Just do it now!...
"My sensible side says: start your business on the side, then, when you've replaced at least part of your fixed salary, go full-time. My irresponsible side says: sod safety, just do it now!"
- Clare Appleyard is the founder of Katannuta Diamonds in South Africa, a company specializing in the manufacture of bespoke diamond and precious gemstone jewellery, with a strong emphasis on consumer education and empowerment. Clare pursued a Masters Degree in Geology from the University of Cape Town following she spent time working as a geologist for De Beers and Anglo American. In 2007, Clare co-founded Katannuta Diamonds, developing a reputation within the industry for exceptional workmanship, competitive prices and outstanding service in the engagement ring and wedding ring market.
Read moreBelieve in your plan and stick to it....
" Believe in your idea even if other people are trying to convince you otherwise. It is great to incorporate people’s feedback into your work, but if you do not agree with them, stick with your plan."
- Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola is a Nigerian entrepreneur and innovator, and founder and CEO of WeCyclers. This Lagos-based company is focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. Bilikiss holds an MBA from MIT and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University. She is also a 2013 Echoing Green Fellow.
Read moreWhat I’m about to say may seem bizarre, but next time you order your grilled or fried salmon, think for a moment about its biology. Thing is, salmon swim upstream, purposefully, willfully; they are the natural essence of being disruptors. They don’t go with the flow, the norm, the usual, the easy – they are focused and passionate in pushing boundaries. They swim upstream to reach fresh water that they were born into; some make it, some remain in the ocean unable to fulfill their innate biology to go upstream.
Read moreWhen the skincare company Rodial launched its cult 'snake' serum, the press quickly called the business an 'overnight success'. However, as author and entrepreneur Maria Hatzistefanis sets out to demonstrate in this very accessible book, the company’s success stemmed from sheer hard work, hard graft and a lot of patience.
Read moreThe Market Matters 2017 African Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year Award has just been presented to Ms. Monica Musonda, founder and owner of Java Foods in Zambia. Ms. Musonda and Java Foods’ contribution to Africa’s agribusiness sector and food security was officially recognized during the Closing Banquet of the 2017 Making Markets Matter Executive Training Program for the African Agribusiness Sector in Somerset West, South Africa, on 11 May 2017. Java Foods joins a list of 8 other pioneering African entrepreneurs in receiving this honor.
Read moreFor many companies, moving into a new business territory is a challenge, and having access to local insights and advice can be key to success. For entrepreneur Nita Chivwara, her experience as a country strategist and project manager has provided the necessary skills set to offer practical country marketing advice to global business.
Read moreThe Lioness Lean In roadshow across the African continent continued at a pace this month, with Lusaka in Zambia experiencing its first event on 10th May. Once again, Stanbic Bank partnered with Lionesses of Africa to host the latest in a series of highly popular Lioness Lean In Breakfast events to showcase and empower women entrepreneurs. Lionesses of Africa is a rapidly growing network of over 360,000 women entrepreneurs in 49 African countries and across the Diaspora.
Read moreThe reality is, the critic will always be there! Whether you want to: run the Comrades Marathon, start a business, present a speech at an international conference ... someone is bound to discourage you and tell you all the reasons why you can’t or shouldn’t do something.
Read moreWho doesn’t love diamonds? These fascinating precious stones that are infused with so many stories, memories, dreams on the part of the owners and wearers. For Clare Appleyard, her love for and extensive technical knowledge of the diamond industry led her to launch her own business, Katannuta Diamonds.
Read moreThe Content Agency was recently tasked with helping our tech-savvy future-focused client bring their app – set to revolutionise the way Africans interact with apps – to market. A brilliant idea! Also a fantastic team and a robust product. But they had the worst positioning ever! You see, their slogan (and core positioning) read: Moving Africa Forward.
Read moreIt's all about working hard....
"We need to quit this ‘microwave results’ mentality. Media has not reminded us enough of the value of working hard. There is nothing you will gain from not working hard. If you want to be successful, then you have to work hard and whilst at it, it would also help a lot if you work smart!"
- Eva Muraya is the founder and CEO of Brand Strategy and Design, an East African brand, advertising and communications agency. Her entry into the business world came only after a great personal tragedy – the loss of her husband. Eva has won numerous awards, including the premier Goldman Sachs Fortune Global Leaders Award. She is an influential advocate for the economic empowerment of women and she co-founded the Kenya Association of Women Business Owners (KAWBO).
Read moreNever give up....
