Entrepreneur Advice from Nelia Annandale: Be flexible

December 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Nelia Annandale, founder of Keedo Kids — **Nelia Annandale**, founder of Keedo Kids

Be flexible....

“Be flexible enough to shift your business strategy and focus on new markets when existing ones become less lucrative. Rigidity, fear and ego are all factors that contribute to entrepreneurs sticking to their guns even when they know the battleground has changed."

- Nelia Annandale is founder of Keedo Kids a company she launched in 1993 to manufacture designer children’s clothing in a socially responsible and ethical manner. Nelia blends imagination, comfort and style with vibrant colour and exceptional quality, and the brand has grown to be one of the leading children’s clothing manufacturers in South Africa and now exports to 16 countries across the globe. It took a life-threatening skiing accident for South African born Nelia Annandale to overcome her fear of starting a business. Although she had a happy life and was set in a good routine with her husband and two year old twins, the near fatal accident forced her to take stock of her life - Keedo Kids emerged from that new focus.

Entrepreneur Advice from Chinwe Ohajuruka: Doing what is right

December 5, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services — **Chinwe Ohajuruka**, founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services

Doing what is right....

"To all social entrepreneurs who are looking to make a difference, whether they are in Africa or in the rest of the world, your work is very important. Social entrepreneurship is needed to take care of a lot of the challenges that we have in developing countries. Social entrepreneurs are patient, sensitive and they have a strong sense of doing what is right to fix the problem. So, hang in there, your work is needed."

- Chinwe Ohajuruka is the founder and CEO of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria. Chinwe is a US-based architect who splits her time between the US & Nigeria working on sustainable housing development projects. She is a passionate champion of green building solutions for Africa and she engineers and builds affordable green houses that are both energy and resource-efficient. Chinwe was selected as the Sub-Saharan laureate of the 2015 Cartier Women's Awards.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mary Holroyd: There's a big difference between delegation and abdication

December 4, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mary Holroyd, founder and chairman of Weigh-Less (South Africa) — **Mary Holroyd**, founder and chairman of Weigh-Less (South Africa)

As a founder, you're always the one who is responsible...

"One of the most important lessons you can learn is the difference between delegation and abdication. At the end of the day, you’re the one who gets into bed with it. Don’t give anyone total responsibility in your business if it’s just a job to them. Don’t let anyone make decisions for your whole company on a 'just a job' attitude."

- Mary Holroyd is founder and chairman of Weigh-Less the company that has been synonymous with weight management in South Africa since 1975. Mary has helped transform hundreds and thousands of lives over the past three decades and continues to raise the bar in terms of inspiring people to not only lose weight, but change the way they live. Mary, who has her MBA from Henley in London, has been the recipient of numerous prestigious business awards. She also leads by example and has been at her Goal Weight for 41 years!

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Have a game plan and execute it with passion

December 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

You need to execute your game plan with passion....

"Have a game plan and execute it with passion, determination and focus....Work with your passion, it will keep you going and once you have a footing in your business, make the most of it and create the momentum and that will get rid of all the little challenges that may bog you down. Lastly, choose your team carefully and get rid of non-performers soon enough."

- Divine Ndhlukula founded SECURICO Security Services from humble beginnings in Zimbabwe in 1998. Divine identified a need in the market for a quality oriented security company and she has driven SECURICO to become the market leader in Zimbabwe. She has tackled a previously male-dominated industry head on and her business success story is nothing short of remarkable - marking her as one of Africa's most tenacious and inspiring women entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Advice from Nunu Mugyenyi: Mind your own business!

November 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Ngyenzi ‘Nunu’ Mugyenyi,  co-founder of BOLD Kampala — **Ngyenzi ‘Nunu’ Mugyenyi**, co-founder of BOLD Kampala

Stay focused on your own business....

"Mind your own business. Focus your energy on how you can better your business, rather than on how the businesses of others are better than yours. There are enough entrepreneurial journeys to go around."

