When you are a startup, there is nothing wrong with thinking big and having big ambitions. But the temptation is often to let initial enthusiasm and excitement for a new venture turn into a need to see results fast, and as a result, trying to start too big in the first instance.  and this can cause problems. The trick is in learning how to harness all that passion for the business, but start small and scale as you go. By starting small, it is much easier to keep control of the business, observe what is working and what isn't, learn sound management lessons as you go, and gradually adapt to the market and its challenges. There is no substitute for experience, and by starting small and growing gradually, it enables a valuable learning process to take place. However, it doesn't stop you from continuing to think big and have big dreams for the business in the future! 

So, here's something that might resonate with many women startup entrepreneurs. You have the most amazing idea, you think it's original and could be hugely successful, but you sit alone scared to tell anyone about it because you think someone else might steal it or copy it and beat you to the punch. But the fact is that an idea only becomes something really exciting when it is converted into reality. To coin a well-known phrase, ideas are a dime a dozen, but the gold is in how that idea is executed. The bottom line is that sharing of ideas, and collaborating on ways of turning those ideas into innovative products and services, can be a great way of shaping a business and getting something to market quickly. At the end of the day, speed to market is everything. But a well thought out business plan and product development strategy can happen as a result of sharing your ideas and bringing together the necessary talent to get things done. So, don't be afraid to share your ideas and to collaborate - it can be a game-changer.

$32 Billion dollars - Now there’s an interesting number. It’s the value of the global artisan sector today, and its growing at a pace. So, why is it that many people, especially governments, are not grasping the socio-economic potential and power of this sector. Perhaps it is because in the minds of so many decision-makers and opinion-formers in government and indeed the private sector, there’s still a lack of understanding of the full economic value and potential of the artisan sector. Indeed, for many people who look to drive economic development and job creation in their countries, the artisan sector is not one that immediately comes to mind as a game-changer. Yet, the opposite is true - just look at that number - an industry sector that has a $32 Billion dollar value and is the second largest employer in the developing world after agriculture can have a genuine impact on development goals, and on the lives of communities here in Africa. It simply requires forward-thinking decision-makers to help unlock its full potential, to shift perception of the sector, to increase awareness and advocacy among consumers, and to raise the sector’s importance and role in policy and development dialogue.

Policymakers often think of small business as the employment engine of the economy. But when it comes to job-creating power, it's not just the size of the business that matters as much as it's the age. Figuring out where new jobs actually do come from has become a serious preoccupation of progressive policy makers across the world. In the U.S., for instance, serious work is being done by organisations like Kauffman Foundation and the Institute for Competitiveness & Prosperity to get a better handle on who creates jobs. Their latest research is clear and reveals some surprising truths. Over the last twenty five years, almost all of the private sector jobs in the U.S. have been created by businesses less than five years old. The younger companies are, the more jobs they create, regardless of their size. Conversely, existing companies are shown to be net job destroyers, losing 1 million jobs net combined per year between 1977 and 2005. Simply put, young companies are the primary source of job creation in the economy. Not only that, but young companies also contribute to economic dynamism by injecting competition into markets and spurring innovation (think Uber). Surely then, it's an imperative for African countries to foster an ecosystem that supports business startups, making it easy for young businesses to get off the ground. So they can do what they're best at - creating jobs.

Interesting new research points to what many of us have suspected for a long time - that there is an implicit bias against women as entrepreneurs, not just here in Africa but globally. There is a misguided perception that women perhaps do not have the inherent skills to succeed as entrepreneurs. Or indeed, that culturally entrepreneurship is predominantly a masculine activity. As a result, this inaccurate perception often deters women from considering becoming entrepreneurs in the first place, or makes it harder for women embarking on their entrepreneurial ventures to secure funding from traditional financial institutions. However, it is not all doom and gloom - the same research indicates that innovation is the key to success for women entrepreneurs. If the business plan demonstrates innovativeness, then it will have a stronger and more positive impact on the ratings of women's entrepreneurial ability and overall support for their business ideas than it does for men’s. So, let’s get more innovative out there!

