Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow

June 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

TL Seretlo Business Consulting t/a Seretlo Consulting, a professional business consulting firm supporting SMEs in South Africa

Teboho Seretlo is a business consultant and founder of TL Seretlo Business Consulting in South Africa, with over 25 years’ experience in enterprise development, business planning, monitoring & evaluation, and mentoring SMEs. She supports entrepreneurs applying for funding and serves as an NSFAS student accommodation accreditor. Her expertise spans B-BBEE, rural development, and gender-responsive enterprise support. Teboho holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and executive education from GIBS and Rotterdam School of Management. Passionate about women’s empowerment, she also mentors female entrepreneurs across Africa.

Babette’s Bread by Babette Kourelos

May 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

For Babette Kourelos, founder of Babette’s Bread and the author of the beautiful new book of the same name, the happenstance baking of a humble cottage loaf completely changed the trajectory of her life. It led her away from a career in law to answer a different calling: bread. Seeking comprehensive training, she undertook an apprenticeship with renowned French master baker Gerard Rubaud in the woods of Vermont. In this visually appealing and practical new book, Babette takes readers on a culinary journey, bringing her incredible know-how into readers’ kitchens, and inspiring them to fall in love with the art of bread-making.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s IWDS, launches impact-driven initiative to create sleeping bags from waste fabrics, turning waste into hope for the homeless

May 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Colleen Deetlefs, founder, IWDS (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

South African social entrepreneur, Colleen Deetlefs, is passionate about creating awareness of the state of our environment through the renewing of different waste materials and shifting the global economy through the rejuvenation of waste. Her latest initiative, IWDS, is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to fostering sustainability and economic empowerment. Through its work, it strives to offer more than just a solution for waste - it is helping to build a future where creativity, sustainability, and community-driven progress go hand in hand. IWDS is committed to transforming waste into opportunity by upskilling individuals, fostering creativity and promoting sustainability. In a world where waste is abundant and unemployment hovers at 35%, IWDS’s mission is to upskill individuals using repurposed waste materials. With winter now in full swing in South Africa, IWDS has identified a dire need for sleeping bags with a carry bag for the 16000 homeless people in Durban alone. Through upskilling, IWDS is on a mission to create sleeping bags from waste fabrics-turning waste into hope-to those who need it most.

Suné Theisinger and Dr Juanri Jonck, two dynamic players in the aesthetic industry in South Africa

May 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Suné Theisinger and Dr Juanri Jonck, founders, BST Global (South Africa)

Startup Story

Suné Theisinger is the ceo of BST Global in South Africa, a dynamic player in the rapidly evolving aesthetic industry. As the ceo of BST Global, Suné is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the business. Dr Juanri Jonck is a qualified medical doctor with a degree from the University of Pretoria and is the Medical Director of BST Global. Dr Jonck leads with a deep commitment to hormone optimisation, evidence-based aesthetic medicine, and holistic wellness.

What we're loving this week

May 18, 2025 Melanie Hawken

What we’re loving this week

In this week’s spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, we are showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable, quality products that discerning and impact-driven customers want to buy. Catching our attention this week are: KONA, a unique fashion and lifestyle company in Uganda, founded by Bhavya Kalsi and Nimisha Kalipurayath; Loshes Chocolate, the finest handcrafted chocolate company founded by Femi Oyedipe in Nigeria; Touch By Asoebigirl in Nigeria, the female fashion brand founded by entrepreneur Ijeoma Onuoha; Black Mamba Foods in Eswatini, the fair trade gourmet chili product brand co-founded by Claudia Castellanos Roques; and Ledikana, the South African contemporary, heritage inspired clothing brand founded by Mapholo Ratau.

Tania Kabeya, a passionate chef and entrepreneur building a uniquely African culinary brand

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Tania Kabeya, founder, Chef La Tania (South Africa)

Startup Strory

Tania Kabeya is the founder of Chef La Tania, the South African culinary brand known for its rich African flavour and elegant presentation and founded in 2019. She is a passionate chef and entrepreneur and has built a reputation for delivery a range of catering services, including celebration cakes, private dinners, frozen meals, and food delivery. Tania finds purpose in creating meaningful experiences, honouring her heritage, and growing a brand built on passion, excellence, and purpose-driven living. She shares a deep bond with her siblings and draws strength from her faith and role as a mother.

