While the creation of the Agro Marketing Trading Agency (AMTA) has addressed the issue of marketing fresh produce for Namibian farmers, it has not addressed the issue of pricing. This is according to Ally Angula, Managing Director of Leap Holdings, which also owns Leap Agriculture, the group’s farming arm that focuses on supplying fresh produce to retailers and the general public. The farming operation is based approximately 30 km outside Tsintsabis in the Oshikoto Region.
Read moreFINANCIAL SMARTS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: Foreign Exchange for Lionesses
LOA Financial Smarts for Women Entrepreneurs Series
In the first of a series of guest blogs that look at issues around financial management issues for women entrepreneurs, this week we get a better understanding of how Foreign Exchange works, particularly for those businesses that import and export - and importantly, how to get the best rates!
Read moreHow women entrepreneurs need to leverage the current increasing interest in all things African
Image credit: Centro de Artes Africana, Wooden Vessels - courtesy Deborah Mason for Aid to Artisans. Featured in Contemporary Design Africa, a book by Tapiwa Matsinde
Guest Blog by Clare Kagimu, interior architect and designer and founder of Phoenix Designs
This week, I wish to expand on the urgency of keeping our tabs on all things African, as interest for this market is generating worldwide buzz. I cannot emphasise the need to have shared vision and to stand together in order to see Africa become a viable destination for all things trend-setting.
Read moreQuote of the Day
Essma Ben Hamida, co-founder and Executive Director of Enda Inter-Arabe (Tunisia)
"Women in Tunisia are active; they want to work and own a business; they have Phoenician blood from Dido and the Queen of Carthage .... Money empowers women and lets them contribute in decision-making. After 20 years I can see the changes. Everything changed completely for these entrepreneurial women."
- Essma Ben Hamida is director of Enda Inter-Arabe (Enda), which she co-founded in 1990. She is also the President of the microfinance network of Arab countries Sanabel. In 1995, Enda launched the first microcredit institution in Tunisia, which today reaches around 40,000 active clients, mainly women, in the poor areas of Tunisia. Previously, Essma worked as a secondary school teacher and as a TV journalist/reporter. She opened the first bureau of the national press agency, TAP, in New York at the United Nations.
Read moreLungile Kunene - The startup story of a South African fashion designer embarking on a global retail journey
Lungile Kunene, founder of Izembatho Creations (South Africa)
Typically, fashionpreneurs are some of the most creative individuals and always passionate about the work they produce. They have a vision for the clothes they design and an idea of the people who will be wearing their creations and how they will make those people feel. Lungile Kunene of Izembatho Creations is one designer who has a clear vision for the aesthetic and emotional response she wishes the women who will be wearing her clothes to have.
Read morePODCAST: Clare Kagimu – You can’t be a good leader without investing in yourself
Clare Kagimu, founder and CEO of Phoenix Design
Podcast: Business Mic with Daudi Mugabi
In this interview with Daudi Mugabi from Business Mic in Uganda, Clare shares some of the struggles she went through while building her brand as well as the lessons she’s learnt along the way.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Monica Musonda: The right time to start a business? The earlier, the better!
Monica Musonda, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods (Zambia)
Aspiring women entrepreneurs should take the plunge sooner rather than later....
“I would have loved to have been younger and have less commitments… At this stage to fail is a lot more painful than if I failed at 20 or 25 or 30, for instance. I think it is a lot harder when you’re older, you have more commitments… I think there is never a perfect scenario for you to start a business – but I think if you are going to take the leap, the earlier the better.”
- Monica Musonda is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Java Foods, a food processing company based in Zambia. Monica's vision is to revolutionize the eating habits of the youth market by offering them affordable and nutritious food options made from local products. Monica is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Zambian advocate with over 15 years of experience in legal practice and corporate management, including being corporate counsel at the International Finance Corporation and for Aliko Dangote of Dangote Industries Limited.
Read moreVideo: Ethel Cofie shares the story of her career path and entrepreneurial journey
Video published on 13 September 2015
Ethel Cofie shares the story of her career path and entrepreneurial journey.
Read moreNobesuthu Ndlovu - The startup story of a South African fashion entrepreneur showcasing the best of the country’s design talent
Nobesuthu Ndlovu, co-founder of Burgundy Fly (South Africa)
Building a successful fashion retail showcase brand is no small feat, and requires endless amounts of energy and passion, not to mention a great eye for detail and the knack of selecting the best designs for different marketplaces. However, Nobesuthu Ndlovu, the co-founder of Burgundy Fly, is a great example of a woman entrepreneur who has all these skills and more, and together with her business partner and husband, is building an exciting fashion retail company.
Read moreMonica Masiga & Justine Kiwanuka - The startup story of two micro-entrepreneurs bringing health and wellbeing to their communities in Kenya and Uganda
Justine Kiwanuka (L) & Monica Masiga (R), Living Goods micro-entrepreneurs
Across the African continent, particularly in rural areas, promoting good community health and wellness to local people remains a challenge. Life-saving products and services don’t do any good unless they get into the hands of the people that need them and know how to use them. Social entrepreneurship venture, Living Goods, is helping to solve the “last mile” problem by recruiting, training, and managing the performance of Community Health Promoters. Monica Masiga in Kenya, and Justine Kiwanuka in Uganda, are two such Living Goods micro-entrepreneurs who are making a difference.
