the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Laura M Camacho, PhD
Book Review
Great communication skills are essential for women entrepreneurs who want to build successful businesses, and in her new book, The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute, author and business coach Laura M Camacho PhD, shows you how.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
It is one thing to complain and be grumpy about the rounding error that is the amount of funding that goes into women’s businesses in Africa, but as we stated last week (here) we believe the answer may lie instead in highlighting the benefits to the investors, and their own investor base in having a more diverse team and with that a stronger portfolio made up of more female-founded companies.
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by Vuyelwa Gxakushe
What are the top 5 Marketing trends you can’t Ignore in 2024? The confetti has settled, the resolutions are set, and 2024 stands poised on the digital horizon. For small businesses, navigating this dynamic landscape isn't just about riding the trend waves, it's about carving your own course with the right tools and strategies.
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by Margaret Hirsch
The way to conquer any fear of change is to display an open-mindedness to new ideas and desires in your life. To get ahead one has to demonstrate a willingness to do things differently from everyone else and this in itself is a challenge as it’s so much easier to go with the flow - to fit in - to be one of the sheep.
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by by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw | SchoemanLaw Inc | Specialist Technology, Commercial and Contract Law Attorney
In today's intricate and multifaceted business environment, adhering to legal compliance is far more than a mere option—it's a fundamental prerequisite for any organization. Complying with the labyrinth of laws and regulations is not solely about averting legal entanglements. However, it is a pivotal component for fostering trust with stakeholders and ensuring the enduring viability of your enterprise. To proficiently manage legal compliance within your business, a meticulously crafted project plan serves as an invaluable roadmap.
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by Marilize Jacobs
This question is usually answered by referring to IQ, test scores and grades. Yet, in business (and life) I believe street smarts – i.e., social and emotional intelligence as well as resilience (also referred to as SQ, EQ and AQ)– are just as important (if not more) than book smarts.
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Palesa Mkhulisi, founder, The Link PR and Marketing Solutions (South Africa)
Startup Story
Palesa Mkhulisi is the founder of The Link PR and Marketing Solutions in South Africa, a business focused on helping start-ups to create value, build long-term sustainability, and bring positive changes to their communities through tailored marketing and PR solutions. She is a 24-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for social development and a commitment to solving real-world problems. Raised in Soweto a township in Johannesburg she developed an early appreciation for the power of community and the impact that businesses can have on society. Beyond her role as an entrepreneur, Palesa actively participates in various community outreach programs and advising young business leaders. She is dedicated to fostering the next generation of socially aware entrepreneurs.
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One Rapelana, founder, designer, and creative director of Xita (Botswana)
Startup Story
One Rapelana is the award-winning founder, designer, and creative director of Xita, a specialist accessory brand in Botswana. What began as a hobby in 2015 evolved into a full-fledged company in 2018, with One focusing on ethically sourced leather accessories, primarily jewellery and bags crafted from offcuts, remnants, and by-product leather. While One Rapelana outsources some aspects, including collaborating with women artisans for cotton bags used in packaging and branding, she remains a one-woman show, personally crafting each product and overseeing all aspects of the company. Armed with a degree in Marketing and Management, she is also a self-taught graphic, web, and brand designer. Her work has garnered recognition, featured in Glamour SA magazine, and her products were showcased at the Brooklyn Museum store for the African Fashion Exhibition in 2023.
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Bernadette Umunyana
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Dokmai Rwanda Ltd, a manufacturing business creating proudly Made in Rwanda accessories.
Bernadette Umunyana is founder and CEO of Dokmai Rwanda Ltd, a private, family owned, and women managed manufacturing company in Rwanda, producing since December 2014 leather handcrafted fashion accessories like handbags, backpacks, wallets and belts for women and men. The company currently employs 21 people of whom 70% are women. Bernadette is a very active and creative female entrepreneur, consequently she was looking to diversify her activities through a horizontal expansion with potential synergetic impact, and noticing the growing demand for wooden and upholstery furniture in the local market she decided to acquire in 2019 an existing carpentry workshop, INWOOD, Ltd.
