Women entrepreneurs are often motivated to start their new businesses because they see a gap in a marketplace or community that they know personally and very well. They respond to local needs and wants, they know when a particular product or service is not readily available, and additionally, they understand the customers who are in need of those missing products and services. As a result, they seize the opportunity, and create business and product offerings to fill the gap - whether that be in the retail or local manufacturing space, or in the specialist service sectors. Economists refer to these women business builders as “opportunity” entrepreneurs as they are market driven as opposed to those who are survivalist entrepreneurs who lack other options. These women opportunity entrepreneurs are key to Africa’s regional economic growth, particularly in their own communities, as they are building successful businesses that know their customer needs well, who create products that are highly targetted to meet local needs, and who employ and train local people as they grow. It’s a win-win scenario, particularly if they are given the support and development to take their businesses to the next level.

Have you ever wondered where all the time goes to each day? You start out the morning raring to go, feeling focused and ready for anything that life and business throws at you, but by the end of the day, you feel like you have hardly accomplished any of the tasks you set for yourself. Sound familiar? As entrepreneurs with increasingly busy lives, and lots of conflicting time pressures, sometimes it’s essential to take a step back and get some help when it comes to learning how to manage time better. There is a great book which might help all those battling with time management in their businesses right now. Written by Allyson Lewis, The 7 Minute Solution: Time Strategies to Prioritize, Organize & Simplify Your Life at Work & at Home is great for small business owners who have a problem planning their day. It takes a very different yet highly practical approach, encouraging readers to spend only seven minutes in the morning and seven minutes in the evening putting a business game plan together to maximize each day. If you are at that stage where every minute matters in your business and life, then this could be a good read to point you in the right time management direction.

Entrepreneurs are very often seen as leaders, whether they are setting new business or design trends, or creating innovative new products that shape future marketplaces, or disrupting existing ways of doing things. They epitomize the very notion of leaders from a business perspective. But it’s also interesting to see just how many women entrepreneurs are also leaders in their communities, using their businesses and their success as a means to help those communities to grow and thrive too. They say that the value chain created by women entrepreneurs is so much longer because they are hardwired to spread the benefit of their business success to others. They look at ways of tackling socio economic challenges in their local communities, they are interested in educating the next generation of children, and they are passionate about finding solutions to environmental challenges affecting those communities. These women entrepreneurs are real leaders, passionate about using business to make a lasting impact, and showing others how it is done. We can all learn from their example and be the change that is needed in the world through the businesses and products we create, and the experience and knowledge we share with others.

They say you are never too old to learn, and when you are an entrepreneur you never stop learning, particularly from those around you. Put a group of like-minded entrepreneurs together in a room and within minutes, experiences will be shared, networks will be opened, and advice will be given - often, whether you want it or not! But that’s the wonderful thing about being amongst people just like you. You can learn from each other’s mistakes, and hopefully not repeat them. You can get insights into how to launch new products or break into new markets from those who are already there. You can glean useful trade tips from specialists who have great experience of doing business in tough industry sectors. And importantly, you can make connections that can stand you and your business in great stead when it comes to gaining knowledge and getting access to specialist expertise. There is a great quote from uber successful global entrepreneur, Cher Wang, co-founder and chairperson of HTC Corp, who says, “As entrepreneurs, we must continue to ask ourselves ‘what’s next?’ It takes humility to realize that we don’t know everything, not to rest on our laurels, and know that we must keep learning and observing.” Great advice!

There is not a single entrepreneur out there who has not needed help or advice at some point on their journey, so why is it that all too often, women entrepreneurs find it tough to ask for that help. My biggest piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to ask, after all, what’s the worst that can happen? Just someone saying no, or not right now! Remember that everyone who has achieved success in business or the corporate world will probably have had to face challenges and hurdles along the way, it’s inevitable. So they will understand what you are going through, and importantly, how to provide some much needed advice or information to help you on your journey. So don’t be afraid to reach out to someone more experienced, to request a chat over coffee, or to ask for advice on how to deal with a particular challenge in your business. There is a wealth of experience and great insights out there, so get over any hesitation you might have and just ask. You might be pleasantly surprised by the response you get!

