I was watching a CNBC interview with Eric Ries this month, the author of The Lean Startup, a book I am sure many of you will have read - it has sold over a million copies after all! He was speaking about how many really innovative companies that changed entire business sectors and models, such as Airbnb, were created during a crisis. In their case, it was the global financial crisis in 2008. He made an interesting observation, noting that after a crisis, people are hungry for change, they want things to be done differently. As a result, this creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate, to create new ways of thinking and doing things. He pointed to an incredible flourishing of entrepreneurs who have emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, finding solutions to specific and urgent challenges - for example, pivoting businesses to produce much-needed medical supplies via 3D printing. Eric believes that there’s plenty more scope for aspiring business leaders to “take the plunge and give it a shot.” I couldn’t agree more, I think we will see a new generation of women entrepreneurs across the continent creating innovative solutions to the new challenges we are facing in this post-pandemic time.
Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! — Melanie