Have you ever wondered what distinguishes those successful entrepreneurs from everyone else who perhaps has an entrepreneurial idea or dream and aspires to be one, but never actually makes the transition to embarking on that entrepreneurial journey and making the dream a reality? Well, there is no point in having an idea and not putting it into action. Perhaps what is required is a change in approach and the adoption of some of those habits displayed by other successful entrepreneurs.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Janet Nkubana, co-founder of Gahaya Links Cooperatives (Rwanda)
“If you go to Rwanda today, there are so many young boys and young girls who are not job seekers, but job creators. All of these initiatives – they are creating jobs. When you teach me a skill I will utilize it to make an income and maybe employ another person,”
- Janet Nkubana co-founded Gahaya Links Cooperatives with her sister Joy Ndungutse shortly after the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994. These inspiring sisters had a vision to turn ancient basket weaving skills into a source of livelihood for thousands of rural women. Many of the women, like Janet and Joy themselves, were returning refugees or survivors of the genocide. The women started weaving baskets in exchange for food. Initially bringing together about twenty women, the sisters taught them how to weave and how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques. Today, Gahaya Links manages a network of over 4,000 weavers across the country, organised into around 72 cooperatives that help provide much needed income and stability. The sisters have successfully opened the business to international markets, partnering with the likes of Macy’s, Walmart, Oprah Magazine, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, and Kate Spade. Today, Gahaya Links "Peace Baskets” are sold and admired the world over.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Sibabalwe Sesmani - There's never a perfect set of circumstances in which to launch your business venture
Zuziwe Mkhwanazi and Sibabalwe Sesmani, co-founders of Unorthodox PR & Media Group (South Africa)
Circumstances will never be perfect for you to launch....
"It is not about having the perfect set of circumstances before you launch your business venture, or waiting until you are 100% equipped and financed to go to market - nothing will happen unless you just start. In fact, when we first embarked on our own entrepreneurial journey with Unorthodox, we self-funded and worked within the confines of our finances. But, the fact is that we didn't let our lack of funding constrain us, we just went out and started our business with passion and huge amounts of energy."
- Sibabalwe Sesmani is a co-founder of Unorthodox PR & Media Group in South Africa along with her business partner Zuziwe Mkhwanazi. They strive to create their own genre of public relations, one that specializes in corporates and thought leaders of industries. They develop PR strategies for corporates in South Africa and Africa, helping their clients to establish them as thought leaders and pioneers in their industries.
Read moreSheila Afari - The startup story of a PR entrepreneur with a passion for promoting proudly African brands
Sheila Afari, founder of Sheila Afari Public Relations (South Africa)
Africa has a wealth of PR, media and communications talent, and no two companies are the same. In the case of Sheila Afari Public Relations, this proudly African PR entrepreneur is passionate about showcasing the best of African brands to the rest of the world, and is differentiating herself and her company in the marketplace as a result.
Read morePODCAST: Melanie Hawken, LoA's founder and editor-in-chief, is interviewed by Daudi Mugabi, host of Business Mic in Kampala, Uganda
Listen to Melanie Hawken, LoA's founder and editor-in-chief, being interviewed by Daudi Mugabi, host of Business Mic in Kampala, Uganda. Melanie talks about the power of women entrepreneurs to help drive a new and spirited approach to economic growth and development on the African continent.
Read morePODCAST: LoA speaks to Dr. Paula Noble Fellingham, founder of TheWIN - Women's Information Network
LoA had the opportunity to interview the truly inspiring Dr. Paula Noble Fellingham on the sidelines of the Global Women’s Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 8th of August as part of Women's Month celebrations.
Read moreLoA Making News: Leadership Magazine speaks to Melanie Hawken about connecting women entrepreneurs
Melanie Hawken, LoA founder and editor-in-chief featured in Leadership Magazine (August 2015 Issue)
Leading South African business publication, Leadership Magazine, interviewed Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa on how her online platform can connect women entrepreneurs around the world.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Priscilla Makundi - JUST DO IT because with every time that passes, it will never come back!
Daniela Barajas (L) and Priscilla Makundi (R), co-founders of Sote Tunaweza
Don't fall into the trap of putting things off until 'Tomorrow'. Tomorrow never comes!....
"It is time to change. It is time to walk down another street. The first step that you have to take is to believe in yourself. Just decide who you are, who you want to be and go ahead and do it. Start with the resources that you have and do not make any excuses or wait any longer, no matter what challenges are against you. Whenever I used to make excuses not to do something, my father used to say, "Tomorrow? Tomorrow never comes." He meant that if there is anything that you can do today, just DO IT, because tomorrow will come and you will make another excuse not to do what you know you are meant to do. So go ahead and JUST DO IT because with every time that passes, it will never come back. Question is, what are you going to do with your time?"
- Priscilla Makundi is the co-founder of Sote Tunaweza (formerly known as the Pamoja Tunaweza Initiative) a Tanzanian social enterprise she co-founded with Daniela Barajas in 2014, with the support of Middlebury College and the Clinton Global Initiative University. Priscilla has been a member of CGIU for two consecutive years and has committed herself to helping to prevent poverty and promote women’s innovation in emerging markets by empowering them through entrepreneurship and leadership training institutes.
Read moreJuanita van der Merwe - The startup story of an award winning South African social enterprise up-cycling billboard ads into funky bags!
Juanita van der Merwe, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa)
Little Green Number is the brainchild of a passionate young social entrepreneur, Juanita van der Merwe, who is aiming to change the world for the better by not only creating unique, really funky handmade bags from up cycled advertising billboard posters thereby helping the environment, but also creating much-needed local jobs for young people in her community.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Nozuko Teto - Find out what fulfils your soul
Nozuko Teto, opera singer and founder of Adesso Enterprises (South Africa)
It's about finding your purpose and working hard to fulfil it....
