The Female Founder Formula: A Real-Life Roadmap to Nailing Entrepreneurship by Helen McGuire

February 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Book review

Helen McGuire, entrepreneur and author of The Female Founder Formula: A Real-Life Roadmap to Nailing Entrepreneurship, believes that most women start businesses motivated by passion or purpose. She says they are driven to tackle the bigger issues or to provide a better way of life for themselves and their families. However, as most business books are written by men – they don’t take purpose or lifestyle into account. Having been successful as an entrepreneur while raising a young family over the last decade, Helen wanted to write the book she wished she'd had when she started out as a female founder with babies, a busy family life, and just an idea.

Spotlight on Tanzania: Meet 16 women entrepreneurs who are building unique businesses and brands

February 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Spotlight

In the latest in our series of Spotlight features on individual African countries where women entrepreneurs are making their mark with their businesses and brands, we shine a spotlight on Tanzania. From high-impact agribusinesses that are creating much-needed jobs, to tech businesses that are innovating and educating, to serial entrepreneurs building multi-faceted business empires across diverse sectors, Tanzania is a country with a wide variety of growth-focused women-owned businesses that are well worth a visit. Meet 16 women entrepreneurs in our Lionesses of Africa community who are building growth businesses and brands that are putting Tanzania on the entrepreneur map.

Wiem Ben-Mahmoud, a change-making Tunisian EdTech entrepreneur

February 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender cover Story

KidzRise, a business harnessing the power of AI combined with personalized learning to uncover and nurture each child’s unique talents

Wiem Ben-Mahmoud is the CEO and Founder of AI-powered Child Talent Detection platform, KidzRise, in Tunisia. She holds a Global MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship and a Master's Degree in Digital Management and Information Systems. Wiem began her career at Vermeg where she led international negotiations with Central Banks across Europe and Asia in the digital financial sector. Driven by her vision to impact children's lives, she left her stable career to launch KidzRise in 2023. Recognized as Most Promising Entrepreneur of 2024 by AfricArena, her EdTech startup has gained validation from MIT and MIT Solve in the USA , making a significant impact in Africa and beyond. The company has created jobs for 10 people to date.

What we're loving this week

February 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

What we’re loving this week

Each week we shine a spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating world-class products that the world wants to buy. Catching our attention this week are: Patricia Vasco, founder, Amorambique (Mozambique); Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe, co-founders, Uzuri K & Y (Rwanda); Linda Mukangoga, founder, Haute Baso (Rwanda); Ana Alecia Lyman, founder, Bio Óleos de Miombo (BOM) (Mozambique); and Laura Struik, co-founder, ROF-Style (South Africa).

Skills over degrees: Redefining job qualifications in South Africa

February 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

In today’s evolving job market, a university degree is no longer the only pathway to success in South Africa. Increasingly, employers are valuing practical skills and hands-on expertise over formal qualifications, opening doors for job seekers who may not have had the opportunity to pursue traditional higher education.

The Productivity Trap: 5 Time Management Habits That Are Secretly Stressing You Out

February 8, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

We don't choose to be stressed or anxious. When life gets tough, we often fall back on habits that seem helpful but actually make us more tired and worried. The starting point is to create an awareness of the habits that have a misalignment between intention and impact.

On Perseverance: How a Dream to Visit Fiji Became a Testament to Never Giving Up

February 5, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr. Memuna Williams, DBA

Last year, Victor and I finally made it to Fiji on our first trip to the Pacific. But the journey to get there was one filled with patience, perseverance, and a little bit of life’s detours.

Customer Service Excellence: The Importance of Feedback Loops in Customer Service Processes

February 5, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Michélle Booysen

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” – Ken Blanchard

Customer feedback is a critical resource for any business aiming to improve its service delivery and foster customer loyalty. Feedback loops, when embedded into customer service processes, provide actionable insights to refine operations and enhance satisfaction.

Spotlight on Senegal: Meet 8 women entrepreneurs building growth businesses and brands that customers love

February 2, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Spotlight

In the latest in our series of Spotlight features on individual African countries where women entrepreneurs are making their mark with their businesses and brands, we shine a spotlight on Senegal. From the finest luxury textiles, exciting cosmetics and skincare product ranges, nutritional baby food products, fashion and accessories, and a bookseller promoting African authors, Senegal is a country with a wide variety of growth-focused women-owned businesses that are well worth a visit. Meet 8 women entrepreneurs in our Lionesses of Africa community who are building growth businesses and brands that customers love, and who are putting Senegal on the entrepreneur map.

What we're loving this week

February 2, 2025 Melanie Hawken

What we’re loving this week

Each week we shine a spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating world-class products that the world wants to buy. Catching our attention this week are: Charlotte Lefebvre, founder of Bush Princess in Kenya; Claudia Castellanos Roques, co-founder of Black Mamba Foods in Eswatini; Selassie Atadika, founder, Midunu Chocolates in Ghana; Sinenhlanhla Ndlela, founder of Yococo in South Africa; and Taila Carrilho, founder of Atelier Taila Carrilho in Mozambique.

