Ginette Blackbeard, a South African sustainable beauty brand builder with a passion for the circular economy

July 28, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Ginette Blackbeard, founder Enough. Upcycled Beauty-Health (South Africa)

Startup Story

Ginette Blackbeard, founder of ENOUGH. Upcycled Beauty-Health in South Africa, is harnessing her upbringing which instilled in her a profound respect for the environment and an unwavering commitment to minimizing waste. Her passion for the circular economy and sustainability inspired her to establish her business, driven by a belief in the essential shift towards circularity for the future of our planet. Ginette brings over two decades of experience in entrepreneurship across diverse sectors, from creative enterprises to manufacturing and engineering. She is also a co-founder of Emrin, a manufacturer of PLA filament, a biodegradable plant-based polymer.

Enid Katorobo Bashengezi, a South African financial and project management specialist consultancy builder

July 28, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Enid Katorobo Bashengezi, founder, EKB Consultants (South Africa)

Startup Story

With over 20 years of experience in accounting and project management, Enid Katorobo Bashengezi is the founder of EKB Consultants in South Africa. She is a seasoned professional specializing in leadership development, fiduciary assurance, and financial management across sectors, including decentralized systems. She is a Chartered Accountant (FCCA) and holds master’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Information Technology (MSc IT), alongside certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Personal Leadership Effectiveness Coach and Consultant.

Ade Hassan, a lingerie visionary for women of colour

July 28, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Nubian Skin, the first brand to make inclusive, skin-tone undergarments catered to women of colour.

Ade Hassan is the Nigerian/British founder of Nubian Skin, the first brand to make inclusive, skin-tone undergarments catered to women of colour. The business also makes skin-tone softies (post-surgery prosthetics for mastectomy patients). Launched in 2014, and headquartered in London, Nubian Skin delivers worldwide and looks forward to growing the company’s offering and expanding its reach.

Lusanda Omelo, a South African digital marketing and AI automation business helping SMMEs establish their online presence

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lusanda Omelo, Managing Director, Luome Brands (South Africa)

Startup Story

Lusanda Omelo is the Managing Director of Luome Brands, a digital marketing and AI automation business in South Africa. After many years in the corporate world, Lusanda embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. With a rich background in marketing, she has worked with both multinationals and startups. Her true passion lies in helping SMMEs thrive in their environments. In her exploration of AI, Lusanda developed findaiforthat.co.za, an online AI directory featuring over 1,000 tools designed to make business tasks easier. This platform is a testament to her commitment to leveraging AI to support businesses in achieving their goals. She has partnered with various international clients to ensure that these tools are used and easily available to Africans.The business started in 2021 and has created jobs for 3 people.

Lindiwe Masuku, a fleet management solutions business builder in Botswana

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lindiwe Masuku, founder & ceo, Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Startup Story

Lindiwe Masuku is the founder and ceo of Frotcom Botswana (Pty) Ltd, a fleet management solutions entity whose head office is currently in Gaborone but which services clients from all over the country. She is a business professional with a Degree in Business Administration, currently pursuing her master’s in business administration and management with the University of East London. Lindiwe has 16 years' experience in Business Management having worked in Finance and Administration before forming Frotcom. Her entrepreneurship journey began in 2019, but months later the Covid 19 pandemic started, and despite the challenges Frotcom has had to emerge as a solution post Covid 19, used by reputable entities across the country. The business has created jobs for 9 people.

Build Like A Woman: The Blueprint for Creating a Business and Life You Love by Kathleen Griffith

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

From Kathleen Griffith, the self-made businesswoman and founder of the global platform Build Like A Woman, comes the new book Build Like A Woman: The Blueprint for Creating a Business and Life You Love, an essential resource to unleash your business, take up space, and create your dream life.

Thekla Teunis, an impact driven investor transforming farmers’ lives

July 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Grounded Investment Company, an impact investment cooperative working with Africa’s farmers to help them transition to regenerative agriculture

As the co-founder of Grounded, Thekla Teunis brings a strategic edge to the company’s sustainable agri-business initiatives. Grounded Investment Company is an impact investment cooperative started in 2021, that concentrates on a key leverage point in the food system: the processing industry. After completing a Master of Mathematics, she went on to consult for McKinsey in Amsterdam. A cycling trip through Vietnam opened her eyes to the possibilities of farming in harmony with nature and in 2014 she moved to South Africa to pursue work in sustainable agriculture. Together with Gijs, Thekla drives investor relations and strategy for the Grounded Investment Company. She is now based in the Netherlands with her partner and young daughter.

Absa Bank wins Euromoney Award for Excellence as South Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs

July 20, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Award Winner

Absa Bank has been recognised by the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024, and awarded the accolade of South Africa's Best Bank for SMEs. The Euromoney Awards are the definitive annual awards programme for the banking industry, celebrating the achievements of banks and bankers from across the globe. Over 600 banks from over 100 countries enter the Awards for Excellence every year, making it the most comprehensive awards programme in the industry.