The time of the African Woman Artisan Entrepreneur is now! An important new global campaign was launched in Washington yesterday to recognise the real importance and value of artisan enterprise in contributing to economic development, poverty alleviation and women's empowerment. The #ChooseArtisan campaign aims to make society understand the full economic value of the artisan sector and its ability to make genuine and lasting positive change happen. Did you know that if the creative economy were a country, it would be the 4th largest economy in the world. World exports of artisan goods are currently worth $32 billion per year, and of critical importance to Africa is that millions of women in countries across the continent participate in the artisan sector. The fact is that the artisan sector fosters economically-viable communities, especially for women, and importantly here in Africa, creates significant numbers of jobs. At a time when economic inequality continues to be a major global challenge, and so many are left outside of the mainstream economy, it would appear to be a no-brainer to support the growth of the artisan sector, and in particular, those women-owned enterprises on the African continent.

Providing better access to finance for women entrepreneurs in Africa is an ongoing challenge and the theory that there is a gender financing gap globally, not just here on the African continent, is now fact according to the fascinating report “Sources of Economic Hope: Women’s Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 11/2014”. It points to some interesting statistics - for example, did you know that women begin companies with 50% less capital than their male counterparts? Or that only 5.4% of women are likely to access networks of close friends, family and acquaintances in search of funding compared to 22.7% of their male counterparts? Or finally that women are ⅓ as likely to access equity financing through angel investments or venture capital? So, who is going to step up to the plate and help bridge the gender financing gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa and allow them to fulfil their game-changing potential?

Here's some good news to start the day - research shows that women make great entrepreneurs - that's according to Kauffman's recently published Entrepreneurship Policy Digest. There are a number of really sound reasons for this, starting with the fact that women entrepreneurs bring particular unique sets of skills that not only set them apart from their male counterparts, but also lend themselves to achieving success in business. The research also highlights some interesting findings, not least of which is that women display greater ambitions to become serial entrepreneurs than their male counterparts. Here in Africa, that has to be positive news - it means more companies and brands launched, more solutions to key challenges facing the continent, and more jobs and opportunities created. 

Any entrepreneur will probably tell you that a business plan or a great education can only go so far when it comes to making it on your entrepreneurial journey, and they can never accurately predict the future. So many things can happen along the way, and the vision you start out with for your entrepreneurial venture is not necessarily the one you will end up with. There is no perfect plan or opportunity. The key is being open to changing direction along the way as opportunities present themselves; being prepared to make mistakes as you go along; and ultimately learn from each one of those experiences. As an entrepreneur, there is no substitute for experience as it will be one of the best teachers you can ever have. There is also nothing quite like learning under pressure as you are making it in business, so be open to a constantly evolving learning environment and take it all in - it will stand you in good stead.

You probably know the phrase "Learning comes before earning", but as an entrepreneur it is a real truism. Learning how to leverage your time and money is a key to success, and that is why it is important to educate yourself on every aspect of your business, particularly in the early days.  Whether it is understanding how to effectively market and sell your products or services; or getting to grips with customer service or financial management; you need to educate yourself on all the key areas of the business, at least on the basics. Remember that even if you are planning on hiring experts to manage certain components of your business down the line, you still have to manage them. So, never stop learning and stay up to date with the latest and best ways of doing things. It will pay off in the long-term. 

There are times in every entrepreneur's life when it becomes difficult to see the wood from the trees - and when external perspective is needed! On these occasions, a trusted and experienced mentor can help guide you and provide objective feedback. An extra set of experienced entrepreneurial eyes to look at a particular challenge or opportunity can provide a quicker and more effective route to solving a problem. Also, someone who is on the outside and who has been through it all themselves, has the ability to look at your business with a fresh perspective. They can also bring much needed new ideas and ways of doing things to the table. As they say, experience is priceless - tap into it!

For any new start-up business, it's an exciting time. There is so much happening and so much potential, yet the future is unknown. Often there is the temptation for start-ups to try and give the impression to potential clients that they are more established by moving into prime new office space, hiring staff, buying a new car, and as a result, maxing-out the credit cards setting up the business. Don't do it! Act like the start-up you are and leave the new office space, new car, staff bills and new credit cards for established businesses. Instead, focus on selling and marketing your business personally, controlling your expenses and better managing your cash flow. Remember that in the early days of your business, a dollar saved is a dollar earned, and people will respect you more for this approach.