- Ngyenzi ‘Nunu’ Mugyenyi is one of the co-founders of BOLD Kampala, the brainchild of three vibrant and talented women entrepreneurs from Uganda who have a vision for raising awareness of, and retailing, African fashion brands. Their BOLD Kampala retail concept is truly world-class and provides affordable space and excellent exposure for uniquely African designer fashion brands.

Entrepreneur Advice from Samantha Skyring: Get yourself a business mentor

November 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Samantha Skyring, founder of Oryx Desert Salt (South Africa) — **Samantha Skyring**, founder of Oryx Desert Salt (South Africa)

My top advice to any woman starting up....

"I would so advise having a business mentor and constant learning of how to do things in business from other business leaders."

- Samantha Skyring is the founder of Oryx Desert Salt in South Africa. A serial entrepreneur with a taste for adventure, Samantha has enjoyed a varied entrepreneurial journey taking her from Aircraft Interior Refurbishment to discovering Mumbo Island on Lake Malawi whilst on a kayaking expedition and starting Kayak Africa. A 5 month journey in Namibia, which included a 120km walk through the Namib desert, was the catalyst for creating her Oryx brand. Today, this company supplies a natural, crystal-white salt from the Kalahari – unrefined, sun-dried, and free from additives and preservatives.

Entrepreneur Advice from Mary-Anne Calvert: Believe in yourself

November 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mary-Anne Calvert, founder of The Human Element (South Africa) — **Mary-Anne Calvert**, founder of The Human Element (South Africa)

Believe in yourself....

"Believe in yourself and your capacity to bounce back when things get tough (as they will). Providing consistent service delivery to your clients no matter what the circumstances, will build your reputation and nothing is more valuable than that. Maintain good relationships with everyone - you never know who can and will help you on your journey, and pay this forward whenever you are able to."

- Mary-Anne Calvert is the founder of The Human Element in South Africa, a company provides leadership and soft skills development, performance coaching and business development, to nurture potential. Mary-Anne is a passionate developer of people and businesses to help them become the best they can be. She founded The Human Element in 2005 to use her adult education qualifications and experience in senior management positions to become a skills learning facilitator, performance coach and business development consultant.

Entrepreneur Advice from Sofia Cassimo: The sooner you fail, the sooner you'll win.

November 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Sofia Cassimo, founder of SamSara Development and Investment — **Sofia Cassimo**, founder of SamSara Development and Investment

The sooner you fail, the sooner you'll win....

"Identify the opportunity; think and rethink; gather as much information as possible; study how others are doing similar things; and create your business model. Don’t give up - the sooner you fail, the sooner you'll win."

- Sofia Dias Cassimo is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Samsara Development and Investment and Sublime Special Events & Catering in Mozambique. Sofia, who has a medical degree, turned entrepreneur following a stint working for an NGO, when she followed her passion for food, catering and hosting, starting up Sublime Special Events & Catering. She also followed her passion for developing programs that help neglected people and communities, starting Samsara Development and Investment, a social enterprise that creates programs for empowering women to become changemakers in rural communities.

Entrepreneur Advice from Angela Dick: Find your purpose

November 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Angela Dick, co-founder and CEO of Transman — **Angela Dick**, co-founder and CEO of Transman

Women need to find their purpose....

"You need to ask the question of what am I actually here for? What can I actually do that will make a positive difference? What ever it is, do it. Keep doing it and be steady and determined to make it happen in your own environment. Trust yourself and instincts. And don’t let anyone tell you – you are not good enough because you are."

- Angela Dick, co-founder and CEO of Transman (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Evylin Munyi: You will overcome obstacles

November 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Evylin Munyi, co-founder of KOFAR Kenya — **Evylin Munyi**, co-founder of KOFAR Kenya

You will overcome obstacles....

"There are unique obstacles you will meet on your entrepreneurial journey as a woman - they will slow you down but believe it or not you will overcome them."

