Upskilling as an Antidote to Imposter Syndrome

April 12, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

At a recent meeting with entrepreneurs, I was asked about overcoming imposter syndrome. No one liked it when I responded by asking, “Are you an imposter?” This is an uncomfortable question, particularly when you are regularly questioning your abilities, feeling insecure, and struggling to feel confident in a particular role or task. For you to be able to respond with a firm “No,” to such a question you need to be sure that you are equipped with the knowledge and skills for the work you are proposing to do. And that was my point in asking the question.

Strategies to Grow a Business

April 12, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

Businesses are unique entities that require constant upgrading to grow to ensure relevance and generation of income at all times. Here are some strategies to grow a business in a dynamic world.

Needing People Is Healthy

April 12, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie

Many moons ago, a colleague described me as being FIERCELY INDEPENDENT. She was challenging my modus operandi. She was kindly admonishing me. I knew this and I understood this. Yet, in some twisted corner of my mind, I construed her admonishment as a compliment.

Amirah Adam, an entrepreneur building a textile print design business where art meets fashion in Mozambique

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Amirah Adam, founder, Mira La Mira (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Amirah Adam is the founder of the company Mira La Mira, a textile print design brand launched in 2018 in Mozambique. She is the winner of several financing awards and the Mozal & Kulungwana award. Since the age of 16, she has worked in the digital arts field, and has extensive experience in communication design, photography, and advertising. She has also worked in alternative areas such as business management. She completed her degree in Mozambique and her master's degree in Portugal, where the Mira La Mira brand was born. The business has created jobs for 4 people.

Claire Amondi, a beauty entrepreneur building a fresh skincare brand in Kenya

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Claire Amondi, founder, CEO of AGNES | Pure & Regal (Kenya)

Startup Story

Claire Amondi is the founder and CEO of AGNES | Pure & Regal, a clean and safe skincare line made in Kenya. AGNES seeks to inspire and promote the importance of healthy skin. Born out of the founders' obsession with all things skincare and the desire to encourage the value of self love, the brand is committed to formulating simple and effective products that help enhance and maintain your glow. Launched in 2018, today the business has created jobs for 3 other people.

Mozambican entrepreneur Patricia Vasco launches new children’s book project

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

A new book for children and adults to read together as part of an enjoyable learning journey has been written and launched by successful Mozambican serial entrepreneur Patricia Vasco. The book entitled, “O Kaio e o cão Panda” was inspired by her young son, and reflects her love of storytelling for children.

Becoming An Unstoppable Woman Entrepreneur Part 2 by Hanna Olivas and Adriana Luna Carlos

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

For women entrepreneurs who want to unlock their growth mindsets and strategies, help and inspiration is at hand from Hanna Olivas and Adriana Luna Carlos in their new book, Becoming An Unstoppable Woman Entrepreneur Part 2. It is a book that will propel you towards fulfilling your ambitions and becoming an unstoppable woman. In the book you will discover the transformative narrative of twenty extraordinary women as they share experiences and learnings from their entrepreneurial journeys.

Think Bigger - your product or service possibly has a superpower

April 7, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

Three core things get investors up in the morning.

- The Problem.

- The Solution.

- The Team that is going to deliver.

The ‘Problem’ is the starting point that drags investors in. As Maxime Bayen, the Operating Partner, of the Catalyst Fund says "I am often sold on the problem. If I see the problem is big, if I see that it is well articulated, is data backed, then I am really eager to see the solution..." (here).

Contentment

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Refilwe Sebothoma

I find contentment to be a very powerful ability, but yet difficult to practice. I have seen the absence of contentment leave many people in an unhealthy “life-race”, wanting to compete and compare with people they don’t even know. Instead of looking back and appreciating how far they have come and pacing themselves well for the future, they are constantly chasing the next biggest thing at whatever cost.

Rent - the entrepreneur’s nightmare

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile

Rent is every entrepreneur’s nightmare, that is if you need a space for your business. The property market in South Africa has increased prices at an alarming rate. When I first rented in Midrand, I was paying R3000 each month for a 7 x 4 space. It was in a plot type of area, not as commercial as it is today. The rental currently is R7 500 for the same space. This is the same story across residential rates.

Riding the wave

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Izane Cloete-Hamilton

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble."

The three witches from William Shakespeare's Macbeth chant this delightful little jingle as they add ingredients to their cauldron to make a spell. The toe of a frog (it is not specified if it is from the left or right foot), the fillet of a snake, the eye of a newt, and other yummy ingredients all go into this brew.

The Age of Technology and the Rise of Workplace Misconduct – How Should You Protect Your Business?

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw

Unfortunately, some employees may engage in acts of misconduct from time to time in the workplace. The figures related to the number of disputes referred to by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration ("CCMA") and bargaining councils confirm the truth of this statement. Misconduct can take many forms, including theft, unauthorised possession, dishonesty, negligence, and absenteeism.

