shona; the reason for Shona is merely the fact that we have over 700 000 Zimbabweans living in SA, and a portion of them are definitely Shona. If they are Ndebele, I can comprehend it too as it sounds (to me) close to isiZulu.

Being good at what you do is no longer enough

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

Being good at what you do is undoubtedly an essential component of success, but it is not enough to guarantee that you will get all the opportunities you want. There are many other factors that come into play when it comes to getting ahead in your career or achieving your goals.

Award-winning Rio Largo Olive Estate launches its Tree to Table event on 14 May

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

If you are a fan of great olive oil and you want an unforgettable experience, then the place to be on 14 May (Mother’s Day) is the special Tree to Table event at the Rio Largo Olive Estate in South Africa’s Scherpenheuwel Valley, Breede River, Western Cape. Co-owners Brenda and Nick Wilkinson are celebrating their olive harvest and the growth of their multi-award winning brand of olive oil. This will be an event to remember, providing the chance for guests to experience the picking and processing of olives from the Rio Largo Olive Estate, and then a tasting of FRESH olive oil, together with a celebratory meal incorporating the finest Rio Largo Olive Oil. As Brenda says, you never forget the day you taste FRESH olive oil...ever!

Business Uniqueness

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

The world today is characterized by businesses operating in various sectors of the economy. Every sector is unique thus calling for business uniqueness in identity, operation, services, products, structure, and culture. Business uniqueness is imperative for the business to be different and unique in the sector of operation. The business would be identified easily because of the unique features embedded within the services being offered and products being sold. It is also important that the uniqueness of the business is engraved in the structure for it to be recognized easily by potential customers.

Matubatsi Motsoeneng, a South African entrepreneur building a platform for modern mothers

May 7, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Matubatsi Motsoeneng, CEO & founder, The Feme Platform and Femme Foodie Lover (South Africa)

Startup Story

Matubatsi Motsoeneng is the CEO and founder of The Feme Platform and Femme Foodie Lover in South Africa. She's a passionate entrepreneur, facilitator, and coach, dedicated to making modern mothers’ lives easier. Matubatsi aims to expand The Feme Platform internationally, internally, and work with female brands worldwide to grow employment.

Vivian Savia, a natural skincare brand builder in Nigeria

May 7, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Vivian Savia, founder and CEO, Nature's Bar (Nigeria)

Startup Story

Vivian Savia is the founder and CEO of a natural skincare brand, Nature's Bar in Nigeria, which has been in operation since 2017. It currently creates job opportunities within her environment while partnering with local suppliers of raw materials and supplies. She is a chartered accountant with an MA in International Business Management from Middlesex University, London, and B.Sc. in Accounting from Imo State University. As a chartered accountant by profession, her basic skills and experience were in accounting, grants management, retail marketing, financial management, donor reporting, procurement, and communication within the banking and non-profit sector.

Katherine-Mary Pichulik, an ethical jewelry and accessory brand-builder based in South Africa

May 7, 2023 Melanie Hawken

PICHULIK, a brand celebrating sacred feminine wisdom through its unique and intentional jewelry designs.

Katherine-Mary Pichulik founded PICHULIK in 2013 and is Joint CEO and Creative Director. Prior to establishing the jewelry and accessories brand, Katherine completed a BA Honours in Fine Arts at Cape Town University. PICHULIK is sold in up to sixteen countries around the world and has collaborated with Copenhagen luxury brand By Malene Birger, and LVMH winner Lukhanyo Mdingi. Katherine has received multiple design accolades including, Accessory Designer of the Year by African Fashion International, TWYG Sustainable Fashion Accessory Award, and Vogue Italia’s top 10 jewelry brands. PICHULIK is regularly featured in global publications, including VOGUE US, VOGUE UK, Conde Nast Traveller, and L” Official Mexico. Katherine is a South African Gazelle top 40 SMME, and United States International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni.

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