As entrepreneurs, there is nothing quite like that feeling of belonging to a community where everyone get’s you, where you don’t have to explain why you embarked on this crazy entrepreneurial life. For women entrepreneurs, it’s particularly important to find that community where you can access great support structures, where you can build friendships, where you can open up new and exciting opportunities for collaboration and information sharing. One of the most powerful outcomes from the Lionesses of Africa community is the sheer number of examples of women entrepreneurs doing business with each other, and not just that, but also launching new collaborative business ventures together. The Lionesses of Africa Accelerators have also been fascinating to see just how much business and collaboration has taken place between the participants, who created mini Lionesses communities amongst themselves once the formal programmes ended. That’s the power of community in action - it’s not about sitting back and waiting for things to happen, it’s about belonging to a group of like-minded people who are passionate about getting involved and being active members to create opportunities.

There is nothing quite like the energy that comes from a room full of young aspirant women entrepreneurs, keen to talk about their ideas for a new business, enthusiastic about learning from other more experience women business builders. And perhaps one of the biggest lessons that these next generation women entrepreneurs can learn is that by taking the opportunity to connect with other successful women who have been there and done it in business, they can gain invaluable knowledge. Not only that, they can see at first hand how these women so often turn passion into profit, and importantly get inspired and fired up to start their own entrepreneurial journeys. Seeing other successful women entrepreneurs in action also helps to shorten the learning curve for those starting up in business, witnessing at first hand how to deal with some of the inevitable challenges that arise. Starting out in business for any young aspirant entrepreneur can be daunting, but by seeing how other women have blazed a trail before you demonstrates that it’s possible. 

Most successful business building journeys start with an idea, but for would-be entrepreneurs often the hardest thing to do is find a viable business idea that will work for them. So here are four ways to come up with ideas that could spark a business of the future. Firstly, look at the pain points or challenges you encounter in your own life and find an innovative solution to make them easier. Secondly, look at what drives you and what you are passionate about, and look at ways of turning that passion into a business that can improve the lives of others. Thirdly, look at products or services that exist in the marketplace but find ways of doing them better or differently. Fourthly, find an idea that can positively change the life of one person at a time and build from there. Finally, remember that the idea is just the first step on the journey to building a business, but you have to turn that idea into action to make it real.

As an entrepreneur, if you have reached the point where you’re stressed by constantly having to multitask and keep all the balls in the air; or it feels like the days are just getting shorter and you can never get everything done; or you feel like you work constantly but never get any further; or you are struggling to grow your business because you are bogged down by too many admin tasks; well, it could be time to call in some help. And, before you yell out, “I’m a startup I can’t afford to hire people yet”, it’s worth remembering that help can come in many different forms. It could be a smart business decision to outsource certain parts of your business that require specialist knowledge or expertise, leaving you to focus on what you are really good at. Perhaps you need to outsource your sales, or certain parts of your admin process, or your marketing? In today’s Gig Economy, it’s easier than ever to outsource key tasks to specialist freelancers who can provide that additional help just when you need it, removing some of the stress in the process. So perhaps it’s not a case of saying “I can’t afford help” but in fact acknowledging that the business can’t afford not to bring in that external help when it needs it most. 

It can be a lonely life when you first startup in business as a solopreneur, which is why the idea of co-work spaces has grown phenomenally in recent years. And the benefits to be had from starting up in a co-work space as opposed to creating an office at home are tangible in terms of greater connectivity with other like-minded people, greater productivity, and higher motivation levels for example. So if you are weighing up the pros and cons of starting up your fledgling business in a co-working space, here are a few of the benefits to bear in mind. Firstly, a co-working space is a great place to build up your initial network - you will meet fellow entrepreneurs and get connections to the greater entrepreneurial eco-system in your area. Secondly, it’s affordable as most co-working spaces are well equipped with all the basic amenities you will need in the early days of launching your business. Thirdly, you will get access to an array of business talent and specialist advice and expertise amongst your fellow entrepreneurs, and co-workers are well used to collaborating and bartering such services in the early startup days. A co-work space could be the community you are looking for!

