October has been an exciting month for Lionesses of Africa as it officially saw itslaunch in Gaborone, Botswana with the first Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event in the country held on the morning of 20 October 2017. Co-hosted by Stanbic Bank, this unique event aimed to showcase the game-changing women entrepreneurs who have built some of the country’s most successful businesses, and to inspire a new generation of young women entrepreneurs who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
The hugely popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast Series brings together inspirational and successful women entrepreneurs to share, inspire and connect with the next generation of great women-led startups. The Lioness Lean In Breakfast Series is based on a breakfast networking and speaker presentation format that is highly popular with women entrepreneurs in Africa, and which has been organized in different city locations across South Africa for the past year by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Stanbic Bank.
The format of each Lioness Lean In is a two-and-a-half hour event, commencing with breakfast and networking, followed by an introduction by Lionesses of Africa founder and ceo, Melanie Hawken; three inspirational guest speakers sharing their own entrepreneurial journeys and experiences; presentations by key women executives from Stanbic Bank in-country; and rounded-off with more networking.
The line-up of guest speakers at the Lioness Lean In Breakfast event in Gaborone included Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa; Stanbic Bank Board Member, Mrs Jenny Marinelli; Nkata Seleka, founder of Sleek Foods Pty Ltd; Catherine Lesetedi, Group CEO of Botswana Insurance Holdings Ltd; Rutang Moses, founder and ceo of RH Diamonds Pty Ltd; Que Lebatha, founder of QL Consulting; Omphemetse Dube, Head of Personal Markets, Stanbic Bank; and Orefitlhetse Masire, Stanbic Bank Board Member.
Commenting on the launch of the Lioness Lean In Events in Botswana, Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa said:
“This was a must-attend event for women entrepreneurs in Gaborone as it gave them the opportunity to hear the inspiring entrepreneurial stories of women who are building great businesses in the country. And, they came out in force on the morning to be part of it, with over 130 women entrepreneurs in attendance. The event allowed them to benefit from the insights and advice of women entrepreneurs who have seen and experienced it all - and 'got the T-shirt’ in the world of business and brand building. It also provided an excellent opportunity for networking with speakers and participants who all share a passion for advancing women entrepreneurs in Botswana. And, importantly, it offered the chance to ask questions and get advice that can help take women entrepreneurs to the next level in the country. It was a great launch event, and we can’t wait to be back for the next one!”
Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Personal Markets, Ms. Omphemetse Dube, said: “We are delighted to partner with such a highly reputed and indeed admirable organisation as Lionesses of Africa. This is premised on the very real belief that we have a great wealth of talent in Botswana when it comes to women entrepreneurs – there is much to be done, however, in acknowledging, celebrating and empowering these women further. As Stanbic Bank, we build on our existing efforts such as support of the Women in Business Association (WIBA) through engagement with Lionesses of Africa. We look forward to great impact and sustainable efforts as we move the female entrepreneurs of Botswana forward.”
All this month, to support the women entrepreneurs of Botswana, there will be a series of regular feature articles on all the Lionesses of Africa platforms celebrating the game-changing women who are building great businesses in the country. Check them out on http://www.lionessesofafrica.com/blog/