How to Skyrocket Your Sales Through Robust Sales Strategy

July 20, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

Having a strategy in place is crucial for directing your sales efforts effectively. Many business owners feel like they are "talking into the abyss" because their efforts are scattered, inconsistent, and ultimately ineffective. A cohesive plan transforms random activities into a focused approach that drives results. It's akin to building a house—you need a blueprint to ensure everything comes together seamlessly.

Skills Assessments – How Do You Assess Skills on A CV?

July 20, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

Ensuring your new hires and current employees have the skills needed to perform their jobs should be an essential part of pre-employment screening. A candidate submits a CV that outlines the skills they have that are relevant to the position in question, but it’s very easy to lie with skills falsified on a CV.

How to Turn Anxiety into Insight

July 20, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Anxiety is an emotion, not a character flaw. When you find yourself anxious, it is due to a series of choices that result in a state of anxiety. If you can follow the breadcrumbs of how you created it, then you can begin to unravel it.

The RoadMap to a Green Business – The New Reality

July 20, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Yolanda Matine

In today’s world where climate change, land restoration, and all environmental related topics are becoming increasingly urgent issues, it is upon us (Humans) to become more environmentally friendly. We can take actions individually or in associations. But I recently realized that as entrepreneurs we have the power to make a difference and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.

Empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive financial practices to drive sustainable economic growth across Africa

July 18, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Feature Interview

In Conversation with Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer, African Guarantee Fund

The 2nd Start-Up Night Africa event on 11 June 2024, in The Hague, The Netherlands, provided the opportunity to highlight the critical role of investment and the power of partnerships to address the gender finance gap for high-growth women entrepreneurs in Africa. Continuing the conversations on this important subject, Lionesses of Africa spoke to Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer of the African Guarantee Fund, a real champion of empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive financial practices to drive sustainable economic growth across Africa.

The power of partnerships to create greater access to funding for Africa’s women entrepreneurs

July 18, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Feature

Over the past eight years, Start-Up Night Africa events have aimed to stimulate real change by bringing together women entrepreneurs, with decision-makers and policy-makers, to discuss the challenges and real solutions needed to close the funding gap. At this year’s event on 11 June 2024, in The Hague, The Netherlands, a highlight of the programme was the panel discussion, where invited guest experts shared their insights and knowledge on the challenges women entrepreneurs face in getting access to finance and growth market opportunities. The focus was on discussing what progress has been made over the last twelve months, and also what new initiatives have been launched to practically shift the dial for women entrepreneurs in getting access to the growth funding they need. Chairing the panel discussion was Lionesses of Africa founder and ceo, Melanie Hawken, who was joined live on stage by Chiinga Musonda, co-founder of Savanna Premium Chocolate from Zambia. Joining via Zoom link were Patrick Lumumba, Group Director: Capacity Development at the African Guarantee Fund, and Vignesh Subramani, Head: Sales & Distribution, SME Business at Absa Bank, South Africa.

Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business by Andi Simon

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

In Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business, author and entrepreneur, Andi Simon, tells the stories of 11 women from different industry sectors who opened up the possibilities for their professional careers and personal lives by being authentic, taking risks, and pushing past the obstacles others placed before them. These are stories that tell of innovation, show how women rise, and ignite change.

Empowered and independent women

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

As many of you know my goal in life is to ensure that every woman, especially every African woman is financially independent. A financially independent woman has choices. She has money in the bank, she can live where she wants, she can drive the car she wants to drive, he can educate her children and, she can please herself. There is a old saying: "If you please yourself, at least you are pleasing someone.”

Anger: How to Know it, Use It and Diffuse It

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Have you ever had an experience where you shot lights out? The presentation was flawless; you were at your most confident, and the answers flowed so naturally. Then…have you ever had an experience in which you are still remorseful about what you did, what you said, and how you reacted? We all have.

Using Hiring AI to Bridge the Gender Pay Gap

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Sasha Knott

The gender pay gap is a persistent problem in South Africa, with women earning on average 23% less than men. This gap is even wider for women in certain industries, such as technology and engineering. There are several factors that contribute to the gender pay gap, including unconscious bias, occupational segregation, and lack of access to opportunities. AI recruitment can help to address some of these factors and improve the gender pay gap in South Africa.

Current You vs. Future You: A Journey Worth Embracing

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Naike Moshi

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately, and I want to share something personal that might resonate with many of you. It’s about the relationship between our Current You and Future You. This isn't just a motivational spiel - it’s a reminder of the power we hold to shape our own destinies.

Vuyolwethu Reoagile, a South African communications agency with a passion for storytelling and digital innovation

July 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Vuyolwethu Reoagile, founder, RR Comms (South Africa)

Startup Story

Vuyolwethu Reoagile is the founder of RR Comms, an aspirational communications agency in South Africa. With a passion for storytelling and digital innovation, Vuyolwethu has built RR Comms into a dynamic team dedicated to delivering creative and strategic communications solutions. Her expertise spans business writing, digital campaign management, and paid ads management. The business has created jobs for 4 people.

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