Olatowun Candide-Johnson, a Nigerian entrepreneur empowering women business leaders

June 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

GAIA AFRICA, the premier private members Business Club dedicated to serving Africa’s top 5% of female decision-makers

Olatowun Candide-Johnson is the founder of GAIA AFRICA, Africa’s premier private members Business Club dedicated to serving the continent’s top 5% of female-decision makers through specially curated activities, learning, partnerships, collaborations, advisory services, peer-to-peer mentorship, and small group events. Olatowun is a lawyer with 30+ years’ experience in corporate and commercial law and in business development and governance of multinational corporations. During her time at the Total Group, she worked in different divisions including three years in the New Business Division in the Paris HQ. Before taking early retirement, she held the combined roles of General Counsel, Executive General Manager, Management Services Division and Chief Compliance Officer for the Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria. In 2016, she obtained a TRIUM Global Executive MBA. In 2018, she founded Gaia Africa which today has 50 employees.

How healing your inner child can grow your business

June 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Emily Kandanga

As a business owner or manager, we have to deal with a lot of stress. And you need to be strong and may not always know how to overcome your own internal worries and problems, leaving you exhausted and low on energy. But there are ways to address these issues, and a major one comes through understanding that these feelings of being overwhelmed, being stressed and making poor decisions can come from the same root cause: the inner child.

Don’t let funding fool you

June 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

When one is starting a business, the word on everyone’s lips is FUNDING, “I need funding for this that and the next thing”, but what they forget about is not only MARKETING which is the most important thing of all but ACCESS TO MARKETS to ensure that their business is not only successful but more importantly sustainable.

The upside of mistakes: how failing forward helps you serve customers better

June 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone knows how to use them to their advantage. When it comes to customer service, failing forward can actually help you serve your customers better. Failing forward means taking risks and making mistakes but learning from those mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth. It's about embracing the learning process and not being afraid to try new things.

Florence Achado, an impact communications change-maker in Nigeria

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Vee69, a Nigerian communications agency dedicated to utilizing media and communication for positive social change.

Florence Achado is the founder and managing director of Vee69, a growing media and communications agency in Nigeria, established in 2015 and today employing 15 people. Through her business, she has worked on numerous projects and campaigns that have served to raise awareness and promote positive change in local communities. She is deeply committed to making a difference and improving the lives of others, harnessing her passion and the power of the media to drive positive change. Florence believes that effective communication is the key to bringing about positive change in communities, and she is committed to utilizing her skills and expertise to make a significant and long-lasting impact. Florence is also the Chairman of the Yvonne Achado Foundation (YAF), a non-profit organization committed to combating gender-based violence.

Ashalia Maharajh, a South African business and life coach, helping the country’s youth fulfill their potential

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ashalia Maharajh, founder, Sivuka Youth (South Africa)

Startup Story

Ashalia Maharajh is the founder of Sivuka Youth in South Africa, a business founded in 2018 and employing 7 people. She harnesses her energetic nature, love for learning and motivation, her solid experience and knowledge to enable and motivate young minds and nurture an individual’s drive for deeper purpose and motivation. With South Africa’s high strategic focus on Equity for Youth and Black Empowerment, Ashalia is driven to provide companies with the in-depth training needed for their young talent at this critical stage of their careers. She leads with a powerful blend of logic and intuition and has designed programmes that make a positive impact. Her talks and training sessions are inspirational and moving. Her positive, enthusiastic nature and innate ability to discover the strengths within others, helps her unleash potential and purpose within others.

Connie Matlejoane, a South African entrepreneur building a multi-faceted corporate gifting and branding business

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Connie Matlejoan, founder, CRM Enterprise

Startup Story

Connie Matlejoane is a female entrepreneur from Klipfontein View in Midrand, Johannesburg, in South Africa, and has built a thriving business, CRM Enterprise, despite facing numerous challenges along the way. After being retrenched from her previous job, Connie decided to start her own business, and 5 years later has grown CRM Enterprise into a successful corporate gifting and branding enterprise with six permanent employees. Connie is an inspiration to other female entrepreneurs, and her story is proof that with hard work and determination, it is possible to overcome the odds and build a successful business.

Originate, Motivate, Innovate: 7 Steps for Building a Billion Dollar Network by Shelly Omilâdé Bell

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In her new book, Originate, Motivate, Innovate: 7 Steps to Building a Billion Dollar Network, entrepreneur Shelly Omilâdé Bell delivers an honest and engaging discussion of how to think differently about getting your business funded as a female entrepreneur of color. She demonstrates how to overcome intimidation and imposter syndrome to chart a new and exciting path.

Compliance For Success

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

What do you think I mean if I have to ask you the question; “Is your business compliant”? Most new business owners don’t understand what compliance is required in their type of business. Compliance will be different for different industries and income brackets.

Two Types of Funding. Which option is best for you?

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste

Funding refers to the financial resources that are available to support a particular project or endeavor. It can take many forms, such as loans, grants, investments, or other forms of financial support. Funding is often necessary to start or grow a business, for research and development, or to launch new products or services. The type of funding that is chosen can have a significant impact on the success and viability of the project, so it's important to carefully consider the options and choose the one that best fits the needs and goals of the business or individual. Equity funding and Debt funding are two primary types of funding that business owners can use to raise capital.

Are Your Employees Questioning Their Roles?

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

Many employers and managers underestimate just how much employees are struggling with their well-being: According to a recent Deloitte survey, one out of three employees and executives reported struggling with fatigue and mental health - and it's only continuing to get worse.

An unstoppable entrepreneur

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Josefa Massinga

Dear Lionesses, today I challenge each of you to look for the inner lionesses that exist in you and drive you to be unstoppable. Let’s identify the lionesses within ourselves and advance as much as we can by being true to ourselves. Many people are good at what they do. Some are even elite. A few are completely unstoppable. I would like us to be in the group of those who are completely unstoppable in their own world, those who don't compete with anyone but themselves. Are you unstoppable? If not by the end of this blog you will be!

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.

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