"Life has no guarantees, find out what fulfils your soul, have a steadfast source of strength, and work hard to achieve what you feel is your purpose here on earth."
- Nozuko Teto is a gifted South African opera singer who is showing the world’s connoisseurs that she is a musical and entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with. Nozuko has founded Adesso Enterprises through which she markets and manages her performances and concerts. Born in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Nozuko obtained her BMUS (Mus.ED.) degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, graduated with a PGDIP (Opera Performance) from the University of Cape Town, and then moved to Italy in 2011 to perfect her performance skills at the Center for Belcanto in Modena.
Read more4 Top tips to address the challenge of time management for solopreneurs
Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect
Being an entrepreneur, particularly a solopreneur, is not for the faint of heart. It takes a certain kind of persistence, determination and whole lot of caffeine to be a successful solopreneur! As a woman entrepreneur myself, I understand only too well the challenges faced by women in the business world, particularly those involving time management.
LoA Founder Melanie Hawken talks about high impact women 'Gazelle Entrepreneurs' in Africa with JoburgToday Television
This month, top South African business television programme, Leading Opinion, invited Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa into the studio to discuss the high impact made by 'gazelle' entrepreneurs and their potential inspiration in driving a new wave of innovative women entrepreneurs across the continent.
Read moreMeet Ally Angula – Namibian Woman Entrepreneur Navigating the World Stage Like A Pro
Ally Angula, Co-founder & Managing Director of Leap Group of Companies (Namibia)
Right on the heels of Namibia’s emergence as the third most entrepreneurial country in sub-Saharan Africa by the GEI ranking, the southwest African country is celebrating yet another global success in entrepreneurship. Serial entrepreneur, Ally Angula’s clothing company – My Republik was crowned the best woman-owned business at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit GES 2015 in July.
Read moreLionesses of Africa celebrates the continent’s most inspiring women entrepreneurs in Media, PR & Communications in August
Every month at Lionesses of Africa, we shine a spotlight on a particular industry sector where Africa’s women entrepreneurs are making a real impact, through their businesses, their innovation, their products, services and craftsmanship, and their passion for what they do. This month (August), we are turning our attention to the women who are changing the PR, media and communications landscape in Africa.
Read moreKerryne Krause Neufeldt - The startup story of a South African beauty and wellness global brand builder
Kerryne Krause Neufeldt, founder of eyeSlices® (South Africa)
Many of us with busy entrepreneurial lives, heavy travel schedules, and lots of late nights will probably have experienced the effects of tired puffy eyes, with increasingly dark circles and redness, exacerbated by staring at computer screens and smartphones all day long. However, one innovative South African entrepreneur, Kerryne Krause Neufeldt, thinks she has found the solution - eyeSlices®!
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tetsi Bugaari, Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin - Starting a business can be very challenging
Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin, founders of Buqisi-Ruux (Kenya)
Starting your own business can be a bumpy road....
"As it is said and written everywhere, starting a business can be very challenging. You can have the best morning, and yet by the next hour, you might not know where you went wrong. My first piece of advice would be to never give up, always remember your end goal, and despite what challenges come your way, always remember why you started this business in the first place and push through it."
- Tetsi & Lynn Bugaari and Nuba Elamin are the co-founders of Buqisi-Ruux, a shoe brand from Kenya that designs and produces high-heeled shoes covered in bold and colourful African print material. The Buqisi-Ruux brand also celebrates the success of the African continent and its women, as each shoe is named after an inspirational African woman and her story is shared with the world.
Read moreThokozile Mangwiro - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur building a natural hair and skin care brand formulated for African women
Thokozile Mangwiro, founder of Nyla Naturals (South Africa)
Africa is seeing a growing interest in natural skin and haircare products, utilising indigenous ingredients and demonstrating an ethical and more environmentally friendly approach to production. South African based Nyla Naturals is the brainchild of founder Thokozile Mangwiro, who is taking the renowned native Marula oil and using its natural properties to create a whole new product range that is both sustainable and specially formulated to care for African women’s skin and hair.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Tiisetso Skosana - You need to make the right connections
Tiisetso Skosana, founder of Lotjhani Branding (South Africa)
Strategic networking and making the right connections is essential....
"One thing we have learned so far is that is necessary to be highly strategic in our approach, doing our homework on the people, companies and organisations we wish to contact, attending the right events, and then using every platform and avenue available to us to make the right connections."
- Tiisetso Skosana is the founder of Lotjhani Investments, a South African company specialising in brand strategy, copywriting and design. Tiisetso achieved her degree in Communications Management specialising in Creative Brand Communications and a postgrad in Business Administration. She has experience in a variety of creative disciplines: as a copywriter and brand strategist in advertising agencies to magazine and online writing as well as digital and public relations management.
Read moreLaura Reynolds, founder and CEO of Recruitgroup wins Standard Bank Rising Star Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015
Laura Reynolds, founder and CEO of RecruitGroup (South Africa)
Laura Reynolds, founder and CEO of RecruitGroup in South Africa, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the star-studded Rising Star Awards 2015 sponsored by Standard Bank. The RecruitGroup is a leading recruitment agency that specialises in finding and placing top talent for South African firms through innovative products and services. The company's specialized divisions, personalized service, dedicated consultants and one of a kind recruitment methodology was recognised by the award judges.
Read moreAlana Bond - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur dedicated to helping the country transform itself through business and social enterprise
Alana Bond and Lana Lovasic, directors of Simanye Group
The Simanye Group is on a mission to help South Africa, and the African continent as a whole, find sustainable solutions to positive transformation and to support new economic development and growth in the communities that most need it to grow and thrive.
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