Arline Ferrão, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a green alternative to disposable bags

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Arline Ferrão, founder and managing partner, Kasunga (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Arline Ferrão is the founder and managing partner of Kasunga, a 100% Mozambican company and brand, committed to sustainability, offering personalized reusable bags and bags, produced with exceptional care, combining environmentally friendly materials and traditional African fabrics. Well-being and sustainability, in its environmental, social and human components, are at the center of its actions on different fronts. In addition to Kasunga, Arline is a psychologist focused on the area of mental health and well-being at work.

Merel van der Lei, an impact-driven SaaS female trailblazer

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Wyzetalk, a leading South African mobile-first employee experience platform enabling a connection for frontline workers

Merel van der Lei is the CEO of Wyzetalk, a leading South African mobile-first employee experience platform that enables a connection for frontline workers. With 20+ years’ experience, Merel has a wealth of knowledge in business and product strategy, employee engagement and designing impactful solutions, leveraging the power of feedback for continuous growth. Recognised as one of the SEG Female Trailblazers of SaaS in 2024, she leads with empathy and is solution and impact driven. Merel has made a concerted effort to bolster and mentor females in the industry as she effortlessly navigates the fast-paced and male-dominated landscape of the tech sector.

6 Habits to Create a Resilient Mindset

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Resilience is hard-wired into us; it comes standard. It's not an extra you have to pay more for. Even though it's part of you, it can only be activated by choice. Not all situations are created equally, so I categorise resilience into Big R and Small r resilience. Big R resilience are those events that truly challenge us and can result from tragedy, unexpected change or loss.Then there is small r resilience, the daily speed bumps like having a difficult conversation, being let down, or not getting a great performance review. No matter how small it feels, it is real for you and does result in disappointment. Not all situations require the same level of resilience, but the small ones are as important to navigate as the big ones.

Artificial Intelligence and How It Is Regulated in Terms of Employee Screening

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

The AI Act is a European regulation on artificial intelligence (AI)—the first comprehensive regulation of AI by a significant regulator anywhere. The Act assigns AI applications to three risk categories. 

10 Basics of Pitching to Potential Investors

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

When pitching to potential investors, be prepared for all pitch levels such as 15 minutes, 10 minutes or 5 minutes. it's also important to be clear, concise, and compelling. Ensure that you follow these 10 basic steps:

Stepping Out of Comfort Zones, Embracing Change to Chase Your Dreams

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

Are you stuck in a job that pays well, puts a roof over your head and food on the table, but secretly, deep down, you really wish you could be doing something else?Something that would really fill your cup. I had this conversation with a friend recently. She has just turned 40 and is in a really good, well-paying job. She is top of her game but just feels that there is more out there. That’s exactly how I felt a few years ago and so I decided to make a change.

Shifting the dial for women entrepreneurs to access investment and new markets for growth

June 27, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

This year, Lionesses of Africa marks another important milestone on our journey as social impact innovators. It is 10 years since we launched on the first Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in 2014 with a mission to empower Africa’s women entrepreneurs to fulfill their potential and drive economic growth on the continent. So much has happened since that launch, and our mission and vision has grown, as has the size of our Lionesses of Africa community - now 1.8 million women entrepreneurs strong, and still growing! We have much to reflect on and celebrate as we plan the next exciting phase of our entrepreneurial journey.

On a mission for equal rights and business opportunities for women entrepreneurs on the African continent

June 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Speech by Peter Derrek Hof, Ambassador Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, Director Social Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at Start-Up Night Africa on Tuesday 11 June 2024

Excellencies, representatives from the African Development Bank, the African Guarantee Fund, the ABSA Bank, the private sector, civil society, government, dear and esteemed guests, Welcome!

Welcome, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented tonight by yours truly and by my colleague Wampie Libon, whom you will see later.

New research project launched at Start-Up Night Africa to address gender data gap on Africa's high-growth women entrepreneurs

June 25, 2024 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Melissa Basque-Roux, Ag. Coordinator, AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa), African Development Bank; Melanie Hawken, Founder & CEO, Lionesses of Africa; Farshida Zafar, Director, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship

Launch Announcement

The 2nd Start-Up Night Africa event held on 11 June 2024 in The Hague, The Netherlands, was the launchpad for an important new research project announcement by Lionesses of Africa, in partnership with AFAWA (Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa), and with the technical support of Lionesses of Africa’s research partner, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. The research aims to address identified gendered gaps in data and insights that are barriers to achieving greater, more equitable, funding and support for women entrepreneurs in Africa. The project aims to deliver better insights into Africa’s women entrepreneurs who have launched high-growth ventures ambitiously going after double-digit growth and creating scalable business models to significantly impact the market, and their communities.

Sharpening Your Axe as An Entrepreneur

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

The entrepreneurial journey primes you with marks of strength and resilience. It is not an easy ride, but it is certainly a fulfilling labour of love when you walk in your authentic purpose and use your expertise, skills and talents to make a meaningful contribution in impacting the lives of others.

How To Create An Ideal Average Day

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

What will it take to create your ideal average day? Notice I didn’t say your ideal day because that probably involves being on a beach somewhere sipping cocktails. Those are the exceptions throughout the year, but what if you could get better at creating your ideal average day with work commitments, school runs and the usual in-betweens?

Maximize Your Visibility and Sales this Mid-Year with Adbot

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Vuyelwa Gxakushe

As we reach the mid-year mark, the end-of-season sale frenzy is upon us. Customers are on the hunt for great deals, seeking quality products at unbeatable prices. For SMEs, this is a crucial period to capture attention and boost sales. Here's how to ensure your business stands out and thrives during this competitive season.

