Ntsoaki Kortjass, a South African entrepreneur putting the security of others at the heart of her business

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Ntsoaki Kortjass, founder of Tsoabelo Security Solutions (South Africa)

For many companies and individuals alike, security is a key concern and one that needs addressing by experienced professionals. In South Africa, one woman entrepreneur is building a business that brings peace of mind together with a highly experienced approach to risk management. Ntsoaki Kortjass, founder of Tsoabelo Security Solutions, is putting people and property first, and building a reputation for great service at the same time.

Botswana’s leading women entrepreneurs gathered to inspire and connect at the Lioness Lean In event in Gaborone

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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As part of the year-long rollout of Lionesses of Africa’s tour of the African continent with its Lioness Lean In Breakfast events, October 19th saw the latest event coming to Gaborone. Co-hosted by Stanbic Bank, this unique event aimed to showcase the game-changing women entrepreneurs who have built some of the country’s most successful businesses, and to inspire a new generation of young women entrepreneurs who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

African City Guide, the story of three friends, Megan Bowren, Eva Shuman, and Frances van Hasselt, whose love of travel led them to create the African City Guide

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Megan Bowren, Eva Shuman, and Frances van Hasselt, co-founders of African City Guide

It can be daunting for even the most experienced traveller to visit a new city on the African continent without practical knowledge or experience of what to expect on the ground. That’s where the African City Guide comes in. The brainchild of three enterprising entrepreneurs and passionate travellers, Megan Bowren, Eva Shuman, and Frances van Hasselt, their website is packed with information and recommendations provided by travelers who have been there and done it!

6 Tips for Top Customer Engagement on Mobile from the 2018 PriceCheck Awards

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lynette Hundermark, co-founder of Useful & Beautiful

Speaking at this year’s annual PriceCheck Awards Ceremony, CEO Kevin Tucker noted that the Tech and E-commerce Awards are more important than ever before. He said that while 2018 has been a tough year for retail, it’s an industry with massive potential for growth.

Dealing with Disappointment: Just Let It Flow

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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by Deborah Hartung, founder of Pivot PeopleTech

It’s a fact of life that we don’t always get what we want and it sure isn’t always fair. Being a woman in business and in leadership, you’re bound to have to face more than your fair share of disappointments. Here are some tips on learning to move with the flow of life and not let temporary disappointments become permanent setbacks.

Straight Talk for Smart Business Women: Critical Tools to Build and Grow Your Business by Cheryl Leitschuh

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

What does it take to build a successful small business? Author Cheryl Leitschuh has some of the answers in her new book, Straight Talk for Smart Business Women. She believes it starts with accessing the critical tools needed to build and grow your business, and then hearing the stories of those who have successfully done it before.

Maybe the pie is really big enough for all of us

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Competition is a subject I did in marketing at college. We were reviewing the ways companies compete for markets. Direct competition and indirect competition. Direct competition is CocaCola and Pepsi. Indirect would be CocaCola and all banting products. This subject tells us that there’s one market for all these companies, and they must all fight for their attention. Ways of fighting include pricing, ingredients, advertising, location, pairing with other power brands in the industry, and of late going green/healthy. Are you exhausted already? Me too, but read on…

Our role as entrepreneurs is bigger than us

October 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka

Recently I had the privilege of attending a workshop where I delivered a talk to a group of young learners about career development. This is a topic that is very close to my heart because many people are forced into unwanted careers for many reasons. The bottom line is that there is an enormous need for career guidance in underprivileged schools. This is specifically because advanced institutions have career coaches and counselors to assist learners in aligning their future goals and aspirations with their talents and capabilities from the early stages of their schooling.

Entrepreneur Advice from Johanna Mukoki: Invest in your staff

October 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Johanna Mukoki, speaking at the Annual Lionesses of Africa Conference 2016

Happy staff are key to your success…

“We learnt that the best way for us to build a lasting business has been to invest in our staff, and in training them well so that they want to stay and grow within our business.”

Johanna Mukoki, co-founder of Travel with Flair (South Africa)

Quote of the Day by Ally Angula

October 17, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“The follow-through is just as important as the first action, if not more important!”

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

Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, a Nigerian entrepreneur helping a new generation of writers to turn their passion for words into profits

October 16, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, founder of The Sparkle Writer's Hub (Nigeria)

Many people have a natural talent for words, but turning that talent into a business is not always so easy. One woman entrepreneur, Adedoyin Jaiyesimi, founder of The Sparkle Writer's Hub in Nigeria, is providing a supporting learning environment for aspirant writers to develop that talent and pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.

Entrepreneur Advice from Hazel Aggrey-Orleans: It can be a lonely journey

October 15, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans

It can be a lonely journey….

“Being an entrepreneur is without doubt one of the hardest roles to take on as you are your own boss and it can be a lonely journey as you do not have the structure of an establishment to support you. I always tell myself though, if being an entrepreneur were easy, every one would do it.”

Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, founder of Eki Orleans

Overcoming failure

October 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main, founder of Money Savvy Kids

When I think about failure I truly believe I am an expert on this subject. I have failed in every area of my life many times - personally, financially, and in business. If you want advice on how to handle failure, ask an expert!

Charlene Van Riet-Lowe, an entrepreneur bringing a new approach to dispute resolution to Botswana

October 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Charlene Van Riet-Lowe, founder of Mediation Mechanics (Botswana) — **Charlene Van Riet-Lowe**, founder of Mediation Mechanics (Botswana)

Resolving disputes between communities, individuals and businesses can be a difficult process, and one that requires specialist advice and skills. In Botswana, Mediation Mechanics, founded by entrepreneur Charlene Van Riet-Lowe, is one company bringing its wealth of experience and expertise to help its clients to find solutions to their disputes.

TIME Magazine honours Wonderbag, founded by South African entrepreneur Sarah Collins

October 14, 2018 Melanie Hawken

At the heart of every great business is a creative solution to a problem—and those solutions sometimes change the world. To assemble TIME’s first annual list of ‘The 50 Most Genius Companies of 2018’, it asked its global network of editors and correspondents to nominate businesses that are inventing the future. Then we evaluated candidates on key factors, including originality, influence, success and ambition. The result: 50 companies that are driving progress now, and bear watching for what they do next. The Wonderbag, created by Sarah Collins, is one of those companies to make the Top 50 list.

Mumboss: The Honest Mum's Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home by Vicki Psarias

October 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

In Mumboss, Vicki Psarias, founder of HonestMum.com, shares her #mumboss manifesto for surviving and thriving at work and at home. Vicki writes about everything from juggling work and family, to regaining your confidence after having a baby and battling imposter syndrome.

The challenge of people who order late

October 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

It’s the height of any fashion season right now. Whether you are a designer, seamstress, wholesaler, model, photographer or PR person in fashion, you are busy from August till January. And all your ‘please order in July for September’ advice has fallen on deaf ears. You are managing those who listened and risk managing those who didn’t. No matter how many no’s you can say, someone always convinces you to ‘pretty please help’; most of the time you help because it is someone you like and want to dress….again.

My ABC of business: Why you should keep hustling

October 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

Are you working really hard to build your business? Are you always on the look out for new opportunities to get income? Do you constantly follow up on clients and try and persuade them to buy your product/service? I have a newsflash for you…you’ve been hustling! Yes…you are a hustler!