Burn Out

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“People think my life has been tough, but I think it has been a wonderful journey. The older you get, the more you realize it’s not what happens, but how you deal with it.” – Tina Turner, RIP.

According to McKinsey (here): “Women leaders are switching jobs at the highest rates we’ve ever seen—and at higher rates than men in leadership…The reasons [include that] they face headwinds that signal it will be harder to advance.” All of this means they have to work harder and often longer hours than men if only to prove their commitment and worth. Indeed one young woman we know was told by her boss, that given she was working full days and deep into the nights, that she should make sure that she takes an hour off for supper before returning to work (nothing about solving this excess work issue). She has now left that company - who can blame her!

Seaja uma empreendedora impáravel

June 1, 2023 Melanie Hawken

por Josefa Masinga

Queridas Leoas, hoje eu desafio a cada uma de vocês a buscarem as leoas interiores que existem em cada uma e sermos impáraveis. Vamos nos identificar e avancarmos o maximo que podermos sendo nos mesmas, ora vejamos…

Forget the Funnel: A Customer-Led Approach for Driving Predictable Recurring Revenue by Georgiana Laudi and Claire Suellentrop

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

Your product is great. So why is marketing it so hard? Authors Georgiana Laudi and Claire Suellentrop have the answers, and importantly the solutions, in their new book, Forget the Funnel: A Customer-Led Approach for Driving Predictable Recurring Revenue. They understand that many companies struggle with marketing. Teams try everything they can to drive more traffic, leads, and signups. Yet revenue growth remains...lumpy. Slow. Frustratingly inconsistent. If this sounds familiar, the problem isn't you or your ideas; it's that you're guessing at what resonates with your target customers.

Maura Cumba, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a multi-faceted microfinance business

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Maura Cumba, founder, Nilombi Microcredito and Imperium Finance Consulting (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Maura Cumba is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Nilombi Microcredito and Imperium Finance Consulting in Mozambique. Today, at the age of 30, she is also a mother of two children as well a business builder which currently employs 15 people. At the age of 17 she began her professional journey in the areas of protocol and sales. At the age of 21 she embraced the profession as HR Consultant, accumulating 5 years of experience in this area with a focus in recruitment and selection. At the age of 27, she decided to embark on the world of entrepreneurship, and today she is a serial entrepreneur.

Sizolwenkosi Mazolo, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a value-add agro-processing business

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Sizolwenkosi Mazolo, founder, Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Sizolwenkosi Mazolo is the founder of Ingcebethu Pvt Ltd, a small business based in Zimbabwe and in the value addition agro-processing sector. Ingcebethu uses a 3-way model which is Freezing, Canning and Drying fruits and vegetables in the bid to reduce food waste, post-harvest losses, as well as to promote food security in Africa. Sizolwenkosi has been awarded a number of accolades for her work which include: 2022 JCI TOYP Honouree, Top 20 Young CEOs by CEO Roundtable Africa 2022, as well as the Record Breaker Young CEOs by Zimbabwe CEOs Network 2022 among others. She is a YALI RLC alumni and her business was in the top 10 finalists in the 2022 Eagles Nest Incubation program by Zimtrade. In line with her mission to address food security, Sizolwenkosi volunteers at The Mobi Soup Kitchen where approximately 600 children are fed every week at a squatter camp in Harare.

Gisela Mudumbi Van Houcke, a visionary brand-builder in Africa’s beauty sector

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Zuri, a business with a vision to be the undisputed leader in the African beauty sector

Gisela Mudumbi Van Houcke is the founder of Zuri, a company providing high-quality beauty products and services designed specifically for black women in both Africa and across Europe. Her personal and entrepreneurial journey have been nothing short of remarkable. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she had to navigate many challenges in her early years. She left the country due to political instabilities and moved to the UK as a refugee. Her tenacity and perseverance paid off. During her time in London, Gisela excelled in her studies and obtained a First Class Law Degree in British and French Law. Gisela's first opportunity to do so came when she was appointed Africa Head of Legal for a British Renewable Energy company. She worked in this role for three years, gaining valuable insights into the African market and the challenges facing the continent. However, Gisela's true passion lay in entrepreneurship, and she decided to start her own business, launching Zuri in 2016, a business that today employs 30 people.

Equality without Equity sucks!