- Evylin Munyi is the co-founder of KOFAR Kenya, a company that supplies farmers, especially small-holder farmers, with Organic and Natural inputs to use on their farms so as to restore the soil back to health from overuse and abuse from conventional inputs. Evylin started doing research on Organic inputs and Organic Agriculture back in 2009-2010 and registered a company in 2011. She teamed up with local and international scientists and came up with the KOFAr soil repair package suitable for all soil types in Kenya and beyond. This changemaker has come up with a business concept that can change farming across Africa.

Entrepreneur Advice from Lilian Muhammed: Know your purpose

November 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Muhammed, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa) — **Lilian Muhammed**, founder of LONDRÉ TAN (South Africa)

Know your purpose....

"Know your purpose and always stay focused on your passion. Many other thoughts and obsessions will come your way as you plan your great journey, but lean on your first love - PLAN A."

- Lilian Muhammed is the founder of LONDRÉ TAN, a company that designs and manufactures handcrafted leather bags, purses and precious stone jewellery in their studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. The brand was created with the aim of producing great quality, locally made fashion accessories with exceptional craftsmanship, and a modern look and feel.

Entrepreneur Advice from Margaret Hirsch: Turn stress on its head

November 21, 2017 Melanie Hawken

You need to learn to turn stress on its head....

"I believe stress is a figment of imagination; a way of thinking about what you don’t want to happen. You turn this around and think about what you do want to happen‚ and amazingly enough it actually happens.”

- Margaret Hirsch is one half of a dynamic husband and wife duo that founded Hirsch's Homestores. Back in 1979, as a secretary, together with her husband Allan, then an appliance repair man, they unwittingly became entrepreneurs who went on to build an appliance, electronics and furnishing retail empire. Today, Hirsch's Homestores is the largest independently owned appliance and electronics business in Southern Africa, with 18 Hirsch stores and four Samsung concept stores.

Entrepreneur Advice from Divine Ndhlukula: Three big mistakes you must avoid

November 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

What are the biggest mistakes an entrepreneur needs to avoid making....

"There are three big mistakes in my opinion. One is failing to learn the job adequately. Second one is not having a strategic vision and thirdly, lacking financial discipline to distinguish personal funds from business funds thus stifling the business from growing."

Entrepreneur Advice from Thato Kgatlhanye: Business and friendship is a different ball game

November 16, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Thato Kgatlhanye, co-founder of Rethaka — **Thato Kgatlhanye**, co-founder of Rethaka

Advice on friends as business partners....

"You can't say because you've known your friend since grade four, you'll work well together in business. No - you have known them since you decided to start a company together. So get to know your business partner as a business partner, not a friend, because business and friendship is a different ball game."

- Thato Kgatlhanye is a co-founder of Rethaka, a woman-owned South African business that is focused on improving the world around it. Through the company's green innovations such as the Repurpose Schoolbags, it is redefining societal problems and turning them into solutions. Thato is making it her business to uncover sustainable opportunities that create a far-reaching impact for low-income communities, with a particular focus on children and women.

Entrepreneur Advice from Paula Quinsee: Be realistic with your expectations

November 15, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Paula Quinsee, Author, Relationship Expert & Life Coach — **Paula Quinsee**, Author, Relationship Expert & Life Coach

Be realistic with your expectations....

"Being an entrepreneur is not for the fainthearted but you won't know how far you can fly if you don't give it a try. Be realistic with your expectations, surround yourself with a support structure, build part-time if you can and get the foundations in place before you take the leap and lastly network, network, network."

- Paula Quinsee is a Relationship Expert & Life Coach in South Africa, working with individuals and organisations on EQ skills, conflict management and more. Paula is author of the book 'Embracing Conflict - a self-help guide filled with practical tools to help you navigate conflict and challenges in your life'. As a competitive athlete and adventure seeker, Paula knows from experience what it takes to set goals, overcome obstacles and achieve success, and she has a passion for mentoring the individuals and groups she works with.

Entrepreneur Advice from Chaymaa Rhou: We all fear taking risks

November 14, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Chaymaa Rhou, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco) — **Chaymaa Rhou**, founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy (Morocco)

We all fear taking risks....