"Start now. Do not postpone your dream to tomorrow, thinking that you are not experienced enough. The best is always to learn on the ground, and in mining more than anywhere else it is key to spend as much time as possible in the field. Surround yourself with experts, work hard and always remain professional. Most of all, never give up."
- Tiguidanke Camara is a former model turned mining entrepreneur, and the founder Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tigui Mining Group (TMG) and Camara Diamond & Gold Trading Network (CDGTN). 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 entrepreneur background to pursue her objective of creating a conglomerate of natural resources and innovative technology companies. She is passionate about empowering women to take a more active role in the development of Africa's mining industry. Tigui has been featured in numerous high profile magazines, videos, and movies.
Read more"Governments simply must take health seriously if they wish to sustain and advance socioeconomic outcomes. Empirically, high levels of population health go hand-in-hand with high levels of growth and income."
- Dr. Ola Orekunrin is a medical doctor, helicopter pilot and the healthcare entrepreneur founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, West Africa’s first Air Ambulance Service. She's dedicated to bringing trauma care to the most remote parts of Western Africa and her company, an air ambulance service based in Lagos, is doing just that. She was motivated to start the company after her younger sister tragically died whilst traveling in Nigeria as a consequence of there being no medical air service available to transport her to hospital. Ola graduated as a medical doctor from the University Of York in the UK and is a member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.
Read more"Entrepreneurship is not new to Africans. We are after-all masters of survivalist entrepreneurship What needs to be taught is how to create strong, scalable industry giants…"
- Ethel Cofie is a Ghanaian-born entrepreneur and founder of Edel Technologies. This techpreneur is passionate about technology, female leadership and empowering women entrepreneurs. Ethel is a Mandela Fellow for President Obama’s Young African Leaders initiative(YALI), and has been featured on BBC and CNN for her work in technology and women leadership. She is the founder of Women in Tech Africa and was recently named one of the 'Top 5 Women Impacting I.T. in Africa' by South Africa's Mail & Guardian.
Read moreKeep learning....
"Keeping up with what you don't know has the amazing ability to transform what you do know into the next million buck idea. Constant learning is the grease we need to stay competitive."
- Beth Malatji is the founder of Wealth Ladder Magazine in South Africa, a digital publication that provides awareness amongst both the young and old around the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship, self-employment, and of their role in shaping their future and that of their country’s economic development. Beth enjoys building businesses, learning and helping people while connecting with extremely talented individuals.
Read moreWe are all unique and gifted....
"I believe we are all unique and gifted and can be successful entrepreneurs in our own right. It is important not to lose focus, regardless of the trials you will encounter on your journeys. Use your gift of your uniqueness, invest in it, nourish it, create a win–win environment where your team and your clients are your top priority..."
- Lee Chisale is the founder of Belle Afrique in Malawi, a company that promotes healthy lifestyle and beauty treatments. Lee offers a range of health care treatments, from skin treatments, waxing, GP Consultations and Aesthetic treatments, massage therapy, to name just a few. She is also passionate about training people and improving the quality of service in her industry, offering a series of vocational qualifications in beauty and wellness. As a market leader, Lee aims to further expand Belle Afrique in the future through a franchise model.
Read more"But the real question is what are we as Africans doing? Are we going to be active participants in the growth and development of our continent or are we going to be satisfied with being spectators? As Africans, we need to take advantage of the opportunities, create sustainable development and wealth. We need to lead the way and invest in Africa."
- 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 moreGetting critical access to global markets for women entrepreneurs in Africa is often a challenge, so it’s always welcome to get the opportunity to talk about possible solutions with fellow women’s economic empowerment champions visiting the continent. Lionesses of Africa founder and ceo, Melanie Hawken, had the pleasure of meeting with Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries on 6 May when the Minister visited Cape Town following her speech at the World Economic Forum in South Africa earlier in the week.
Read moreTo be young in Africa today is to carry within you hopeful and delusional optimism about your future as you survey the unemployment lines from a high-rise office that you will occupy. It is despairing to talk about the youth unemployment rates as I watch my sanguine nephews, one in final year of university and the other in matric, discuss their post-learning options. Especially when the OECD UNDP 2016 Africa Economic Outlook Report states that 9 out of 10 working youth between 15-24 years of age are poor or likely to be poor.
Read moreMy Dreams Recycled by Tiffany Ann Beverlin is based on the inspirational true story of how one woman turned the adversity known as divorce into a multi-million dollar business helping other divorcees.
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