10 Benefits of Individual Financial Coaching in Today's Challenging Economic Climate

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

In an era marked by rising living costs and stagnant salaries, achieving financial stability and prosperity has become increasingly challenging for many individuals. In such a landscape, personalized financial coaching emerges as a beacon of hope, offering tailored guidance and support to navigate the complexities of personal finance. Let's delve into the tenfold benefits of individual financial coaching and why it's indispensable in today's world.

What links made, what partnerships formed, all on one memorable day! Thank you.

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

It has taken us almost two weeks to come down from the high and to make sense in our minds of what happened on June 11th 2024, but what we do know for sure is that before, during, and after our Start-Up Night Africa event where we showcased and celebrated ten truly inspirational Lionesses of (and into) Africa in our own particular way (more of that later!), lives were changed and people were impacted, links made and partnerships cemented on this memorable day.

Move to Great! 12 Strategies for Business Exponential Growth, Leveraging AI by Victoria Holtz

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you are ready to revolutionize your business strategy and achieve exponential growth, then Victoria Holtz’s book, ”Move To Great: 12 Strategies For Business Exponential Growth Leveraging AI” is a must read. Do you want to be at the forefront of AI and business transformation? Victoria’s groundbreaking guide will help you to unlock your business potential in the age of artificial intelligence.

Sabine Lydia Müller, an entrepreneur passionate about regenerative organic agriculture in Mozambique

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Sabine Lydia Müller, founder, Tchambalakate Comércio e Serviços Soc.Unip., Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Sabine Lydia Müller is the founder of Tchambalakate Comércio e Serviços Soc.Unip., Lda in Mozambique. She is passionate about regenerative organic agriculture, agroforestry, Mozambique, and the decolonization of Africa. Through her self-employed work as consultant in Germany and Mozambique, her involvement in various publications, and in organic certifications, Sabine aims to share knowledge and best practices on how to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems and ecosystems. She believes in the peaceful coexistence of nature and human beings, and strives to make a positive impact with her work. As a Communications Manager with over 17 years of experience in PR, social media, and brand marketing, Sabine leverages her skills and network to raise awareness and support for her clients’ projects and initiatives.

Puleng Kgosiesele, a mindset coach helping people to maximise their full potential in Botswana

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Puleng Kgosiesele, Founding Director, MindGYM (Botswana)

Startup Story

Puleng Kgosiesele is the Founding Director of MindGYM in Botswana. A Mindset Coach, Facilitator, and Speaker, her business is focused on empowering others to show up and participate in work and life in new ways, making new choices, and practicing new behaviours needed for lasting change in the area of personal growth. She offers solutions based on elevating mindsets, to strip away misguided self-beliefs that hinder and thwart people at every turn, helping them mature into a more complex understanding of themselves and maximizing their full potential.

Sasha Knott & Kelly Louw, pioneers showcasing Africa’s people talent using AI

June 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Job Crystal, growing small to medium business by giving them the ability to hire in seconds, by using AI, while helping the cash flow!

Sasha Knott, the CEO of Job Crystal, started her career in IT and moved quickly in her career finding her passion for entrepreneurship and combining this with technology that works for the customer and often disrupts industries. Kelly Louw, the COO of Job Crystal, started her career in Recruitment and has become a well-known professional in the Recruitment space. Their current plan is to grow small to medium business by giving them the ability to hire in seconds, by using AI, while helping the cash flow! The vision is to make a dent in unemployment in Africa, while working on the SDG goal 8 of Decent work and Economic Growth worldwide. The business started in 2009, but Sasha and Kelly bought it in 2015, and today it has created jobs for 18 people.

The 2nd Start-Up Night Africa event in The Hague connects Africa’s high-growth women entrepreneurs to European investment, and women entrepreneurs in the Netherlands looking to access African markets

June 16, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Media Release

Highlighting the critical role of investment and the power of partnerships to address the gender finance gap for high-growth women entrepreneurs in Africa and the Netherlands, were the key focus of discussion at the 2nd Start-Up Night Africa event on 11 June 2024, in The Hague, The Netherlands. The event was once again hosted by Lionesses of Africa, a fast-growing social impact organization with 1.8 million women entrepreneurs across the African continent, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Netherlands, African Guarantee Fund, AFAWA, and Absa. Opening remarks were delivered by Lionesses of Africa founder & ceo, Melanie Hawken; Peter Derrek Hof, Ambassador Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, Director Social Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Nishdeep Sethi, Group Director, Structured Finance, African Guarantee Fund. Also providing a welcome address was Erik Parigger, Programme Coordinator Orange Corners.

Tuduetso Tebape, an eco-friendly, green beauty brand-builder in Botswana

June 16, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Tuduetso Kereeditse Tebape, co-founder, Nubian Seed (Botswana)

Startup Story

Tuduetso Kereeditse Tebape is the co-founder of Nubian Seed in Botswana, a business that produces natural and organic personal care products using indigenous African botanical and bio-derived ingredients. Tuduetso is passionate about educating on the benefits of these natural ingredients and showcasing Africa's natural wonders for personal care. Tuduetso supports holistic, sustainable living and strives to teach Nubian Seed product users that 100% natural products benefit not only the skin but also foster a connection to the Earth, promoting mindfulness about holistic well-being and a state of Oneness with Mother Earth.

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