As an entrepreneur, if you have ever felt that your business is beginning to shape your identity because your whole life revolves around it, then you are not alone. It seems like more and more of us are dedicating almost all our waking hours to work on our businesses, putting other things such as hobbies, recreational activities, personal relationships, healthy eating and even sleep to one side. This approach inevitably means we become one dimensional, and this isn’t healthy for us, the business, or those around us. It also increases the chances of burn-out. So, how do you reclaim your identity and maintain a healthy sense of self outside of your business?  Well, it all starts with your schedule. Make a conscious effort to book time in the diary for you and your family and friends; times for doing the things you enjoy, whether it’s exercise, reading a book, watching a movie, or meditating; set boundaries - times and places where everything except business is talked about; and build personal relationships that are based on you and your interests, not your business. Here’s to reclaiming your identity so that you and your business ultimately benefit.

It’s always good to keep up with business trends in the global women’s entrepreneurship space, so the most recent State of Small Business Survey, published by Guidant Financial and online lending marketplace Lending Club, makes for interesting reading. The report highlighted three impactful trends to watch for women in business in 2018. Firstly, the number of women in business is increasing overall, with an 18% increase in the number of women business owners year over year. Secondly, it appears that women are no longer ignoring their personal calling and passions when it comes to starting up businesses. While both men and women had similar reasons for embarking on business ownership (including wanting to be their own boss and growing tired of the corporate grind), the top answer for women was ‘wanting to pursue their passion.’ So you can expect to see women staying very involved in their business after setting up shop. Thirdly, it would appear that in 2018 women are beginning to start their businesses earlier in life with more than half of female respondents in the survey under the age of 50. Interesting trends to watch and see developing in the Africa space over the next few months.

Well-known author and entrepreneur, Sallie Krawcheck (read her book Own It: The Power of Women at Work) believes that the qualities women inherently bring to the world of business are exactly what make them great entrepreneurs in the world. From managing risk and complexity to seeing things holistically and focusing on the long term, Krawcheck says women are in a better place than ever to harness these abilities in the entrepreneurial world. These insights are supported in the latest Hiscox DNA of an Entrepreneur Report which found that the top three attributes associated with being a woman entrepreneur are the abilities to promote their businesses, to delegate, and to be patient - a winning combination. The study also found that women have an inherent sense of independence: 48 percent of women are the sole employee of their businesses, while only 37 percent of men can say the same. Women are also playing to their strengths through the types of business sectors they choose to enter. So if you want to get ahead in business, it makes sense to know and leverage your unique strengths - they could be your best assets.

Any good business starts with a good business idea - it’s the first step in any entrepreneurial handbook. But that’s the important thing to remember, it’s just the first step on a very long ladder to business success. It's well understood that ideas are one thing but execution is everything. And, a good business idea is only as good as the people who are able to follow a well thought out plan and execute it. It's about obsessing on the quality of the manufacturing; or perfecting the user experience; building the perfect new product development process; or putting in place the most effective strategies and processes to deal with the inevitable heartaches and setbacks. All that needs to be practically executed before achieving the desired growth and turning that idea into a real business and brand. So, there are two key rules for idea execution. It starts with building a great team who have the skills, the attitude, and a collaborative approach to getting things done. Next, it relies on a clear vision of what the business stands for and what it is trying to achieve, and an understanding where new ideas fit into the bigger picture.

Earlier this month, nine African cities, including Tshwane, Dar es Salaam and Lagos, committed to achieving “zero carbon” economies by 2050, a goal that would require them to either completely wean off fossil fuels or offset emissions by planting trees and switching to renewables. At the same time, the Climate Action Program reported that African countries’ transition to a low carbon economy has been slow, although all of them are part of the Paris Climate Accord. There is no doubt that Africa’s role in climate action is crucial as the majority of population growth in coming years will be concentrated in this continent. So it’s encouraging to see a new generation of passionate, game-changing women eco-preneurs emerging in Africa who are leading from the front, such as Kenyan social entrepreneur Lorna Rutto, founder of EcoPost. This high impact social enterprise has created thousands of sustainable jobs for people in marginalized communities, in addition to conserving the environment. EcoPost has so far transformed over 3 million kilograms of plastic waste into plastic lumber, saved over 500 acres of forest and proactively helped mitigate climate change in Kenya. Read more about Lorna and other entrepreneurial women eco-warriors here.

