Entrepreneurship rocks! Why you should consider becoming one!

December 2, 2017 Melanie Hawken

By Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

Entrepreneurship rocks! Well it does most of the time! I am not going to tell you this is the easiest journey, but it is truly rewarding! In my case starting out, I was one of those “go with the flow” people. I never had a plan of what I was going to be. I didn’t have it all planned and I was definitely not goal driven! Now, years later and after many learning trials, I can honestly say today that by the grace of God and my entrepreneurial journey, I am a different person. Better I would say!

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.

Quote of the Day by Aisha Pandor

December 1, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Aisha Pandor & Alen Ribic, husband and wife co-founders of SweepSouth (South Africa — **Aisha Pandor** & Alen Ribic, husband and wife co-founders of SweepSouth (South Africa

“If we can help to include more women in the ecosystem, we will see a much broader range of solutions coming out of it, that address issues at all levels of our economy,”

- Aisha Pandor, co-founder & CEO of SweepSouth (South Africa)

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.

Quote of the Day by Mary Spio

November 30, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Mary Spio, founder of Next Galaxy Corp — **Mary Spio,** founder of Next Galaxy Corp

“Really make a mark. Thinking big, going big—we should do more audacious things.”

- Mary Spio founder & CEO of CEEK VR INC

Quote of the Day by Dr. Ola Brown

November 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Ola Brown, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria — **Dr. Ola Brown**, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria

"True success is about a passion to create a better world, live a life that you can look back on and be truly proud of."

- Dr. Ola Orekunrin, founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria (Nigeria)

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.

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

November 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"The luxury industry is a great economic growth driver and can be a fantastic export champion... The luxury industry creates jobs and generates activities in a large variety of areas, including publishing, advertising, public relationship, tourism, real estate, culture and education."

- Swaady Martin, Founder and CEO of YSWARA

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.

Quote of the Day by Tara Fela-Durotoye

November 27, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"What drives me is living purpose. I think my business is a vehicle to change lives."

- Tara Fela-Durotoye founder of House of Tara (Nigeria)

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.

Johannesburg leans-in to learn the art of business and personal brand building

November 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Deborah Hartung, Raksha Mahabeer, Melanie Hawken, Kathryn Main, Ngwana Matloa — L-R: Deborah Hartung, Raksha Mahabeer, Melanie Hawken, Kathryn Main, Ngwana Matloa

Another packed audience of women entrepreneurs assembled this month on 23 November at the Standard Bank Business Incubator for the last in the South African series of Lioness Lean In events for 2017. The theme for the morning was the art of building powerful business and personal brands, and understanding how to leverage those brands for success as women entrepreneurs.

Essential Read: Keep Going by Keneilwe Monei Magula

November 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Author and entrepreneur, Keneilwe Magula, is a firm believer that without the correct recipe, no matter how good you are in the kitchen, you will always make a terrible meal. She also believes that this is true about life also. She says that no matter how good you might be at something, if you don’t understand how life responds to our intentions you will always get the same bad results. Her new book, Keep Going, encourages you to look at life as a journey, and to realise that your current situation is not your final destination.

Ngwana Matloa, a South African entrepreneur helping companies get to grips with their IT strategies

November 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Ngwana Matloa, co-founder of ABOT Technology (South Africa) — **Ngwana Matloa**, co-founder of ABOT Technology (South Africa)

How often do you see companies and organisations investing in IT and technology solutions but not actually ensuring they are aligned to overall business strategies? As a result, maximum efficiencies and highly functional systems never realize their full potential. IT specialist, Ngwana Matloa, co-founder of ABOT Technology, is on a mission to change that.

Nicola Bokaba, a South African manufacturer inspired by traditional cooking implements and taking them to the mass market

November 26, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Nicola Bokaba, founder of Earthy Cook (South Africa) — **Nicola Bokaba**, founder of Earthy Cook (South Africa)

Sometimes, the best ideas have been around a long time but simply need adapting or updating for a contemporary marketplace. In the culinary world, that is certainly the case for the traditional South African mafehlo (pap making whisks). Entrepreneur Nicola Bokaba, founder of Earthy Cook, saw an opportunity to start a business inspired by these traditional cooking implements but updated to meet today’s kitchen needs.

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)

Quote of the Day by Ally Angula

November 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings and founder of My Republik Brand

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Ally Angula, co-founder of Leap Holdings (Namibia)

Quote of the Day by Ayoronke Tosin-Yeye

November 23, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"I eagerly look forward to the concept of Mentorship becoming not just a buzzword but a way of life across Africa. I look forward to that day when every successful African will willingly reach out to walk others through their path, and thereby work together to develop Africa and end poverty."

- Ayoronke Tosin-Yeye, founder of IMentorAfrica (Nigeria)

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.

Quote of the Day by Divine Ndhlukula

November 22, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Divine Ndhlukula, Founder and Managing Director of SECURICO — Divine Ndhlukula, Founder and Managing Director of SECURICO

"Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women."

- Divine Ndhlukula founder of SECURICO Security Services (Zimbabwe)

“If we can help to include more women in the ecosystem, we will see a much broader range of solutions coming out of it, that address issues at all levels of our economy,”

"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."

“Really make a mark. Thinking big, going big—we should do more audacious things.”

"True success is about a passion to create a better world, live a life that you can look back on and be truly proud of."

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

"The luxury industry is a great economic growth driver and can be a fantastic export champion... The luxury industry creates jobs and generates activities in a large variety of areas, including publishing, advertising, public relationship, tourism, real estate, culture and education."

"What drives me is living purpose. I think my business is a vehicle to change lives."

"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."

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

"I eagerly look forward to the concept of Mentorship becoming not just a buzzword but a way of life across Africa. I look forward to that day when every successful African will willingly reach out to walk others through their path, and thereby work together to develop Africa and end poverty."

"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."

"Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most women."

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.