the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Margaret Hirsch
The only thing holding you back from living the life of your dreams is FEAR. Now fear comes in many different forms. I always tell my team members that it can either be:
False Evidence Appearing Real … or… Forget Everything And Run
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by Catia Mondlane
In the heart of the entrepreneurial wilderness, discovering the ideal product that not only survives but thrives in the market is a journey akin to an epic quest. Picture this: I once sold an array of products - soaps, lotions, oils, and facial masks - all coexisting in a bustling marketplace, each one vying for attention, much like lionesses hunting for the juiciest prey. However, faced with tough decisions, I strategically shifted my focus to a single product: the powerful Moringa soap.
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Tiffany Johnson
Book Review
If you have ever felt daunted by the process of working on your business plan, then help is at hand with Tiffany Johnson’s new Genius Ideas - Business Plan Workbook: A Roadmap to Success. This book is designed to help you build your business plan, step by step, breaking the whole process down into bite size chunks - keeping the process of building a business plan simple and easy to achieve. Designed to be fun and upbeat, Tiffany’s workbook simplifies the business planning journey to make it approachable for every entrepreneur.
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Mauricia Cox
Lioness Launch
Wellchemco is a South African wellness company created by entrepreneur Mauricia Cox and focused on mindful beauty and holistic wellness. It has just announced the launch of an innovative new Colour Me Calm adult colouring book designed to bring creativity and mindfulness into your life. Founder Mauricia encourages users to immerse themselves in the therapeutic art of colouring as they embark on a journey of self-expression and mindfulness. The new colouring book is aimed at helping users to experience gratitude, boost intelligence, reduce anxiety, and enhance holistic wellness in just a few minutes a day with the book’s innovative collation of mindful art, journaling, and positive quotes. Mauricia says it's the science-backed path to a happier you.
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Thaila Botes, founder, Danuz and Charger X (South Africa)
Startup Story
Thaila Botes is the vibrant force behind Danuz and Charger X, a hub for surf skate enthusiasts in South Africa. As a devoted mom, fitness enthusiast, and lover of summer, family, and Jesus, Thaila brings boundless energy to both her family life and her entrepreneurial venture. Discover a journey where fitness, family, and faith intertwine, creating a life uniquely driven by passion and purpose. Welcome to Thaila's world, where each day is a celebration of health, happiness, and the sunny spirit of summer.
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Natasha Mohunlal, Trademark Attorney & founder, Natasha Mohunlal and Associates Inc. (South Africa)
Startup Story
Natasha Mohunlal is a Trademark Attorney, the founder and Managing Director of Natasha Mohunlal and Associates Inc. based in Pretoria, South Africa, also known as NMA. She is a prominent entrepreneur, community activist, and visionary. She won the Women in IP award in Utah in July 2022. Her law firm won the SA IP law firm of the year 2022 at the Middle East Africa Business Awards. Her firm also won the Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year 2023 at the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Global Awards. She was also crowned title partner at the Influential Women of the Year Awards in March 2023, which took place in Cape Town. In the same year, she won the Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2023 and Prominent Women in International Law Award - WLA2023 Dubai. In July 2023, she was awarded the Top IP Leader award in Dubai, and was also selected for the 'Top 25 Exceptional Women in Trademark.’
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Francine Munyaneza
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Munyax Eco, a solar power business creating access to clean and affordable energy in East Africa
With a master’s degree in business and administration and 15 years of experience globetrotting, Francine Munyaneza skilfully managed operations in international private organizations and later in the humanitarian sector. Her accumulated expertise led her to return to Rwanda and establish Munyax Eco in 2013, an impact focused solar energy company. Through Munyax Eco’s endeavours, she has positively impacted nearly 1,000,000 beneficiaries, reduced carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons annually, and importantly created 30 permanent jobs and over 100 temporary jobs. Notably, the majority of Munyax Eco’s staff and beneficiaries are women.
Read moreLionesses of Africa Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 15, 2024
This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.
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Book Review
If you have you ever told yourself you’re not a natural salesperson, or procrastinated on promoting your business because it feels awkward, or launched something new, only to be met with deafening silence, then Sara Nasser Dalrymple’s new book, More Sales Please, is what you need in your business life. Sara believes it will help you to promote your small business online, make consistent sales, and grow without the grind.
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Mildred Matara, founder and CEO, Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency & Mellow Ventures Investment (Kenya)
Startup Story
Mildred Matara is the founder and CEO of Mellow Ventures Insurance Agency and Mellow Ventures Investment in Kenya. She is a seasoned and passionate entrepreneur and her insurance business provides consultations and insurance underwriting services, working with class A-C insurance companies in Kenya and East Africa, serving customers in the East Africa region. Her Mellow Ventures Investment business is focused on dealing with General suppliers and retail sales and distribution in Kenya. She founded the business 9 years ago and currently employs 4 permanent employees and 6 casuals/ contract employees. She previously worked in the corporate sector for over 11 years with experience spanning different business sectors. She is currently in the process of venturing into the Agriculture sector to produce and add value to food products in the Western part of Kenya, where she hopes to assist in bridging the food security gap whilst creating a source of livelihood to the locals.
