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 November we are turning our attention to the women who are changing the face of the food and drink industry in Africa, and creating new products, building new brands, and launching exciting food and drink retail concepts in the process.
Read morePODCAST: LoA speaks to the inspirational Rehmah Kasule of Uganda, author, entrepreneur and powerful advocate for the upliftment of women and children in Africa
Rehmah Kasule, author, entrepreneur and women's empowerment activist
Listen to LoA’s interview with Rehmah Kasule as she speaks about her new book, From Gomba to the White House: The journey of an African Woman Entrepreneur. She shares some of the highlights of her entepreneurial journey and gives some great advice to other women entrepreneurs who are hoping to follow in her footsteps on the continent.
Read moreYou are invited: The AMPION Venture Bus stops in Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town
The Ampion Venture Bus, a seven day startups bootcamp fostering entrepreneurship across Africa, is on its way in Southern Africa. Starting in Windhoek on November 13th, the AMPION Venture Bus supports 40 young tech entrepreneurs to build an agriculture startup in seven days. You are invited to the opening day with keynotes, workshops and a mini-maker faire at FabLab Namibia in Windhoek on November 13th from 12am
Read moreFinancial Smarts for Women Entrepreneurs: So what should I have in my armoury from the Bank and should I shop around?
In the latest of a series of fascinating and insightful guest blogs that look at issues around financial management for women entrepreneurs, this week our focus is on understanding what exactly you need in your financial armoury and the benefits of shopping around for the right source of banking support.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Malmsey Rangaka: Women must trust they have what it takes
Malmsey Rangaka, co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines
Women must trust they have what it takes to start their own businesses....
"We are actually better suited for business than men. Our natural way of working is inclusive, orderly and emotional. All this clenched teeth aggression of the men simply makes them less effective. So it is incumbent on us to get into business. We do it better. But be prepared for the brickbats though."
- Malmsey Rangaka is co-founder and CEO of M’hudi Wines, a family wine farm located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The M’hudi wine brands are sold not only in South Africa but also the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Nigeria. M’hudi was founded in 1999 by Malmsey and her husband, and is said to be the first black-owned wine tourism farm in South Africa.
Read morePODCAST: White Rabbit Days founder Helen Andrews talks laser cutting to create beautiful jewellery
Helen Andrews, founder of White Rabbit Days (South Africa)
LoA had the opportunity to chat with Helen Andrews, the creative founder of White Rabbit Days, at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in October. Her unique jewellery design company uses laser cutting techniques to craft astonishingly beautiful pieces from a range of materials from leather to brass.
Read moreSuret Louw - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur on a mission to help women find better balance in their lives
Suret Louw, founder of Alive Image and Lifestyle Company
Startup Story
Taking a more holistic approach to helping women achieve greater emotional and physical wellbeing, Suret Louw’s entrepreneurial venture, Alive Image and Lifestyle Company, is dedicated to finding that elusive work/life balance.
Read morePODCAST: Benji & Moon, your cats and dogs favourite designer!
Hanneke Schutte & Karen Carr, co-founders of Benji and Moon
LoA recently had the pleasure of meeting co-founders Hanneke Schutte and Karen Carr of Benji and Moon, a wonderful South African startup creating beautiful handcrafted products for your beloved cats and dogs. At the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg, LoA chatted to Karen who shared the exciting journey the pair are currently on in launching their great company and products. Listen to our interview….
Read moreEssential Read: Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur - 4 Building Blocks to Fulfilling Your Dream by Heather Brooke Quick
Heather Brooke Quick
For all those women entrepreneurs who are spending long hours trying to build their businesses but just barely turning a profit, or struggling with feelings of self-doubt and simply feeling overwhelmed, this very practical guide could provide some of the answers. In The Women’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur - 4 Building Blocks to Fulfilling Your Dream, author Heather Brooke Quick looks at how to entepreneurs often need to remind themselves of who they are and why their businesses exist, in order to convince others to buy their products or use their services.
Read moreMonica Musonda shares five key business lessons she has learned
Monica Musonda, founder of Java Foods (Zambia)
Zambian entrepreneur Monica Musonda is the founder of Java Foods who produce the eeZee instant noodles brand. In a recent webcast, ''Secrets for a Successful Start-Up' webinar organised by The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Monica shared some of the lessons she has learnt in business and answered questions posed to her by participants. Below are 5 key lessons she has learnt in business.