South Africa’s unemployment crisis: challenges and imperatives for the recruitment sector

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, South Africa’s official unemployment stats, state that the unemployment rate has declined slightly to 31.9%, down from 32.1% the previous quarter. While this marks the second consecutive quarterly decrease and the lowest rate since the third quarter of 2023, the persistently high levels of unemployment remain a pressing concern.

Performance Management: Creating Performance Dashboards That Work

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Michélle Booysen

“What gets measured gets managed.” – Peter Drucker

Performance dashboards are powerful tools to drive decision-making, improve efficiency, and align daily operations with strategic goals. For dashboards to truly work, they must be simple, relevant, and actionable. A well-crafted performance dashboard is not about volume of data—it’s about clarity and purpose.

Bootstrapping – the often “unsung hero” of funding your business

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Teboho Seretlo

It is no secret that there is a huge challenge in access to funding generally and specifically for women-owned businesses. In fact, I recently read somewhere that the funding gap globally is $300 billion for funding women-owned businesses. Access to traditional funding remains skewed, with women entrepreneurs receiving a fraction of available capital globally. We therefore need to look at other means, where possible, of funding, especially our start-ups, on our way to building our businesses.

Six important pieces of learning and educating yourself as an entrepreneur

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

Lifelong learning is the New Paradigm of Education (NPE). This paradigm breaks the paradigms of an outdated educational system. The journey of learning never genuinely ends for committed, and impactful entrepreneurs. Engaging in ongoing education helps entrepreneurs stay unlimited and relevant in a rapidly changing and growing business terrain. Entrepreneurs are required to understand market trends, technological advancements, and paradigm shifts in consumer behaviour. By educating yourself as an entrepreneur, you can pivot your strategies effectively and protect your business from potential challenges and economic loss.

Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach

May 17, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

The UnLearners, a South African personal and professional development company that helps individuals and organizations thrive through change.

Zanele Njapha is the CEO of The UnLearners and a leading voice on transformation, unlearning, and future-fit leadership. Known as The UnLearning Lady, she helps individuals and organizations navigate change with courage and clarity. A former teacher turned global keynote speaker and coach, Zanele equips people to let go of limiting beliefs and step boldly into what’s next. Her work is a rallying call to learn, change and grow, fearlessly.

What we're loving this week

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

What we’re loving this week

In this week’s spotlight on all things Woman Made In Africa, we are showcasing Africa’s talented and innovative women entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable, quality products that discerning and impact-driven customers want to buy. Catching our attention this week are: The Joinery, the sustainable and ethical product design brand based in South Africa founded by Natalie and Kim Ellis, and their exciting Future Tex™ fabric continues to catch our attention; Kebe Home, founded by Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur who transforms homes and spaces in Cameroon through her business; Rio Largo Olive Oil in South Africa, owned by Brenda Wilkinson and husband Nick, the multi-award-winning olive oil brand that makes you think about sunny days and beautiful olives ripening on trees; Zashadu, a leading British/Nigerian luxury brand that specializes in hand-crafted leather pieces using local sustainably sourced leathers, founded by Zainab Ashadu; and Mariée Eventos, a leading specialist wedding event planning and special occasion floral business in Mozambique.

Lioness Launch / South African advanced ingestible skincare brand, Lumelastin, launches new anti-ageing elastin supplement to help women reclaim skin elasticity

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Maritha Broschk, founder, Lumelastin (South Africa)

Lioness Launch

Lumelastin, founded by Maritha Broschk, and based in South Africa, has developed a range of advanced ingestible skincare products rooted in science and designed to restore skin health from within. It’s flagship product, Lumelastin Skin Reverse, is an anti-ageing elastin powder supplement designed to help women reclaim skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and support joints, hair, and vascular health. This first-of-its-kind ingestible elastin supplement, is clinically proven to deliver significant anti-ageing effects such as smoother, firmer, and younger-looking skin. By adding one scoop a day of Lumelastin Skin Reverse to your coffee, smoothie, fruit juice or any other beverage of choice, hot or cold, you should start seeing results within a month.