Thelma Chimbganda, a visionary trailblazer in the logistics industry in Zimbabwe

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Thelma Chimbganda, CEO, Beyond Borders Logistics Group (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Thelma Chimbganda is a dynamic entrepreneur and leader in e-commerce, supply chain, and logistics, with over five years of impactful experience across Africa. As the CEO of Beyond Borders Logistics Group in Zimbabwe, founded in 2020, she has guided the company to become a significant player in the industry, delivering practical solutions in first- and last-mile logistics, warehousing, freight forwarding, and supply chain management. Her leadership is characterized by a focus on tackling industry challenges, enhancing operational efficiency, and continuously improving services to meet the unique needs of clients and stakeholders.

Kim Williams, an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town, South Africa

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

Kim Williams is an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town. With a unique approach that blends creative and behavioural strategies, Kim transforms spaces to positively impact people's lives. Her work spans residential and commercial projects, earning international recognition. Kim is also an inspiring public speaker and author, known for her commitment to mindfully design purpose-driven environments that shape lives.

Salamba Diene, a cosmetics and food supplement champion in Senegal

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

BIOSENE SARL, a business processing agri-food and cosmetic products that are proudly made in Senegal

Salamba Diene is the founder of BIOSENE SARL in Senegal, offering a range of “caring” products and food supplements in the form of powders, leaves, capsules or various solutions, but also cosmetic products in the form of creams, oils or butters, for a single leitmotif: health - beauty for a “better life” and a “well-being” for consumers. BIOSENE collaborates with groups of women producers of baobab fruit, Shea butter, or cultivating exotic fruits (Hibiscus, mango etc.) and establishes direct links with source producers throughout Africa. The business has 59 employees.

Practical Wealth Attraction: The Enlightened Entrepreneur's Guide to Manifesting Business Success by Victoria Marie Gallagher

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

If you are an entrepreneur ready to break free from financial limitations and unlock the secrets to wealth and financial freedom, then Victoria Marie Gallagher’s new book, Practical Wealth Attraction: The Enlightened Entrepreneur's Guide to Manifesting Business Success, is a great read. She believes that financial success isn’t just about hustling and grinding harder—it’s about aligning your vision, energy, and actions with the flow of abundance.

The importance of the candidate experience during employee screening in South Africa

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

In today’s competitive job market, where talent is often scarce and companies must act quickly to secure top candidates, the candidate experience during the hiring process has become a crucial element in the overall success of recruitment strategies.

Emotional Intelligence Is Dead. (Not Really, But Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Intelligences)

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Seanice Lojede

In a world where the pace of change shows no signs of slowing, the concept of intelligence is evolving beyond traditional measures of IQ and even the well-known Emotional Intelligence (EQ). As we navigate increasingly complex social, cultural, and environmental landscapes, new forms of intelligence are gaining prominence, each offering unique insights into how we can thrive in a dynamic world.

The immense value of mentorship: A personal journey of growth and discovery

January 31, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

In my own experience, success hasn’t always come from working harder, but from working smarter. And one of the most impactful decisions I made was investing in a mentor. Mentorship, I’ve learned, is so much more than just an exchange of knowledge. It’s a partnership that fosters personal growth and empowers you to become a better leader. Whether you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey or are a seasoned business owner, I can honestly say that mentorship is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Customer Service Excellence: Leveraging Automation to Improve Response Times

January 31, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Michélle Booysen

“Speed is the currency of the modern world.”

In general, customers expect speedy, and even instant responses. Businesses must prioritize speed without compromising quality. Automation provides the solution, streamlining workflows and reducing response times to meet and exceed customer expectations. Start by mapping your customer lifecycle process and then consider the following.

Marwa Soudi, an EdTech pioneer empowering people through technology

January 26, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Ideasgym, a multifaceted business dedicated to fostering innovation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Egypt

Marwa Soudi is the co-founder of IdeasGym, leading initiatives to enhance STEM education across Egypt. She is a dedicated researcher and social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the EdTech industry. Currently a doctoral student at Tallinn University, she specializes in Digital Transformation and Responsible AI, focusing on creating tools to help SMEs comply with international AI standards. Marwa is passionate about empowering women in technology and has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the InspiringFifty Africa, IEEE Entrepreneurship Impact Award, Women in Business Innovation Award, "ICT for Women" award and the Tony Elumelu grant for entrepreneurship in Africa. She actively engages in various professional organizations, promoting ethical AI practices and fostering innovation in education. Her business was launched in 2011.

Feeding Africa’s Future: Meet 17 Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs Transforming Africa’s Agribusiness Sector

January 26, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Spotlight

According to the IFC, Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness markets are expected to reach $1 trillion in value by 2030. As a result, there is now an increasing focus on extending agribusiness value chains, recognizing that 60 percent of Africans derive their livelihoods from agriculture. In the Lionesses of Africa community, there are a growing number of women entrepreneurs who are playing key roles in Africa’s growing agribusiness story, country by country, community by community. They are building successful growth businesses that harness the potential of the raw materials grown on the African continent by transforming them into high quality, nutritious food products that consumers both locally and globally want to buy. In our special focus on trailblazing women entrepreneurs in Africa’s agribusiness sector, we introduce some of those who are making their mark in this important industry sector across the continent.

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