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“Investing in women’s entrepreneurship is good for business, and essential for economic growth.” These are the opening lines of a paper by the World Bank’s IFC entitled “Women owned SMEs: A business opportunity for Financial Institutions” (here) from 2014.

If Time Is Money, Why Don't You Manage It the Same Way?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

If you want to make sure you come out on your monthly salary, you plan and budget accordingly. Why not apply the same thinking to your time and create a time budget? Creating a budget for your spending is not a punishment but a way to give you peace of mind. Managing your day should be the same. Your calendar is your budgeting tool - plan your week before you are in it to allocate sufficient funds to the relevant tasks. The last thing you want is to run out of time and then eat into next week's allocation.

Self-Love; A New Phenomenon, or Is It?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

Being brought up in a strict Baptist home, we had very strong principles to live by. However, we were taught to look down on anyone who remotely thought they were good enough! As a child I was told that children should be seen and not heard, that I should only speak when spoken to, and if I did something that went against the grain, I was told to be ashamed of myself - AND I WAS! If I said anything out of place, I had a harsh - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? thrown my way.

Who are the Big 5 in your business and how do they affect you?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

We’re all familiar with the Big 5 in nature. Majestic, strong, fierce, but yet so vulnerable because man has figured out a way to make money from each species that makes up the Big 5. Which makes it so sad is because in their world they reign, kings of the animal world, matriarchs of big clans, and tenacious mothers - seemingly unstoppable. Such is life.

Master the Art of Making a Memorable First Sales Impression

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

First impressions are essential in sales as they can make or break a potential deal. Customers often make judgments about a salesperson within the first few seconds of meeting them, based on their appearance, body language, and communication skills. To make a good first impression, it is important to do your research, have all the necessary materials, practice your pitch beforehand, dress professionally, arrive early, and learn how to read people. Additionally, it is important to be confident and personable, as first impressions are crucial in sales.

Karina Jamal, founder of Koko Boxes in Mozambique, a company dedicated to the field of biodegradable packaging

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Karina Jamal, founder, Koko Boxes Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Karina Jamal, fundadora da Koko Boxes Lda, Mozambique, empresa dedicada ao ramo de embalagens biodegradáveis.

Karina Jamal is a writer and founder of Koko Boxes Lda, Mozambique, a company dedicated to the field of biodegradable packaging and production of paper bags. Koko Boxes has been present in the Mozambican market for 4 years, supplying packaging to hotels, shops, catering companies and restaurants. The company started in 2023 operating as a manufacturer of paper bags as a disposable solution in the reduction of the use of plastic.

Blessed Agyemang, a Ghanaian industry leader in Brand Management, Personal and Professional Development Training and Consulting

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Blessed Agyemang, founder Herrada (Ghana)

Startup Story

Blessed Agyemang is an award-winning entrepreneur, key note speaker and management consultant, and founder of Herrada in Ghana. Blessed has her areas of expertise in supply chain management, business and operation strategy, operational and business development after she had already made an exemplary professional career climbing up the corporate ladder in what is one of the top multinational oil and gas firms within the Europe, Eurasia and Sub- Saharan (EESSA) and Africa Other (AO) regions.

Dupe Killa-Kafidipe, an entrepreneur finding solutions to global food insecurity

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Platinum Fisheries, an ethical and sustainable B2B seafood production company in Nigeria

Dupe Killa-Kafidipe is the founder/ceo of Platinum Fisheries in Nigeria, which has a mission to produce healthy seafood using efficient, ethical and sustainable methods. Dupe is an award-winning business leader with prior C-Suite experience in process re-engineering, change management and business consulting. She is also an alumna of the Harvard Business School, IESE New York, the China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and INSEAD. Dupe once volunteered as Head of Strategy with a humanitarian intervention for children affected by conflicts in the North-East of Nigeria. Dupe’s life pursuit is to continue to be a force for good in all spheres of human interaction – business, social and environmental.

Here We Grow: The Marketing Formula to 10x Your Business and Transform Your Future by Marcia Barnes

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

According to Marcia Barnes, author of Here We Grow, she believes the secret to growing your business is simple - invest in marketing that works. She encourages you to step away from viewing marketing as a cost center that drains money from annual budgets and delivers unreliable results. Instead, she believes it’s really a burgeoning profit generator that can power growth and abundance in every aspect of your business. But only if you do it right.

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!

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