Read moreIt's All About Dignity: 'Now I Have My Own Toilet'
"Now I have my own toilet!" That was the incredulous reply Gift Dick-Tom gave Megan Chapman, when asked what she liked most about her new home. Her family of seven had recently moved from Marine Base "waterside" settlement in Port Harcourt to the Passive House Prototypes (PHPs).
Read moreSocial enterprise Abury announces the release of its first ADEX Winner Accessories Collection, created by talented Zimbabwean designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri
Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, founder Vanhu Vamwe
On 28 October in Berlin, social enterprise Abury, and creator of the first global contest in search of the best accessories design talent worldwide, the ABURY Design Experience, announced the first collection of handmade handbags made by artisans in Ecuador and designed by the winner of the 2015 contest, Zimbabwean designer, PamSamasuwo-Nyawiri.
Read moreOctober 2015 Image of the Day Gallery: FREE e-Book celebrating Lionesses of Africa through the power of images
The October 2015 edition of the Image of the Day Gallery e-book is out today! They say that a picture says a thousand words, and we couldn't agree more. At Lionesses of Africa, we love the powerful images that conjure up the spirit of women-owned businesses and the products and services they create. These images give us an insight into the unique creativity that exists here in Africa and that is capturing the imagination of the world.
Read moreAlly Angula: My Republik celebrates one year of effortless style
Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia)
As Namibia’s first clothing brand, not only retailed in a branded outlet, but that is also designed, developed, cut, trimmed and stitched locally, the team had plenty to celebrate as they looked back on their first year in business. Building a brand from scratch is no easy feat and although they were challenged, the team behind My Republik persisted in delivering a unique shopping experience, such as free alterations and offering coffee and water to welcome customers as they shopped, which kept them coming back for more.
Read morePODCAST: Bushera Bashir shares the rise of the Trebene brand and the Paris showcase of her 2016 collection
Bushera Bashir, founder of Trebene
LoA chatted to Bushera Bashir the creative founder of luxury accessory brand, Trebene, who are exciting the fashion world with their beautiful cashmere scarves, at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the exciting journey the brand is currently taking as she launches her 2016 collection globally to much acclaim.
Read moreMap Your Assumptions
It is April 1992 and Disney is opening their second theme park outside the United States in Paris, after twenty years of running other theme parks. Despite their experience and the meticulous planning that went into this $5b project, the park will have racked up losses of more than $1 billion by 1994. How could things go so wrong?
Read morePODCAST: Lucy Beard's journey from city lawyer to launching an artisanal gin distillery in Cape Town
Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa)
LoA chatted to Lucy Beard, who is the co-founder of Hope on Hopkins together with her husband Leigh Lisk, during a busy day at their exhibition stand at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the roller-coaster ride that is the startup experience, and how becoming an entrepreneur has its challenges, but is well worth the journey from a personal, life-enhancing perspective.
Read moreEntrepreneur Advice from Adenike Ogunlesi: You must be clear about your target market
Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi, founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble (Nigeria)
You must have a clear understanding of the market you want to operate in....
"When you are a small business, you are the visionary, you can easily test creatively and adjust much quicker than larger companies. Take this advantage and do all you can to stand out and serve your customers consistently. People will notice and stay with you as customers, which will lead to faster long-term growth."
- Adenike 'Nike' Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff 'n' Tumble a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of designer children's clothing in Nigeria. Nike started out modestly in 1996 selling the clothes she made from the boot of her car and in bazaars. Today, Ruff 'n' Tumble is an instantly recognisable brand in Nigeria and has a reputation for being one of the top manufacturers of children's clothing throughout West Africa. Ruff 'n' Tumble successfully caters to the unique fashion sense of today’s youngsters, from new born to age 16, happily mixing indigenous lifestyle trends with an international appeal.
Read moreHow to Boost your LinkedIn profile
Are you using LinkedIn to its fullest potential? I sure hope so! LinkedIn is my all time favorite social media site. It's the place to see and be seen. So, in order to get the best value from LinkedIn I've compiled a couple of pointers I would love to share with you. Who knows, you may too experience the magic of LinkedIn and see excellent returns on your business growth!
Read morePODCAST: Robyn Britz, co-founder of Zana talks about building her homeware, accessories and furniture brand
Robyn Britz (L), co-founder of ZANA (South Africa)
LoA got to chat with Robyn Britz earlier this month at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair - she is one half of the creative mother and daughter team behind the Zana brand. Robyn shared the ups and downs of her entrepreneurial journey so far in the competitive world of homeware, accessory, fabric and furniture design, and how Zana is managing to stand out from the crowd.
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