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Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula (PhD)
Book Review
In her debut as an author, Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula (PhD) in her new book, Entrepreneurial Success: Growing Business in a Fluid Economy, provides ten powerful success insights for budding and established entrepreneurs alike. Zeroing in on her life’s work in her business enterprises at SECURICO and Zvikomborero Farms, she distills business administration concepts into everyday life principles that we all can admit we already know but fail to leverage.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
The VC numbers for Africa in 2023 were released a few weeks ago and, as usual, the dial for women just doesn’t seem to be moving. As the brilliant data crunchers at ‘Africa: The Big Deal’ show (here), male and all male funding teams in 2023 as with other years, continued to raise around 85% of the entire funding, that’s not only equity but also debt and grants. Women and all women founding teams raised a rounding error, 2.3% to be exact, with only 13% going to gender diverse ones. Their article is headed: “2023 Deep-rooted gender imbalance” and deep-rooted it is. We just can’t seem to shake off these 2% levels.
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by Thembe Khumalo
Are you tired of taking every job that comes your way, offering discounts, and working on assignments you're not specialized in? It's time to break free from the scarcity mindset, stop working ridiculous hours, and dealing with abusive clients. Let's dive into why this approach doesn't work.
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by Shatho Babitse
In the rapidly evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, technology has become a powerful catalyst for growth and innovation. For women entrepreneurs, leveraging technology can open new doors, enhance productivity, and create opportunities for business expansion. Here are key ways women entrepreneurs can harness the potential of technology to propel their ventures forward.
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by Laura Camacho
At least 80% of what we do, probably 99%, is communicating. We ask people to buy things, do things, approve budgets, make changes, show up, and go here, instead of there. Being articulate is an asset you can cultivate.
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by Marjon Meyer
‘ecstatic’ - adjective – feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement, eg. “I am ecstatic about my team’s excellent results”
We have all experienced ecstasy (the legal version) and the feeling of immense joy. It could be due to a planned event you have been looking forward to, or an intense moment of deep happiness when a pleasant surprise comes your way. A business deal that went really well, being spoilt by a person who appreciates you, an unexpected blessing …. all these events bring about a deep sense of wellbeing, joy and happiness.
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Lisa Munsamy, founder, Lisa’s Carriers (South Africa)
Startup Story
Lisa Munsamy is the founder of Lisa’s Carriers in South Africa. She is a seasoned businesswoman with a passion for the transportation and hospitality industries, as well as a passion for Life Coaching. With over 18 years of experience in road freight, Lisa has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of logistics, ensuring seamless and efficient transportation solutions. She has also been the proud owner of a guesthouse for the past 14 years. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and is also a Certified Life Transformation Coach.
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Yetunde Akande
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Yetroselane Fashion Hub, a multi-faceted fashion business creating jobs, and empowering fashion entrepreneurs of the future
Yetunde Akande is an award-winning CEO and founder of Yetroselane Fashion Hub in Nigeria, a mission-driven company founded in 2008, transforming the fashion industry through sustainability and empowerment, and employing 45 people. The hub's contemporary womenswear fosters inclusivity and empowerment, complemented by their Fashion Academy preparing women for successful fashion businesses. Operating with a zero-waste policy in their garment factory, Yetunde collaborates globally for amplified impact. Recognized with prestigious awards, her designs grace global runways, including New York Fashion Week and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Ghana. Committed to mentorship, Yetunde engages with organizations like WIMBIZ, AWE, and GAIN, shaping the future of aspiring entrepreneurs. She envisions a future of employment and thriving fashion ventures.
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by Margaret Hirsch
No one has ever taken selling as a subject at school, yet over 90% of all business involves selling of one kind or another. When you hear the word salesman what usually comes to mind is a slick looking, fast talking, slimy person who is trying to take your hard-earned money from you. Well today and especially at Hirsch's Homestore, nothing could be further from the truth. Our salespeople are very kind, considerate people and they are known as "professional solution finders.” All day is spent finding solutions to other people’s problems. Be it from the perfect piece of toast for breakfast, to the most cost-efficient washing machine for a family of two, or ten; to the latest fridge/freezers which actually send you a message when your food is about to expire or run out! We have to know the model numbers, the features and benefits and of course the prices!
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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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