Aasiyah Adams, a visionary South African tech founder helping individuals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Aasiyah Adams, founder, Abaguquli4IR (South Africa)

Startup Story

Aasiyah Adams is the founder of Abaguquli4IR in South Africa, a business focused on empowering individuals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy by equipping them with cutting-edge technology skills and practical digital tools. The business’s mission is to unlock economic opportunities for those traditionally left behind—closing the gap by providing future-ready skills, access, and support. Launched in 2020, the business has created jobs for 6 people.

Komeshni Patrick, a tech legal consultancy founder empowering forward-thinking tech businesses to grow

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Komeshni Patrick, founder and director, ZellaTech Law (South Africa)

Startup Story

Komeshni Patrick is the founder and director of ZellaTech Law, a tech legal consultancy in South Africa founded in 2022 and focused on empowering tech businesses across Africa. An admitted attorney with over 20 years of experience, she’s worked with multinational corporates, public sector and international tech clients across Africa and the Middle East. Passionate about innovation, championing women in tech and advising on regulatory compliance, emerging innovation, digital policy, privacy and data protection. She participates on several boards and fora driving inclusive digital development. Komeshni mentors tech entrepreneurs, contributes to local and international incubation programs and women in tech initiatives, internet governance and digital transformation. Her business has created jobs for 5 people to date.

Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Demii Design, an Ethiopian clothing design and manufacturing business creating beautiful, high quality cotton garments

Mekdes Mesfin's story begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was born and raised. Today, she stands as the founder and ceo of Demii Design, a clothing line that represents a significant chapter on her entrepreneurial journey, which also includes her involvement in two other ventures within the fashion sector. While her academic background is rooted in civil engineering and business management, disciplines she pursued at university, Ms. Mesfin's professional path diverged from the conventional corporate trajectory those degrees might suggest. She launched the business during the Covid pandemic in 2019.

SOS – A Navigation Guide for Women at Work by Lidewij Wiersma, Chantal Korteweg, Tessel van Willigen and Marijn Wiersma

May 10, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Book Review

SOS – A Navigation Guide for Women at Work, written by Lidewij Wiersma, Chantal Korteweg, Tessel van Willigen and Marijn Wiersma, is a transformative handbook that tackles the common challenges faced by women in the workplace. Combining a delightful blend of wit and wisdom, the book explores 18 themes such as health, bias, conflict, humor, language, guilt and leadership. This lighthearted yet practical guide is designed for women and their allies. Featuring extensive research and insights from four intergenerational authors, SOS reshapes the definition of success, challenges outdated norms, and advocates for workplaces where every voice is valued.

Dumpster diving for data: Are you an easy target?

May 10, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Jenny Reid

In today's digital age, where personal security and privacy are more critical than ever, safeguarding your identity extends beyond online practices. In South Africa, the contents of your rubbish bin can easily become a source of vulnerability, exposing sensitive information to identity thieves without you ever realising it.

Performance Management: Team Engagement: Processes That Empower Individuals and Co-workers

May 10, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Michélle Booysen

“When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” – Simon Sinek

Engaged teams are the engine behind successful customer experiences and business growth. When processes are designed to empower individuals and foster collaboration, teams become more motivated, productive, and accountable. Empowerment through process means giving teams clarity, autonomy, and the tools to succeed.

On Forging Character

May 10, 2025 Melanie Hawken

by Dr. Memuna Williams, DBA

I have been really fortunate in my life. Today, my siblings and my mum from the family I grew up in are among the closest people to me. We regularly celebrate the life of my father, who was a huge influence on me, showering me with his unique brand of love. I couldn’t have been luckier in finding a life partner in my husband, Victor. Together, we have three amazing young men who are finding their way in the world. Through the careers of my father and husband, as well as some of my own experiences in education and work, I have had the opportunity to enjoy many wonderful experiences around the world. It has been truly great.

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