the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
Book Review
The Beauty of Success by Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is an ultra-modern blueprint for navigating the path to starting, growing and accelerating your career while sowing the seeds of self-awareness and self-reflection. You’ll discover how author and 3x founder, Kendra aligned her personal pillars of community, mentorship, education, and capital with her business goals to bring her vision for building a successful company to fruition.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
Marie Curie, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and then Chemistry in 1911, (see here for information on this incredible Scientist) is said to have once remarked: “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood…”, and we have to admit that try as we might, we cannot understand the reasons for, let alone fathom the pain and suffering that 2023 brought to many millions across the globe. If Diplomacy really is the art of restraining power, as Henry Kissinger, the 56th U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. National Security Advisor and winner of the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize said, then we have to suggest that in 2023, ‘diplomacy’ failed.
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by Lori Milner
Interpersonal relationships can be one the greatest sources of energy builders and drainers for people. It has nothing to do with their colleagues but everything to do with them and their interpretation of a situation.
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by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw
For many law firms, the thought of AI has not been all moonlight and roses. In many instances, there is a fear that it signals the end of our profession, whilst in other cases, a deep sense of distrust. The term AI is also a collective for Artificial Intelligence which refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. There are many times including Generative AI or Natural Language Processing such as Chat GPT. Other types include reactive machines and limited memory bases.
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by Thembe Khumalo
Look, I realise how frightening it can be to step forward into a fast-moving marketplace that can sometimes also. be very confusing. But if you’re serious about professional growth and business expansion you’re going to have to overcome fears of being seen, making marketing mistakes, facing judgment, or stumbling in your pursuits. These apprehensions will rob you of your confidence and the elevation you desire. Try to make peace with the fact that you will make mistakes — everybody does after all, and then focus on building yourself a well-defined personal brand.
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Natercia Jone, founder, Dione’s Liquor (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Natercia Jone is a Mozambican entrepreneur and the founder of Dione’s Liquor, with more than 20 years of experience having operated in the cleaning and gardening, confectionery sectors. She is currently dedicated to building her business and brand, Dione's Liquor, which is focused on the production of liqueurs based on fruits, herbs and currently operating in the national market.
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Eka Obaigbena
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Toasties Limited, a fast-casual dining restaurant chain reimagining the way Africans experience meals on the go
Eka Obaigbena is the founder and ceo of Toasties, a fast-casual dining restaurant chain launched in 2016 in Nigeria that aims to reimagine the way Africans experience meals on the go. Toasties' menu consists primarily of fusion sandwiches, salads, and various specials. Eka is also the Founder and CEO of Board, a food gifting and food experience company that presents edible art to its customers. Before launching her businesses in 2016 and 2020 respectively, Eka began her culinary journey in New York City’s French Culinary Institute (now The International Culinary Center) where she trained as a chef in 2011.
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by Lori Milner
January has the special aroma of a fresh start combined with energy, enthusiasm, and new dreams. This feeling typically lasts until the end of March, and then your energy begins to dip, and before you know it, you're counting down to Easter because you need a serious break. It's not like you waste your energy intentionally or even consciously; it's a slow drip like a nail in a tyre; it leaks air so slowly that you don't notice until it is completely flat or inches from it.
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by Margaret Hirsch
The quote by Elinor Roosevelt goes: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people.” Once you know this you can stop yourself being pulled into the conversations discussing other people - they are not worthy of your time. Events also come and go but discussing ideas, now that’s not only thought provoking but can be mind-blowing.
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by Eldari Visser
I have a great view of the troupe. The monkeys are merrily playing and eating along the forestry. I move my binocular view over them, checking out the little ones playing and the moms keeping a watchful eye. Then I am met eye to eye with a big daddy. He is staring directly at me, gosh, it seems like he is literally on top of me! I yank the binoculars away from my eyes to get a normal view. He is definitely at a distance, far from me, yet he is dead focused on me. A chill runs down my spine. How does he know? Surely he cannot see this far?
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by Thembe Khumalo
Let’s face it, there are a whole lot of coaches consultants, and other service-based solopreneurs out there who are working for a lot less than what they are worth. Sometimes, it's because you hear so much about how bad the economy is that you try to avoid coming across as lacking empathy, or worse still, arrogant. Years spent in traditional employment can also limit our self-worth because we have pegged our value at whatever our last employer decided it should be. This undervaluation can lead to reluctance and hesitancy to share knowledge, and the pursuit of side hustles.
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Lilian Mapuranga, co-founder & COO, Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd (Zimbabwe)
Startup Story
Lilian Mapuranga is the co-founder and COO of Chemexon Chemicals Pvt Ltd a chemical company focused on cleaning and sanitation chemicals. She is an MBA and Chemist with over 13 years industry experience and 4 years in the sanitation industry. Lilian was awarded as a TechWomen Emerging Leader 2014 (Hillary Clinton STEM Initiatives in Silicon Valley), was a ZimTrade EagleNest Top 22 Qualifier. Before Lilian became an entrepreneur, she was a business development manager at Integrated Hygiene Systems. Her tasks were oriented towards developing business, looking for new markets and increasing sales. Her focus was in change management and meeting customer satisfaction, something she has adopted into her own business and has helped her shape Chemexon.
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Vicky Chilli, founder, eKasi Bioscope (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa)
Startup Story
Vicky Chilli is a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Umlazi in South Africa and the founder of eKasi Bioscope (Pty) Ltd. She established a movie cinema in her township and uses film as a tool for social change. She started this project in 2016 at King Shaka High School where she discovered that learners were facing social issues and needed a platform to relate too, open-up and learn. The cinema screens African-inspired movies and the youth watch movies for free. Vicky has screened approximately 20 African-inspired movies indoors and had 1 drive-in cinema.
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Krissy Chin
Book Review
If you ever wanted to know how to effectively launch and run a profitable online business, Krissy Chin in her new book, Sell while you Sleep: Turn your knowledge into an automated online business and create a life of freedom, shares her insights and experience. She says it doesn't have to be complicated.
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by Izane Cloete-Hamilton
During my wild ride in the world of bids and proposals, I’ve worked with all sorts – bid managers, bid coordinators, designers, and writers. I’ve gained insight into what really makes someone click in this profession. It’s not just about juggling tasks effectively or generating snazzy templates; it’s also about thriving under pressure and maintaining an eagle eye for each minute detail.
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by Lori Milner
Diets don't work because they're temporary; they are a pseudo-commitment. For sustainable change, it's your lifestyle that must change. It's your identity that changes. You start to call yourself a healthy person and then act like healthy people do. More importantly, your mindset shifts from a victim mentality of punishment to an owner mentality of freedom. Ultimately, your way of being changes. It is not one thing you do but a stacking of choices over your day that contributes towards your weight loss goal. It's not just one meal but sleep, water, nutrition, and your emotional world – everything in the periphery done consistently will help you achieve this.
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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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