"We all fear taking risks and we all experience failure. The only thing that makes you face the fear with courage is to take decisions and follow the journey with its good and bad. Among things that I've learned through this journey is that building confidence, courage and growing your skills in business happens only when you fail once, twice and even more times."

- Chaymaa Rhou is the founder of Nomadic Filmland Academy in Morocco, a new filmmaking platform dedicated for world nomads. Our mission is to help our participants experience adventure while filming it to share it with the world. Chaymaa holds a Bachelor degree in Mass media and Communication, and she was certifed as a wildlife filmmaker.

Entrepreneur Advice from Tiguidanke Camara: Take time to learn

November 13, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Tiguidanke “Tigui” Camara, founder, Chairman & CEO of Tigui Mining Group — Tiguidanke “Tigui” Camara, founder, Chairman & CEO of Tigui Mining Group

Take time to learn....

"Do not let anyone discourage you. Take time to learn. Spend as much time as possible in the field. You may face discrimination sometimes, but always remain professional and persevere. Know that you represent yourself and those women who will follow your path. Find your path, work hard and let the universe do the rest."

- Tiguidanke “Tigui” Camara has had a remarkable career trajectory in Guinea, Africa. She is a former fashion model turned mining entrepreneur. As founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tigui Mining Group and Camara Diamond & Gold Trading Network, Tigui is one of the youngest women mining executives and one of the few women mine owners in Africa. A visionary and proactive businesswoman, she uses her entrepreneurial background to pursue her objective of creating a conglomerate of natural resources and innovative technology companies. Tigui is an active advocate of women’s role in the development of the mining industry. A member of Women in Mining International, she co-founded Women in Mining Guinée. Tigui has been featured in numerous high profile-media such as CNN, Mining Decisions and JeuneAfrique, to name just a few.

Entrepreneur Advice from Dorcas Muthoni: On the importance of cash-flow to the entrepreneur

November 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

On the importance of maintaining cashflow for entrepreneurs...

"Rule number one, never run out of cash; rule number two, never run out of cash; rule number three, never run out of cash; rule number four, when in doubt, see the first three rules."

- Dorcas Muthoni is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Openworld Ltd, a specialist computer software company she established in Kenya when she was just 24 years old. Today, Openworld is a leading e-Government and business software services firm involved in the delivery of some of the most widely used Web and Cloud applications in Africa, such as ARIS, an African Union reporting application used by all 54 member states; and the Performance Management System for the Government of Kenya, automating performance contracting in the public sector. Dorcas is passionate about using technology to positively transform African society through the lives of its ordinary people, businesses and governments and is a co-founder of the regional organization LinuxChix Africa. In 2012 Dorcas was inducted by the Internet Society into the Internet Hall of Fame.

Read Dorcas's 100 Lionesses profile.

Entrepreneur Advice from Angela Dick: Trust your inner instincts

November 9, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Angela Dick, founder of Transman, South Africa — **Angela Dick**, founder of Transman, South Africa

You need to trust your instincts....

"The most important thing is to trust your inner instincts. Look at what you respect; who you respect and who you believe in."

- Angela Dick is the co-founder and CEO of Transman the largest privately owned, temporary-employment service provider in South Africa. This one-time schoolteacher, who was the SA Business Women’s Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006, has grown her company’s revenue from a mere R85 000 back in 1983 to well over half a billion rand today. Angela also served as the first woman president and chairperson of Board of Directors of The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa).

Entrepreneur Advice from Christine Moraa: Consistency is key

November 8, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Consistency is key....

"I'd advise my fellow women to get over the fear that easily keeps us from meeting our destinies and when you get your foot in the door, remain persistent till you fulfill your destiny. While running your business, always remember consistency is key in whatever you do."

- Christine Moraa is the founder of Kenyan PR company, Tendai Communications, a boutique public relations firm that's customer centric and uses a mix of services including brand management, corporate communication and communication strategies in a bid to position brands to their target audiences as well as project the image that is pillared on the company values and culture.