As mulheres empreendedoras de Moçambique pretendem criar mais empregos em 2024

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

História de destaque - Lioness Lean In Mozambique, 3 de abril de 2024

O primeiro evento da série anual dos populares Lioness Lean In Webinars de Moçambique para 2024 teve lugar na quarta-feira, 3 de abril. Organizado pela Lionesses of Africa em parceria, mais uma vez, com o Standard Bank, o tema do crescimento e da criação de postos de trabalho esteve bem presente nas mentes das mulheres empreendedoras. Com 140 participantes para iniciar a conversa, incluindo um painel de oradoras composto por 7 empreendedoras altamente experientes da comunidade Lionesses of Africa em Moçambique, o foco foi a partilha de experiências e aprendizagens. Crescênia Matsinhe, Diretora do Setor de Consumo, Indústria e Infraestruturas e Banca Comercial do Standard Bank Mozambique, partilhou a forma como o banco está a apoiar as mulheres empreendedoras e o seu crescimento este ano.

Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs aim to create more jobs in 2024

April 5, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Event Report - Lioness Lean In Mozambique 3 April 2024

The first in the annual series of popular Mozambique Lioness Lean In Webinars for 2024 took place on Wednesday 3 April. Hosted by Lionesses of Africa in partnership once again with Standard Bank, the theme of growth and job creation was firmly at the forefront of women entrepreneurs’ minds. With 140 attendees to kickstart the conversation, including a speaker panel of 7 highly experienced women entrepreneurs from the Lionesses of Africa community in Mozambique, the focus was on sharing experiences and learnings. Specialist insights and advice also came from Crescênia Matsinhe, Head of Consumer, Industrial and Infrastructure Sector, Commercial Banking, Standard Bank Mozambique, who shared how the bank is supporting women entrepreneurs and their growth this year.

An Entrepreneurial Leap: My Faith, My Lessons, My Success by Rachel Bickham

March 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you have you ever stood at the precipice of a decision, wondering if leaping into entrepreneurship is worth the risk, the the new book ‘An Entrepreneurial Leap: My Faith, My Lessons, My Success’ by Rachel Bickham is a must-read. This book is not just a narrative; it’s a tool kit for anyone who dares to dream and is brave enough to pursue those dreams despite the hurdles.

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera, a leading bridalwear and bespoke fashion designer in Malawi

March 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera, founder, Nanas (Malawi)

Startup Story

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera is the founder of Nanas closet in Malawi, a business launched in 2014 and creating beautiful bridal dresses and other bespoke wear for those memorable wedding occasions. Customers have come to know Alinafe for creating beautiful wedding dresses that celebrate African culture and she sells her designs all over the world. She happily mixes elegance with different cultures in her designs, whilst always taking care of the environmental impact of her work which is important to Alinafe. For example, she gave away 100 dresses to kids made from old materials. Her work is about making things well, keeping traditions alive, and helping the planet.

Birgite Armando John, a Mozambican entrepreneur offering business consulting and language services to clients

March 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

Birgite Armando John is the founder of Centro de Educação Sustentável, Lda. (CES), a specialist consulting and language business in Mozambique. She is an entrepreneurial woman, accountant, and also multilingual. Birgite began her journey as an entrepreneur teaching English to friends and colleagues while studying abroad. She is the recipient of a 3rd Place prize in the CapacitaMoz Bootcamp Award financed by TotalEnergies.

Birgite Armando John, fundadora do Centro de Educação Sustentável, Lda. (CES) e vencedora do 3o Lugar do Premio CapacitaMoz Bootcamp financiado pela TotalEnergies. Mulher empreendedora, Contabilista e poliglota. Começou o seu percurso como empreendedora ensinando Inglês para amigos e colegas enquanto estudava no estrangeiro.

Isabella Epiu, an entrepreneur advancing healthcare in Uganda

March 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Health Solutions International, a social impact organization dedicated to advancing healthcare standards to save lives in East Africa

Isabella Epiu is the founder of Health Solutions International, an organisation founded in 2015 in Uganda and dedicated to Advancing Health Care Standards To Save Lives by sourcing new approaches to emerging global health challenges through research and implementation science. She is an Anaesthesiologist with a PhD from the University of New South Wales - UNSW School of Medicine in Sydney, Australia, which is among the top 50 medical schools in the world. Isabella’s recent research focused on neural-respiratory physiology, to design targeted cost-effective management plans and improve the quality of life in people with pulmonary diseases. Previously she performed multi-national research across the East African Community aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes through safe anaesthesia. Isabella is passionate about quality improvement in healthcare, and particularly safety in medicine with experience in research, leadership and management, global health, economic modelling, policy analysis. She currently has 20+ publications with up to 220+ citations already.

Preparation is Key for Business Success

March 29, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Refilwe Sebothoma

One of my biggest fears in life is to walk into a room full of opportunities and decision-makers and I AM NOT PREPARED. If you get “LUCKY” to be in the right place, at the right time, and with the right people but you are not prepared, you will lose what could be a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

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