the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Event Feature
South Africa’s women entrepreneurs are encouraged to join the 2024 Absa Commercial Payments Summit on 16 April 2024 at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, to discover top technology and leading conversations that can impact their business. Industry trends, payment innovation, and collaboration will be on full display at this inaugural, must-attend event.
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Book Review
In her new book, Thinking Bigger: A Pitch-Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World, serial entrepreneur and investor, Sarah Dusek, tackles head-on a key challenge for women business and brand builders. The lack of female representation among top-earning business founders is surprising when compared with the number of women who start businesses. Fewer than thirty women in history have taken companies they founded public on leading stock exchanges. Although consistent references to “women and small business” dominate global development strategies and influence public policy, women are granted less than 2 percent of all venture capital investments annually. Things need to change!
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Vanda Harries, founder, The Life Architect (South Africa)
Startup Story
Vanda Harries is the entrepreneur behind The Life Architect, a business coaching and consultancy specialising in marketing and communications and personal brand building in South Africa. She is passionate about helping other women entrepreneurs and non-profits to develop their personal and business brands to achieve their goals.
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Mirene Guitiche, founder and CEO, Miregui Art (Mozambique)
Startup Story
Mirene Guitiche is the founder and CEO of Miregui Art, a company that has existed since 2020 and is dedicated to creative sewing and crafts in Mozambique. She is an entrepreneur equipped with skills and is very talented, in addition to being a Management student (UEM) in the country.
A Mirene Guitiche tem 23 anos é estudante de Gestão (UEM), é fundadora e CEO da Miregui art, uma empresa existente desde 2020 que se dedica a costura criativa e artesanato. Empreendedora munida de competências e muito talentosa.
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Thozama Ledidi
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Unipro Protective Wear, a South African business specializing in the manufacture of bullet-resistant vests for the defence and security sectors
Thozama Ledidi is the founder and managing director of Unipro Protective Wear in South Africa, a business specializing in the manufacture of bullet-resistant vests for the state, security companies, and other private sectors. She graduated from the University of the Free State and has a political Science Degree. In 2014, Thozama established a combat uniform and protective wear manufacturing company. After operating Unipro Protective Wear for 4 years, she then saw a need for defence products, and that’s when she decided to do her research on needed products within the defence industry. She then found her niche in the manufacturing of bullet-resistant vests. Today, her business has created jobs for 26 people.
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by Lori Milner
As a life coach, my job is to listen to what is being said and mine for the hidden limiting beliefs that hold my clients back from maximising their potential in their personal and professional lives.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Temitope Okunnu
Lioness Weekender Cover Story
FABE International Foundation, a social enterprise passionate about the establishment and improvement of an eco-conscious generation in Nigeria.
Temitope Okunnu is the Founder of FABE International Foundation and serves as the CEO of Tidy Nigeria and EcoSchoolsNG in Nigeria. She is a highly accomplished social entrepreneur, award-winning environmentalist, and distinguished advocate for sustainable living. Temitope's unwavering commitment lies in empowering women and youth with the essential skills required for environmental sustainability and the circular economy, thus enabling them to lead sustainable lives and generate income simultaneously.
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Patricia Vasco
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.
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Adriana Luna Carlos and Hanna Olivas
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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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