Read moreEast Africa’s Women Entrepreneurs Impress at the E4Impact Innovation Challenge
Lucy Mayer, co-director of Bubayi Products Ltd, winner of the E4Impact Innovation Challenge
The fourth edition of the E4Impact Innovation Challenge, one of the largest university business plan competitions in East Africa, took place on 29 August 2015 at Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya - and, the winner was an inspirational woman entrepreneur, Lucy Mayer.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Nkemdilim Begho: Share your vision with the world
Nkemdilim Begho, a Nigerian serial entrepreneur
Share your vision with the world....
"Believe in your vision, share it with the world and never give up. Put aside all your fears - if your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough!"
- Nkemdilim Begho is a Nigerian serial entrepreneur. She is the founder and Managing Director of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. She is also a co-founder of 'Always Me by Anne Li', a company producing baby and maternity products in Nigeria. Nkem has been the recipient of many awards including the Jim Ovia Prize for Software Excellence, and the Etisalat Prize for Innovation. She regularly volunteers for mentoring and empowerment programmes often sharing her experiences with young Nigerians and less privileged children.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Margaret Hirsch: My top 3 tips for women entrepreneurs
My top 3 tips for women entrepreneurs....
"1. Look after your health. Your wealth is no good if you are not healthy. 2. You can have anything you want in life if you are willing to pay the price. 3. If you can't afford it, don't have it."
- 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 seventeen branches and concept stores spread throughout South Africa.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Wendy Ackerman: Set yourself achievable goals
Take it one step at a time....
"Anything is within anyones reach. You have to stand up to take it. It is within yourself. Set achievable goals and do it one step at a time.”
- Wendy Ackerman is one of the founders and an Executive Director of Pick n Pay Stores. Together with husband Raymond Ackerman she helped build up one of South Africa’s pre-eminent FMCG retailers, consisting of over 450 stores including 121 supermarkets and 14 hypermarkets. Operations are in food, clothing, and general merchandise sectors as well as financial services. The company operates throughout South Africa, southern Africa and Australia and employs around 49,000 people. Today, much of Wendy's boundless energy is devoted to her family's philanthropic endeavours and her personal work for the underprivileged.
Read moreNisha Maharaj - The startup story of a South African techpreneur looking to bridge the technology gap in her country
Nisha Maharaj, founder of Niche Integrated Solutions (South Africa)
Companies in the IT sector have long built a reputation for finding solutions to many of the business challenges we face today, but Niche Integrated Solutions is an IT company with a difference, thanks to its founder Nisha Maharaj. It has genuinely found a niche for itself in a highly competitive sector, and as a result, is not just building a rapidly growing and successful business, but it is also positively impacting on the lives and businesses of others.
Read moreBOOK REVIEW: A Woman’s Guide to Bootstrapping a Business by Beverly Sallee Ophoff
Beverly Sallee Ophoff, author of 'A Woman’s Guide to Bootstrapping a Business'
For many woman-owned business startups, the early days can be tough and challenging in so many different ways. In particular, the challenge of trying to build a new business, build a new brand, and perhaps launch a new product or service, all with very little capital to play with. There have been many books written on the subject, but few with as much empathy as Beverly Sallee Ophoff shares in her book A Woman’s Guide to Bootstrapping a Business.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Swaady Martin: Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs
Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs trying to make it in Africa....
"Before you start anything, my advice is to find your passion and pursue it passionately. In addition, as an entrepreneur, you need to be able to create a compelling vision, to passionately own the vision, to define the roadmap to execution, and to bring together and relentlessly drive the energies, the talents and the values necessary to ensure success. You need to become an execution machine. Building a venture from scratch is not for the faint-hearted, you need to be courageous, tenacious, have perseverance and resilience. Never take no for an answer and be solution-oriented, constantly."
- Swaady Martin, is founder of YSWARA, a growing African luxury brand that creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. Complimenting their hand-selected tea blends, Yswara also offers a range of luxury tea accessories. Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship.
Read moreQuote of the Day
"The biggest thing that has enabled women entrepreneurs is technology and the internet. You can find customers and get publicity without massive amounts of money."
- Deborah B. Jackson is the founder and CEO of Plum Alley, a crowdfunding platform for women entrepreneurs founded in 2012 to increase the economic strength of female founded companies and to provide greater access to capital. Deborah's expertise comes from a two decade long career raising capital for companies, governments and other issuers in both the public and private markets starting at Goldman Sachs in 1980.
Read moreTerryanne Chebet - The startup story of a Kenyan entrepreneur with a passion for changing how the world looks at Africa, beautifully
Terryanne Chebet, founder of Keyara Organics (Kenya)
Keyara Organics is a natural skincare company with a soul and a real passion for African ingredients. Founder and serial entrepreneur, Terryanne Chebet, has a vision to grow the company to be among the world’s leading natural skincare brands, understanding that everyone needs a natural skincare routine.
Read moreDamaris Nyabuti - The startup story of a Kenyan PR company that exemplifies the entrepreneurial never-give-up attitude
Damaris Nyabuti, founder of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications
If there is one word that could best describe PR entrepreneur, Damaris Nyabuti, the founder of Dharkemmy Corporate Communications in Nairobi, Kenya, it is tenacious. Despite all the challenges that have faced her throughout her career, she has remained true to her passion for PR and communications and been determined to realise her vision of starting her own company. She is a force to be reckoned with and understands the power of sheer hard work to make things happen.
Read more