Maputo was the place to be for women entrepreneurs in the month of July as not one, but two Lioness Lean In events were hosted in the city. This enhanced level of activity was an acknowledgement of the fact that Mozambique’s women entrepreneurs are making really positive waves as they continue to build successful and sustainable businesses.

The first of the Lioness Lean In events took place on the morning of Friday 21st July, once again powered by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The venue was the exciting new Standard Bank Incubator, located at Rua dos Desportistas, No 119, 1st Floor, Maputo, Mozambique, freshly launched on the day to this hugely expectant audience of 100 women entrepreneurs. The hugely popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast Series once again brought together three inspirational and successful women entrepreneurs from Maputo 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 Africa for the past year by Lionesses of Africa in partnership with Standard Bank.

The morning commenced with breakfast and networking in the new Standard Bank Incubator venue, which proved to be a big hit with all those in attendance. The morning’s packed programme was launched with an introduction from Lionesses of Africa founder and CEO, Melanie Hawken; some welcoming remarks from Ambassador Pascalle Grotenhuis of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; a presentation by Sasha Vieira, Head of Incubator, Standard Bank Mozambique; and then the highlight of the morning, three inspirational guest speakers sharing their own entrepreneurial journeys and experiences. The speaker line-up included: Eugénia Crizalda Silvano Langa, founder of specialist procurement and logistics company, Nweba; Mariana Agness Fransisco Eria, founder of the exquisite floral studio, House of Agness; and Filipa Carreira, founder and executive director of high impact social entreprise, Wamina.

The morning was rounded off by an open Q&A session, some wonderful prize give-aways including a flight to Johannesburg courtesy of South African Airways, then more networking.

Following a hugely successful morning of story sharing and inspiration, it was time for event number 2, the Young Lioness Lean In programme. Over 50 young women entrepreneurs, and those looking to startup a new business, arrived at the new Standard Bank Incubator excited and eager to start networking and making new connections. The programme followed the same format as the morning session, with all three guest speakers returning to share their own highly personal stories of how they built their successful businesses as young women, straight from university or college. The audience was able to connect with these inspirational young women entrepreneurs who are role models in the business and brand building space in their own city.

Commenting on this latest Lioness Lean In Event in Maputo, Melanie Hawken, Founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa said:

“Each one of the Lioness Lean In Breakfast events we have held so far in Maputo have been truly inspirational and really memorable. Women are building not only great businesses and brands, and producing world class products with genuinely global appeal, but also demonstrating that no business or industry sector is out of reach in the country when it comes to starting a woman owned business venture. The next generation of aspirant young women entrepreneurs in the country have some great role models to look up to and to help guide them on their own business building journeys.”

Sharing her thoughts on this next Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event in Mozambique, and the unique partnership between Lionesses of Africa, Standard Bank, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Shell, Sasha Vieira, Head of Incubator, Standard Bank Mozambique, said:

“The African Lioness Lean In breakfasts hosted by Standard Bank in partnership with Shell and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are growing from strength to strength. Each event is over-subscribed and we are hearing inspiring personal stories from women who represent the diversity of the country, in terms of sector, age, culture and business maturity. It is immensely fulfilling to see the positive response from the market and deal opportunities arising from the event profiling. We hope to see these leads continue and materialize into sales and revenue growth for the women. I am also delighted that for the first time, this event will see the speakers engaging with a young female audience in our first Young Lioness Lean In event as part of an inspirational message that women can succeed in business and that Standard Bank and its strategic partners are happy to support the future narrative for the female youth of Mozambique”.

Alex Battaglia, Country Manager Shell Mozambique, one of the key partners for the Lioness Lean In events in Mozambique, said:

‘’Shell is proud to support a programme that gives women entrepreneurs in Mozambique a platform to build their networks, grow their businesses and create jobs. We are looking forward to another successful event that will inspire and empower these entrepreneurs to realize their full potential.’’

Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mozambique, Ambassador Pascalle Grotenhuis said:

“Being part of this third Lean In Breakfast is a fantastic experience! The openness of these women, their drive and their potential serve as a real inspiration for all of us. Lionesses has become a must-attend event for women entrepreneurs where they can share insights and advice with each other. The Embassy is proud to support the initiative and through it these women in the best possible way to shape their own destinies.”

Lionesses of Africa has been rolling out its popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event Series for women entrepreneurs in different locations across the African continent over the past year, all in partnership with Standard Bank, and more are planned for the remainder of the year. Two more Lioness Lean In Breakfast events are planned for Mozambique this year, one in Pemba and a further one in Maputo.

For more information on the Lioness Lean In Breakfast Event in Maputo, or on the forthcoming Africa roll-out programme, contact Melanie Hawken via email melanie@lionessesofafrica.com

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