Have you noticed how in the business world, Bankers, VCs and financiers have a tendency to talk about startups in terms of numbers and graphs - valuation graphs, usage graphs, market share graphs? What they tend to overlook is that every startup has a very personal back-story, and every story has a highly passionate person behind it - the entrepreneur. At the end of the day, the success of a business is very much driven by the passion, energy and sheer determination of the individual who has created it, and their stories are an intrinsic part of the brand value. Perhaps banks, VCs and financiers also need to remember that too.

Africa has a long tradition of producing beautiful, handmade crafts, often created by women in local communities. However, the global interest in this type of product has probably never been higher, with the rise of Afrochic and a love of all things African on the fashion and design scene. Africa's talented women crafters and designers are able to combine their unique design approaches together with specialist know-how and artisan craftsmanship to transform age old traditional skills into high-end, highly desirable craft pieces. It has also never been easier than now for women crafters and designers to showcase their work to the world, using the power of online retail, social media, and dedicated craft retail platforms such as Etsy. 

If there's one thing that all women entrepreneurs know only too well, it's that its not a 9 to 5 job. The trick to a successful entrepreneurial life is all about finding a balance. The temptation is often to throw yourself into a 24/7 business routine, which means that you eat, sleep and think your business to the exclusion of all else. Yet, the fat is you need to be productive and creative when required, whilst also finding that precious time for yourself and your family. You also need to focus on keeping your own body and mind healthy in order to cope with business demands. Eat regularly and recognise that sleep is not an expense to be cut down. Don't burn yourself out at the start-up stage; remember, you are in it for the long-haul.

Starting out in any new entrepreneurial journey can seem a daunting task - there are so many things to do, so many new things to learn, and not enough hours in the day. So, why not learn from those who have been where you are now. Surround yourself with people whom you can learn from. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs who share common interests and business objectives, but who are perhaps further down their business journey than you are. Learn and grow with them, and get invaluable guidance and inspiration in the early days when you most need it. These will be important relationships as you grow your own business.

Changemaker (n) – A term coined by the social entrepreneurship organization, Ashoka, meaning one who desires change in the world and, by gathering knowledge and resources, makes that change happen. In Africa, we have some amazing changemakers who are finding solutions to many of the continent's most pressing socio-economic challenges - and, not surprisingly, many of them are women social entrepreneurs. These women are passionate about making a difference in the world. Whilst others simply talk about the problems, these inspirational women change-makers make it happen - they don't wait for others to take action, particularly not government or big business. They simply bring their vast range of talents, their passion and unlimited energy, and they drive social change. As a result, they uplift communities, break down barriers, and change the world for the better. They are all Lionesses of Africa!

Okay, so we all know that women are the great multi-taskers, and let's face it as women entrepreneurs our lives are a constant juggling act. Particularly in the early days of a start-up, the temptation is to try and do everything ourselves. It is all too easy to get distracted when new projects and opportunities keep coming. But the bottom line is there is no need to jump at every opportunity that comes your way. The trick is to focus. If you want to get the desired results, then it is better to prioritize tasks, evaluate every project on its merits, and stay focused on what will deliver the best results fastest. 

So, what makes your business unique? Why should someone choose your company, products or services over the competition? Knowing your unique value proposition and how to leverage it successfully in the marketplace is a key to success. Remember, there was a reason you were motivated to start your business in the first place, and today you need to ensure that your passion for what you do still resonates with your customers. Making sure that you and your employees know and live your unique value proposition each day will ensure that you stand out from the crowd and don't become just another struggling business.

As entrepreneurs, we have probably all experienced this situation at one time or another. You suddenly find yourself face-to-face with a potential investor, a customer, a journalist, or perhaps a much sought after mentor, and you have around 30 seconds to make your elevator pitch. But, do you have it ready to go? Are you instantly ready to leap into pitch mode and explain your unique entrepreneurial proposition, game-changing product, or concept? The fact is that these types of people do not have the luxury of time and you need to have your elevator pitch ready to go at the drop of a hat. Remember that first impressions last, so make yours work for you. Make your pitch short, sharp and precise, and ultimately convincing. Finally, get your passion across - that can make for the most powerful 30 second elevator pitch!