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Solange Domaye
Lioness weekender Cover Story
Symfonio bv, a pioneering force in organic African food production and distribution, empowering over 2,000 women cooperatives in Burkina Faso
Solange Domaye, a Chad-born entrepreneur based in the Netherlands, is dedicated to fostering sustainable trade between Africa and Europe. With 16+ years of entrepreneurial experience, she runs afric-eu.com, promoting economic development through trade and diplomacy. She also serves as the Honorary Consul of Chad to the Netherlands. In 2021, Solange founded Symfonio bv, focusing on organic African food production and distribution. She collaborates with 2000+ women in Burkina Faso, scaling fonio production from 10 to 500MT in just two years. Solange is a champion of sustainable trade, diplomacy, and women's empowerment, leaving a significant mark in international business and economic development.
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Nazlee Mayhew, founder and director, Global Mindset Solutions (Zimbabwe)
Startup Story
Nazlee Mayhew is the founder and director of Global Mindset Solutions in Zimbabwe. She is a seasonal Business and Money Mindset Coach, a Social Entrepreneur, NLP Master Practitioner, and an emerging author. Global Mindset Solutions' vision is to empower, educate and equip women to enhance their leadership and business skills and help strengthen the communities they serve. This will enable them to reach their full potential faster, help boost economic growth and create financial freedom.
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by Sharon Castle
As a Transformational Life Coach, I’m in the privileged position of listening to people every day and hearing about what troubles them the most. What I’ve noticed is that when there are feelings of overwhelm and obligation, stress is the order of the day.
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by Eldari Visser
A couple of months ago we had the privilege to go to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and we spent five days in glorious nature. Wow ,that was really a time of rest and we saw amazing sightings. I always get great ideas for my blog that directly correlate with our business life. Nature once again did not disappoint! Nature’s stories are so closely linked to our business world. I really think we could all just listen to her more. We can apply the lessons of nature and animal behaviour in business successfully. Here is a story for you that I hope brings this point to life.
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by Phillipa Geard
In the dynamic landscape of today's workforce, career trajectories are no longer linear. Often, women step away from their careers to raise children, and when the children are of school-going age, these women wish to resume their careers without starting at the bottom and working their way back to their mid-to-senior levels. Returnships are short, paid internships for professionals who have been away from work for some time and are now ready to return to mid-to-senior level positions. Women with skills can start over in their careers by choosing a returnship with a company that knows how valuable work experience is, especially in the tech industry. Returnships enable women to swiftly reenter the workforce, brush up on their skills, and get the required mentoring while resuming their management roles. A few businesses that are effectively using returnships to reintroduce tech skills into the workforce are IBM, Deloitte, and Paypal.
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by Lori Milner
Most high performers will only allow themselves to acknowledge the big wins – when they get ‘there'. Some people fear complacency or mediocrity; others place self-worth on achievement and, therefore, will only recognise the 'significant' wins. Many people attribute success to others and won't acknowledge their success, so they sweep the achievement under the rug and quickly move on to the next big thing. If you resonate with any of these points and can only allow in the big achievements, here are some reasons why you should reconsider:
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by Anja van Beek, Talent Strategist, Leadership & HR Expert and Executive Coach
Let me just start: I.love.travel. A little-known fact about me is that I travelled abroad for two years after I completed my degree and before starting in my first corporate role. I was in my early 20’s and it was my first time abroad. This is where my love for travelling was ignited as it was amazing to be exposed to new cultures, food, and people, and most of all, to be part of the different communities for more time than usual.
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by Catia Mondlane
In the vibrant landscape of professional life, the decision to leave the familiar terrain of a job to embark on the entrepreneurial journey is akin to standing at a crossroads, pondering the paths that lead to passion and independence. For women considering this leap, the journey is not merely a career transition but a dynamic dance between the advantages and disadvantages that shape the narrative of entrepreneurship.
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by Edna Reis
Have you ever stopped to think about how work relationships end up having a huge impact on the way we experience the workday, the way we look at work, the way we motivate ourselves with work and the way we leave work back to home, or from home to work?
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by Thembe Khumalo
As we prepare to say “Sala kahle” to another year, it's the perfect time for coaches and consultants to engage in some much-needed reflection. The year 2023 has presented its unique set of challenges and opportunities, and evaluating your progress is crucial to paving the way for a successful 2024. So, let's see how we can go about doing a quick self-assessment and planning, without losing out on all the Dezemba festivities.
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