The recent signing this month of AFcfta - the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, was a truly historic development. According to the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, the potential for intra-African trade to drive value creation and development is real, but in order to trade, Africa first has to produce - and not just primary commodities. It’s essential that a new business environment is created whereby Africa celebrates its natural raw materials and in turn creates world class, locally manufactured, value-added products that are bought not only by global consumers, but also by pan African consumers. There is a huge opportunity for Africa’s women entrepreneurs to tap into this growing market on the continent. According to the Brookings Institution, the continent’s total pan African exports in 2016 amounted to just 18 percent of Africa’s total exports. Compare that with intraregional exports in Asia and Europe, with 59 percent and 69 percent respectively, and it’s clear that there is huge potential for inter-trade market growth and for more world-class, locally manufactured products for local markets to be created by entrepreneurs.

When you are an entrepreneur, mastering the art of juggling all the work and tasks that have to be completed each day is a necessity, and it’s not easy. As the business grows, so too does the need to keep even more balls in the air. As a result, it’s all too easy for organizational chaos to encroach on a small business as jobs are not prioritized and some tasks fall through the cracks altogether. That’s why it’s essential to stay on top of all those tasks and to monitor progress in getting them completed. The good news is that there are a whole range of checklist apps on the market that can help any time-pressured entrepreneur to stay on top of things. Some of the best ones we have found include Wunderlist, WorkFlowy, Habitica, List It app, Any.do, Evernote Business, Google Keep, Checklist, Remember the Milk and Workflow. So lose all those endless paper checklists you keep writing, and use the power of an app to stay on top of all those ’To Do’s when it comes to running your business more smoothly.

6 of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies are currently in Africa, according to the World Bank’s latest report, and Africa’s economy as a whole is projected to continue to rise to 3.2 percent in 2018 and to a further 3.5 percent in 2019. According to the report, non-resource intensive countries are expected to expand at a solid pace, helped by robust investment growth. The list is led by Ghana, followed by Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire, with Senegal and Tanzania occupying the fifth and sixth spots respectively. The latest forecast places Ethiopia’s growth at 8.2 percent with Ghana leading the continent at 8.3 percent. The top 10 African economies that women entrepreneurs can watch for future business opportunities in 2018 as forecasted by the World Bank are Ghana, Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Benin, Rwanda and Niger. These are exciting times for Africa’s economy as the world looks to tap into unprecedented investment and business opportunities that are emerging - the challenge is for women entrepreneurs to also seize these opportunities.

For all those young women entrepreneurs in Africa looking to break into the German startup scene, there’s some good news from the Berlin based Westerwelle Foundation. Applications have opened for the 2018 Westerwelle Young Founders programme. The initiative is aimed at young entrepreneurs from developing and emerging economies. As part of the programme, 25 innovators will participate at the Young Founders Conference set to take place from 16 to 20 October in Berlin. Westerwelle Foundation programme manager Christoph Rohde, said the programme’s aim is to “support young founders in strengthening their companies, connecting them with other outstanding entrepreneurs as well as the German startup scene and thereby accelerating their success.” During the year-long programme, participants will not only get the chance to attend The Young Founders Conference but will also be matched with mentors and benefit from access to entrepreneurship conferences as well as the initiative’s alumni network. The last cohort on the programme had 23 participants from 19 countries — including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Uganda and South Africa, selected from over 1500 applicants worldwide. African women participants included: Wazi Vision CEO Brenda Katwesigye, CodeSpace co-founder Emma Dicks, Direxiona CEO Nayrouz Talaat, and Securella co-founder and MD Samia Haimoura. Entries close on 25 June. Apply here.

A new report from the National Women’s Business Council in Washington suggests that the challenge for women entrepreneurs to access key markets is not just a problem facing Africa’s women business builders. It’s a global problem. The report’s findings suggest that women-owned businesses are a major component of the U.S. economy, accounting for around 20 percent of all businesses with paid employees and a combined payroll of $293.1 billion. Yet, the obstacles they face in accessing financial capital and customer markets is a real barrier to growth - this will definitely ring a bell with Africa’s women entrepreneurs. So what’s the problem and how does change happen to improve the situation? Jen Earle, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners points to the fact that more research is needed on the economic variables that affect this access, such as the effect of export credit insurance on women-owned businesses’ ability to access foreign markets, or a lack of confidence or practical knowledge of doing business in new markets, or dearth of information on companies’ supplier diversity programs in relation to women-owned businesses. By highlighting the challenges and backing this up by solid research, the right supportive environment can be created to address this access issue.